Chapter 26 - Traps

Ming stood in the middle of the dense forest, trying to decipher what kind of magical illusion trap he was in.

Madame Lei taught them about these types of traps since young. Based on what he knew, there were different kinds: attack, defend, and the vile one was death. And each one could manifest illusions to fool and implant fear on a trapped person or direct assault using the surroundings. So, he had to test this one first.

Most illusions traps used the surroundings like the trees and plants to make up its structure. Some used other objects such as crystals, stones, feathers, and others. The first thing his mom taught was, "if you're in nature, try to disrupt the flow of the trap by cutting trees, plants, or moving objects, but shed no blood because this formation relied on living entities, so adding blood representing life will strengthen it and deadly.

"But test it first because it may attack you and carelessness will cost you your dear life. Meditate first, go with the flow of nature and be one with it. If you don't feel a threat, then they only wished to entrap you. But in doing this, you must be wary and watchful from outside interference or attacks. Don't you ever drop your guard."

After recalling these, he squatted on a grassy ground and closed his eyes. He stayed in that position until his mind could hear every sound around him. The brushings of leaves with the wind, the chirping of birds, the hissing of the snakes, the owl hooting, and many more. Minutes after, he made a huge yawn… No threat at all.

Ming got up and tried to analyze the objects the trap used. He walked around and cut a branch of a tree and moved some rock on the ground. Then, he saw some disruptions in his visions. He continued to do this as he walked from one area to another until… he found himself outside the woodlands and at the brook.

"Hmm, so they made this to keep intruders away. Interesting," he said while his fingers played on his well-shaved chin.

Ming turned to look at the dense forest and thought of Xinyi as a fairy to whom the animals obey. Somehow, after this experience, he concluded that nature was also under her bidding. Amazement wasn't enough to summarize what he felt. To witness just a portion of her power blew his minds away. Her admiration for his wife was getting higher and higher. Unless, if Xinyi had nothing to do with this trap.

As for Madame Lei, she was running around but lost track of the masked man and had not seen Ming in the woods. Exhaustion took over and her stomach churned in anxiety as she searched for her son. Little did she know, she passed by Ming and almost hit him as she ran, but the illusion made a barrier to keep them from seeing or bumping at each other.

Later, she leaned against the tree, huffing with her nose bulging with every breath she made. Age caught up with her. She was no longer as she used to be when she was younger. Before, she could run for hours, but now, it would be something if she would last even for an hour.

"Oh, my, age caught up with me. I can't keep up anymore. This is disgraceful. From an expert to an expired. Ah, pitiful and shameful me for stopping my daily practice. Now, I'm facing the consequences." She talked to no one in particular.

Madame Lei sat on a boulder near a cave to rest while fanning and wiping her sweating face with her sleeves. It was dark but thankfully the Fullmoon seethed in between trees and gave her enough light to see the pathway. "Where is that expert and Ming 'er? I hope nothing happened to him. What a pain to search without any help…" And... she was stunned by her statement. "Darn me," and slapped her forehead. "Damnations, even my strategic mind is no longer sharp."

She sighed. No point in thinking about her age. Madame Lei didn't linger and decided to go back to the main residence to call for help when all of a sudden…

The ring glowed again… but this time it was so bright that illuminates a large portion of the forest. Darkness fled in a breath, turning the place into broad daylight. Ming saw the fast-growing light and dashed toward it just to see his mother fading away as the intensifying light took over the spot where she stood. He instantly lifted his arm as the blinding light struck his eyes but he didn't stop running.

"Ma!" Fear clawed through Ming from losing his mother after seeing her appearance thinning. Urgency made him dare to leap high with all the strength he could muster and attained the height and speed which was impossible for him to do before while screaming with all his might, "Noooo!!!"

Madame Lei heard him well and turned to give him a warm smile. Before completely disappearing, she said in a hurry, "Ming, thank goodness you're fine. Don't worry. The ring is bringing me now to your wife," and totally vanished and blackness returned in a gradual manner outside the cave.