18 Chapter 18: Somber news

Hearing the witch words, Xialin got a tiny bit of hope, seemed like the heaven heard her cries. Her moods lightened up a bit and her deep, dark eyes brightened up with a strong desire to meet the immortal.

She made up her mind and spoke to the Old woman with determination, "This Immortal, I'll meet him and ask for his help. Even if I have to go to the end of the world to meet him, I'll go to the end of the world and meet him!".

After letting out her intentions, Xialin urged the Old Witch and requested with her palm resting on the fist of the other hand, "Elder, please tell me what shall I need to prepare? Please proceed with the plan of manipulating the time of my brother's death!"

Hearing her words, the Old Witch gave her statement, "Young girl. I have got everything I need don't you worry about that instead put on this elixir to your brother, make sure he takes it on time".

With it, she handed Xialin, a small wooden bottle containing liquid elixir.

Xialin took in the wooden bottle and inquired the Witch with a concerned looked on her face, "What is this?!"

The Witch replied in firmness, "This is the soul preserving elixir. This elixir will preserve your brother soul, making sure that it doesn't leave the body till it's manipulated time. While you are giving your brother the elixir, I'll perform the death ritual here"

Stunned upon hearing the witch words, Xialin questioned, "Death ritual?! What is this ritual about?!"

The Old Witch replied to it, "This ritual is for replacing your brother's death with that of an animal!"

Xialin's eyes widened up as she listened to the Witch words, feeling troubled she reacted in bewilderment, "Is it really okay to do that?! We are going to take an innocent life!"

The Witch turned to Xialin and questioned her bluntly, "Young girl, Don't you want your brother to live?!"

Xialin shooked her head at it and instantly made up her mind. She responded with determination, "Elder, Let's do this! I want my brother to live!"

The Witch stared at Xialin and gave her statement, "Fine then, quick move. The time is ticking off. Take the horse with you"

Heeding to the Witch words, Xialin quickly moved out from the cage and went for the horse. It was feeding on the grass with its head facing on the front. Xialin slowly moves towards it and untie the rope.

After untying the horse, she went in the front trying to get a hold of it. The horse immediately flight at sensing Xialin. She quickly holds the horse reins and her subliminal essence glared at the horse. Upon seeing her eyes, the horse immediately calms down and came back to normal.

Xialin was left unaware of the incident.

Without knowing anything, she immediately climbs up and drove the horse at it's fastest speed.

The young, bubbly, girl Xialin learned to ride the horse with her brothers from a very young age but she never rode it alone. It was always along with her brothers or with her beloved father. Young Xialin did never went out alone, her brothers or her friends were always there to accompany her.

Did Xulan's incident has made her strong? Or Is it the effect of the Blue Coral Elixir? One thing is for certain that Xialin has changed a lot. It was her first time riding the horse, all alone in the deep, dark woods with no one to accompany her but herself and she wasn't afraid at all!

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Meanwhile, In the Lin's family....

Tension aroused as the eldest son of the family didn't arrive home and the youngest, Xialin who went out with her friends didn't returned back as well. Mr.Lin unable to contain the anxiousness anymore immediately stood up and spoke to his wife, "Furen, I'll go to Bingbing's family and inquired about it".

Mr.Lin then headed out towards the bamboo gate. Xukai and Mrs.Lin came out to see him leave.

Before Mr.Lin left the place, Bingbing and Lihua came to them.

Seeing Bingbing and Lihua entering the gate, Mrs.Lin and Xukai came running towards them.

Mr.Lin startled upon seeing them asked surprisingly, "Bingbing, Lihua you came back?! Where is Xialin??!!"

Upon hearing his words Bingbing and Lihua got concerned and worried.

Bingbing replied to it in anxiousness, "Mr.Lin, Didn't Xulan gege and Xialin arrive home yet?!"

Mrs.Lin and Xukai upon hearing her words got tensed up.

Alarmed by it, Mrs.Lin questioned her, "What do you mean Bingbing? Xulan and Xialin didn't arrive home yet. Didn't our Xialin leave with you guys?"

Bingbing and Lihua looked at each other as they listened to Mrs.Lin words. They were left stressed by it.

Feeling pressured, Bingbing apologised immediately, "We are really sorry Mrs.Lin. Actually we three didn't go to our place instead we went to the Black Market!"

She continued narrating the entire event that have occurred at the Black Market. She then added troubledly, "But don't worry, Mr. and Mrs.Lin, Xulan and Yutao gege have went to save her".

Mrs.Lin dead worried upon hearing her words reasoned out at that instant, "Why you girls are so careless?? Why did you go there?! Don't you know that it is dangerous out there?!!"

Mrs.Lin got so disturbed and worried that her head began to spin. She slightly bends down holding her head. Xukai instantly rushed in and grabbed his mother.

Bingbing and Lihua feeling regretted at their carelessness both kneeled and beg for their forgiveness, "We are so sorry. Mr. and Mrs.Lin. We didn't know that our carelessness will lead to this".

Mrs.Lin upon seeing them became speechless that she murmured, "You...!"

While both of them were begging for Lin's family forgiveness, Yutao's messenger have arrived. He quickly stopped the horse and got down and rushed towards Lin's family.

He hastily entered the house. Just as he entered, he saw the scene of the two young women kneeling and asking for forgiveness.

The messenger slowly came towards them, greeted them and delivered the message in bewilderment, "Mr and Mrs Lin. This is the messenger from Yutao. Your son Xulan has been badly injured while clashing off with the Eagle bandits and is in critical condition, he is now being treated at the Physician House and Your daughter Xialin has runoff from the house and has gone missing. Please come immediately to the Physician House!"

Lin's family became thunderstruck upon hearing his words, it seemed that the black dark clouds have suddenly arrived and covered the bright sun.

Bingbing and Lihua looked at each other and gasped. Did their mindless act really have gone this far?! The reality seems to be hitting them hard as they kneeled there dumbstruck. Lihua unable to contained his words, teared up in misery.

Bingbing exclaimed in shocked, "Oh My.....!"

and began sobbing.

Mrs.Lin went numbed upon hearing the news. She started to act up crazy and nervously holds Xukai's hand. She then spoke in panicked, "Son, Let's go there immediately. We have to see them! I'll go and changed my dress! Yes....I'll go...You wait here, huh?!"

Seeing his mom behaviour, Xukai immediately grabbed his mom's hands and comforted her, "Mom, Don't worry, Nothing bad will happen to them. I'll take the fastest horse and head with the messenger first. You guys come later in the carriage, okay?!"

Mr.Lin spoke to it concernedly, "Furen, Erzi is right. Let him go first. We'll take the carriage and go there"

Mrs.Lin looked up to Mr.Lin as he says those words and replied in tensed, "Okay, let's do it this way then".

Mrs Lin then turned to Xukai, hold his hands and spoke up shakily, "Son, Be careful on your way!"

Xukai answered to it calmly, "Mom, do not worry, I'll be fine"

Xukai then heads out, taking the fastest horse, he leaves for the Physician house with Yutao's messenger.