Chapter 90 - Lifen Not Kind

Xinyi heard a slurping sound coming right at her and something wet clung on her waist. 

The Hutyuns saw the coming tongue and transformed themselves into thorns around her body. When the tongue reached her, the thorn Hutyuns pierced themselves to the red and long tongue. 

The chameleon screamed as he retracted his tongue and cried. "How dare you? You dare to come back here after killing my grandfather and even have the audacity to use the Hutyuns against me. Shameless Sorceress."

Xinyi went into hiding against a wide tree trunk. She heard the opposite words and asked the Hutyuns for the right ones. There, she understood why this chameleon attacked her.

"I'm not the person who attacked your grandfather." Xinyi shouted as she snuck a peak. Then her body flew up fast in the air and heard a loud cracking of a whip a second after. The Hutyuns saved her on time from being hit by the chameleon's tail.

---- o ----

Nianshi went down to another mountain and rested for a while. His shaking body was not in the best condition to fly back. 

"What kind of trap is this?" 

"I don't know but I don't want to fly down that way."

"I agree but if it's a natural trap, can we disrupt it by disturbing or destroying the surrounding trees and natural habitat?" Ming asked.

"I don't think so. I feel the core of this trap is under the mountain and it's very large."

"That means we need to cut that source underground before we can stop the flow of power."

"Yes."

Ming clenched his fist. That strong sound wave attacking them earlier was nerve cracking. He was afraid for Xinyi. "Can you tell what type of illusion is this?"

"Don't even think of going down. I can't really tell what it is. The odd thing is I can't sense the animals.

"Is there anything we can do? How extensive is this natural trap?"

"That's what I'm afraid of. It's half of the mountain but I sensed her presence near the edge at the west." 

"Damn." Ming tightened his grip and his nails pierced through his palm. "Can you contact her and make her run that way?"

"I'll try." Nianshi closed his eyes again. Silence… Then his forehead wrinkled. "I can't sense her anymore. There's a huge barrier interfering."

"Is there… anything we can do?" Ming was on the verge of telling Nianshi to let him jump down into the illusion trap, come what may, as long as he would find her.

"I think we'll go at the edge of the trap. I'll talk with the animals there. They might know something or help us talk to the Sorceress."

"Good thinking." Hearing that suggestion partly relieved Ming but when he saw the sun setting, his worries deepened.

---- o ----

Xinyi was slowly getting tired running. It seemed the fruit's effects began fading. 

This is bad. I want to fight this lizard but I can't see him. Then she realized the place was getting dark. Is the sunlight not affected by the illusion? Or Is it really night time?

Thinking of darkness, goosebumps covered her body. She recalled the chameleons have good sets of eyes while her vision was restricted. Xinyi decided to hide first and plan her next move. She completely forgot about the cave.

---- o ----

Nianshi talked to the animals who cooperated to the great lion-dragon. They learned the type of illusion and found out that it would not affect the animals.

Nianshi changed into his human form. "Just wait here. I'll get the lady out, governor." And ran in without looking back.

Ming stood under the canopies of trees as he looked at the dissolving figure of Nianshi entering a dark cave.

"Please be safe and bring your master back." He looked up at the moon above and fisted a hand. "This is all my fault. I shouldn't have offered the fruits when you have the Hutyuns." His grip tightened, angry with himself. "Xinyi, my wife. Be safe."

They were getting closer with each other as husband and wife and separated again. He could never forgive himself if something happens to her inside the illusion.

---- o ----

In Fengfu City's mini-hospital.

After Ming and Nianshi left that afternoon, Lifen and Anghus got acquainted as the disciple's descendants. And Anghus got embarrassed as he learned that the beautiful lady was his granny in age. 

Lifen provided the medicine and healed Anghus men but they had to remain in the hospital for a while.

"The fire ants bite are not deadly but to be bitten by hundreds is another matter. It's good that Ming got you in time or else you will be digging their graves tomorrow."

This was shocking news to Chamis but Anghus thought an anvil struck his chest. If they indeed died, how could he face their families? 

However, Lifen didn't pass up the point that a man called Mafan hired them. "Is this man here in the city?"

"Yes."

"Are you going to meet him again?"

"No."

"What does he want here?"

"I don't know. He went to find us asking to do his bidding. He promised that if we're successful with our tasks, he promised to pay us three bags of gold. But when we arrived here, he stayed in his room the whole time. Then last night, he sent my men to the city. This morning, he asked if I knew any illusion traps and paid a bag of gold. That's all."

"But are you sure that he's in here?"

"I can't tell but I saw him left."

All of a sudden, they heard the door slammed and a huge General Lofey, followed by another armored man, General Hester, walking with heavy steps toward them.

"Where is the man who planted the trap in the camp?" General Lofey shouted. 

Anghus turned pale as if his soul left him when he saw the angry general. For him, if Ming was tall, this man was a giant. Why was I born in a tribe of short men?

"Where is the man?" General Lofey asked again.

Lifen stood between General Lofey and the shaking Anghus. The general looked down at the pretty lady with a height half his body. She looked up to him with a calm demeanor and hands behind her back.

"I will not answer unless you sit down, old man," said Lifen. 

"Who are you to tell me? I'm the great General Lofey of the Goding army and I'm here for the culprit who almost killed my army." He yelled like a roaring lion at Lifen's face.

Lifen was not kind to men who used their ranks to make her obey. Most of all, she hated anyone making her look up. Without warning, her finger moved quickly and slightly tapped General Lofey's legs. 

A girl touching his body annoyed General Lofey, believing Lifen was after his affection. "How dare you…" His words cut short because his legs gave way. He fell on his knees that very instant.