As soon as she opened her eyes, the reflection of the blazing sun found its way into her eyes, she quickly covered her eyes with her hand to block the rays of sunlight diffusing through the door. She still felt weak but not as weak as she was yesterday, she groaned silently as she lifted her upper body, she didn't want to wake Huo Mei up from her sleep. Huo Mei sat on a stool and rested her head on the bedside close to Huo Ying, judging from her position on the bed, she could tell that Huo Mei had been looking after her throughout the night, she smiled as she watched her in her sleep.

Wait…I remember hearing Huo Lian saying something about Huo Mei's blood…could…could it be that she…. ​​

Huo Ying thought! Then she looked at Huo Ying with fear in her eyes, she was really hoping that Huo Mei didn't use her blood on her, she couldn't imagine herself sucking the life out of the person who had always felt that it was her responsibility to take care of her, she would rather kill herself the moment she finds out than let Huo Mei sacrifice her life for her. While she was still in thoughts, Huo Mei woke up, she stretched her hands as she woke up from the sleep that she has been unable to get for three days. Huo Mei looked up to find Huo Ying, when she saw her sitting on the bed her joy could not be described, she has been waiting for this moment for the past three days after Huo Ying used the essence of the herbs.

"Young mistress, you are awake" Huo Mei shouted in excitement, she has missed the strong young mistress that she has always been with before, ever since Huo Ying fell sick, she felt like she was serving someone else and not Huo Ying, everything about her changed during this time.

"I am, why do you seem so tired?" Huo Ying asked with concerns written on her face, her lips are still slightly pale but it was evident that they are almost returning to their original rose-red colour, her entire face didn't seem as pale and weak as it seemed before but they were all worried about her when she was unconscious.

"Young mistress, I had to be by your side for three days with little sleep each day, we were all afraid that your illness might suddenly relapse while you were unconscious so I had to stay with you throughout the days you were unconscious," Huo Mei said

"What do you mean, I was only unconscious for a day," Huo Ying said in confusion, she just couldn't bring herself to believe that she had been unconscious for three days, she indeed felt more energetic than she was before but she felt like only a day has passed since she became unconscious.

"Young mistress, you were asleep so you won't know but you have been sleeping or unconscious for three good days, we were all worried that the herbs didn't work or they got the wrong herbs which has made you unconscious, I just couldn't stop blaming myself for putting you in such a dangerous situation, if we had the herbs earlier on, you would have recovered a long time ago," Huo Mei said, then she lowered her eyes in an apologetic manner. Huo Ying smiled as she watched her wallow in guilt.

"it wasn't your fault, if I had told you about it earlier on, it wouldn't have gotten worse to this point," Huo Ying said, then Huo Mei raised her head and smiled.

"I am just happy that you have woken up, I was too happy that I forgot to inform the sect leader," Huo Mei said, then she stood up from the chair but Huo Ying pulled her back to the chair.

"Huo Mei, did…. did you perhaps use your healing blood on me?" Huo Ying asked with a quizzical look in her eyes, in her mind, she was silently wishing that Huo Mei would say no. Huo Mei fluttered her lashes then she looked at Huo Ying with an unfazed expression.

"Young mistress, what are you talking about, I know how important my healing blood is too me, there is no way I would have used it," Huo Mei said, she was about to stand up again but Huo Ying stopped her.

"You are lying to me, after you fed me the essence of the herbs my sense of hearing began to function but I couldn't wake up, I wasn't sure of what Huo Lian said but she definitely said something about you using your blood to save my life," Huo Ying said

"she…she…what you said is true but I haven't used it yet, I know how important the healing blood is so I only planned to use it when you are almost dying if they haven't brought the herbs by then but they did so Huo Lian was only complaining that if they didn't get the herbs in time, I would have gone ahead to use my blood without listening to her," Huo Mei said

"You know I hate people lying to me especially those I trust, did you really not use your blood to save my life" Huo Ying asked

"I didn't young mistress, you are really overestimating my ability, my blood can only extend your life for a day or two if I had used it, I haven't cultivated my blood all these years to prevent it from being discovered," Huo Mei said.

"Then I am relieved. If you had used your blood, I would rather die than let you sacrifice your life for me" Huo Ying said, then Huo Mei smiled. This is the Huo Ying that she has always known, anyone who knew her would willingly give their lives for her.

"Young mistress, I need to inform the sect leader that you are awake, your mother has been worried about you ever since the day you collapsed and she has hardly eaten since then, if she knows that you are awake, she will definitely be overjoyed," Huo Mei said then she stood up from the chair.

"Wait…I don't want her to see me looking pale and sickly, when I dress up then you can inform them" Huo Ying said, then she stood up from her bed and walked towards her wardrobe.

