It was quite a distance and Senja wasn't used to riding on a horse for too. So, after a few hours her legs turned sore and she shifted about in place uncomfortably.

"Don't move, you will fall." Xiao Tianyao cautioned her.

"How far is it?" Senja whined.

They had been in and out of five villages so far without any pitstops. It wasn't a challenge for someone like Xiao Tianyao who had lived his life riding a horse day in and day out. But, for someone like Senja who had just learnt to ride, it was an unbearable ordeal.

"Close, hold on for a while longer."

That was what Xiao Tianyao had been saying to Senja since hours ago. Senja sighed, not wanting to act spoiled. However, she couldn't ignore the pain either.

"Chicken katsu, chicken soup, cheese cake, egg rolls, vanilla ice cream." Senja was chanting all her favorite foods in order to distract herself from her numbing legs. "Chicken… fried Chicken… chicken again… chicken…"

Xiao Tianyao chuckled when he heard a muddleheaded Senja mumble but still held her by her waist to restrict her movements.

---

The sun had almost set, and the shadow of darkness was starting to envelop their small group.

Finally, when Senja could feel her legs no more, Xiao Tianyao raised his hand commanding the entourage to halt.

They were on a hill and below them were passing five metal freight carriages pulled by a dozen of horses each. Several masked people wearing dark green robes flanked the carriages. There were also some in red clothes without any masks.

All in all, they outnumbered Xiao Tianyao's entourage by quite a large margin.

"There are around 50 people." Senja anxiously looked up at Xiao Tianyao.

"Don't worry." Xiao Tianyao patted her head without even thinking, like it was only natural for him to do so. Then he dismounted his horse and helped Senja down by holding her waist again.

"How can I not worry? I am not skilled in martial arts! Once the fight breaks out, I will be a sitting duck!" Senja expressed her worries in a low voice.

**I wonder if my four limbs would still be intact by the time I meet Yun? **

Senja's dress wasn't helping either. Yet, the thing that bothered Xiao Tianyao most was still her hair.

"Cover your hair." He said as he rearranged and draped the grey cloak on her head.

"As long as it isn't my neck… I don't mind if they chop my hair off." An apprehensive Senja replied.

"No one will cut your neck or your hair." Xiao Tianyao smiled a radiant smile at her. He seemed to be in a good mood somehow.

Senja kept glancing at the large party of people on the path below the hill. As she saw them, she couldn't rest assured at Xiao Tianyao's words.

"What are you going to do?" Senja whispered to him.

"Keep watching." Xiao Tianyao replied and held Senja's waist to guide her to a hiding place behind a big rock. The 8 Crescent Moon members, Yang Yu and Feng Chang followed suit while two of the members gathered their horses and led them to a place afar.

Xiao Tianyao glanced briefly at Feng Chang. Although, he put on calm face, his eyes shone with killing intent. He brushed the hilt of the sword that hung on his waist, many times. Yang Yu also noticed Feng Chang's subtle movements as he was on high alert, anticipating sudden movements.

Senja who was wrapped under the grey cloak and secure in Xiao Tianyao's embrace, was almost invisible. Yet, as curiosity got the better of her, she poked her head out to see what was going on down there, but Xiao Tianyao simply held her head and pressed her back onto his chest.

"What is happening down there?" Senja whispered in in a fit of pique.

"The trade." Xiao Tianyao kindly answered her.