Chapter 172 - Qilin's Master

Lofey brought their attention to the surroundings. Uncertain where they were, all eyes went to Meirga and the fox-spider.

Meirga closed her eyes and smiled. "We're now in the chameleon's place."

"Are you sure?" Tyriece said, unsure with what he saw. A land of howling winds and blizzard of snow. Quite an interesting place for a lizard to settle. His spine tingled with the freezing air and hastily brought out his winter coat on.

Meirga kindly smiled at him, sorry that his body couldn't cope up. "Yes, I am. I can sense his presence." 

"This snowy peak is his lair?" Lofey saw the oddness or to be clear, letting his fire heat his body up. 

Why would a chameleon live in such a cold and desolate land? And where was Ming?

"Indeed. But the weather wasn't this bad the last time I came."

In her mind the same question came as when they were in the dried forest. Why are these places getting worse in my visits?

To make sure she was not mistaken, she closed her eyes again. Her spiritual sense tried to find the chameleon again. 

"I'm totally right. This is his place but on why it is snowing this badly, I don't know. It wasn't like this the last time I came here."

Xinyi's forehead creased. "When was this last time?" Xinyi's thoughts were on Meirga's words about the worsening weather. But their questions were getting on Meirga's nerves.

"Just days ago. Please. Dragon's have good memories. We can even remember decades of history."

"Sorry, I don't mean that. Never mind. I can feel his presence too," Xinyi said. "Please bring us to his lair now." 

Before they could set out, Xinyi sensed a powerful but familiar being was fast approaching them. 

The whole team sensed it too but only the Godingans reacted negatively.

"Watch out!" Lofey and Tyriece yelled and about to jump in front of Xinyi but halted on their tracks when Xinyi smiled as a reindeer-like creature pounced on her.

"Shijian?" She fell on the ground with a Qilin's head inches from her face.

"Haha, I miss you." Her tongue licking Xinyi's face.

Xinyi laughed out loud as she tried to cover her face from the wet tongue but failed. Nevertheless, she enjoyed Shijian's playful welcome.

"Why are you here? But wait… You can speak and… You changed." Xinyi looked at Shijian's gorgeous bold-striped covered body. Her hand reached the meter long with one branch antlers on the Qilin's tiger-like head in front of her. "Are you really Shijian?"

"Of course. Did you meet another pretty Qilin aside from me? But we'll talk later. Come. I'll bring you to the governor."

All eyes widened to hear the word governor. 

Shijian stood up and Xinyi exclaimed to see the Qilin had grown as tall as a horse. "Hop on, Xinyi." 

With one hand on Shijian's back, she swung her body up to sit on the Qilin's bareback.

Shijian raced away. 

Lengshui transformed into a sleigh of ice, letting the fox-spider and the two men sit on his chair-formed back. He slid away after the Quilin. Nianshi and Meirga followed suit, treading their feet on snowy ground. 

Yet, minutes had passed, but the Qilin had no sign of stopping. 

"Where are we heading?" Tyriece asked the human Nianshi running in paced speed beside them.

"I'm not sure, but I can see a cave kilometers from here." Nianshi said.

Hearing how far Nianshi could see amazed Tyriece and Lofey. They looked ahead, only finding a thick fog covering the whole place. 

So this is the power of a dragon's vision Lofey thought.

Unknown to them, Nianshi himself was even more awestruck on how far his vision could reach. Three kilometers was too far for him before, but now this was nothing. 

Is this the result of the essence from the Lavanna crystals? There was no other culprit he could point to for him to gain this ability. 

He sent a voice transmission to the human Meirga. "Did you feel any changes in your abilities after you wake up from that deep slumber?" 

Meirga's mouth and nostrils breathed out mist as she ran. "Can't tell much, but I think I can fly as fast as you now."

"Really? Did you sense your power got stronger when I pulled you earlier?"

"Yeah. Actually, your speed wasn't a bother. I can even see where we're heading, which wasn't the case before." 

This realization delighted Meirga. This was her dream but thought of trying it later. Finding the Sorceress' husband was of utmost importance now. 

Her eyes could also see where they headed. A cave with a man lying on a stone bed made of three colors arranged from orange, red to black.

They entered the thick fog. The sleigh Lengshui moved closer to Shijian. 

Minutes passed, a light was seen ahead. Shijian entered the cave and moved to a complete stop. She snorted, exhaling smoke from her mouth and nostrils, breathing deep after a long run. 

As they entered, Xinyi's heart thumped fast as her eyes caught sight of Ming. She hurriedly jumped down from Shijian's back and ran to Ming's side.

There, she saw her husband in deep slumber. His hands were completely black. His robe was partly opened, letting her see the blackened belly. She pulled his robe apart, leaving his chest bare before her. Only her upper chest up to his head remained unchanged though slightly pale. 

She pulled up the pants covering his lower legs, exposing the blackened skin.

Looking at his condition pained her. She wept, hugging Ming tight. The rest wanted to go nearer or to console her but they couldn't find any words to say. They were in pain to see Ming this way too.

The indifferent spider lost its indifference looking at Ming, although it couldn't grasp why the Chief's guardian's husband became like this. 

It remembered seeing the Qilin passed by its domain with Ming on her back days ago, but missed to see his real condition. It shook its head, apologetic to Xinyi for not telling her.

Tyriece held his chest, having mixed emotions. He cared for Ming, but was ashamed to think he would take over Ming's place in Xinyi's heart. He shook such selfish thoughts off him. How could he betray his newfound sworn brother and fellow Chiangda? 

He went to the cave's opening with his back on them. He struck the wall with his fist while crying in his heart.

They thought he was angry for Ming and didn't mind him. However, Lofey understood Tyriece's difficulties and was bitter for him.

As for Nianshi, he looked away and focused his eyes outside, sensing something wasn't right in this place. Ming's sight also troubled him but trusted Xinyi could cope up with her agony. But finding this place's freezing atmosphere was more disturbing. 

The Sacred River should be here. Where is the river? Nianshi asked himself.

"Xinyi, don't worry. My master is still alive. I came on time before the poison would reach his heart."

"Master?" Xinyi said with brows raised. 

"Yes, his act of saving you in the mines tore off the veil of my bloodline's legacy in me. So, my bloodline has chosen him as my master."

[This happened in Chapter 119.]

Xinyi looked down at the grassy ground, deep in thought. She tried to recall when Ming saved him but couldn't remember when. 

"The poison? How about this poison? How did he get it?" she said.

"That is actually the curse in the vengeful ghosts in the mines. He got it when he saved you. The ghoul attacked from behind you but my master pushed you and his hand was hit by the ghoul's apparition instead."

Xinyi's palm clamped her lips as her tears fell from her eyes. She couldn't believe he almost died saving her.

"How can I heal him?" Xinyi asked, wiping her wet cheeks with her sleeve. Before Shijian could reply... 

"You can't heal him unless you heal this accursed place first," a rasp voice said.

They all turned toward the owner of the voice and gasped to see a colored-skin man standing behind Shijian. 

How did he get there without us noticing? Lofey and Tyriece took a defensive stance.

Xinyi's eyes thinned. "Chameleon."