"I understand," Huo Qiang replied with his head slightly bowed, then she walked away after wearing the same angry expression she had on her face moments ago, he watched her until her back disappeared from his sight then he turned to look inside the room through the window that could only give him a glimpse of her shadow.

He could see her sitting on the edge of the bed with her face cupped in between her hands, she raised her head and bent it back as though she was trying to stop her tears from falling, at that moment, he was tempted to go in, he just couldn't bear to stand there and watch her being sad, he moved his legs forward but he suddenly stopped when he remembered what the sect madam said to him, she really needed to learn how to be more responsible, although they are always ready to sacrifice their life for her, she still has to learn to be responsible for the sake of the disciples who are going to be under her leadership in the future. ​​

He balled his fist tightly to stop himself from entering the room, his heart ached, he just couldn't stand there, but going in might cause her more problem, moreover...they just kissed, how can he console her if that awkwardness is still there, he knew that the sect madam words might have sounded like a friendly reminder but it is an order that he mustn't go against.

He finally decided to leave, he turned around and walked away slowly.

She raised her head and caught a glimpse of his backside, she originally thought that he would come in to console her but seeing as he just left, she was deeply convinced that he really doesn't feel anything for you, all her foolish assumptions and imaginations were all her wishful thinking.

"We shouldn't have kissed...." Huo Ying said in regret she has had several imaginations of their first kiss but she didn't think that it would be this awkward and unfeeling, she lied down beside Huo Mei and cuddled her to console herself.

Bohai walked out from behind the tree he was hiding from, he has been standing there ever since the sect madam left the room so he didn't hear her conversation with Huo Ying, from what she told Huo Qiang and her shadow, he could deduce that Huo Ying has just been scolded.

"Seems like we are both the same after all....we have responsibilities to bear and we have to show others our perfect side," he remarked then he walked out of her quarter before he is discovered by anyone.

The next day.....

The sect leader of the four major sects and the sect leader of the vitality sect all gathered in the wind sect, they couldn't wait for the examination of the flame sect disciples to come but it would have been better if they could enter the mountain between the flame sect and the outside world.

They were all dressed to impress except for sect madam Huo, the elders and Huo Qiang, since Huo Mei was injured, she didn't have to leave the wind sect for the search even though she persuaded Huo Ying and the sect madam to let her come along.

She was worried that if Huo Lian doesn't see her and she finds out about what happened, she might get angry and end up telling Huo Ying in a fit of rage about how she used her healing blood on her but she told Huo Ying and Huo Qiang not to tell her sister about her injury.

The commoners and those from the noble families in Lanzhou and Suzhou where the wind sect and the flame sect are somehow managed to hear the news of the flame sect disciples coming out for the examination even though they weren't aware if the reason, those in Suzhou didn't fail to gather outside the flame mountain just to catch a glimpse of them, if a visitor had just entered the city, they would have thought that the emperor himself had arrived at Suzhou.

"I suppose sect madam Huo has made all the necessary preparations for today's examination?" Sect Leader Lin inquired doubtfully in a friendly fashion.

"of course, alliance leader has given my sect a chance to redeem ourselves, how can we afford to fail your expectations for us," Sect madam Huo replied in a reassuring manner.

They both stared at each other while different thoughts ran through their mind, sect leader Lin couldn't help but worry about his witness, he felt that there is something wrong but he just can't point out what it is, especially after seeing how confused his witness seemed after Huo Ying called him, he would have thought that she has used some wicked way to confuse the witness but as far as he was concerned, he has never heard of the flame sect possessing such a technique.

"I hope that is the case, if the witness points out any of your disciples today and he proves that it is one of your disciples that committed the crime then I won't be able to help you anymore," he added in a tone that made him sound like he was giving a friendly reminder and also threatening her.

"I can assure you that there wouldn't be any cause for that," Sect madam Huo replied with no emotion whatsoever in her eyes, without waiting for him to say anymore, she nodded her head at the elders, Huo Qiang and Huo Mei then she started walking out of the sect.

They all mounted their horses outside the wind sect and started riding, while the people watched them, if they had their way, they would have followed them all the way to Suzhou to see the flame sect disciples, they could easily identify those from the flame sect through the flame mask, except for those who were born after the ever night battle, the others could clearly recognise the woman leading the parade.

The famous Huo Jingyu!

"Isn't that Huo Jingyu,"

"She is truly the one"

"After years of waiting, we can finally see our female champion again and the most beautiful woman in the entire Tang dynasty" one of the men in the crowd shouted, while the others turned to look at him with a frown on their faces.

"What are you saying, have you forgotten the evils she and her husband committed back then?" another man snapped

"There is no one who would be able to forget but that doesn't change that fact that she was once the female champion of the dynasty,"

"That is true, I remember that back then, the kings and princes from other countries came here just to see her and they even proposed marriage to her but she rejected them all,"

"That is true, she had all of them wrapped around her fingers," another man said

"hmmph! that is why they say beautiful women are the most dangerous and sinister creatures on earth,"

They all turned to look at the woman who had just spoken but they just shook her head at their comment while some women who were jealous of the praises she was being given spoke in favour of the woman.

