Looking at the little girl curled up in the corner, covered in blood and trembling uncontrollably, Marco felt as if an invisible hand had tightly gripped his heart, causing waves of aching pain. Those eyes that should have been clear and bright now held nothing but extreme terror and bottomless sorrow. So young, yet she had to endure the human tragedy of her home being destroyed and her family perishing.
Marco took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the anger and sorrow in his heart. He slowly crouched down, bringing his gaze level with the little girl's, and spoke in an extremely gentle voice, as if afraid of disturbing a fragile dream: "Little sister, don't be afraid. The bad people have been driven away by me."
He carefully released a wisp of gentle Azure Flame energy. The warm, life-filled power flowed like a gentle current, softly enveloping the girl's cold body. Sensing this goodwill, the girl's tense body relaxed slightly, but the fear in her eyes remained. She just looked at him timidly, her small hands tightly clutching her torn clothes.
"What's your name?" Marco patiently continued, trying to distract her.
The little girl remained silent for a long time before answering in a voice as faint as a mosquito's buzz, choked with tears: "I... I'm just called Ya Ya..."
Marco's heart softened. He asked gently again: "Then does Ya Ya remember her family name? What was your family's surname?"
Ya Ya tried hard to recall, tears welling up again as she sobbed: "Grandpa... Daddy... They were all surnamed Li..."
He reached out and very gently stroked Ya Ya's messy hair, his voice warm yet firm: "Ya Ya, your home... was destroyed by bad people. But don't be afraid. Big brother's home is in a far but very safe place called Heaven Dou City. Would you like to come home with me? From now on, my home will be your home, and my parents will be your parents. Will you be my little sister?"
Ya Ya looked up at Marco through tear-blurred eyes. Though young, having experienced such tremendous changes, her mind seemed to have been forced to mature somewhat. She could sense the sincerity and warmth in this big brother's words - the only lifeline she could grasp in the depths of despair. After hesitating for a long time, her small head finally nodded slightly, and she let out an almost inaudible "Mm-hmm."
A heavy weight lifted from Marco's heart, and a warm smile appeared on his face. He carefully lifted Ya Ya out of the ruins and checked that she only had some minor scratches, finally feeling completely relieved.
Considering Ya Ya's physical and mental state, Marco abandoned his original plan to return through hiking training. Carrying Ya Ya, he left that valley filled with blood and death, renting a spacious and comfortable carriage in the nearest town. He personally drove the carriage, letting Ya Ya sit inside on thick, soft cushions.
To ensure Ya Ya's comfort, Marco carefully lined the carriage interior with soft quilts and cushions, creating a warm and safe space. He even purchased simple cloth dolls and brightly colored fabric balls for her to play with freely, hoping to dispel some of the shadows in her heart. Qing Yu also stayed obediently in the carriage, occasionally nuzzling Ya Ya with its head while emitting soft chirps, as if comforting her.
During the three-day journey, Marco drove the carriage with exceptional steadiness. No longer rushing, he prioritized Ya Ya's well-being. During the day, while guiding the horses, he would gently speak to Ya Ya inside the carriage, sharing amusing stories about Heaven Dou City, the small garden at home, or the beautiful scenery along the way. At first, Ya Ya only listened in silence, occasionally responding in a faint voice. Gradually, however, she began asking questions herself, such as, "Is Heaven Dou City really that big?" or "Is Mother's pastry really that delicious?"
Profound grief and fear require time to heal, but a child's heart inherently yearns for warmth and security. Marco's meticulous care and patient companionship flowed like a gentle stream, slowly thawing Ya Ya's frozen heart. Her dependence on Marco grew daily, and at night she would even subconsciously curl up beside him, clutching the corner of his clothes to fall asleep peacefully.
Whenever they passed through larger towns, Marco would stop the carriage and take Ya Ya inside to explore. He bought her pretty floral dresses, sweet sugar figurines, soft pastries, and rattles that produced clear, cheerful sounds. Seeing the faint sparkle in Ya Ya's eyes when she wore new clothes or the slight lift at the corners of her mouth while eating sweets filled Marco with deep satisfaction. He knew these small joys were gradually mending the wounds in her heart.
Three days later, the majestic outline of Heaven Dou City finally appeared on the horizon. As they drew closer to home, Marco felt a surge of nostalgic excitement, while Ya Ya grew visibly tense and anxious, her small hand tightly gripping Marco's sleeve.
The carriage slowly entered the city, winding through familiar streets before finally stopping in front of the Li residence. Having received word of their arrival, Li Zhaoyan and his wife had been waiting at the entrance for some time. Their faces lit up with joyful smiles upon seeing their son return safely.
"Father, Mother, I'm back," Marco said, dismounting from the carriage and bowing to his parents.
"Welcome home, welcome home!" Mother Ye exclaimed, taking her son's hand with affectionate eyes. Li Zhaoyan nodded with a smile, then turned his gaze toward the carriage. "Son, who is this...?"
Marco turned and carefully lifted the timid Ya Ya from the carriage. Though dressed in new clothes, her pale, weary face and large eyes filled with fear and unease made Li Zhaoyan and his wife's smiles freeze instantly, their expressions shifting to heartache and confusion.
Marco briefly explained the situation to his parents, omitting the details of the battle with the Evil Spirit Master. He only mentioned passing through a disaster-stricken village where he found this little girl who had lost all her family.
After hearing her son's account, Mother Ye's eyes instantly reddened. She stepped forward and gently drew Ya Ya into her embrace, her voice choked with emotion: "Poor child... you've suffered so much..." The warm embrace and loving tone finally allowed Ya Ya's tightly wound nerves to relax, and she burst into loud sobs. The fear and sorrow that had accumulated over days came pouring out like a breached flood.
Li Zhaoyan watched the crying Ya Ya, then glanced at his son, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes—though what showed more clearly was compassion. He said solemnly: "Let's go inside first."
Back in the warm and comfortable home, Ya Ya's emotions gradually calmed under Mother Ye's soothing care. Marco looked at his father and said earnestly: "Father, Mother... Ya Ya... her surname is Li. I want to adopt her as my younger sister, to make her part of our family."
For a moment, the room fell silent. Mother Ye's arms around Ya Ya paused slightly as she looked at her husband with a questioning gaze. Li Zhaoyan remained silent for a while, looking into Ya Ya's pure yet traumatized eyes, then at his son's determined expression, before slowly revealing a gentle but firm smile.
He walked up to Ya Ya, crouched down, and used his rough yet warm hand to gently wipe away her tear stains. His voice was steady and full of strength: "Li is a good surname, a very good surname. Don't be afraid, child. No matter what surname you had before, from today onward, this is your home. I am your father; she is your mother; Ke'er is your own brother. We are your family."
Mother Ye also came to her senses, tears glistening in her eyes as she held Ya Ya even tighter with a warm smile: "Yes, yes! From now on, Ya Ya is our own daughter!"
Marco watched this scene, his heart filled with warmth and relief. He knew that this family had gained another member to protect. And Ya Ya, this unfortunate yet fortunate little girl, had finally found new roots in this warm harbor, gaining a true father, mother, and brother.