The Sorceress: Blossoming Power

Lifen and Xionmao waited and observed the whole event above a hill near there. The mother-in-law was glad to see Ming and Xinyi together and for the snake's death. To know Xinyi's mount was a legendary lion dragon amazed her. But she had her issues to clear with Xionmao now.

"Tell me, why are you stopping me from mentioning Ming and from telling her I'm her mother-in-law?" She stood with hands on her h.i.p.s as the warm breeze brushed passed them sweeping the dry field.

The panda was silent, trying to comprehend her accusation. Later, he bent and wrote on the dirt. "I never stop you from saying you're her mother-in-law. I stopped you from talking about your son."

"What?" She clenched her fists and wished to blow in anger but after much thinking, she understood it was her own presumptions. "Okay, now tell me, why am I not allowed to talk about Ming? And why can't you speak the human language like that lion dragon?" She talked while pointing her finger at him and to Nianshi's location.

He erased the written words with his foot and scribbled. "One question at a time. First, to avoid Lady Xinyi from getting emotional. She had no control of her power yet so she shouldn't get emotional or things will go wrong."

"What do you mean things will go wrong when she's emotional?"

"As I've said, Lady Xinyi has no control of her power yet. Good thing you came with the ring. Now, she has the great lion dragon to help her and guide her."

Lifen played with a lock of hair and asked after much thinking. "That's good to hear then. But what will happen if she'll get agitated or angry?"

"I don't know. I haven't seen it happened, but as a guardian, I can feel the surging power from her when she's emotional. It's pointless to ask me this. You better help her control her emotions."

"How do you know? Are there more guardians? Who and where are they?"

"I can't tell you more. The truth will come in its own time. I'm going back to the cave. I'm not needed here."

As he was about to leave, "Wait! Why can't you speak human language?"

"Because the Sorceress has to learn how to use her powers first. Only she can open that locked part in me before I can speak."

"Then how come the dragon spoke?"

"Because he is the great dragon. Is that hard to understand?"

"Oh, sorry." Lifen covered her mouth and smiled awkwardly, feeling stupid with her questions ... and remembered an object she wished to ask from him. "Can I ask you a favor?"

Xionmao didn't move to listen. This gave Lifen courage to ask what was in her mind since they left the cave. "Can I have that blue spider's blanket?"

Xionmao shook his head right away. "Why?" Lifen asked.

"That will be dangerous. The risk is high compared to your benefits." She understood what he meant, but to live in the cave just for the blanket was a crazy plan too. Lifen could only sigh and accept reality.

The panda appreciated her understanding, so he thought of giving her a gift. "But I can give you another thing to help you stay younger with no risk. Let's go back first so I can give it to you and prepare for their coming. I believe they will go back tonight."

After hearing that, Lifen was similar to a child expecting a gift she longed to receive. Her eyes lit up with impish glee and a smile broke on her face that could make a troubled man smile.

"What is it? What is it?" she said bouncing as she blocked his path. But Xionmao didn't bother to reply and left. "Hoy, hoy, wait for me," she said and zoomed away right behind Xionmao, happy to get something to keep her young.

Now, she understood the truth behind the legend that Fengfu City was the source of the mystical powers of Chiji and thought Cūxīn, the governor's estate, was the core. To unravel the hidden mysteries thrilled her but knew the risk too. Thus, she had to let Xinyi took control of this matter than letting a bystander such as her to disturb it at the wrong time.

----- o -----

At the farmland devastated by the snake.

Nianshi felt sorry for the guard who passed out. So, he brought him down from the tree and handed him to another guard, who shivered and swallowed his saliva in one gulp when Nianshi's sharp and long shiny claws which held the unconscious guard's armor, lowered the person in front of him. He thought it was time to ask Xinyi to release the spell keeping him from transforming in any way he liked.

He forbade anyone to go near the ball because of what Xinyi said after they detected the vile snake. Xinyi mentioned about an evil vibe from the reptile which screened her voice from reaching its mind when Nianshi told her to try using telepathy. The result, Xinyi became dizzy and delayed their attack on the snake.

They waited for Xinyi. Even though he had power and vast knowledge, he had his own limitations too. Though resistant against evil spirit's possessions, he had to destroy it to stop from going rampant once he released it from imprisonment. Only Xinyi's power could bring out and make the spirit docile for asking.

To his relief, Ming and Xinyi came back soon. Ming jumped from the horse first and planned of assisting Xinyi but to his dismay, the wife jumped on her own.

'Ah, I'm the fool. How could I forget? She even dared to jump from the sky.' The husband felt brainless with his actions but, as promised, Xinyi let him hold her hand the whole time. This was hilarious in everyone's eyes. They looked like a dating couple strolling on a gruesome field of slimy remains while the dead snake's corpse was their main discussion.

Nonetheless, who could ridicule the highest official of the city? Ming knew this well, but his main reason was to keep her from running away after yesterday and her attempts today, so they could talk and clear up their misunderstandings. Mostly, to ask for her forgiveness and patch things up between them.