The Sorceress: Blossoming Power

"Telling you won't help. The spell is complicated to utter. Just let me do it. I swear in the name of my great ancestor that I will not run away and I'll keep my promise."

"So you mean, taking away the buried stones won't be enough to disrupt the spell?"

Anghus was in shock. How come Ming knew about the buried stones? But knowing the answer would not help him now and didn't ask. 

"Yes, but don't try touching…" 

Before Anghus could finish his sentence, they heard a loud boom. An explosion occurred at Goding camp's east side. They looked toward the direction of the deafening sound. They saw birds flying away. Anghus' horses neighed aloud, trying to run away in fright but couldn't because they were tied at tree trunks.

Ming's heart pumped faster, fearing for General Lofey's life. This heightened his irritation toward his prisoner.

"What did you do?" Ming said with gritted teeth, clutching Anghus neck and lifted him higher. Anghus squirmed, choking as Ming partly strangled him. Ming thought of smashing Anghus head on the ground out of anger but held his temper in check.

"I did nothing... Someone... dug the stones. Let me... down and I'll explain." Anghus had difficulty speaking as he tried loosening Ming's hold on his neck with his fingers... but Ming's strength had increased ten times stronger. The poor captive couldn't open Ming's clasping hand.

Ming let go and Anghus fell on the ground with a thud. "Speak but don't try anything stupid or I'll cut you until your ancestors could not recognize you."

"The spell won't kill anyone but if someone who tried to take away the stones in the wrong sequence, the spell will become chaotic and the result is that explosion. Bring me there now before it's too late," Anghus said in one breath. His hands massaging his neck which had red marks from Ming's strangling. 

"What will happen after the explosion? Speak!" Ming shouted. His palm lost its color as he tightly held the sword.

Anghus flinched watching Ming's trembled in anger. "The people under the spell will be in coma."

"What?" Ming lifted the sword to strike.

Anghus cowered looking at the swung sword and abruptly knelt... and cried. "Please, Governor, bring me there now so I can dislodge the buried items in the right order before it will get worse. And please stop your men from taking away the other stones or else..."

All of them cringed when they heard another boom, louder than the first.

Anghus eyes widened like a saucer and his face devoid of blood. "Oh, no. Bring me there now before it's too late," he yelled in desperation, fearing the outcome of this second explosion.

---- o ----

Everyone in the city and in the village turned to where the explosions came from. The men ran quickly to the sound's direction.

"Stand up. Go, but remember I'm right behind you." Ming said to Anghus.

Chamis stood first and helped Anghus to stand up. "I'll stay here with them." He said with his eyes at the sick men.

Ming turned to Xinyi. She was now holding the green anklet of which she concluded was carved together with her ring and necklace from the same stone. She placed it in her wrist, thinking it was a bracelet.

---- o ----

Mafan was now facing Zang Wei as he controlled the man to bring him the land map when the explosion occurred. He ran out and saw the commotion of the birds near the Goding camp. His chest drummed like a heavy hammer pouncing on it… and glanced at the blanked eyed Zang Wei who picked a long leather scroll under a large table.

Mafan couldn't wait but grab the scroll and ran back to the store. Qinfen was there sitting silently at the corner. He unrolled the leather on the lone table and tried to locate the mining areas from the markings. 

---- o ----

Zang Wei woke up, wondering why he was inside the governor's office. A guard ran in. "Sire, something exploded at the Goding camp."

The head guard dazed for a while, still disoriented after Mafan's mind control and had to process the guard's words in his brain for a while. After realizing what the other person meant, "Don't just stand there. Let's go," said Zang Wei as he sprinted out.

The guard followed behind but hit Zang Wei's back when the latter suddenly halted, turning back at the guard. "Pull out men to go with us but leave more at the gate." And rushed straight outside the gate. 

---- o ----

Ming thought of dragging Anghus to where Nianshi and Xionmao where, and shouted at Xinyi, "Let's go!" .

"Okay," said Xinyi, but she sounded like a fast-forwarded recording machine. Not only fast but also high-pitched, same as the Hutyuns. Xinyi covered her mouth in shock. "What the heck?" But she sounded the same thing. 

"Oh, no!" Ming exclaimed, believing the fruits' side effect had taken effect. "This can't be happening now." He hoped this was the only side effect and nothing more.