Di Ling Yan the cuddly and adorable little princess blinks and blinks as she asked: “Uncle, are you leaving now? Will you come back?”

For some unknown reason, just hearing the baby girl’s cuddly voice was enough to melt Winger’s heart and bring sunshine to his world.

Showing a faint smile as he replied: “Princess, I’m only going out to take a breather, I have no intention of leaving so be assured.”

Over the years, aside from the brief moment of warmth he experienced in that deep dark void, no other light has come into his world. And this warmth, he’s getting it again from Di Ling Yan right now. That’s why the girl… it’s another light for him.

“Then Uncle, you need to come back early and not be like Mother.” After mentioning that, Di Ling Yan’s head visibly deflated like she’s sad, “Mother left for so long, I really miss her… Why did she take Big Brother and not me?”

Taken aback there, Winger softens up his voice to comfort: “Her Highness didn’t take you because of safety reasons. There are many people out there who want to hurt you.”

“Why?” Raising her little head in a naïve manner only reserved for a child of her age, “I’ve always been good and obedient, never doing anything wrong. Why do people want to hurt me?”

Although the girl was more sensible and smarter than the average baby, she’s still only a baby. Regardless of her intellect, it’s unreasonable to expect her to be more mature and aware of the world.

In return, the bird man could only lower his eyes as well.

That’s right, she didn’t do anything wrong, yet the Celestial Palace still wants her dead and won’t let her go. Why is the world like this? Why is it so cruel and dark towards the kind ones….

“Because…” Winger’s voice sounded shaky and pessimistic, “some bad people do things for no reason, so, Your Highness, you be good and stay in the palace. No one can hurt you while you’re here.”

Biting her thumb: “Okay, I will be good. If I be good then Mother will come back quickly.”

It’s the first time she’s been away from her mother for so long, hence the strong level of yearning for Bai Yan’s return.

“Then I’ll come back soon as well after taking a stroll.” Feeling the tug from the old witch again, the bird man couldn’t stay anymore and decisively turned for the exit. Unbeknownst to him though, right as he did so, a shadow has been tailing him from the rear.

……

Above the quiet mountain road, Winger could soon see that familiar figure anxiously scanning the area for him. There were countless emotions spilling forward then, but more leaned towards helplessness and pain….

“Why did you come so slowly? I’ve called you a few times already! Can’t you move faster?” Scolding and harsh in her voice, Yun Ruo Xi only had negative emotions swelling out after recognizing who it was.

This slap, the bird man did not avoid it, only bearing it bluntly and allowing the trace of blood to leak from the corner of his mouth. Once again, the warmth he had earlier disappeared, replacing it only with a cold expressionless one.