Senja straightened her back abruptly, didn't believe with what she had just heard. "Why did you allow her to go to the capital city alone!?" Now she was angry because Gong Xu let her go.

"Alone?" Gong Xu repeated the word with ridicule tone. "Do you really think I will let her go alone without any protection even if she was rolling on the ground?"

"Hm…" Senja thought about it seriously, but shook her head in the end. "Indeed it doesn't make sense."

"She is going with the Shadow Warrior." He said with distaste in his tongue when he mentioned it. "She should have been in the capital city by now."

His annoyed expression turned worried.

"We will catch up with her tomorrow." Senja said reassuringly and entered the room.

After a long discussion about her plan with the elder and what the next step that they would take also a little bit was at odds with Gong Xu, Senja was too tired to keep her eyes opened.

She fell on the bed inside the room that Gong Xu had prepared.

She felt like she had just slept for a minute inside the warm blanket when someone knocked on her door.

The banging sound was getting louder and louder when she ignored it. It took every ounce of her will to lazily and reluctantly got off from the bed, grumbling when she opened the door, only to find out it was actually Gong Xu who disturbed her.

"What is it?" Senja asked, hugging her body under the cloak.

His expression incredulously surprised with her question. "What do you meant with 'what is it?'" He furrowed his brows while tapping his fingers on her arms. "Don't you know that we have been waiting for you to come out? Are we really going?"

Senja looked at him with 'I don't understand what you are talking about' kind of expression when Gong Xu nodded his head toward the window inside Senja's room.

Turning around, Senja was stunned by the bright light that emanated from behind the curtain.

"Is it morning already?"

"Yes, if I am not mistaken." He replied sarcastically.

Ignoring the mocking tone, Senja slammed the door and yelled from inside. "I will be quick!"

She didn't know what was gotten into her, even though she has overslept, but the tiredness in her body didn't get away, she was still feeling sleepy and restless.

Probably, it was the accumulation of the stressful event that she was in finally took a toll on her.

........

Thirty minutes later the five of them were on horses, riding to the place where yi qing's troops were. The journey back was silent as they were occupied with their own thought.

To think about it again, it was almost two months since the last time Senja met Xiao Tianyao. She missed him…

The longing feeling suddenly made her cried. She startled when she felt tears were streaming down her face, abruptly she wiped them away. This wasn't time to be sentimental. But, her emotions were all over the place and she couldn't figure out why.

Fortunately, the moment they arrived at the camp she was feeling better.

Since Elder Fu and Elder Chen were there, it wasn't necessary for Senja to give a command. They had discussed about this and came with the same conclusion. So, naturally both elders would take over the six hundred people under their leadership.

The elders also have been advising her to stay away from the battlefield, she was afraid that it would be too much for her. However, after what she had seen in the northern fortress and how bloody and cruel the war could be, she thought there was nothing that she couldn't overcome.

Moreover, by following them, she could meet Xiao Tianyao faster. She missed him and worried about him…

With a little rest and briefing them about their plan, all of them ready to go again.

It was late at night when they entered the Q city that was in Elder Zhong's authority by now. It was the same like the city had fallen into Xiao Zi's hand.

At first, the eight guards at the entrance gates were in alert when they saw their entourage, brandishing their sword and was about to run to inform their fellow comrade before Yi Qing stopped them.

"Leader Yi, what is the meaning of this?" One of them, who have been half- way running toward the gates, was stopped by Yi Qing questioned him warily.

However, it wasn't Yi Qing who answered him, Elder Fu dismounted his horse and pulled down his hood.

"Where is Elder Zhong?" Elder Fu's voice appeared strangely very calm as if he was asking his fellow friend, not the person that had poisoned him.

The surprise expressions on the guards' faces were like the one that Yi Qing had showed not long time before. They looked like had just seen a ghost.

The rumor about the two leaders' death was shocking news that was on their lips for a few days, but to see them alive and well, left them speechless.

The eight of them fell on their knees, shivering.

"Answer me." Elder Fu asked them again in monotonous tone.

"General Zhong is in his tent." The one who was stopped by Yi Qing earlier answered him solemnly.

Since, Xiao Jun's army was consisting with many big clans, it was akin to join forces from across the four kingdoms. However, at this time, it was Elder Fu and Elder Chen's people who dominated the whole area in the Q city. It was an advantage for them to have this upper hand.

"Now, gather all the people and wait for my next instruction."

"This subordinate understood." They bowed lowered than usually solemnly. After the shock upon seeing the supposed to death two elders, they were in high spirit to see their leader was alive and well.

Inside the deserted city all the soldiers who were seeing the elders entourage was stunned, their eyes wide opened and jaws dropped.

The noises gradually became louder as they bowed their head respectfully.

However, there was one thing that caught Elder Chen's attention.

"Why the soldiers don't carry a weapon?" He eyed their waist where supposed their sword hung, but there was nothing. Not even a single dagger could be seen.

As they were in the middle of war, a sword was an indispensable part of soldier. What on earth they would do if suddenly the enemy ambushed them?

Awkwardly the young man, who led their way inside the city, answered him. "General Zhong didn't allow us to carry a weapon."

"Ridiculous!!!" Elder Fu exclaimed. "What he meant by doing that!?"

"That…" The young man stammered. "General said…"

"What he said?" Elder Chen prodded impatiently.

"The war will end soon, so there is no need for us to fight anymore." His eyes hardened, obviously he didn't agree with the new regulation of Elder Zhong.

It was a humiliation to be stripped off of their sword for soldiers like them.

The vast clearing was so bright by the torches that were burning every two meters away and in the middle of the camp area, there was a black tent with a flag flew in the air above.

"Senja you wait here with the other, I will go with Elder Fu. This thing should have done by us." Elder Chen said coldly, stared dagger at the direction of the tent.

The guards who were about to greet the two elders and announced their arrival with excitement suddenly felt the atmosphere turned tense and thick.

"Alright." Senja retreated, stepped back and let the two elders entered the tents.

As on cue, the fighting sound and a lot of cursing words could be heard from inside that gathered more soldier to take a look what was happening.

Senja turned to Yi Qing as she said. "Told them to arm themselves we will leave right after elder fu and elder Chen finished with their matter."

"Yes, Young Miss."