The Sorceress: Blossoming Power

At the Forsaken Valley.

Nianshi and the Hutyuns prepared a nice homely cabin on a hill not too far from the valley while Xinyi tried to rethink what she'd do. She also called the animals who were delighted to see her again. Xinyi spent time with the animals and felt bad for leaving Kuaille in Fengfu when she saw other nightingales perched on trees around them.

The Hutyuns began tending animals while the python enjoyed wrestling with Nianshi by encircling and squeezing the human form dragon and lost the whole time by a simple prick of the long claws. Even though the snake shouted "unfair", he still went on trying to win against Nianshi. As they tried their best to entertain Xinyi, she began asking for information from the forest animals.

"Xinyi, these longing vines came out a week after you left because people came here and ransacked your house," said a rodent.

"So the book turned into this vine and tried to kill those people but they escaped before the vine became fully grown. Those people had deep wounds all over their bodies when they left." said a wild boar.

"Who were these people?" asked Xinyi.

"They smell the same as us but not from us?" said a fox.

"What do you mean?"

"They were wearing fox and bear furs but they are humans but have abilities of a Chiangda," said a deer.

"Chiangda? Are they Chiangda?"

"No, they weren't but have powers from an object in their bodies," said the struggling python while his tail tried lifting Nianshi's hands away from him to keep the claws from hitting him.

"What powers did they show?"

"Hiss!! They used water and fire but they can't kill the vine because this plant can eat fire and used water to grow faster," shouted the python after losing again against Nianshi after the latter head-butted his head.

"Wow!... Really? " The wow was for Nianshi's fiftieth win.

"Don't be afraid to jump in the middle, Xinyi. I've seen longing vines for years and they will never hurt their owners," said the oldest eagle who pecked the python's body with his beak and asked the snake to try wrestling against him.

With their encouragement, Xinyi decided to jump in the next day.

Before the sun said hello to them, Nianshi flew up with Xinyi on his head. Xinyi looked down at the moving thorny stems lashing at them and swallowed her saliva several times at the horrendous sight.

"Nianshi, is there another way for us to communicate with this plant than jumping down in the middle of this dome of thorns?"

"There is no other way since you left it and it felt abandoned. This is the only way to convince the thing that you desire to get it back. You have to take this leap of faith, Sorceress."

"It might hurt me."

"I don't think so unless you hurt it before but since you're the owner it should accept your sincerity."

"Should," Xinyi interjected and breathed deep, building her courage but those thorns really struck her to cower. If you looked down, there was a dome-like structure made of vines with different sizes of thorns. She might be able to jump around the big ones but what she feared was the tiny spikes thrown at them in every whip of the vine that would surely pin her like a pincushion.

"Remember, the leap of faith," reminded Nianshi.

"Understood but give me some time. Can we go higher for a while? I'm having cold feet. Will I die if those thorns pinned me?"

"The only way to find out is to jump on it without fear or just close your eyes, Sorceress but don't forget, I'm here and so do the Hutyuns. We won't let it hurt you. But believe in yourself more and the thing to protect you."

"Yes, my Queen. We can also cover your body like a hard steel so it won't prick your body."

"Don't do that, Hutyun. You will jeopardize the whole plan. The thing wanted from her is her trust and her deep desire to have it back," said Nianshi. After learning the reasons, the Hutyuns quieted and wished her all the luck but ready to zoom down anytime to protect her.

"Hooo!" Xinyi blew out all the air from her lungs and shouted as she jumped, "Here goes nothiiing!!!" And closed her eyes as she fell while kept on murmuring, "Leap of faith, leap of faith, leap of faith…"

Whereas those above observed and waited for any stems that would try to strike her and they would jump in if needed… A vine moved and about to catch her with its thorny stem but when it reached her body…

The Hutyuns were ready to protect her... but astonished when the thorns turned into flowers as the vine caught her and brought her down safely. Xinyi's eyes were closed the whole time when she felt silk-like and fragrant cloth encircled her and slowed her descent until her feet touched the ground.

She slowly opened her eyes to see herself standing inside her old room with a roof made of vines while her bed and wardrobe were indescribable. Suddenly, a hole in the floor sucked all the vines until nothing was left but only the sweet aroma blown with the wind due to the speedy sucking effect. Then her hair floated down as the wind settled.

Then she looked down at the hole and saw a lone cactus rooted in a book. She bent to pick the book and as her hand touched the cover, the cactus grew and wrapped its body around her wrist but she felt no pricking pain from the plant. The plant moved and meows like a cat as it curled on her arm. Xinyi brushed its body and it purred.

She thought it was a cat wishing to be cared for and gave it more dose of patting. The cactus kept on purring, loving the touch of its owner. Xinyi opened the book and inside there was a name... Xian Xinyi.

----- o -----

Eight days had gone by since Xinyi left.

As the city prepared for the incoming war, several caravans owned by wealthy families began leaving the city. Ming didn't mind their leaving since he expected this to happen from such cowardly people. Their desertion rather pleased him as he opened the abandoned mansions to house the hundreds of people seeking refuge from villages.

Ming was busy with Zhang Wei and ardently stopped at bookshops on his way home to buy books to fill the big library he prepared to surprise Xinyi later. He expected for her smiling face and approval with his efforts when she got back in spite of the coming war.

He also talked with his mother for Xinyi's lessons of which the mother understood but told him to give time for his wife to feel the need and ask for the class herself. Ming was at ease as he agreed with the wisdom.