Chapter 106 - Worries

As they all returned home safely, Xinyi still hadn't gotten over with what had happened. They had so much adventure within a short span of time, but the spirit's aura when they left the cave intrigued Xinyi. Another thing that bothered her was when they set out, she faintly heard the spirit said that they'd be back. This was a wearisome thought.

The spirit's declaration left a sour taste in her mouth. She wanted to talk with Ming because she had missed to ask him about his cry she heard and couldn't shake the feeling that everything was not right.

"Where is Ming right now?" she asked Nianshi who stood quietly by the door. He seemed in deep thoughts like her. She couldn't blame him. He had been in the dream twice and felt getting out from it was difficult. Even though he was strong but everybody had their own weaknesses. 

"As I remember he is with the general right now, discussing some matters." Nianshi was hesitant to speak his thoughts, and she sensed this.

"Speak, whatever is in your mind."

His shoulders stiffened for a moment then he relaxed. He knew keeping secrets wouldn't do them good. "I was wondering, my lady. When I had arrived and rescued you from the chameleon, how was it you seem unscathed?" 

Xinyi's mood shifted. It seemed like this topic upset her. 

"Not that I am not grateful that you are fine, my lady. It's just that, I wanted to thank whoever helped you." He tried his best to sound sensitive since he knew she had been through much. But still so many questions left unanswered since they met in the cave and a lot had been going through his head. 

She was silent for a while so he hung his head low again and shut his mouth.

"I don't exactly remember much, to be honest." She was sad rather than upset. "All I remember is... I was dying. I swear, I thought I would die at that time. We were no match for the creature." Just remembering the feeling of almost losing the people she learned to care, mostly her new husband and family, and her life in one moment terrified her all over again. 

Thinking about it made her heart skip a beat while her body temperature dropped, freezing cold as ice snaking up her every being. She paced in circles in the room with her head down, facing her open palms.

"I remember being hopeless and regretting everything. Before I completely blacked out, I felt like…," she closed her eyes and stood still, "I was at peace, like a comforting cloud was carrying me and taking away all my doubts and pain." 

Xinyi relived that feeling again while her eyes still shut. That was the only good but weird feeling she remembered while fighting the chameleon. 

Nianshi stood there quietly. He listened and tried analyzing everything but there seemed to be some missing pieces to complete the jigsaw puzzle. He believed it happened somewhere before or weirdly after she blacked out. That's why she could not remember them.

She opened her eyes and looked up at the ceiling. "Then I heard Ming's voice, and I woke up. He… he sounded like he needed my help, that he was in danger." Just thinking about it made her want to hug Ming that moment. A tear trickled down her cheek. She quickly wiped it off, she didn't want to be seen as weak. 

Nianshi understood how she felt but her answer still made little sense. It just did not add things up. What did she do to make a creature like that come after her?

"Why did that chameleon come after you?"

Xinyi walked out from Nufang Pavilion, watching the moon above. "Mistaken identity. Just like what the Hutyuns said before. He said I killed his grandfather."

She felt the invincible Hutyuns hugging her, saying, "I'm sorry, queen."

Nianshi sighed but then remembered the spirit's eerie grin. He thought of going back and hit its annoying face, beating it until it gave him answers. 

I'm sure that sly thing saw what happened why she was unscathed. But it was obviously after my master. That thing was hiding something secretly. No doubt  about it. But what and why?

Xinyi's yawnings interrupted his thoughts. She was tired and so was he. Their adventure seemed like it had been going on for months, yet they had known each other for less than a month. Nianshi carried her to bed. Xinyi didn't argue and let him be as exhaustion sent her straight to dreamland. She fell asleep before her head hit the soft pillow. 

The lion dragon left the room and guarded the door outside.

---- o ----

"I think you must have known, Governor that there had been some incidents within the city." Ming nodded and let him continue. He didn't want to interrupt. He didn't know how dire the situation was since he had been on a little trip with Xinyi and her servants. 

"As you know, our country's adviser has been up to something. We still don't know the details but we're doing our best to look for him since he has been the one behind the illusion attack in our camp." This brought Ming's attention. He remembered Anghus might have mentioned the name of the person who hired them but couldn't recall what it was. Ming just assumed it was the adviser.

"How did you know he was the one behind it?" Ming sipped his tea before asking anything further. He wanted Xinyi to be there at that meeting or somewhere near him but knowing she was tired, he sent her to bed early. 

However, since the dream, he couldn't shake off wanting to hold her and protect her. It was a strange feeling for him to care this much for her. He felt silly but also serious because of her dying in his dream.

"We caught one of his men and spilled the beans right away. Although I don't trust him that greatly since he may be lying." He gritted his teeth. If only he was given a chance to interrogate him his way. Surely there would be no chance for Anghus to lie, but since Ming's mother had been keeping an eye out for him, he couldn't. 

Doing it my way would be a lot easier. Why are they even protecting that traitor? General Lofey's fists clenched, but he dared not show it to Ming nor would he dare ask the second question at this moment. 

"Your adviser, did they find him yet?" Ming wondered what kind of man was this adviser to disappear after the war. 

"No, we haven't. We've searched high and low for that idiot but still to be found. But rest assured, Governor. My men will do everything to find him even if it  means giving up our rest, just to ensure the city's safety."

The night would be long and there would be so much discussing to do. Ming was worried about the city's safety but in his heart, he was more concerned about what he had envisioned about Xinyi. By his ancestor's name, he prayed that day would not come.