DISOBEYING ORDERS

Outside the room, Liu Wei told his Master about what had happened at Ye Xiu's side. It was the Emperor of Xinghe's Kingdom that gave an order for Ye Xiu to hand over Senja, but instead of obeying his order, Ye Xiu fled.

Xiao Jun kneaded his throbbing temple. His Master was totally out of his mind this time.

"Bring my horse." Xiao Jun said as he strode away to go back to his bedroom. It will be a long trip again. He seemed know where Ye Xiu would go and if he couldn't stop him on time, things only would get worse for Xinghe's Kingdom.

Liu Wei cupped his hand and retreated.

"Where are you going Jun?" A familiar voice came from behind him, Xiao Jun turned his back and he saw Xiao Tianyao's impressive figure walked towards him leisurely.

"Can't you call me properly? Where is your manner?" Xiao Jun reprimanded his little brother lightly.

"I leave it behind." Xiao Tianyao replied nonchalantly as he stopped right in front of his brother. Both of brothers shared the same aristocratic facial line. Despite became the younger one, Xiao Tianyao height was almost the same as Xiao Jun with cold aura around him.

His little brother was really growing up now. With skin color was darker than him. Obviously, he spent more time in the eastern fortress rather than in the Capital.

Xiao Jun reached out his hand, intended to tousle his head like what he always did, but Xiao Tianyao easily dodged it. With grumpy face he said. "Stop being so childish." He smacked Xiao Jun's hand harshly.

"Ck, ck," Xiao Jun clicked his tongue in dissatisfied while retreating his hand. "Not only your body that has grown up, but your ego as well."

"I ask where are you going?"

"Something urgent came up." Xiao Jun said curtly. "And why are you here?"

Xiao Tianyao's eyebrows knitted. "Didn't you hear about Main Commander Dam's granddaughter was kidnapped by Xinghe Kingdom's people?"

"I know. So, what was your intention to come here?"

"Main Commander Dam's made a fuss about it. He demanded 300.000 armies from the Emperor."

"He really made a fuss." Xiao Jun sighed. He must coax his Master, Ye Xiu, to released Senja before he screwed up their plans.

"I came because Main Commander Dam wanted you to assist to lead those people."

"Tell him I will come after I finish my business here."

"You know, he won't please to hear that."

Xiao Jun embraced Xiao Tianyao shoulder as he strode to the courtyard where his horse had been prepared. "I will come later."

"You are looking for trouble." Xiao Tianyao looked at Xiao Jun who got on his horse with gloomy face while Xiao Jun grinned and rode the horse away from Xiao Tianyao sight.

Leaving Xiao Tianyao with headache to face an impending outburst from Main Commander Dam the moment he reported it.

***

Ye Xiu had been riding a horse with Senja along the way. He chose to go straight to the Rockstone Kingdom by water transportation. But, to reach the port he had to go through the forest for a shortcut.

Once they arrived at the port the sky has turned dark and the rain was falling down. Ye Xiu brought Senja to a small stall near the river to taken a shelter. There was still 2 hours away before their boat arrived.

Both of them sat down in silence. While Senja was munching her bread, Ye Xiu was sipping his tea. No one talked until Senja threw question to him. "Are you going to give me to Xinghe Kingdom Emperor?"

"No." Ye Xiu replied without take his eyes from the raindrops that made small ripples on the surface of the river.

"Glad to hear that." Senja said and continued to finish her bread.

"Are you not going to ask me why I take you?"

Senja shook her head, "I hope you never bring me back."

"Is it really terrible there?" Ye Xiu retracted his gaze from the river and paid more attention to Senja. However, the girl expression didn't show any emotion when she answer.

"I like being with aunt Su." She said softly.

"Mm."

With caring personality that his sister in law has it wasn't a strange thing for Senja to like her. For some reasons there was sympathy in Ye Xiu heart's for Senja, at least his decision to take her wasn't totally a mistake. It comforted him a little with the trouble that he had created.

