21:: Another Vision

When she opened her eyes, Yuxi was in a large cavern.

A witch sat on a black throne with sharp edges, conversing with her minions in a strange language. But as she listened, the meaning behind the words gradually became clear in her mind.

"Who are you?"

She recognised the witch as the 'ancient evil' in her dreams, but the witch hadn't divulged her name to her yet. Fearful of judgement, she hadn't told any of her companions about the dream she had before.

The witch just let out a loud cackle. One of her henchmen, a human-like male but with horns, descended from the stairs and answered Yuxi impatiently.

"It's Her Highness Ximanka!"

Ximanka. Xima. She was none other than the feared witch in the dreams of the civilians of Shangyi?

Yuxi cowered in fear with her conjecture.

"Yes, my dear Yuxi. You got that right, I am none other than her." The witch smiled slyly, radiating seductive vibes all around that stunned her henchmen and left them watering at the mouth from the desire that had befell them. Yuxi, unaffected, just stared at the witch unbelievingly.

"What do you want from me?" 

Her boldness angered the horned male, who raised his trident-like weapon to attack her, but Xima waved him off.

"Let her be."

Yuxi shook off her fear, still stared at the witch indignantly. Like Zhan Peng had stated earlier, she admitted she was rash. She couldn't help how it was her nature. 

"What do you want me to do?" Yuxi reiterated. She could not understand why a force of evil, moreover the most heinous one she had ever heard of in history, required from a nineteen-year-old young girl. Tales of how witches would consume the lifeforce of young, virginal girls haunted her mind.

But she wasn't a virgin any longer after how she had allegedly lost her virginity to Zhan Peng and slept with him on two occasions, wasn't she?

"I'm not a virgin, so you have no use for my lifeforce."

The witch laughed insidiously.

"Did you think this is about your lifeforce? Qian Yuxi, do you realise who you are? Or what your capability entails?"

Yuxi was still glaring at the witch. 

"Yuxi, my dear, you were meant for bigger things. When your father had you with that wench, he kept your power from you. Hidden away all the secrets. Even had Li Youling mask your true nature from you. And erase memories that he thought would daunt you from performing the task."

That can't be true. The witch had to be lying. Her mother had died a long time ago, from the plague. Her older sisters, who she mostly did not recall, were all married far from the city. Ever since she was ten, she retained a memory that wasn't her. The memory of Qian Xin. She couldn't remember what happened before then. Who was Lang Juan, or her sisters… 

Unless she was Qian Xin…

But what powers was the witch speaking of?

She brushed away her worries. The Ancien1t Evil Xima was just making use of her gullibility.

"Listen to me, Qian Yuxi. I can make you stronger, sexier, anything you wish. If you want that silly prince, and have him love you forever, I can help you too. All you have to do…"

"No matter what, I won't give in to your demands… No!"

"Little girl, you haven't heard what I have to say and you're already declining."

"What do you want, then?" She snarled, enlarging her eyes in fury. 

"All you have to do is join me. Slowly, you will get to know what I want."

"I won't join forces with a witch!"

The witch let out a cackle. The power of her laugh brought forth a dark gust of wind, sending her and the others surrounding her into a flurry.

"You don't know what's good for you, Qian Yuxi."

She raised a slender finger, extremely long. Her skin gleamed with a bright green aura.

"Yuxi, NO! Please, Yuxi! Qian Yuxi, wake up! No matter what, you can't leave me! I can't go on without you, Yuxi!"

The faint voice of Zhan Peng resounded, seeming to be from a distance. It startled the witch, while leaving Yuxi flabbergasted.

"That can't be…"

Yuxi was wondering what the witch meant by her words, when she felt an unknown force encroaching into the space with them and encompassing her, pulled her away. It had occurred so quickly that she wasn't aware of what happened. But instead of instilling her with fear, it felt so calm and surreal. Like she was having a pleasant dream.

When she opened her eyes again, the first thing noted of her surroundings was the green grasses of the forest. There were a few trees and shrubs around them, but nothing of importance. 

"Yuxi, you can't leave me, please," she heard Zhan Peng beg. He held her hand tightly, while his body pressed against her and rendered her breathless. When he suddenly let her go, she still felt dazed.

"Why?" she rubbed her head and groaned. 

He looked very glad to see her alive and well, seizing her hand again and holding it against his cheek. 

Was that how a man should show his affection? By holding a girl's hand against his filthy cheek? She let out another groan. After seeing the vision that connected her with Xima, she felt her body aching like she had carried ten full bags of rice on her back.

"Because… Because I can't make the journey without you as our employer."

His answer disappointed her. In the end, he still saw her as just his employer. 

"And without you, how can I save my sworn brother?"

So that was where her importance in his heart laid. She swallowed a silent sigh and tried her utmost to get up. Her lower abdomen still felt as sore as ever, and when her thighs rubbed against each other when she walked, the chapped feeling between her legs just caused her more pain. In addition, her layers of clothing just made her feel hotter in that secluded forest.

"Then we should keep going."

She forced herself up. For the sake of her cousin and Su Yan, no matter what fate had befell him, she had to plough on forward. 

"Yuxi, let me carry you."

"No." If he insisted on carrying her, she would go on harbouring feelings for him that wouldn't be reciprocated. To save her from such a dilemma, she had to harden her emotions and protect her heart.

She took a step forward, ignoring the stabbing sensation in her heel. And another step. She gradually passed a large oak, compelling herself to move each time. With each step, she was losing strength. But the next step caused her to slip and fall backwards. She had stumbled on some wet moss.

His strong arms caught her, as he always did, and their eyes linked, pulling her into a state of oblivion. She didn't know what got into her, because he filled her open mouth with kisses, while a hand supported her waist.

Because I can't make the journey without you as our employer.

His words struck sense into her, and she pulled away vigorously.

"Stop this. I don't want anything to do with you, Zhan Peng. Until we find Yang Tian and defeat Frog Mahan, otherwise, you're just a mercenary that I have no feelings for."

"Yuxi, is this what you think?" He demanded, propping her against the oak.

"Yes!" She shouted adamantly. "Our relationship is just that of an employer and a mercenary."

"Fine. If that is so-" He lifted two fingers and tapped on her acupoint to immobilise her, "-then you stay here where it is safe. I'll go on by myself."

He slipped his fingers into her robes to pull out the bag of money to pay the bandit leader.

"Your points will unlock by themselves after an hour and a half. Keep yourself safe. I'll bring my brother safely back to you so we can continue the quest."

She didn't say a word, or insist that he free her from her immobility. All she did was stare furiously at him.

She couldn't read what was on his mind, but it appeared that he was mumbling something to himself. Something that was meant for her.

In the wink of an eye, he vanished from sight.