"Junior sister, it seems like the people still remember you even after all these years," sect leader Zhou commented after hastening his horse to ride close to her and her followers.

"Although they remember me, it doesn't change the fact that in their hearts everyone from the flame sect are all evil beings and demons," Sect madam Huo replied

"Why do you say so? from what I can hear, they are all talking about your chivalry and your beauty during the days of your youth," Sect leader Zhou said in false assurance while he fanned himself with one of his hand.

"If that is so then they have given me too much praise, many years have passed and I am surely not the same person I was in the past, I am afraid that they will be disappointed," Sect madam Huo replied with a gentle smile on her face, she wished he would just back off but it didn't seem like he was going to at any minute.

"hmmph! trying to flirt with my mother" Huo Ying scoffed inwardly, unwilling to watch them continue, she waited for all of them to ride in front of her while she rode her horse behind them, looking forward, her eyes landed on Huo Qiang.

She has managed to ignore his existence until now but now that she is riding behind them, noticing him is something she couldn't help, she held the reins of her horse tightly and slowed down her horse while she sighed depressingly.

Part of her wished that he would notice that she has left the front and she is now riding at the back and part of her wished that he would just disappear from her sight, the feeling of anger she felt seeing him after what he did yesterday still bothered her.

She didn't stop thinking about it until she sensed someone riding beside her, she turned to look at who it was and alas....Lin Bohai.

Even though he couldn't see the upper part of her face because of the mask, her reaction upon seeing him gave her dissatisfaction away, he smiled gently in a friendly manner knowing that it is now clear to the both of them that they are enemies not the friends they pretended to be yesterday and Huo Ying didn't intend to keep up the act.

"Lin Bohai, what are you doing here?" Huo Ying questioned in an obviously hostile manner to assure him that she doesn't see him as a friend or someone she wants to ride with at this point in time.

"From miss Huo Ying's tone, it is quite clear that my presence here is something you do not appreciate?" Bohai indirectly remarked

"I am happy to know that you are aware of that," Huo Ying replied, he narrowed his eyes and widened his smile at her straightforward answer and hostile attitude towards him but it only made her more interesting for him.

"I should be the one asking the question, you are supposed to be leading us to your sect but instead, you are riding behind everyone, what is your reason for that?" Bohai questioned in a neutral tone.

"As the young mistress of the flame sect, I don't think I am subjected to answering your questions just because you asked me, what I am doing here is none of you business, I hope young master Bohai will return to his original position," Huo Ying replied without looking at him, instead, she fixed her eyes on Huo Qiang.

"What is she doing with him?" Huo Qiang asked rhetorically, he couldn't turn back to look at them and he can't even complain because of the sect madam but he felt really anxious, knowing that Lin Bohai left his position after Huo Ying went back, he was sure that they are definitely riding together, he felt uneasy just knowing that.

He was about to turn back but he decided not to again, what if she was still angry with him for his misbehaviour towards her yesterday?

He asked himself!

He had avoided her yesterday before she lashed out at him for kissing her, what is he going to say to her even if he turns back?

"You don't have to answer my question but I also think I can ride beside you if I wish to," Bohai replied to her answer he wished she would be more friendly to him but she didn't seem like she has any intention of being friendly with him.

After the incident yesterday, he sorted out his feelings to prevent himself from being confused by both sisters, the one he loves is Huo Lan and not Huo Ying, as for Huo Ying, he only sees as someone who he thinks is capable of understanding him since they both share the same responsibility.

She is the friend he needs to have!

Even though he has only seen Huo Lan twice since she arrived at the wind sect, it didn't take him more than one glance to fall in love with her, he first met her when they were just little kids after she arrived at the sect and at that moment, he fell in love with her.

"Do as you wish" Huo Ying remarked at his annoying presence.

After hours of riding, they finally arrived at Suzhou, the commoners stood at the side of the street as they rode by with their fingers pointing at the different people from the sects but those from the flame sect were of course given more attention.

"eh eh eh...look, Huo Jingyu" some people screamed with their fingers pointing at the parade, the crowd had different expressions on their faces, some showed admiration for the woman leading the parade, while others showed anger and discontentment especially the women and those whose families were affected before the ever night.

"She is really the one, I thought I would never be able to see her before I die"

"What is good about seeing her, the appearance of the flame sect in Jianghu might cause another bloodshed again"

"That is true, without them, the world has been peaceful but with their appearance again, no one can tell if we will still enjoy the peace we have always been enjoying"

"Which of them is the young mistress of the flame sect" the question had the crowd looking around and causing more commotion as they passed by.

"There is only one female wearing the flame mask, she must be the one"

"I agree, If her sister was here, we might all end up being roasted" with just that comment, they started pointing at her and calling her names underneath their breath, since she was behind the parade, she could hear what they were saying but she tried her very best to shut her ears.

They finally arrived outside the flame sect!