***

Ye Xiu and Senja boarded a fishing boat. Excluding both of them there were 5 more people on the boat. Senja was fast asleep when the boat had arrived. This hour was her sleeping time after all.

While Senja put her head on Ye Xiu thigh as a pillow, Ye Xiu sat down while leaning on the mast as he covered Senja with his robe.

He stared at the gloomy sky without moon. Meanwhile, the rain had stopped when he boarded the boat. This boat wasn't very big, but enough to accommodate 7 people inside without being too crowded.

The boat was floating in the river smoothly, flanked by the roads that leading toward the mountain on the right and left side. It was a long trip to reached Capital City of Rockstone Kingdom by water transportation, but before that they needed to transit in the Azura Kingdom's port first.

Not long time ago, they had passed Xinghe Kingdom's borderline and if everything according to the schedule they would have arrived at L City Disrict 9 in the morning.

Suddenly Ye Xiu caught a glimpse the shadow of a horse running on the road on his right side. He stretched out his head to get a better view, as a recognition dawn to him.

"Brat." He cursed under his breath as his lips twitched into a smile. Ye Xiu leaned back his head and closed his eyes, he would let his disciple to follow the boat as far as he like.

But, of course, eventually they would stop at District 9 and at that time, Ye Xiu owed a lot of explanation to his disciple. He didn't really like the idea to meet him now.

***

"Master," Xiao Jun greeted Ye Xiu when the boat had just pulled over at the dock, without waiting for the boat to be tethered he had jumped and sat down beside his Master. He glanced at the sleeping Senja, who was wrapped tightly inside Ye Xiu's cloak.

Xiao Jun leaned his back lazily. The boat would depart again within an hour, despite that fact he wasn't in hurry.

"Tell me now what is it?"

"I had chased after you all night Master, at least spare me an explanation." Xiao Jun sighed tiredly. Ye Xiu was his Master after all, so more or less he knew the way he thought. That was why he could pinpoint the location he would visit.

Ye Xiu looked at his disciple with agitated, for this past 4 years they rarely met, but they still kept in touch trough a secret channels. Despite war still continued between the 2 Countries, both of them very clear about the schemes behind all of this.

Looking his Master didn't have intention to open the conversation, he sighed deeply again. This old man simply so stubborn, what Riana see from him? "I got news about Misty Cloud Clan, but I am not sure about this either." Xiao Jun opened his mouth. Practically, it was only three of them on the boat while the other passenger bought food for the next trip.

"What is it?"

"Misty Cloud Clan approached Xinghe Kingdom Emperor."

"What?" Ye Xiu exclaimed in surprised. His movement made Senja knitted her brows, but she didn't awake. "Wasn't Misty Cloud Clan with Azura Kingdom? They are the reason why your parents died."

Xiao Jun nodded his head. "It confused me also."

Ye Xiu was silence for a while to contemplated about this problem. "The options are; Misty Cloud Clan cooperated with Azura to destroy Xinghe or Misty Cloud Clan cooperated with Xinghe to destroy Azura." Ye Xiu observed.

"Or Misty Cloud Clan will destroy both Kingdoms." Xiao Jun added.

Ye Xiu stared at Xiao Jun before eventually nodded his head, "Right, there is a possibility it will be like that." He mumbled, "I can't help wondering why Misty Cloud Clan could easily manipulated important figure such as an Emperor?"

No one could answer Ye Xiu's question. And once again silence dropped between them.

"Master, what you will do with her?" Xiao Jun pointed the sleeping Senja with his chin. "This situation has become erratic. You know what would happen if you insist to keep her."

Ye Xiu didn't answer. Nevertheless Xiao Jun knew why his Master acted this way. He was there as well the moment Riana suddenly disappeared and he still remembered her last word. This is definitely about that. While that may be true, Xiao Jun couldn't justify Ye Xiu's decision.