Leaving those arms after making that face, Bai Xiachen eventually took notice to the old man. Lighting up in the eye, âGrandpapa, what are you doing here? Where did you run off to before? Did that bad woman hurt you?â
Startled by the recognition, Bai Yan speaks up with surprise in her voice: âXiachen, you know the grandpa?â
Nodding seriously: âMother, do you remember when you came to save me and Dragony that time? This old man was also there and he had a feud with that bad woman too. He got tied up after falling for her trap so I was worried for a while if heâs been captured or something.â
Perhaps the old coot also remembered the boy because he answered immediately while scratching the back of his head: âI remember you, there was also a little lass by your side that time. Whatâs your relationship with my good granddaughter?â
Good granddaughter?
A touch of shock took the boyâs face by surprise. Turning to his own mother, all one could see in his eyes were puzzlement.
âXiachen, greet your great grandpapa.â She ruffles the boyâs hair a bit.
Turning from surprise to stunned astonishment now: âMother, you say heâs my great grandpapa? How come I got another great grandpapa again?ân/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
Bai Yanâs own lips were twitching due to the way he said it there. Now that he mentions it, Xiachen does have a lot of grandpapas.
In light of his puzzlement, Bai Xiachen still greeted the old coot like a good boy that he was: âGreat Grandpapa.â
âAigh, aigh.â Flushing red from embarrassing, the old coot kept rummaging through his whole body for anything he could give. âI⦠I donât seem to have a present on me. Can you wait a bit, Iâll go back inside and grab something?â
Seeing how heâs about to dash back inside and delay their departure further, Bai Yan desperately clings on the old cootâs sleeve and said: âGrandpapa, donât go back, those people will soon come back here. We need to hurry and leave before they do so.â
âYes, yes,â patting his head like heâs done something foolish, âmy granddaughter is right, I canât let those little rabbits see you. They will hurt you so letâs get out of here.â
âMother, whereâs Little Rice?â Its then Bai Xiachen decides to jump in and ask after not finding the familiar feline around.
âI told him and Tsing Yi to go back first. I estimate they are already at the city and inside the palace waiting.â
Lighting up with anticipation for their reunion, the boy couldnât wait for his friend to return to his side: âThen can we go back now? I miss everyone, especially my little sister.â
âThen letâs go home.â Holding her boyâs hand, Bai Yan leads the way with her glorious smile.
â¦â¦
By the time the Keepers returned to the Celestial Palace, all that remained to welcome their arrival were the carnage of the battleâs aftermath. There are bodies littered everywhere and the stinging odor of char and smoke from the back mountain lingering in the air due to the huge fire thatâs still burning.
âHurry, go in and see!â One of the elders exclaim after seeing the mess.