Inside the room, it wasn't only Elder Dam who was waiting for them, but also two old women. The two held a red cloth covered gold plate.

Senja could feel Xiao Tianyao stiffen at the sight as he muttered, "Impossible…"

"What happened?" Senja whispered to him.

**Will something bad happen? ** Senja was confused by Xiao Tianyao's reaction.

The pair walked hand in hand inside the room and the sight pleased Elder Dam even more as a big smile spread on his old face.

"Good! Good! Both of you are here! Sit there." He was all smiles and beamed with excitement, even Senja was slightly infected by his emotion.

Elder Dam forced her to sit on the couch while Xiao Tianyao stood with his arms crossed, as if in protest.

"Grandfather, this is not right." He said unhappily.

"What you mean it is not right? This is the right thing to do!" Elder Dam retorted.

"You didn't ask my consent nor Senja's."

"Why should I ask you or Senja? I know what I am doing, and this is all for the two of you, for my granddaughter's sake." Now Elder Dam imitated Xiao Tianyao as he crossed his arms, ready to lash out if Xiao Tianyao said or did something to displease him. "My granddaughter is innocent and pure; she won't possibly make a decision on her own. So, I, as her grandfather, will make this decision for her."

**Innocent and pure? ** Xiao Tianyao's lips twitched as he glanced at Senja who was busy playing with the hem of her sleeves.

"This is not the right way." Xiao Tianyao shook his head.

Elder Dam bellowed, "You will back out the way you did to Rindy!?"

"That's not what I meant." Even Xiao Tianyao was having a hard time reasoning with him right now.

Elder Dam looked like he had been planning this for some time now and he wouldn't back down until he succeeded.

"I don't care what you meant! You have to take responsibility of my granddaughter! You think you can play with my sweet granddaughter as you wish, and I will just sit comfortably watching from the side!?"

It wasn't only Xiao Tianyao and Senja who were caught off guard, but also the two old ladies on the side who was watching Elder Dam roar.

The two of them directed their gazes at Xiao Tianyao and Senja back and forth while dirty thoughts crept in their minds.

"No…" Senja mouthed to the old ladies, in her attempt to deny the meaning behind her grandfather's words.

However, Elder Dam didn't want to give in as he continued, "Even after you spent a night inside my granddaughter's room, you don't want to do this!?" He was referring to the night when Senja fainted not long ago.

"Nothing happened between us grandfather…" This time it was Senja who tried to explain desperately, she could sense the weird feelings from their spectators.

"No need to defend him my child!" Elder Dam said sternly.

Xiao Tianyao pinched the bridge of his nose, as he said tiredly. "Alright, let's do this."

He approached the couch and flatly sat beside Senja. There was no point in quarrelling with the bull- headed Elder Dam. After all, this thing was bound to happen sooner or later.

An elated Elder Dam clapped his hand, "Both of you can start now."

"But, Master Dam… it isn't right, you must perform the rituals step by step."

Now, it was one of the old women who objected.

"No. Just do main thing! No need for anything else!"

"But…" She still hesitated.

"This is my clan's tradition and I am the head of the Black Sword Clan." Elder Dam was at his wits end what with everyone arguing. "So, it will be I who will decide on what is necessary and what is not!"

The women lowered their heads and obediently nodded.

Senja could feel their restlessness and shot a questioning look at Xiao Tianyao, demanding an explanation from him. But Xiao Tianyao only shook his head, leaned back and closed his eyes.

Senja frowned.

"What is all this?" She tried to ask Elder Dam when the two ladies took their place beside Senja and Xiao Tianyao.

"Young Miss Senja, please, your left hand." One of the old ladies said with a reluctant smile. Apparently, she still disagreed with her grandfather regardless of his reasons.

Senja glanced at the other lady who had grabbed Xiao Tianyao's right hand. The man didn't say anything and only kept his eyes closed.

"It will be fine my child, you can trust grandfather." Elder Dam encouraged Senja, yet behind his calm demeanor and soft smile, she could sense his mischievous side.

**In such a situation, grandfather, you are the last person that I want to trust. ** Senja thought wryly.

Hesitantly Senja put her hand on top of the old lady's palm as she warned her, "Young Miss Senja, it will hurt a bit. Please endure it."

But, before Senja could ask anything else, the old lady withdrew an item from the gold plate. It was a small silver cube like object.

"What is that?" Senja asked curiously.

Paying no heed to Senja's question, with a face full of apology, she said softly, "Bear with this please Young Miss…" As she stamped the silver cube on top of Senja's palm.

In an instant a sharp pain pierced her palm, and she screeched in pain.

"That hurts!" She exclaimed.