Chapter 119 - Soothing Power

Ming and Xinyi team still followed the narrow path. Suddenly, two ghosts came out in front of Ming and Balin's faces. Their heads jerked back, hitting the walls behind them with a loud thud.

Thank goodness Xinyi's mind was alert and let the Hutyuns make continuous slashes at the ghouls, sending them back into the wall. The two hurt persons groaned with their hurting heads.

"Thank you, Sir Nianshi," Sir Gib said. Xinyi exhaled, relieved to know Gib didn't notice she produced two swords at a time. 

"Be careful, my lady," Nianshi warned in her mind.

"I know," Xinyi replied the same way. 

"Thank you, Xinyi," said Ming, thanking her genuinely, but he was sweating real hard. 

"Are you fine?" Xinyi asked, looking at his sweats. She wished to wipe them but looking at her dirty hands and sleeves, she held off.

"I'm fine." Ming didn't want to let her know he was in pain. He didn't want her to fret over him and stop the mission. Most of all, it was during that time when he pushed her when a red-eyed ghoul zoomed out from the wall to ram itself to her. It was at that point his pushing hand was hit. From then on, his hand slowly got stiff and moving was hurtful. 

He feared if she would know, she might lose control and remembered his dream at the Cave of Truth. Will she go berserk once she knows I was hurt when I saved her?  

A part of him wished to know that if she would cry once she knew the reason he got hurt, but most of him said 'No.' He didn't want to lose the same way in his dream.

Xinyi and Nianshi held up their swords to keep the spirits from attacking them again. Ming brought out the emerald stone from his pocket and held it while moving, while Gib provided the fire to light the path. Nianshi guarded Gib in case the enemy would attack him again.

They continued on their journey while old Lofey and Gib were busy digging the stones so they could get out and get Tyriece in with his men.

An hour later, as they continued walking, they could feel the air was getting hot and dry. When Sir Balin got out from the path, a hot air welcomed him. He turned his face side-wise, saving himself from facing the heat. Thankfully, he was a fire Chiangda and could bear the hotness, although this one seeped through his skin.

"Face the wall when you get out. The heat is severe over here," Balin warned them as he gave way for them to go out.

Each of them came out and made an "Ah!" sound when they saw the steamy lake. 

"How do we get across this? There must be another way," Balin said. Nianshi and Xinyi was staring at the water. They realized something was not right in there. Nianshi could sense the same magic power from the ghouls.

Did they get their power from here? But it makes little sense.

Ming roamed his eyes around the area. "Look, there is a path." Ming shouted to get their attention. Everyone looked at where he pointed.

"The path is around the pool and it is wide enough for us to walk," Sir Balin said. They were relieved that they would not be confined in a narrow path again.

"We have to be careful." Nianshi warned them. They all nodded. As they started to walk, they saw a cavern entrance but there was a misty path ahead of them before reaching the door. 

"Wait! I will go first. I will try if I can handle the heat." Nianshi volunteered to be the first to cross. 

He started to walk in the path but after a few steps the heat increased. As a lion-dragon, he could bear this much heat since he was born at the mouth of the volcano. When he touched the wall, he yanked it back. "Don't touch the wall."

Then he stopped walking, feeling a stronger pulse right under the mist. He looked down and saw the cliff and running up water, but was not astounded with it. This was not something new to him. There were weirder things he saw with the first Sorceress, as weird as floating acidic water.

However, that pulsing power, like a heartbeat under the cliff, brought shivers to his spine. He felt a commanding magic, making him want to jump down. Unknown to him, Xinyi was looking at his shoulders, though Ming tried to cut her from following Nianshi but she did.

There's something strong but soothing power she felt from where Nianshi was watching, but the inviting power she felt earlier was from the cavern ahead. 

Will Nianshi jump? Where would Xinyi go first?