âBut Mr. Guard, I must see my father.... Iâm afraid something might happen to him if heâs left alone.â Grasping onto the demonâs shoulder and putting on a pitiful face to play her charm, the baby girlâs face could melt hearts if the situation wasnât so dire and permitted it.
Unfortunately for both girl and soldier, the two of them werenât going to have the time to make a decision here today. Exactly in the moment when the latterâs about to give in due to that face, a series of footsteps startled them and caused the two to look over in the other direction.
Among the new arrivals were multiple powerful targets, but the obvious one leading the new group were a kind-looking old man who kept smiling the entire time. Those eyes were locked onto Di Ling Yan, carrying a light of greed and delight at what heâs discovered.
âYour Highness, itâs your father who tasked me to come pick you up.â The old man lies without batting an eye.
Right away, Di Ling Yan knew that wasnât true and reacted by clinging nervously to the palace guardâs neck like the other side would bite if they got any closer.
âDonât be afraid,â the agitated guard promptly backed off as well to gain some distance, âI believe you got the wrong person. She is not a princess, only an orphaned fox picked up by the king somewhere during his travels.â
Despite the excuse, the smile coming off of the old man there only deepened: âDo you think we canât tell the aura coming off of the child is that of the demon kingâs? Little girl, donât be afraid, we wonât hurt you. Come with us and we will go see your father.â
The old manâs smile was extraordinarily kind right then after that last sentence. He just couldnât help it because the reward awaiting him would be unfathomable, especially when he thought all was lost after coming in late.
The guardâs heart pumped with adrenaline after the blunt statement. He knew thereâs no turning back from a fight since theyâre this close. Worse was the fact that he couldâve turned back with the old coot to where Di Jin Tian was, that he could find shelter under that former Keeper instead of confronting this second group of assailants by being overly cautious.
âIâm not going with you,â said the little princess with her stubborn face, âyou are all bad people, trying to hurt my father and mother and big brother. I wonât leave with you.â
Unfazed and still smiling with that kind expression: âLittle princess, your existence is too important to the world for you to be so selfish. Do you want to see the world destroyed?â
The girl snorts with her tiny nose: âDonât think you can lie to me just because Iâm small. I know you are here to kill me. My mother told me that before already. I have no relationship with you people so why should I sacrifice myself for you?â Mother taught me being kind is all and well, but itâs not alright to be foolishly kind.â