The Sorceress: Blossoming Power

Everyone turned their heads to where the arrows came from and saw General Lofey standing with a bow in hand. He walked toward the circling soldiers and looked at the old Knight loyal to him. "Sir Laam, take those evil stones away."

The old guy picked up the Wag stones from the ground and brought it somewhere far from them. General Lofey lent his hand to help the kneeling Chiangdas back on their feet.

"General, why did you come back?" asked Sir Balin.

"I need to or I can't control the onslaught later." And the general regarded the soldiers waiting for his explanation. "I didn't kill the soldiers in the tent. Only the person controlled by Mafan. In fact, some of you here didn't know that Mafan can control and use you without your knowledge and consent."

Everyone looked at each other, wondering who were the persons the general spoke of.

"All of you check the back of the necks of the soldiers beside you. Those who have scars on that part of your body could be in danger. If one of you has one, come forward so I can help you."

On that note, the soldiers examined their comrades and found five men, former men of Sir Gerd but transferred to other squadrons for different reasons. It was clear then, all of Sir Gerd's men had black stone implants in their napes.

Fortunately, Mafan was preoccupied with the fight with Xinyi at this moment and didn't know what took place in the camp. After they removed the black stone from the five persons, the general sent them to the infirmary to rest. He summoned the remaining army and marched to help fight against Sir Gerd.

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After the horse galloped away in fright, Sir Gerd stood with only a sword in hand. His eyes probing Xinyi. However, it was no longer Sir Gerd in control but Mafan.

Somewhere in a ghost-like village miles away from the Goding camp, Mafan's sleeping body lay on a bed in the abandoned village chief's house. Guards with black armor stood outside, protecting the area.

Mafan's soul was now in Sir Gerd's body. His focal point was the fragile-looking Xinyi standing in front of the weakened Ming. He couldn't believe how this frail woman repelled the speeding spear when he threw it with the blue stone attached on Gerd's hand and feet.

He was also curious about Xinyi's fathomless concentration. As if she was adept at fighting but her speed was not as fast as him. She stood there unmoving, covering for Ming. There were no anger or fear in her face. He loathed this kind of reaction as if he was a man of less importance or had no power to cast fear. He also hated those people who would dare stand in his way.

Unknown to him, a hawk flew above them. The eyes of Xinyi at this moment. She actually couldn't see well because of the darkness. Only torches attached on the walls gave light outside. Further from the gate was dim. She was looking through the hawk's eyes to fend her opponent's speed. Thanks to the hawk's vivid vision, the spear's speed was slower in her sight.

However, she had her limitations. She knew she wouldn't last long using this power. Not for long, dizziness would plague her head. Xinyi only thought of stalling time for Ming to escape while Zhai was busy protecting Ming from the attacking soldiers.

Xinyi also called the hawk, knowing this fierce knight facing her had blue stones on his body. She wanted to use the animals to attack this man but doubted. With the blue stone's presence, the enemy could still outrun or slaughter animals with ease. To see those animals die because of her poor planning would make her guilty. She reserved the idea as a last resort.

Somehow, she was trying to communicate through her mind to the animals around her. She tried to find the best creature to use in this situation but could never decide while facing a man with a sword pointing at her.

Ming looked at her back, puzzled. Why is she not affected by the Wag stones?  But kept the thought to himself and did not bother her.

At last, Ming's city guards came to assist him but alarmed Mafan. He ran at a speed a n.a.k.e.d eye couldn't follow to stop the men, but Xinyi made a horizontal right slash with the sword, almost hitting Mafan. But he avoided the sword at hairs breath using his advantageous speed.

However, Xinyi followed up with another swing of the blade where Mafan went. The latter jumped far to avoid Xinyi's raging strikes.

Yet, at this moment, a throbbing pain hit her head. Damn, this was her limit, but she couldn't turn away while her enemy was still standing. A moment of weakness could spell her death. She slowly moved backward with both hands holding the sword.

Mafan understood where she headed and stroke his ire. "'No way I will let you go in that gate alive after what you've done. I'll kill you first," Mafan yelled as he ran in lightning speed, giving all he had, wishing to cut Xinyi into pieces to vent his anger.

No way Xinyi could fend that strike as she watched the horrifying sword's tip almost reached her face. But… Lifen came on time and blocked it for her.

When Lifen saw the enemy's movements and agility were abnormal for an ordinary human, she ate the fruits Xionmao gave and came on time to stop the sword.