Chapter 51 - Skrider

Ming strolled in the busy streets of Fengfu City with veiled Lifen all the way to Cuxin estate.

"What favor do you want from Xionmao?" asked Lifen.

"Ma, I only want him or that special beast named Shijian to make a distraction near the enemy's campsite?" Ming whispered wherein only the two of them could hear as he waved back at some sitting refugees at the roadside who acknowledged his presence. An old man even thanked him.

"Just pray that we'll get by this war with not much casualties or deaths. I appreciate your cooperation," replied Ming to the old man while he nodded to the rest.

"What kind of distraction do you want?" asked Lifen also in hushed tones.

"Any distraction. Like Shijian will run around their camp and get the army's attention and send men to search for the being," he said as he continued to nod and waved to the people while hastening his steps.

"Then you will attack the searching army?"

"No, all I want is to distract them and give us time to wait for the army's arrival." After they reached the area with a few people around and almost at his estate, "Let's hurry, Ma." And in a split of a second, they were no longer on the road but jumping on rooftops to reach the cave as soon as possible. Yet, they continued to talk.

"So, you want them to keep on looking for the panda or the Qilin for days?" said Lifen as she ran at the forest, near the cave.

"Yes, and if possible, he can ask animals to steal their rations to solve our food problem," he said as they stopped at the entrance.

"Hmm, that's quite a cunning plan. Okay, I'm with you for that." They went in together and Ming pulled a torch he prepared near the entrance and placed a black stone on its head… and then the stone lit, illuminating the once dark cave. Ming walked ahead of Lifen with the torch in hand.

As they walked, "What were you thinking on why did you assume that something kept that old widower from flying all the way here?" Lifen asked.

"It was only a guess and... partly with logic. I just recalled General Wu Qian is never late. He always executes his plans without fail unless…"

"Something happens…" Lifen finished it for him. "I agree," Lifen said as she ducked to enter a cavern with a smaller opening.

"Another reason, the scout I assigned to meet with the general hasn't returned yet and it's been bugging me for days now. The other reason is that I remember that the old General is also your long-time suitor, even before you married Pa."

At last, they arrived at a dead-end and Lifen knocked on the wall. The wall disappeared and the two of them entered.

"Don't remind me… please. You even come up with the idea that he will ask for me first by using my maiden name…"

"Of course, you're getting my point easily. He won't use your married name since he hated losing over Pa's cunning trick," said Ming as they entered the herb garden inside where the panda sat on a bench, reading a book with glasses on.

Lifen smiled and curled a hair on a finger and said, "Well, what can I do? Your Ma is very pretty and talented…"

"Ahem, we're here, Ma." Ming broke off her boasting and bowed to the intelligent looking panda. "Good day, Sir."

Lifen became serious and bowed. "Can we ask you a favor, Master Xionmao?" she asked.

----- o -----

Xinyi stood in the vast plain alone, looking heavenward.

"What do you mean by yes and no? But I hope you can come out and talk to me in person. Can you not transform into a person or animal that I can talk to? Talking to an air kind of frustrating, you know."

"Wait." Then, a furry ball fell down from the sky and unrolled in front of her into a green cat with a long line of spikes in the middle of its back. "Hi, Xinyi. This is the real me."

"Wow, so you're the purring cactus?" Xinyi cracked up to see such a cute creature.

"I'm the legendary cat-cactus, Skrider the great. The famous scribe for all great beings of this world," it said as it bowed like a gentleman greeting a lady in medieval worlds.

This kind of bowing was new to Xinyi, so she was confused about how to respond and just stood there in front of Skrider. However, the cat didn't mind and only said, "You might be wondering what this place is…" and proudly turned around with hands wide opened.

"Your right but that diary, is that you?"

The cat-cactus faced her again. "To be accurate, that diary is only a gateway to where I am and no one can open it but only the designated person like you."

"But if that's the case then why did those people try to steal the diary?"

While she talked, flowers hopped between them and transformed into a table and a pair of chairs, sending Xinyi to jumped backward to give space. Then a blanket appeared out of thin air and gently floated down and opened, displaying some cut fruits and sweets in a saucer, teapot, and teacups.

"Sit, I will explain everything to you," Skrider said, sitting with a leg folded on the other while pouring tea on teacups. Xinyi sat and helped herself with the food too.

"Listen well because I speak fast and don't interrupt me with questions when I'm talking," Skrider said, helping himself with a sliced apple. Xinyi nodded while eating carelessly with the food.

"Good. I'll be frank with you. First, I'm only a scribe who writes about the life of the great beings of this world and send the things I write to the Great King. This place is my personal space and I control everything here but that time when you came here with your husband was totally beyond my control. But I'm not sure if you can pull out that stunt again. Anyway, I can assist you if you needed my help...

"Second, I don't know everything but only the life of every Chiangda, since birth. Third, I can't tell you about the Great King. It's a taboo topic.

"For you to understand well, there are actually twenty-one known worlds but there are more hidden worlds but only the Great King knows. In every world, there are great beings. Here, you call them Chiangda, but the powers they got come from a good source in this world.

"The source of those powers are somewhere in Fengfu City. And as one of the most powerful people in this world, you are required to protect it or all of the magical powers will be gone. But keep in mind, the powers of a Chiangda can't be taken away or be given. Only by bloodline will a person receive it. However, your bloodline is from another world…" Skrider stopped and sipped tea.

Xinyi almost dropped a fruit hearing this and wanted to ask but restrained herself.