The Sorceress: Blossoming Power

Outside the cave, Tyriece and Xinyi lifted the stones in the air. They smashed the same colored stones against each other and hurriedly clenched a fist to make the fragments merged into a bigger rock. They wasted nothing, not even a speck of dust. 

These went on until they saw red, orange, and black rocks as big as a foot in front of them.

"Now, how to bind the three colors into one, Nianshi?" Xinyi said.

Nianshi stood outside the entrance with a book and brush in hand. "It says you need to infuse your stone essence between the two stones as a binding medium. But do it with two types of stones at a time."

"So, the light color Tharah comes first and fuses it with the red Wag stone." Xinyi said, keeping in mind the first Sorceress instructions in the book.

But suddenly an explosion happened at her side. Fragments of the three colors lay on the ground beside the bedraggled Tyriece who had red, black, and orange-colored dust on him. 

"What happened?" Everyone shouted. Those inside the cave ran out, wondering what the loud explosion was about.

"Sorry, I didn't wait for Nianshi's complete explanation and tried to fuse the three colors altogether. And... boom." Tyriece said a matter-of-factly, brushing the colorful dust off his face.

"Fuse light colors first. Keep in mind to arrange the stones from light to dark." Xinyi said. 

"Oh, so the color matters?" Tyriece looked down at the remnants of his experiment.

"Uhuh, let me try it." But deep inside, 'Hoping it won't explode,' with a bit of excitement and nervousness.

Xinyi lifted her hands and a foot by foot orange and the same size red stone floated in mid-air near her chest level. She brought her two palms together and the two stones moved beside each other. Gray stone essence moved out from her fingers and fused between the two stones. 

All could see the gray light sparked in between the stones for a time. 

Five minutes later, Xinyi withdrew her essence and pulled the two-colored slab of stone toward her. Her chest lightened to see the two became one.

Tyriece and Nianshi went to inspect the result and nodded in satisfaction.

"It's my turn." Tyriece said, full of inspiration.

Before twilight came, they produced enough three-colored stone slabs for all of them to use.

"Let's rest for the night. Everyone come inside unless you want to freeze to death." Kaosma announced at the cave entrance.

None of them were clean as they gathered inside the cave. Xinyi was glad to have the writings on the wall in a book after witnessing the ugly and ravaged walls. The beauty and art it had before turned into uneven holes. Power stones, ordinary rocks, dirt, and grass covered the cave grounds. 

Tyriece and Xinyi lifted their hands and all the dirt and ordinary stones plastered themselves back into the walls, leaving the power stones on the ground. 

Xinyi opened her magical bag and with a thought, all the leftover power stones jumped in.

Lofey, Lengshui, and Tyriece built a separate cavern with a pool inside and let the girls bathe first. Thanks to Kaosma digging frozen fish from the frozen river, they had roasted fish along with Xinyi's herbs and vegetables for dinner. They finished eating before darkness covered the snowy peak. 

"Tomorrow, we will start healing the river. And you next. I promise that." Xinyi said as she sat beside Ming, stroking his long hair.

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---- o ----

In Fengfu City.

The prime minister sat on Ming's chair in Cuxin State. 

Lifen and Zhang Wei sat opposite Prime Minister Xian Lang. The other two Chiangdas guarding behind the shadows outside the governor's study. 

"I have Sir Qinfen and Sir Zai[Ming's brothers] gather information about the Cleansing Fire's movements. They also included other foreigners staying in the city. So far, the number of foreigners coming in has doubled in the past days. What will I do next, Sire?" Zhang Wei said.

"Did you see anything suspicious in their trades? Have they found the caves?"

"So far, nothing considered suspicious, but they increased the price for each stone sold to them. They wished to monopolize the stone trading, but hindered by our local merchants who bought the stones in silence as you instructed. The local Chamber of Commerce expressed their heartfelt gratitude for your prompt payment. So, what's left for the Vernaboles' traders are from the other visiting foreigners.

"About the caves, as you instructed, I've rewarded the builders used by that evil Mafan for their silence. They were thankful for the rewards. This eased their financial state. They also wished for me to extend their gratitude for the capital scholarship their children received."

