The Sorceress: Blossoming Power

Xinyi looked at the supposedly Lifen Ma standing beside Lei Ming. The confusion was on her bare face and the source of that confusion happened minutes ago.

They newly entered the cave and Xinyi saw Lifen Ma studying herbs with Xionmao in panda form. When she walked toward the two followed by the little Mings, Lifen Ma gaped in shock and loudly uttered, "Why are there a lot of little Mings here? What are they?" and pointed at the mini Mings hovering around Xinyi.

Exposing she knew Ming led to Xinyi's confusion. "You know the governor, Ma?"

Ming, on the other hand, was also in great surprise, staring at the young face of his mother. His eyes opened like a huge plate as he muffled 'ah', 'how', and 'what' gesturing a finger at Lifen's face. The dragon, panda, Hutyuns, and other animals present looked at each other and stood at the side, leaving the family reunion to the humans.

Lifen Ma walked to Xinyi and held the daughter-in-law's two hands. "Listen to me first before you react, okay?"

Xinyi gulped a good amount of saliva, expecting something hard to digest information with the way Lifen Ma acted. "I hope I can swallow this well and not something to make me go nuts, Ma."

The mother-in-law smirked with what Xinyi said. "I can guarantee it's not that something that will choke you or give you constipation, dear. Trust this Ma of yours," Lifen said smiling like a mother comforting her child to trust her as she let the daughter drink a bitter medicine. While Xinyi expected to learn an awful truth but willing to listen when she saw the kind smile of her Lifen Ma.

Lifen caressed Xinyi's face and said, "I am actually your mother-in-law?"

"What?" gasped Xinyi but Lifen Ma cut her by putting a finger to the daughter-in-law's lips. Then she turned her gaze at the gaping Ming as she pulled him while still holding the more perplexed Xinyi.

"Where're your manners? Close your mouth, son." Ming did but remained dumbfounded. Lifen looked back at Xinyi as she pointed at herself and Ming. "Look at our faces. See? He's the male version of me but I didn't tell you this earlier because I thought this panda," pointing at Xionmao, "told me not to tell you but it was all a misunderstanding on my side."

Then she looked at the bewildered two people. "On how I looked so young again, Well...," she blinked her eyes coyly, "as I've told you earlier I'm older to become your Ma but thanks to the magic blanket of youth here that I became younger. Tada!!!" She lifted the bluish silk blanket to them and let it run to her face while closing her eyes, feeling the softness of the cloth on her face.

The baffled daughter-in-law watched this young-faced mother-in-law playing with the blanket. She recalled Xionmao mentioned this cloth to her when she rummaged the things for a dress to give to Lifen after taking a bath.

The mother's childish act woke Ming from his daze and spoke this time around. "Oh, I get it now." And nodded his head. "So, you came looking for your daughter-in-law and became this young looking because of that thing and didn't introduce yourself as the mother-in-law because you love to be treated as the young you," he said to Lifen with a knowing face, teasing his mother.

"Knock it off, will you? I already told her I'm her Ma but didn't tell her I'm her mother-in-law just because of that panda. I've been her Ma from the very beginning and will always be." Lifen said to clarify further to Xinyi as she placed her arms on Xinyi's shoulders.

As Xinyi saw them bickering, she now totally believed Lifen was really Ming's mother. Though she was taken aback at first, she realized she was not offended that Lifen kept the truth at first since it was only due to a misunderstanding between Lifen and Xionmao.

"So, aside from being the Sorceress' disciple's descendant, you're also my mother-in-law?" Xinyi said her mind out loud while staring at Lifen.

"Yes," Lifen smiled and kissed Xinyi's cheek and held the young lady in her embrace. "I am indeed your mother-in-law, my dear. And from now on we'll be together. You can still call me Lifen Ma because I'm really your Ma."

'Yes, she's right she never lied from the start.' Xinyi told herself and closed her eyes leaning against Lifen's Ma's shoulders. 'I really have a mama now.'

Then Ming cut their lovey-dovey episode with the question he reserved earlier. "Sir Nianshi, can you tell us now about her pendant and my lucky stone?"

"What? What pendant and lucky stone?" asked Lifen Ma.

Xinyi showed her pendant to Lifen Ma. "This, Ma."

Then Lifen exclaimed, "Oh, my great ancestors. This could be the…"