Xiao Yi

The grandfather and grandson flew back to the village. The sun had already set, and night was about to fall. The tiny village beneath them, seen from the sky, gradually grew larger.

In the distance, they saw two or three members of the Garrison Team gathered around a cute, dazed-looking girl at the east gate.

She was about one meter tall, with a fine veil over her face. She wore a short, pale-yellow dress woven with a subtle diagonal pattern, over which she had a translucent white gauze jacket. The cuffs were embroidered with sacred pepper and cassia.

A necklace hung around her neck, its plum-blossom-shaped pendant set with an orange gemstone. Her hair was a mysterious purple, tied behind her head with a pale-yellow ribbon. She gazed blankly at the Forget-Worry Flowers by the roadside.

Seeing something flying in from afar, the Garrison Team Members atop the Stone Wall began to stand guard. Before long...

"The Clan Chief is back."

The Seven Kill Sword slowly descended to a foot above the ground, stirring up a little dust. The grandfather and grandson stepped off, and the people at the gate came to greet them. Leading them was a female Soul Master.

As if sensing something, the Little Girl raised her head and looked this way.

Chen Yu put away the Seven Kill Sword and asked, "What's going on, Xia Lin?"

Xia Lin was from the Xia Family, one of the Retainer Families known as Phantom Cherry Blossom. She was also one of the Garrison Team's deputy captains, and its only female deputy captain. A Soul Saint, she was usually stationed at the Southeast Gate and had two squads under her command.

Xia Lin smiled wryly. "Clan Chief, this little girl suddenly appeared at noon. She hasn't said a word and has just been standing here."

"Look how little and cute she is. No one could bear to hurt her, so we've been at a standstill."

Just then, the girl came walking over slowly, holding a Forget-Worry Flower.

The Forget-Worry Flowers on Douluo Continent weren't actually like the "Forget-Worry Flowers" on Blue Star. They were more like gentians: elegant and simple, blooming in profusion, their beautiful indigo color brimming with mystery.

Chen Yu looked at the Little Girl and was about to say something when Chen Xiaojun spoke up. "Grandpa, let me talk to her."

The Little Girl walked straight up to Chen Xiaojun and looked at him quietly. As if she had confirmed something, she held out the Forget-Worry Grass in her hand to him.

"Is this for me?" Chen Xiaojun was a little surprised. It was the first time in either of his two lives that a girl had given him a flower. The unexpected gesture made him happy.

The Little Girl nodded.

"What's your name?" Chen Xiaojun asked gently.

The Little Girl kept looking at him without answering, her eyes shining.

"Can you speak?"

"...X...X...iao Yi..." The Little Girl's shoulders trembled nonstop. It seemed to take all her strength to force the words out.

"She finally spoke," Xia Lin chimed in, but her tone carried an indescribable regret. Anyone who wasn't a fool could tell there was something wrong with the girl's voice.

"Then can I call you Xiao Yi?" Chen Xiaojun tried his best to make his voice sound warm.

The Little Girl nodded lightly.

"Where's your family?" She shook her head.

"Are they gone?" She shook her head again.

"Don't you remember?" This time, she nodded.

"Are you alone, then?" She nodded again.

Chen Xiaojun held out his right hand and said gently, "Then come with me, okay?"

She gazed quietly at Chen Xiaojun and didn't say whether she agreed or not.

Chen Xiaojun smiled warmly. Mm, his teeth were pretty white; he looked quite sunny too. His hand remained outstretched.

A few seconds passed, and then she held out her hand too. The two of them clasped hands.

Chen Xiaojun turned to Chen Yu and said, "Grandpa, let's go home together."

He turned and led Lesser Siming Xiao Yi through the Stone Wall gate, heading home.

Watching the two children from behind, Chen Yu couldn't explain why, but they seemed to him to have a strangely harmonious, natural, beautiful connection. The corner of his mouth lifted slightly. "That boy..." He followed behind them with a carefree stride.

"Clan Chief..." Xia Lin called out.

"Don't worry, I know what I'm doing!" Chen Yu's voice drifted by Xia Lin's ear.

In the courtyard, when Chen Xiaojun led Lesser Siming Xiao Yi inside, Ye Xiuxin flashed a look of surprise and confusion. "Xiaojun, you're back. Did everything go smoothly this time? And this is..."

"Mother, this is Xiao Yi. She can't remember her parents. She may have to live with us from now on."

"What? This child, she... Come here, let me have a look at you, dear." Ye Xiuxin peered at the Little Girl.

Her eyes were clear and bright, her brows curved like willow branches, and her small eyelashes fluttered faintly. Her flawless, fair skin held the faint pink of a baby's, and her hair was a rare pale purple on the Continent. Though she wore a veil, it was obvious she was a beautiful girl in the making.

The Little Girl was simply too cute. Besides, both of Ye Xiuxin's children were boys, so having a girl at home would make her happy.

Just then, Chen Yu came in. "Xiuxin, check the child's throat and vocal cords later, and give her a full examination."

Before Chen Xiaojun could say anything, Chen Yu had already given him a huge assist. He silently gave his grandfather a thumbs-up.

"Ah, all right." At Chen Yu's words, Ye Xiuxin couldn't help feeling sorry for her, and said sadly, "Such a cute child. How could this have..."

Ye Xiuxin raised a hand, wanting to gently stroke Xiao Yi's cheek. Xiao Yi took a step back and tightened her grip on Chen Xiaojun's hand.

"It's all right, Xiao Yi. She's my mother. She won't hurt you." Chen Xiaojun placed Xiao Yi's hand in his mother's. At his words, a faint glimmer passed through Xiao Yi's eyes, and this time she didn't refuse.

Ye Xiuxin raised one hand and gently rested it on Xiao Yi's delicate shoulder. She said warmly, "Still your breath and clear your mind. Let go of distracting thoughts."

Xiao Yi's expression paused for a moment. Though she didn't quite understand what Ye Xiuxin meant, she still did as instructed without thinking.

"Don't worry. Just relax."

Ye Xiuxin said this, then a blue light blossomed in her palm. She extended a finger and gently touched the space between Xiao Yi's brows.

A glimmer of light flashed. Xiao Yi slowly closed her eyes, and in the next instant, a strange energy enveloped her small body and flowed around her.

The blue light entered her body slowly through the acupoint between her brows, moving gently through her meridians and organs.

Ye Xiuxin's Soul Power seeped into her in an exceptionally gentle manner. Not only did it cause her no harm, but it also made her feel a faint, refreshing coolness.