The Sorceress: Blossoming Power

Ming leaped with all his strength but he was too late. His hand touched a space and darkness took over. He clenched his fist in desperation, not only for losing his mom but also for missing the chance to accompany her and meet Xinyi.

"Ma! I hope you're safe and meet her and bring her back," he shouted. He stood still on the spot for a while until his eyes adapted again with the darkness. Somehow, his mom's words gave him assurance and hoped she was with Xinyi right at this moment.

He glanced around and looked at the cavern and ashamed he didn't explore it well… Ming recalled what his mom claimed that the ring would glow when she was near the successor. So, there's a tremendous possibility for them to be inside this cave. Where else would they be in this time of day? Where else would be the best choice to hide in the estate?

Ming had visited most of the area. He had found no place suitable as shelter aside from this cave. Also, the woodlands were not as vast as those outside the city limits. This only covered a fraction of the estate of three hectares of land.

However, after that illusion trap earlier, he chose not to venture inside the cave for now. Anyway, his mother gave her assurance. For certain, if Xinyi was the Sorceress' successor, she wouldn't dare harm her mother-in-law even if they hadn't known each other yet.

He was wise with his decision of not invading the cave at this hour because if he stepped afoot at the entrance, the masked man who lay in wait inside would never hesitate to charge against him. About Madame Lei's situation, that would be a different story.

Madame Lei reappeared again at the farthest part of the cave and not precisely to where Xinyi stayed. She found herself in a misty and bleak place that she couldn't see a thing not even her own hands… She thought about why the ring didn't deliver her directly to Xinyi. Why was she here? Were her granny's stories and notes wrong?

Madame Lei couldn't guess what went awry but concluded not to think more. She trusted her grandma would never make things up. Her hands stretched at her front as she glided her foot forward. She wished to tap the cave walls but reached nothing. She proceeded in this manner hoping to find a place with light, at least, but deep inside her heart, she hoped that the legacy she picked up was not a mistake.

Inside the cave, Xinyi had taken a refreshing bath in Shíjiān's mini pool and readied herself to sleep. She put on a new set of clothes from her bundle and settled her head on Shíjiān's furry body warming her and making her secure like she was in Yan Ma's bosom when she was a child… and longed to stay this way. That warmth calmed her longing soul for someone to love and care for her… and drifted to dreamland.

Unknown to her, Shíjiān's ears were on alert the whole time. She heard someone walking near the entrance of her residence and squinted as her vision went through the walls… There, she saw a lady with white hair but not that old compared to humans her age, was walking toward another cavern. It was Madame Lei but Shijian shivered to see where Madame headed. It never occurred to her that Madame Lei was here for Xinyi and her cloaking spell misled the old woman away.

At this moment, Xinyi felt the heat in her body and made her uneasy while sleeping. Shijian felt the same way and thought of running toward Madame Lei. The animals' also turned their heads toward the cave.

As Madame Lei slowly moved, the ring shone. "I must be nearer to Xinyi," and her hope rose. Excitement and a bit of relief filled her chest, only a bit because she wasn't sure yet what lay ahead. She moved her hand up to let the light show the path ahead and... inhaled deep in horror. Just a few steps away was a deep cliff and she could have fallen if she continued. She hurriedly jumped back. Beads of sweat covered her forehead and her face went pale as she sat, panting.

Madame Lei firmly held her chest as tears fell from her eyes. "Oh great ancestors, I almost died." Her shoulders slouched and trembled… She cried not just because of fear but mostly because of regret. She began to regret believing the tale.

However, she suddenly heard footsteps and saw a pair of black shoes in front of her. She looked up and moved back in fright. It was the masked man standing in front of her. However… the man placed a finger to his lips, "Shhh," and waved a hand beckoning her to follow.

Madame Lei hesitated but gathered her courage and asked, "Who are you?"

The man scratched his head, bent down… and began writing. "Don't be scared. I'm not an enemy. But don't speak more or you'll awaken the great being sleeping below. I can't speak to you but I can bring you to the person you are looking for."

With that, Madame Lei nodded but still on guard against this masked person for he could be lying. Somehow, a companion would be better than walking alone in this dim place. As they walked further away from the cliff, the heat on Xinyi's chest slowly vanished. The animals felt the same way.

The masked man led the way and Madame Lei followed while the ring continued to light their path… and they ended on a cave wall. She whispered, "Where are we?" The masked person bent down again and scribbled on the dirt. "Just knock on this wall using the hand with the ring but I warn you not to mention your son to the young Sorceress right now."

"Huh? Why can't I do that? Then can I tell her I'm her mother-in-law?" But the masked man didn't say a word and left her. "Wait! Is my son fine?" but the man ran away as soon as he finished writing. Madame Lei sighed.

Old Madame knocked on the wall and inch by inch the rock disappeared and a lighted path opened to her. She stepped in and the wall quietly closed behind her.

Outside the cave, the masked man ran stealthily tailing Ming until the latter passed the brook. Then he ran toward the bamboo thicket and his body turned into the big panda who carried Xinyi earlier.