章 17: Ability Users
After hearing his statement, Xinyi's brain blanked out for a moment and her eyes took in more light than she expected. 'He saw me… and knew I'm here?' However, Xinyi kept herself hidden and didn't move an inch.
"Do you want me to go to you and pull you out, wife?"
Silence…
The girl in the bush was sulking. "Humph, now you call me wife and wish me to come out because mother-in-law came and you're afraid to be scolded but you'll only put me in a charade. No way, stupid, egoistic husband… Humph.' Xinyi thought she had the upper hand now and wanted to play hard to get because she knew Lei Ming needed of her presence.
"Come on, let's not waste our time here. Come out now and we'll talk."
She pouted. 'No way, I rather go away than to play along with your game. Hmm, how about I make the birds poop on you now…,' she paused and shook her head.
Using the animals now, that would not be easy. She tried using telepathy to call an animal before but it caused her to faint minutes after. If she would communicate to them and since Ming knew where she was… 'He would hear me make sounds and that would be disastrous.' She contemplated.
He shouldn't know she had powers or else… Then her brows raised… she then clapped her mouth in shock and every part of her went on pause when her thoughts caught up on something very important from last night's events… Xinyi recalled partly seeing him use something against the birds last night but couldn't tell what it was. She hardly noticed and forgot about it because she was running away from him.
'What did he used to let the birds fall dizzy?' She heard some birds cried that night like something from Lei Ming struck them. Also, after summoning them up again, he only waved a hand, and they shouted and were blown away. Could that mean…
'He is also an ability user like me, but… he used it openly, which is dangerous. But… was he allowed to use it in the open because he is the Governor? Or he used it because he saw me play with the fish and calling the birds, so he was not on guard since we are both ability users? I don't think so. It makes little sense. I really don't understand.'
She pressed her lips. Her confusion increased because she knew the fatality of using powers in public. Xinyi saw it when she was nine years old.
One day, Yan Ma, and she went to a plantation 'near the valley' to sell some fruits. The 'near the valley' here meant, days of walk toward the area and back. Before they set foot at the plantation area, they saw a commotion. Yan Ma inquired from the harvesting girls about what had taken place.
They said a boy threw a stone to another boy picking vegetables. The latter raised his hand in defense to protect his head, but out of nowhere ice crystals flew and struck the stone and the bully. The incident didn't only end there, but the boy with the ability was captured by guards with rosy translucent stones on their hands, sending the boy to faint, and they brought him away.
Somehow, what came next made Xinyi nearly blow in rage. The people thanked the bully. Xinyi told Yan Ma that she would send animals to help the imprisoned boy but Yan Ma stopped her. Before she knew it, Yan Ma gave their fruits away, carried her and scurried far from that place and didn't return, ever.
Yan Ma's fear was clear as water to the young Xinyi's eyes. From then on, that incident was hidden deep in Xinyi's heart and would never forget it for the rest of her life. Now, with Lei Ming's display of power, she was completely surprised.
As she stayed silent with all these stuff in her head, Lei Ming was also having his own difficulties. Her continuous silence and hardheadedness had annoyed him all the more. He wanted to explode in frustration but kept his calm. Since he anticipated that she was sent to him to intimidate him, he decided to give them the least they expected. Also, with the plan on making her submit to him and if possible, make her his ally.
"I know this marriage caught both of us unprepared and you might think I'm unfair for sending you here…"
His voice awakened her from her reverie. 'What the heck is that speech?' thought Xinyi, intrigued by what he was implying.
"So come out now and let's talk. I promise I will listen to you and see what I can do to make this easier for both of us."
She was still silent and pensive… but a minute later... "If I come out, will you agree to my terms?" Xinyi said.
Lei Ming relaxed to hear her speak. "It depends on the terms. Like what?"
"I would still be living here but make this place clean and neat. And…" she bit her finger. "Hmm, and I need maids and other helpers. And don't forget about my allowance befitting for my status."
Lei Ming giggled quietly. 'Befitting your status? With your unladylike manners?'
"I will but you have to agree on my terms too," he said.
"Like what?"
"You will know later but I can guarantee it would be for your own good," said Lei Ming, planning on making her undergo an etiquette training but didn't want to spoil the fun with his surprise.
"No, I don't agree. That's unfair."
Lei Ming smirked inaudibly. 'It seems this girl is smarter than I thought.'
"Why unfair? You will have everything you want in exchange."
"Because you are not stating your demands clearly."
Lei Ming gave up. There was no way around this girl but to be direct. "Fine... actually, I just want you to undergo training..."
Before he could continue… "What training are you talking about?" Xinyi guessed it could be about etiquette again.
Her question was sudden, so he thought he should take it slow as not to alarm her. Ming slowly said, "It is just a lesson about the ways how a lady in your status should act..."
"NO WAY!?!"
The ground shook where Lei Ming stood, shocking him to the core. He felt the rippling vibrations running through his skin and giving him goosebumps.
Suddenly, Xinyi's pendant glowed again… and so was the object in the hanging purse on Lei Ming's waist.
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