"Young mistress, let me get you your dress, even though you are awake, you still can't exert yourself," Huo Mei said

"Do you think I am those gentle young mistresses of those rich families, this sickness must have destroyed the strong image I built for myself all these years?" Huo Ying said playfully, then Huo Mei walked to her wardrobe and brought out a set of red clothing for her. Minutes later, Huo Ying was fully dressed. She was dressed in a plain red outer garment with tight red sleeves and her elbow down to her wrist was covered with a black sleeve, she also wore a black inner trouser and a red and black coloured sash on her waist to complete her usual look.

"Young mistress, why don't you have feminine clothing, you are always dressed as a woman but your clothing makes you appear less feminine," Huo Mei said as Huo Ying walked to her dressing table and combed her hair.

"being feminine would make me look weak moreover I think this type of dressing makes me look more beautiful and stronger, as the young mistress of the flame sect, I can't let anyone see me as a weak person," Huo Ying said, Huo Mei walked to her back and collected the comb from her, she ran the comb through her hair until they were finely arranged and straightened as they used to be.

"young mistress, you can't fall sick like this again, everyone in the sect were worried about you, even the disciples, no one could concentrate on their training or even sleep well because we were all worried about you, the only reason why they haven't started crowding your quarter to see how you are doing is that the sect leader ordered everyone to begin their normal duties." Huo Mei said, she packed her hair into a ponytail with a round golden ring on her hair.

"I am very grateful to you Huo Mei for saving me, if it wasn't for you, I wouldn't have been alive or even see my sister before I die and you all should really stop calling me young mistress, we grew up together and we can be regarded as childhood friends," Huo Ying said, then she stood up from her seat.

"but you are still someone we are obliged to serve and respect no matter much. Moreover, I didn't do much, the ones you should really thank are Huo Bingchen, Huo Qiang and Huo Li, if they hadn't brought the herbs on time, even I wouldn't have been able to save you" Huo Mei said

��Where are they?" Huo Ying asked

"They haven't returned to the sect" Huo Mei replied with a downcast look on her face.

"Where did they go to and why haven't they returned?" Huo Ying asked nervously.

"They couldn't find the herbs you needed anywhere so they had to steal the herbs from the vitality sect" Huo Mei replied.

"The vitality sect is known for their traps, even if we have the blueprint of their sect, how can they pass through the energy-sucking forest, something must have happened to them," Huo Ying said in anxiety.

"We don't know where they are now, but they made it out alive, they couldn't return to the sect in time to save you so they had to summon the golden eagle but…" Huo Mei said then she cast her eyes downward.

"But what?" Huo Ying asked, it was clear that she was already getting impatient, if she learns that they are in danger she would surely go out to find them.

"The sect leader said that the golden eagle would never listen to the command of anyone so he might hurt them, when the golden eagle returned with the herbs, one of the disciples said that there was blood on his claws ad he wasn't wounded" Huo Mei replied

"Then what are you still doing here, everyone should have descended the mountain to find them, the vitality sect will still be on their tail, how can they return to the sect if they are injured or dead," Huo Ying said, then she picked up her sword from her bedside and walked towards the door but Huo Mei quickly held her wrist.

"Huo Ying, the sect leader has already ordered some of the elite disciples to find them," Huo Mei said

"That damned golden eagle, if it can't even save them then what is he doing for this sect, he is big enough to bring them back to the sect on his back, how can he leave them there, after getting them injured," Huo Ying said then she balled her fist in anger.

"the golden eagle doesn't listen to anyone but it helped them bring back the herbs, I am not sure about what happened but you can't go into a rage again, what if your sickness relapses," Huo Mei said

"I don't care, I have to get them back, no matter what and that damned golden eagle is going to take me to them," Huo Ying said, then she tried to brush off Huo Mei's hand from her wrist but her grip was strong.

"Everyone saw the golden eagle before, they would be looking for whoever is out from the flame sect, remember the plan to remain quiet until we get Huo Lan back," Huo Mei said

"You know you can't persuade me so just let me go unless you want me to bring out my other self," Huo Ying said then her eyes slowly began to change to a red colour, seeing how she changed, Huo Mei quickly removed her hand from her wrist.

"I know you care about me but I don't have a good feeling about them being out there alone with no assurance that they are fine," Huo Ying said

"But the sect leader doesn't even know that you are awake yet," Huo Mei said

"When I come back with them, they will see me," Huo Ying said

"You are not strong enough to fight, what if something happens while you are out there?" Huo Mei argued

"Their lives are more important," Huo Ying said then she ran out of the room with Huo Mei following behind her. As they ran out of Huo Ying's quarter, some of the disciples saw them, they were overjoyed that she was already awake but before they could even say anything to her, she had already run past them. Huo Mei looked around but she couldn't find her, she wanted to report to the sect leader but she was worried that there would be another series of a problem if she did so she just kept on looking for her.