The Sorceress: Blossoming Power

Ming and Xinyi joined the rest inside the cave but Guang met them at the entrance.

"Xinyi, I think it's time for both of you to hear the message inside your pendant before we travel back to Fengfu City tomorrow." 

Hearing the phrase 'the message inside the pendant', widened Xinyi's eyes, like there was an explosion in her brain, but of the good sort, making her tremble out of excitement. "That's great. I totally forget about it, but I really want to hear it too." 

Ming's face displayed somewhat akin to excitement, but more on the curious side. He seemed not too bothered about it. For him, those whispers had nothing to do with them anymore because it was of the past, for his great-grandfather, and not for him. Mostly that Xinyi and he had openly admitted what they truly feel to one another. However, learning from it could be beneficial to them.

"So, you will thoroughly understand the underlying truth of the past, but it's up to you on how you'll use it. But I can only do the ritual with only the two of you present. I suggest you find a private place and I will release the message there."

The two looked at each other, and Xinyi replied. "How about I carve out a small cavern?"

"Hmm, this is so intimidating. I couldn't believe my wife has so many powers." Ming said lazily, his fingers playing with the inch-long beard on his chin. Before Xinyi could react, he said, "You seem confident to use your powers now?" 

"Not really. I'm still learning from the books and from Sir Tyriece. I still need to learn more about the fire essence too." Xinyi said, pushing the strands of hair blocking her eyes.

"Good, then I'll teach you all I know about wind as well. Will you be an outstanding student, my wife?" He said, winking an eye.

Her cheeks puffed up with hands on her waists. "Of course! This is your wife you're talking about. I'm a fast learner and a wide reader, so teaching me won't be that hard. I will learn it in no time," she said in a confident tone, sending the three of them into bubbles of laughter.

They left the cave again and went back to the place where Tubli talked with them. Xinyi built a tent-like structure out of soil. It faced the river, so no one could eavesdrop from the group. They stood in the middle with Guang standing at their side. 

"Hold hands, both of you." Then Guang turned to Xinyi. "I'll be honest with you. You can't hear the message at all. Only Sir Ming can hear it since the late Sorceress imbued it in the pendant for the Grand General Lei Ming." Then to Ming. "So, Sir Ming, just tell her about it afterwards. And you must not interrupt her even if she cries until you hear the entire message."

Guang looked left and right, waiting for their affirmation. 

"We understand. Let's do it." Ming said. Xinyi nodded in agreement.

"Okay, we will start now, but no one must interrupt me. Or we will all over again."

The two nodded.

"Let's start. Xinyi, close your eyes think of those days when you were in Forsaken Valley then I will lead you from there."

Xinyi shut her eyelids and her mind travelled back to her childhood days in the said Valley. She thought of her constant companions and playmates, the animals. Mostly, the python where she used to sleep inside the being's warm coiling body.

"Xinyi, stop sleeping here," the python said.

"Why? Don't you like me anymore?" the ten-year-old Xinyi said.

"I am a beast while you're human. It is best for humans to play and interact with other humans. Why won't you go back to your birthplace? I think you will enjoy playing with the human children."

"Going back? I…" Then the small girl remembered something crucial. "I don't know the way back." And she wept.

Xinyi recalled the day her mother, Xian Ai, died and the beginning of her pain. The day when they learned she had powers.

She was still very young and still grieving for her loss. Yet, one day, her father took her in a carriage together with Yan Ma without telling them where they headed.

"Where are we really going, father?" Bouncy little Xinyi asked, thinking that her father brought her out to play and eat outside their home. But never thought their travel would last for two weeks. 

It was a tiring trip, but Xinyi coped up with it better than they expected. 

When they reached the mouth of a dense forest, they travelled on foot, until they reached the Forsaken Valley. 

"Look, Xinyi. This is my surprise." Xian Lang said with a forced smile. 

Xinyi followed the father's pointing finger and gaped in wonder.

She instantly fell in love with the meadow full of flowers in variant colors. A brook ran beside it and she played with the water. She ran around, brushing the blooms with her palms. It was one of her fondest memories, yet also the dreadful one that caused her nightmares for days. 

Back at the present, Xinyi just realized that sad smile made by her father and wondered what was on his mind. Because when she looked back after playing, he was no longer there. He left without even saying goodbye.

Tears dripped down Xinyi's closed eyes. Her heart wrenched on how lonely she was, on how she cried for days and nights, running around the forest, asking the animals, and seeking where her father had gone.

Ming saw her tears and wished to embrace her, but Guang placed a finger on her lips and moved her head left and right. Ming sighed, but suddenly…

"I love you, Ming 'er, but my heart is in pain right now. Why did you leave me and followed the king's request? I told you not to listen to him, but you still left. You can blame me for not telling you my secrets. But the past is past. I am about to die soon."

Silence.

Ming heard sobbing and thought it was Xinyi's cries, but then realized there were the two weeping women intermingling with each other.

"I will tell you the truth now. I hope I'm not too late to gain your trust again. I am someone from another world, and from a bloodline of great Sorcerers. They sent here me to save this world from its dying state but I failed. I really failed... But before I die, I want to make one last attempt, but I need your help for me to succeed. 

"Get the map I left under your bed in your mansion in Goding. Bring it to the king of the Youshi Nation. Both of you must go to this hidden valley where I hid the Chiangdas that I could save. I wished to save more, but I spent most of my essence for my future successor. Protect the last of the Chiangdas, for they are the future of this world.

"Do you remember the stories I told you about the Kore and the power chain that you always laughed about and dismissed as plain fantasy stories I made up? Those stories are no mere myths, but they are true and are happening right now. This world... your world is really dying.

"If you still have faith in me, look for a man surnamed Tevarius among the Chiangdas I saved. Ask him about the power draining rituals. And bring all the hidden Chiangdas to Fengfu City, a border city of Youshi. There are three veins in that place. The biggest cave is a spirit landform that can give the strongest power back to the power chain. Let that man guide the ritual. I hope I can add more life to the power chain as I die.

"I hate to leave you, but I have to. I wished to be with you, but I have to go. Goodbye, my dearest. You are the most wonderful man I've ever met. I hope, someday, the circle of life will bring us back together and fulfill my wish to be one with you." 

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As the moon reached the highest peak in the dark skies, twenty masked men left a secluded house near the west wall of Fengfu City. They stealthily walked the silent and dark alleys where few dare to tread. Their aim was the governor's mansion, Cuxin Estate. The instruction was to capture the Lady Governor Lifen Lei. 

Inside Cuxin Estate. 

Lifen and her children busily prepared the items to be auctioned the next day. The workers were burning the midnight oil to finish the front of Anjing Pavilion, the first auction's venue, oblivious of the impending danger cautiously coming right at their doorstep at this very moment.