Chapter 8 - Fairy Playing With the Fish

The owl landed near Xinyi's feet.

"Move. We'll give you something soft to sleep tonight so you won't think we're heartless. Most of all, we don't want the power of the sorceress in you to suffer for lack of sleep," he said and nudged his head at her as if shooing her away.

She moved back, but still starving to know the details about the sorceress this bird was talking about. The animals in Forsaken Valley said the same thing but no one could give her a clear explanation who was this sorceress and why she possessed that great person's power.

An old python, the oldest being she met there, told her that there was a powerful Sorceress famous for loving and protecting the animals in the past. But she left for war and hadn't returned ever since. The python met the Sorceress only once when he was still a wee snake. So, he could tell that Xinyi possessed the Sorceress' power. The other animals only mentioned that they merely feel a power inviting them to Xinyi but couldn't explain why.

Back in Anjing Pavilion, each bird flew down with grass, leaves, and even some ribbons from who knew where it came from and gather them in a heap inside the house.

While the birds worked, Xinyi squatted beside the owl. "Ne, ne, Sir owl, tell me, what do you know about this sorceress? Is her spirit in me? Or only her powers?" Xinyi asked the owl while pulling its wings.

The owl's temple twitched in anger. For him, she was totally a bother. 'Why did I end up helping her? Because I can feel the Sorceress' power in her?' The old owl wondered.

"Will you stop pulling my wings? If you accidentally pluck one of my feathers, I'll be an invalid for life. I can no longer fly. Do you want me to suffer for the rest of my life because of your carelessness?" said the owl in agitation.

Xinyi knew he was bluffing. She treated sick birds in the forest before and this owl was only trying to pull her leg. But this was the time for humility or lost the help she needed now. Somehow, she would teach this old braggart a lesson someday.

"Ah, sorry, Sir owl. I've been asking these questions for years, but most only told me the Sorceress' power is in me, and they know nothing else. I just want to know the answer." She said in haste while poking the owl's wings.

"Enough! I'll tell you when I have the time. I'm tired now. You better rest too," said the owl, trying to control his annoyance.

As the last bird dropped a leaf, the floor was now a mound of everything they brought, ready for her to sleep on. After seeing the good pile as tall as a bed, she forgot about her questions but only bewilderment remained.

"Wow! I… I don't know what to say. I thought you won't help me. Thank you!!!" and simultaneously pulled the owl to her and kissed the bird's face. The odd thing was that after receiving her kiss, the owl's eyes turned round and fuzzy.

"AHH?!? Stop! Let me go," cried the owl.

"Sorry, sorry, sorry," she said and let go. She wanted to touch the bird but hesitant or the bird would receive more damages.

The poor bird walked in circles and dropped headfirst on the floor. "Don't do that again. I can't stand it," it said as it lay.

"Ah, okay, sorry," Xinyi didn't know what to do, looking at the owl on the floor. "Will you be fine? We can share the bed."

The owl hopped up to a standing position and said, "No need." He flew up swaying from left to right, back and forth and moved up and down. He looked so funny. The other birds couldn't stand but roared in laughter. However, the sounds heard in normal ears where the tweeting, chirping, and other sounds produced by birds filling the broken-down Anjing Pavilion.

The birds laughed watching the owl, but they knew why he fainted, so they also felt sorry for him. Thus, they moved away from Xinyi or they would be the next victim of the surging power from her. This was not the first Xinyi saw this. It actually happened several times before and the next thing she'd know, the animals would move away from her. They said a strong power struck them when she was excited.

It was insensible of her to hug the owl without thinking of the outcome, but at least, she was sincere thanking him. Hence, she had to watch herself from repeating the same mistake again and again. Scaring them would be the last thing she would do.

She thought of those times in the valley when she sang for the animals to appease them when this happened. Therefore, she sang this time too. Xinyi opened her mouth and sang the forest song of which that powerful grandma who owned the necklace she wore now taught her.

Her lovely and soft voice filled the night. The melodious voice floated in the air and reached the bamboo forest nearby.

All of a sudden, two huge red eyes opened within the dense bamboo trees. The owner's ears twitched as it heard the song, and slowly the redness in the eyes vanished. A screaming black shadow flew away from the body of those eyes and serenity took over before it closed again.

It was not only the owner of those eyes heard the song. In fact, that night alone there were many black shadows fleeing from the governor's estate. And Lei Ming and another two men saw them. They hastily walked out from Lei Ming's study and looked up.

"Where are those spirits going?" said a tanned-skin man wearing black attire, having long black hair with a golden crown-shaped hair clip holding his hair atop his head.

"I want to know where they came from and to where they are heading," another man said who was wearing a warrior's suit.

Lei Ming turned around and hurriedly jumped up from one roof to another. "I think they came from the forest at the back. Come, let's investigate."

Xinyi's singing had ended and taken a bath first at the brook just yards away from the pavilion before going to sleep. The dust on her body earlier made her uncomfortable. She took off her clothes and placed them on the dark cloth she brought and dipped her n.a.k.e.d body into the water.

Lei Ming and his companions had reached the forest and saw nothing unusual. He saw the pavilion and thought of checking on her but his other companion shouted.

"Ming 'er, someone's bathing at the brook," said the warrior. After hearing, they ran toward the brook's direction and at this moment, Xinyi playfully splashed water using her feet as she stood with the moon shining at her side.

What appeared on their very eyes was a silhouette of her beautiful body and swaying long hair as she moved. While some fish jumped at her sides with their shimmering scales reflecting the moonlight. The three gents stopped on their tracks right away, dumbfounded with what they saw.

In Lei Ming's eyes, she was like a fairy playing with the fish, and he wondered who could it be.