Chapter 33 - Same As the Predecessor

Xinyi's hairs stood in fright to hear such a threat but she remembered her title as a Sorceress and the ring which brought her here. Also, she sensed no danger from this being. She faced a huge python before and it threatened to eat her as well but she stood her ground and won the snake's friendship. This time, she would do the same and win this great being to her side.

Xinyi breathed deep, gathered all courage in her chest, lifted the ring, and shouted with confidence. "I'm Xian… ah no… Lei Xin… ugh! I hate that family name. Then what's my full name now?" She paused and pondered what to say... and shook her head. "No time for that. I'll think of a good name later."

Again, she faced the being with legs apart, with her outstretched arm while aiming the ring to the one in front of her, and with firmness and strong voice, she shouted, "Never mind what I said. I'm Xinyi, the Sorceress' successor and… and you're now my friend."

[Toing!!!] As if a spring loosened and bounced on the being's brain. "Hahahahaha," he roared in laughter.

From beginning to end, he was observing her and couldn't help giggling to see her attitude the same as the former Sorceress. Then when she had a hard time telling him her family name, he reminisced this same incident in the past and turned away, afraid to expose his scheme. He was only playing with her. But when she said, "I'm your friend," he couldn't stop the laughter from bursting out anymore.

"Haha, haha. Oh my, why are you the same as your predecessor? Oh my, why are you both so kind. Instead of subduing and commanding wind and waves to conquer me, you call me as... a friend?" He continued to laugh as he rolled on the ground and held his belly with his front feet.

"Eh? What do you mean?"

"Oh, hahaha," he continued to laugh. "Oh my, my immortal life will become mortal because of you. Oh my, why all the chosen Sorceress has the same behavior?" And slapped the ground, making the ground quake, and rolled around again while tears kept on falling from his eyes as he loudly howled.

Xinyi held at the cavern's wall to keep her feet standing while the dirt floor moved as the being rolled around.

"Really? You mean it runs in our blood?" said Xinyi, not knowing whether to laugh or cry with what this being said. She felt helpless. Was this being making fun of her? She couldn't think of what to say earlier and blurted out what was in her heart, to be his friend.

For her the animals were her friends, not to subdue and command. Though eating them were part of the cycle of life in this world.

"But is it wrong to be friends with you? Do you want to call me master?"

The being slowly controlled his laughs and let it subside first… and stared at her with kindness in his eyes. "Mistress Sorceress, please don't take offense for laughing. I'm only happy to see you, the new Sorceress after years of waiting. And for who I am, I'm Nianshi. I was sent by the great mystic King to serve and protect the born Sorceress from the start. So, whether you like it or not, I'm your servant as long as you live."

Now, this was a surprising turn of events. "What? Who is this great mystic king and you said you're immortal and my servant?"

"I'm not qualified to speak about His Great Majesty, so I can't tell you more than that. But be assured, I'll be willing to serve you as your friend for I know, you will act the same way as your predecessor, to insist on me as a friend." He laughed again and the whole cavern trembled again. Rocks and dust began to fall above them while his laughter resounded.

"Please stop!" shouted Xinyi because the quaking got worst and tried to find something to hold to keep her from falling.

With one movement of his foot, he grabbed her, flew up… and bellowed a high-pitched vibrating sound. The rock ceiling opened up and became a huge hole. He flew away outside and the rock ceiling materialized again.

----- o -----

Earlier with Lifen and Xionmao.

When they saw her disappeared, Lifen began to panic and waited for Xionmao's explanation. The panda only grunted and changed into a human form. He wrote on the ground, "Don't be afraid. She has to go there to get her mount."

"Mount? Where is this mount?"

"The one I told you not to wake yesterday. She'll be fine."

"Okay, I trust you since Xinyi trusts you. Since she's not here, let's talk. Why are you stopping me from telling her I'm her mother-in-law? And why are you telling me not to mention Ming to her?" She said fast in one breath.

The panda was about to write his reply when the ground shook. He instantly snatched a floating butterfly fruit and shoved it into her mouth. Lifen involuntarily swallowed the pebble-sized fruit and coughed hard. "Are you trying to kill me?" she said as she hit her chest with her fist to send down the fruit to her belly.

However, Xionmao didn't explain but only gave her a glass of milk. She finished the milk in one gulp and felt her lungs opened. Lifen could breathe well again. Then Xionmao waved his hand at her and ran.

"Wait!" shouted Lifen and followed suit, but the best-unexpected thing happened… She saw herself running with the same speed as Xionmao. Lifen ran beside him with a big grin and laughing wildly same as when she found out she got younger. "What happened? But look... I can run as fast as you now. Haha! Watch out you bear, I will outrun you."