Prime Minister Xian Lang nodded with great pleasure to hear the report. "Good job. I appreciate your cooperation and hard work. The king will reward you greatly with your effort to keep the peace in our country."

Zhang Wei aggressively bowed down. "I don't need rewards, my lord. My only desire is for our country to flourish. Nothing more, nothing less."

"Thank you for your unfailing loyalty. The king is not a scrupulous man as to deny you from your just reward. So, receive it once it's given. It's an honor to have a loyal man like you serving our country. You may go now. I will call for you when needed."

Zhang Wei bowed and left the room. He looked back, taking a glimpse of Lifen, smiling at him.

Silence prevailed in the room for a time. 

"I never thought you would start a relationship with someone as young as him, but who would have thought you're already in your fifties with that face and vitality of yours? You better give me some of those you call beauty fruits as a gift for my daughter and sister." Prime Minister Xian Lang said.

"He is a good man, and I have been alone for years. Don't you think I deserve to enjoy the rest of my life with someone as caring as him? About the fruit, pay a hefty price for a piece unless you wait for the auction that I will hold three days from now." 

A huge grin was on Lifen's face, expecting a good income from this wealthy, sworn brother of hers.

"I'll pay for the two. Name your price and I'll pay you now." Xian Lang said lazily. "Well, what is this auction for? This is the first time you mentioned this." He tapped a finger on the table.

"Good, as expected from you. This auction is a diversion. I want the foreign traders and rogue travellers to spend their money on this auction to keep their hands off the stones and from the mines. The items I'll sell are my special herbs and the principal item is the beauty fruit, of course." Lifen said proudly.

Xian Lang walked to the door with his hands on his back, letting the moon's light shower him. He closed his eyes with a face full of serenity. He felt at peace to be here, away from the notorious atmosphere in the capital. 

Then he jerked his head, looking down at her, displaying a grin but with a hint of reprimand. "You might attract evil to yourself. People will suspect where you get them. You should come up with a good excuse as a cover up like a hidden sacred tomb. Or your peaceful hidden garden will invite greedy men , including the Cleansing Fire people." 

"Haha, that is not a problem at all. Fengfu is a border city where endless foreign tradings flourished. I need not tell where I get it, but only place the blame on the passing merchants. That is in case someone will ask.

"My children and I will also open our own beauty pavilion, so this auction is only a way to announce the pavilion's opening day. We will sell the beauty elixirs and oils for the incoming wealthy families. They are flocking back after they heard we have a truce against the Goding nation. Thanks to General Letmo's cooperation." 

Her sight followed him as she stood beside him, daring him to refute her well-though plans. He looked down at her lovely youthful look, inviting him to grin.

"Well thought plan, sis, but still be careful. Cleansing Fire is not an easy enemy. That magical fruit will attract them too. Such a precious fruit that would keep you from aging is a treasure and anyone not spare their blades from spilling blood just to get a hold of one." 

His gaze went to where Fu hid. No signal of unwanted visitors, relieving him.

"I know, that's why I will sell part of my beauty elixirs and oils in the auction." Lifen saw where his eyes darted but didn't mind.

"I suggest you make these rare beauty products as the major attraction and keep the fruit. Sell them at the highest plausible price. That will truly keep you, your family, and this city safe."

She nodded with a thinking look. "I think you have a point. Thank you for the guidance, brother."

His attention went to the sickle-shaped moon again. "You're welcome, sis. As always. Any news from Xinyi and the governor?"

Her face went gloomy as she looked up at the moon above. "I received nothing yet. Not getting any news is slowly getting on my nerves, but I trust Xinyi and General Lethmo will find Ming. I believed in them."

He heaved a deep sigh. "I trust my daughter will succeed. By the way, I sent my men to cover the caves to keep it from prying eyes."

Her gaze swept up to him and thankfully smiled. "That would be great. I hope that evil organization will leave Fengfu soon."

"I hope so, too. I hope so. And avoid bloodshed."