Chapter 40 - Queen of the Hutyuns (4)

Then the light mellowed and totally died down. Xinyi and Ming looked at each other, then to the objects that glowed. Ming thought she heard the sad voice. "Did you hear that?"

Xinyi stared at him with her brows up. "Huh? What did I hear?"

"That sad voice every time your pendant and my charm glow," he said as he pointed on the objects.

"What are you talking about?" Her puzzlement deepened.

"Really? You really don't know?" he asked but Xinyi gave a quick shake of her head. He was about to ask her if she knew why these objects glowed when she's upset but a strong wind blew past them, making them squint their eyes. Xinyi looked away to prevent dust from entering her eyes because the wind was in front of her but said "Wow!" at what she discovered...

Her lips spread into a gaping grin as her brows rose heavenward to see they were in a massive field with green grass and cascading colors of flowers spread out before them.

Ming also noticed and marveled where they were. However, Nianshi and the Hutyuns were no longer around. Only the two of them. "Where are we?" He asked Xinyi, but she only walked forward to a large rainbow-colored Marigold like she was in a trance.

"Are you okay?" Ming held her hand, afraid if something happened to her since she didn't answer but she jerked his hand away.

"Do you hear that voice?" she asked.

Now, it was Ming's time to get a shock with the same question. "I don't hear anyone talking. Besides, there's no one here but us. Where is this place? Where are your lion dragon and that shadow Hutyuns?"

However, she was already near the flower and touched it. Suddenly, their vision distorted, and a minute later, they saw themselves in another place. Ten paces from them was a wounded chameleon as huge as Nianshi with flowers of different sizes and colors around it.

Then the chameleon saw them and smiled. "This is unexpected. You came at the wrong timing, Great Sorceress." And he coughed out blood, and the flowers hurried cleaning the blood with the petals.

Unfortunately, the rapid changes in their surroundings made Ming and Xinyi's minds muddled for a while. Their brain took time to process and missed the chameleon's remarks. Xinyi closed her eyes but after opening them, the location didn't change.

Then, she saw Ming staring at her, concerned. "Are you okay?" His concern was real after another travel from wherever this place now. While talking, he wiped some dust off her face with his sleeves.

Xinyi moved right away from him. His behavior was strange to her and made her uneasy. "Where are we?" Xinyi asked to divert his attention while wiping her face with her own sleeves.

Her reaction appalled Ming. 'This is expected so why do I feel bad?' he asked himself in silence. But what concerned him most was the oddity of his actions. His teasings earlier were results when her manliness was challenged but this time around he did it without thinking.

However, he didn't give it much thought and replied, "I don't know either. I thought you knew because I believe you're the one who brought us here."

"I did? How?" She turned around to study her surroundings when she saw the lying chameleon again. "Oh my, I think he said something earlier and I missed it. Jeez, Lei Ming, you're really a distraction. I should be more attentive to my surroundings." This was also a reminder to Ming but shrugged it off because he didn't do it on purpose.

She closed her eyes and Grandma Liu's teachings came back to mind. "Be attentive always, don't let other things distract you. A fraction of a second missed may cause your death."

As she focused her mind, she remembered this gigantic lizard addressed her as Sorceress. She then gave her full attention to the chameleon. "How do you know I'm a Sorceress? And are you Kaos?"

"Please, talk to me aloud, Sorceress. I hardly hear you. And I don't want to talk in our minds because I'm tired now," said Kaos, almost like a whisper.

This revelation was a double shock to Xinyi. However with Ming, 'Wow! What is going on? They can talk with their minds while I can't even talk to her properly in the open.' But tried to encourage himself by exhaling all his dejections out. 'Be patient, Ming. Don't allow her to keep on rejecting you. I will talk to her and make things right. '

The dying Kaos was unaware of Ming's depression, but clearly understood Xinyi's surprise. "It seems your uncontrolled power brought you here, Sorceress. And the reason is the Hutyuns. But I'm happy they caused you to travel in time to see me before I die. Please, great Sorceress, take the Hutyuns and they'll be your sword and shield, and your arms and legs with the things you need to do. Use them well to protect this place or all magic power will cease to exist in Chiji."

Then he inhaled deeply like it was his last. "Great Sorceress, I have to go now. The great Creator of Life awaits me. Please... I beg you to take the Hutyuns." And his body vanished into thin air.

"Wait, don't go yet." She was too late. Then their vision distorted again and…

"My lady, thank goodness you're back," Nianshi asked. Xinyi and Ming looked up to the lion dragon with their mouth agape.

"What happened? Where is Kaos?" Xinyi shouted, turning around searching for Kaos but only dismayed to confirm they had returned.