The Sorceress: Blossoming Power

Ming didn't rush his steps when he saw Xinyi's mood lightened toward him. Big brother Lofey will understand if I'm late with the clamor at the city gates. 

They leisurely stroll as she shared on how she spent her days in the valley. 

She mentioned that she loved to play around with animals, that she read them her books while leaning on a black bear's body, the time when she took a bath for hours while swimming with the eels and turtles in the river, about an event she scolded a snake who tried to steal a bird's egg, on how many times the python cradled her to sleep and laid her on bed, and others. 

Ming clearly understood that she grew up with animals but not much interaction with humans aside from the two single old ladies. While talking, he occasionally addressed her with her name because she smiled shyly every time he said it.

At first, she was shocked when he first called her name because she had read before that officials usually call their wives as 'wife'. They seldom call them by name. But she also heard from the maids in the Xian manor before that lovers called each other by their first names. That's why Xinyi blushed when he did this.

Talking about names, Xinyi recalled Skrider and thought of telling Ming about the guy, but felt awkward to call Ming by his first name. Yes, they were a married couple, but she had doubts if they could pass as lovers. "Uhm (gulped), Mi… Governor, I think you need…" 

Ming interrupted her. "Can you please stop calling me Governor? I feel like I'm talking to a complete stranger or to an official. You're my wife. So, please, call me Ming." He bent his head to see her downcast face which was turning red. This encouraged him to take the chance to bring them closer. 

"I have a gift for you but I'll give it to you later." He thought of giving her the pendant's other piece.

Xinyi looked up with wide eyes. The gift news surprised her but cast her head down again, uncomfortable. He thought he acted differently because he tried to meet her demands but to gift her was another thing. However, she liked to receive gifts too. This was a rare occurrence for her. She hardly remembered the last time she got one.

She pondered of his true motives with his actions but his words rang in her mind, "I will make things right between us."

For this reason, she thought she had to reciprocate in some ways but she didn't know how to act the wife part. "Mm, Mi… Ming… there's someone you need to meet but we'll do that later," she spoke his name in one breath before saying the latter phrase and bit her lower lip.

Her shy reaction was the opposite of her usual strong-willed self in front of Ming and made him satisfied. He was also happy to hear her spoke his name. "Who is this person? He or she?" Ming asked with his hands on his back.

"Well… it's he," she said in a hurry and Ming's brows instantly shot up. His heart skipped a beat, afraid if she met a man when she was away and would cause a problem. But Xinyi saw his reaction and quickly clarified, "not human, another creature. But we'll do that later..." and lowered her head down again while squeezing her unsqueezable fingers.

Ming's facial muscles relaxed and a huge grin took over. "Sure, I'll be glad to meet this being."

"Uhm," Xinyi nodded, still head down but smiling, feeling silly to herself right now. Stupid me. Why am I getting shy? And Why is my heart pumping fast?

As they walked near the business district, they met Qinfen talking with a 'pretty' man like they were buddies for years. Qinfen saw them and waved a hand. Mafan turned to the incoming two.

"Who are they?" Mafan asked.

"That's the governor, my brother, and his wife," said the innocent Qinfen. 

Mafan smiled and thought of striking fast to settle his reason for coming. He decided to enter Ming's mind, to command the man to lead him to the mines and kill him there. He squinted his eyes and concentrated but… it didn't work. This baffled him. Why is my power not working?

Ming saw a new face and wondered. When did this pretty boy arrive? Who is he? Strange, the rich families have left, and the treaty was only signed last night. 

Mafan tried again but failed again. He didn't know Ming was a Chiangda and his power was useless to them. However, he didn't suspect Ming to be one. He concluded that he was only tired after controlling many people combined with the grueling fight yesterday.

He looked at Xinyi and Qinfen. How about using these two to kill the governor…