“Master, junior sister is trying to run away,” Long Guang said, turning speechless when he saw the child smaller than him run away from them. “Should I get her?”

Sheng Ao, however, looked at his fifth junior sister with pity. She was truly a pitiful child who seemed to have gone through only tragic situations in her life. “Master, fifth junior sister is crying.”

“I know,” Yang Lujia replied, but his heart was somewhat murky at the moment. Seeing this little girl like this, he would not have reacted as such if she were a normal one. However, she was someone who was going to become his disciple and he knew her story and what happened to her through the system.

He once killed children in his previous life. However, at that time, he never tried to know their stories and where they came from. Perhaps it was for him to avoid softening his heart while he was on his way to send his father to prison. He once hated it when his heart would start to melt for other people, especially these children. That was because he found himself in the same situation before where what he could only think of was to escape from that hellish house and with that determination in mind, he did—but only after he grew up.

‘Should I make her experience the same? Whatever I wasn’t able to do in my previous lifetime, I better do it right now. Although they can become my weaknesses for my enemies to use against me in the future, who doesn’t have one?’

“Little girl,” Yang Lujia called which made the girl stop in her tracks and he then placed the clueless Little Green, the tree spirit, on the ground. “You don’t have to be afraid. We’re not here to hurt you.”

‘Easy for me to say.’

For someone like her, running away was the best option. After all, according to her story, she once trusted someone, and that someone broke it and took her for granted. Yang Lujia understood that. However, he didn’t know how to raise a child nor how to quell these emotions she was having at the moment.

Therefore…

When Yang Lujia appeared in front of the frightened girl, her legs almost gave up, horrified. She suddenly recalled all the pain and sorrow she had gone through. How she was treated by the person who picked her up, the person who she thought would help her get some food and shelter, the person who she thought would help her truthfully.

Was it the same case for this person in front of her? Would he also do the same thing as him? Would he also promise to take her in and then take her for granted? Would he also want me as her toy?

She was scared. It was engraved in her heart. She was only around five to six years old, hell, she wasn’t even certain about her age anymore. Who could count if the person herself couldn’t keep herself sane?

p

Yang Lujia chose to not say anything. This was a child that had her traumas, just like him. He understood her but at the same time, he did not. Therefore, he chose to express his stance and emotions through his embrace. Whatever that Dragon Prince did to her, he wished he could pay him ten thousand times. Alas, he was already dead. More likely, from Long Guang’s conversation with the others, he knew that that Dragon Prince was already killed by his second disciple and he was therefore rewarded for that.

“Little girl, you don’t have to be afraid. I won’t promise you anything. I can only tell you that with me around, no one will be able to hurt you anymore,” Yang Lujia softly said, wearing off all the sternness he would have when talking to other people, even to his own disciples in the past.

As he released her from his embrace, he looked at Long Guang and the others. Yang Lujia urged the little girl to look back. There, she saw their faces. Long Guang was smiling with tears in his eyes. Sheng Ao was staring at her with a smile on his face, a very genuine one. Brownie was also licking his paw—he did not like this drama, so he passed on not looking at the child and acted like a real dog. On the other hand, Little Green tilted her head to the side and looked at the little girl. It was confused, but due to its nature, it walked near the little girl. It saw her wounds and decided to tend to them, almost involuntarily.

Little Green tapped her small hand. The little girl was now curious about this little weird-looking dog or cat. All of a sudden, the little girl felt warmth over her body. She looked at her body, wide-eyed when she saw how all her wounds and bruises were gradually fading away.

“Amwazing…” she unconsciously blurted out.

However, she immediately covered her mouth. In her life in the palace, she was told not to say a single word. She was getting afraid once more. However, while she was in fear, Yang Lujia tapped her head and rubbed it softly.

“Little girl, you have better pronunciation than your senior brother when he was your age,” Yang Lujia said, teasing Long Guang who now had a flushed face.

“Master! Hmph!” Long Guang turned around, looking away.

Sheng Ao almost laughed but didn’t do so as it would be a form of disrespect for his senior brother. Only master was allowed to bully his senior brothers.

“Hmm?” The little girl looked confused, but she somewhat enjoyed Yang Lujia’s pat on her head.

After a while, she still distanced herself from Yang Lujia and still felt vigilant against him. She was still being careful. It was like her instinct to survive. Although this person was treating him well right now, who could be certain that he would not do the same thing as that person?

That Dragon Prince thrashed her so much that she could not forget all the things he did.

SIGH.

Yang Lujia sighed and pulled out something from Fortuniel’s storage space. “Little girl, I have a lollipop here. Do you want some?”

Yes, it was a real lollipop. It was some spherical candy attached to a white-looking stick with a hollow inside.

He then reached out to her. “Here, have one. It’s delicious.” Yang Lujia got two and ate one for himself. When the little innocent girl saw he ate it so carefree-ly and his expression expressed pleasure, she was a little curious and reached out for the lollipop he offered her.

She tilted her head, looking at the lollipop. She then imitated what Yang Lujia did and licked it. When the taste finally entered her mouth, she was mesmerized by the sweetness. It was delicious!

“Dweliciousss!” she blurted out once again.

Yang Lujia smiled at this, especially the moment the little girl began licking the lollipop like crazy and even munching it until there was none left.

She looked at Yang Lujia with pleading eyes. “More?” she uttered, extremely looking shy about what she was doing.

“Here,” Yang Lujia said as he gave her another one.

On the other hand, Long Guang was already salivating while looking at her fifth junior sister eating a lollipop. He wanted to try it too.

“Master! Me! Me!” Long Guang shouted, extremely excited about tasting another type of food he had not tried tasting before. For a glutton like him, it would obviously be very delectable for him as even her master and her fifth junior sister were enjoying the food at the moment.

Yang Lujia was stumped and soon smiled at the agitated Long Guang who was already near him. On the other hand, the little girl was enjoying in her own world.

“You also want some?”

“Yes! Yes!” Long Guang’s eyes were practically shining. “I want some, master! I want some! If possible, I want five or a hundred!”

Yang Lujia’s mouth twitched and looked at the little dragon. ‘This little dragon is abusing his master’s kindness.”

“Fine, I’ll give them to you. For now, I’ll give you five!”

Long Guang was not disappointed and instead, he jumped like a child who had his wish fulfilled by his parents.

Meanwhile, Little Green also went near Yang Lujia and pointed at his hand that was holding a lollipop. It then opened its small mouth, trying to communicate with its summoner.

“You also want a lollipop?” Yang Lujia was somewhat surprised by this development. Even this tree spirit seemed to be fascinated and curious about this lollipop.

Little Green slowly nodded.

On the other hand, the little girl went near Yang Lujia and asked for another, her face getting hotter. Even Brownie was also curious and asked him for some. Only Sheng Ao was not fazed about this but eventually asked for one in the end.