Chapter 186 - Conspiracies

As dusk fell in Fengfu City. 

Fifty redheaded Vernaboles' traders gathered in a secluded room in a large warehouse they rented outside the city. A man with gray hair, clad in a white robe, stood up and spoke.

"Come, brothers. Speak with no reservations in this meeting. I have secured this place with a sound barrier formation. What do you think about this auction the lady governor is holding tomorrow?"

"I think we should buy all the items to display our wealth. To announce to the people that we can afford to purchase even this city if we want to." A bearded man somewhat in his early forties said.

"I agree. This lady governor is really something. I don't know where her wealth comes from but I think she is the one who ordered the local traders to buy all the stones. We can't allow her to keep on doing this. We need to bring a whole boat of stones before winter ends." A man who could be in his thirties said.

"Okay, but do we have enough gold coins to buy all the auctioned items?" said the one leading the meeting.

The room went silent. 

"We didn't see this coming. Our information said this is supposed to be a poor border city. That's why their governors left them, and this lady took over after the son died. Who would have thought someone can afford to spend as much as we can in these parts?" said the bearded man with a shake in the head.

"With should investigated more about this matter. Who knows these could all just be rumors to lead us astray," said a young man who looked more like a scholar than an entrepreneur with his thick eyeglasses.

"I prefer to capture that lady governor and seize the mines. No point in wasting our time in trading. I'm sick of this place. I want to go back home before the snow comes. I hate snow. They said these parts had the worst winters ever and I don't want to experience it." A man wearing a leather hat and fur coat said, spitting a spittle on the floor as he expressed his disgust. He was about the same age as the leader.

"You should have stayed behind in the comfort of your mansion and within the warm bosom of your women," said the man with eyeglasses.

"You? I don't want to hear anything from your dirty mouth, you brat," shouted the man with the hat.

A sudden loud bang on the table jolted them up and clamped their mouths shut. It was the leader who slapped the table hard, smashing it to pieces.

"No need to be hasty. Just bring all the golds we have in hand at the auction. We will decide for our next course of action later," the leader said. "And stop mocking the lady governor. Her competence is worth noticing."

"Yeah, we know that's why you want to take her as your wife." The man with the hat sarcastically said and left the place in haste with his arms hugging himself.

---- o ----

Under the full moon, outside Xionmao's cave stood Lifen and Xian Lang.

"Sis, is this the place?" Xian Lang said, holding the large bundle he brought when they entered the city.

"Yes, I already told Master Xionmao of your coming. He told me to bring you here."

"Are we going into the cave?" Xian Lang's palms had a cold sweat, excited while nervous to meet a legendary spirit guardian as Xionmao. 

"No, he will only meet you here." Lifen sat composed on the boulder at the cave's entrance. She hand-combed her long black hair while waiting.

Days ago, Xian Lang showed Lifen the bundle for help. As the one knowing Xionmao's special identity as a spirit guardian and who knew Xinyi well, she advised him to ask the panda instead. 

Minutes passed and Xionmao came out in his human form, and stepped back when he felt a surging power from the bundle Xian Lang held. 

"Master!" Lifen quickly stood and greeted Xionmao.

Before Lifen could introduce Xionmao, she jumped up in fright as the prime minister cried out loud while pointing a finger at the masked man. "It's you... I have seen you before. You were the one stalking my daughter when she was still a baby."

Xionmao wrote on the ground. "Yes, it was me, and I intended to show myself to you. I was the Sorceress' guardian while she was with you. Now, tell me what's in that bundle?"

Xionmao's speedy writings puzzled Xian Lang and stammered with his reply. "This is Xin… ah, the Sorceress' baby clothes when she came to us through the rainbow passage."

[Story happened in Prologue.]

This time it was Lifen's turn to be puzzled. "What do you mean by the rainbow passage?"

"Ah, damn." Xian Lang smacked a palm on his forehead for his carelessness. "Fine. Anyway, you are bound to hear it, somehow." And told her the unbelievable tale of Xinyi's arrival in their lives.

"What? Why didn't you tell me all about this? I'm actually a descendant of Xinyi's predecessor's disciple. I know she is the Sorceress, but I didn't know she is not your flesh and blood and from a place we don't know," Lifen said in a heavy voice.

