The Sorceress: Blossoming Power

Lifen stared at the kneeling General Lofey. "Good. You're a big man I see, but you have a small brain. Show some respect for the elderly. Don't make me look up, It'll give me a stiff neck."

"Elderly? How? Who... Wait, what did you do to me?"

"I just hit your pressure points to weaken your knees. And let me be clear here. I do not tolerate little boys who use their ranks to act high and mighty to scare people."

"Who is little? Who is elderly? Release me now or I will burn you to ashes." 

This scene was totally humiliating for the likes of the great general of the Goding army. He hated every minute kneeling and really mean what he said of burning Lifen with his fire if she wouldn't release his pressure points now.  

"I am the elderly."

"What?!? You, damn liar. You look like my daughter."

Lifen was about to explode in anger but when she heard the last part, she changed her mind and forgave General Lofey. 

It wasn't entirely his fault. It's my young's face fault.

She sighed but deep inside, her ego bloated. Calling her like his daughter was a compliment for her.

"It's totally rude for men to shout at women's face. It's not very gentlemen-like to shout at a weak elderly woman. But I forg..." Zhai interrupted her little speech.

"Weaker? I'm not sure about that." Zhai interjected and ran off outside the clinic that very instant, avoiding his mother's possible endless sermon.

"You. Just you wait Lei Zhai. Just you wait at home."

"You're not cute at all. Let me stand or you'll taste my wrath." General Lofey complained and raised his arm to grab her and scare her but Lifen hit his jaw with the back her hand.  General Lofey fell on the floor, face first.

"Good. Sleep for now."

General Hester was shocked but also impressed.

Wow, a pretty face with a strength of a bull. What a girl… but fifty years old? I think she's lying to keep suitors away.

He moved forward and took a knee as he reached for Lifen's hand. "Pleased to meet you, my lady. I'm General Hester at your service." He stood and winked at her.

Lifen felt so funny inside now. What the heck? I've been showing an unladylike behavior and these men are showing their interest.

Lifen glared at the sweating Anghus sitting on the chair and gestured a hand at General Hester. "It's an honor to meet you too, general. Please take a seat." 

Anghus stood in a hurry and move it for the general. He thought of running away but after Lifen sent General Lofey to dreamland, his confidence grew. He understood that she got her back as co-descendants of the Sorceress' disciples. 

Lifen gestured a palm to Anghus. "General Hester, this is the man responsible for the illusion trap."

Fear gripped Anghus's chest at this moment. On the contrary, General Hester sat silent observing the young man.

Hmm, he is not from Goding or Youshi. This is probably a hired man from the north side of Ushval.  

His assumptions were on the spot. Anghus' facial and body structure was a common trait from people on the southern side of Ushval country. A country were men who lived like nomads for their herds of cows for greener pastures. 

Minutes past, the general was still silent. Anghus' went cold with those calm stares. He preferred for the high-ranking man to shout or nag at him rather than being calm and tight-lipped.

Half an hour passed and General Lofey woke. General Hester assisted the older general to stand, but the old general yanked the offered hand. 

"I can stand on my own." 

The younger general gave Anghus a creepy grin. "He is awake now, spill the beans or he'll beat you to a pulp."

Anghus was shaken and revealed everything in one breath. 

---- o ----

Nianshi ran inside the Cave of Truth. It was not dark inside because the wall was made of white crystals reflecting the moonlight outside. He walked in and stood in awe to see the whole place was like a small village with people walking around. He looked back and surprised to see a dark space. The cave entrance was no longer there.

He stepped back to the edge of the space and placed his hands at the darkness. His hand touched nothing. The cave door simply vanished. In conclusion, there was no other way but to move forward and reach the exit.

What is going on? Is this another illusion? 

Somehow, he felt the place was familiar. He followed the road in front of him while trying to recall where he saw this place.

Then he remembered what the animals said, "The Cave of Truth will reveal your inner fears and fight them. If you give in to your fears, you can't get out of the cave. The only way out is to conquer your fears."

With that in mind, the hairs on his body stood on end. He heard it well when the animals told him but did not expect to go back in time. The truth hit him. This village was the place he almost died centuries ago. 

Was this the day General Lei Ming will attack and turn this village into a battleground?

Nianshi ran into a hut where he and the first Sorceress stayed to confirm his suspicion. He found it and saw the Lady Xian Xinyi was there waiting.

The blue-haired lady smiled at him. "You're here now. Good, are you ready to face your fear and conquer it?"

"Huh?" Fear directly splintered through his heart as he faced this person or whatever was this one. His chest tightened right away. He even thought he would vomit as his heart's beat sped up in no time.

"I'm not your late master. I'm your fear. And I won't let you go unless you overcome me." The lady said nonchalantly.

Nianshi turned white as chalk to realize the immensity of what he would face in the coming hours. He inhaled and exhaled deeply… readying himself. The woman only sat there in silence, waiting for him. 

When he felt he was prepared, he looked straight into the eye of 'his fear' and said, "What will happen next?"

"You'll face your fear. Are you ready now?"

"Yes…"

"Good." 

After speaking, the whole place turned into a dark place. There was no time for shock for a minute after he instantly saw himself floating on air while the whole army surrounded him, the exact scenario in the past. Then he saw a man pulled a bow having the special arrow. And then his whole body trembled and about to collapse.

The arrow flew, but he only stood there like a dead wooden puppet who couldn't move his body without the puppeteers string controlling him. His bowels suddenly swirled as the arrow came rushing and hit him. He fell to the ground unconscious.

The whole place transformed into the hut again. The lady looked at the lying Nianshi and sighed. 

"Hmm, this might take a while."

---- o ----

Ming waited outside the cave as darkness enveloped the area. He thought of following in but thought otherwise and decided to trust Nianshi to bring out Xinyi. A shelter would be more than welcome but found himself in the darkness's midst. The cave's entrance was a welcome sight. 

"Will I go in or not?" Ming thought as he embraced himself. "Brr. Cold."