"For crying out loud! Is there a need for me to tell you that odd secret? If you were in my shoes, will you tell anyone about her hidden identity? How about you? Why didn't you tell us about your special background?" 

Lifen looked down, ashamed of her sudden outburst and unthoughtful words. "Sorry. I don't mean to accuse you. I actually hid it from you because I thought you won't believe me the same as the others."

"Nothing but low assumptions. Never mind then. Now that everything is laid in the open, then let me finish with my purpose with Sir guardian here." He faced Xionmao again and opened the bundle. "Sire, look." 

As he peeled the thick and dark cloth covering the bundle, it revealed a folded, shimmering white baby's cloth with the name Xinyi embroidered on it. It was shining so brightly that the surrounding darkness hid from its presence. For safety reasons, he hurriedly put the covering back, and the moon became the only source of light again.

"I want to consult you about this."

Xionmao nodded and gestured for them to follow him to the cave.

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---- o ----

Back in the campfire with Xinyi and company.

"What do you mean, Sir Tubli?" Ming said. "I also want to know how I drew this power to myself?"

"I think you have had an encounter with the cursed human souls because the poison you had in your body was from the guilt, greed, and malice of such souls."

"You are right, Sir river spirit," Shijian said and shared how Ming saved Xinyi.

"Hmm, then my guess is on the spot. You received the Qilin's power at the same time you got the curse. Am I right? So, the power essence keeping you alive was not only from your wind essence but also from the Qilin's power. And with the help of the stone bed, the curse was kept at bay, but a portion of it became dormant. 

"Since it had dwelled in your body for days, that dormant portion slowly blended in with the Qilin's power. And the mix transformed into a higher level of the Ruler's power, which is the Ruler's Influence," Tubli said.

"What a complex combination and a bizarre way to get such fearsome power." Lofey shook his head in disbelief.

"No wonder you said it's one of the rarest powers because no one could copy what brother Ming went through," Tyriece said.

"Exactly," said Tubli. "Based on my memories, Sir Ming here is the second person who received this power. The first was a Chiangda king."

"That rare, huh? Where is that king now?" Tyriece said, thoughtfully waiting to hear a wonderful tale.

"Had long been buried under the soil of history." Tubli replied with a smirk. "It happened long before you were born, son."

"Shame. I was looking forward to your stories. But the night is still young. May I have the privilege to hear the epic stories, Sir?" Tyriece extended a hand at Tubli, who willingly shook it and said, "Fine, but will it be best to start the feast first to fill our empty stomachs?"

"Sure do. A hearty meal with friends is the best. Let's dig in," Tyriece said, pulling a good chunk of fish meat. A good amount of juice oozed out from the cut portion.

Tyriece seemed to be in the mood this time and faced Ming for a tease. "Well, brother, how will we address you now? King Ming Lei or Emperor Ming?" said Tyriece with a wide grin on his face.

"I'll settle for Governor Ming," Ming said with a wink. "That's good enough for me."

Everyone had a merry laugh afterward.

As the teasings went on, savory smoke from the roasted meat found its way to their nostrils as Guang, Ah Lam, and Shengkai placed the cooked food on a round platter made from Ah Lam's web.

"Dig in, everyone," said Guang and placed a leaf with cooked clams at Xinyi's feet. "And this is for you." 

Xinyi received the food with a sweet thank you.

Two men particularly noticed that lovely smile which took their breath away. However, Tyriece's smiles went sour after seeing her lovingly staring at Ming, who opened a clam for her.

Tyriece tried to lock the pain by ravaging the boar meat like a man starving for days, almost choking himself.

"Eat slow, you idiot." said Lofey, giving the young man a good smack on the back. 

"Stop it, old man." Tyriece cried, coughing hard while jerking his body away from Lofey's smacking. "Are you trying to help me or kill me? My lungs are about to collapse with that hard slap of yours."

"I'm helping you, what else? If I want to kill you, a mere flame of mine is enough to smother you to ashes, you know?" Lofey said, sending everyone to burst into laughter. However, Lofey did this to help ease Tyriece's heartache.

Tyriece didn't mind the teasings and went back to his sumptuous feast because he understood Lofey's purpose well.

As the night went deep, the bonfire went low. Tubli then brought Xinyi and Ming farther from the crowd.

"M'lady, I need to tell you something important and you have to act on it the soonest or the power chain's loss will get worse."

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