The next morning.

Everyone in the sect was celebrating her return and it so happens that today is the day the second young mistress, Huo Lan will be returning to the sect, their joy knew no bounds and they had already started preparing the sect for her return.

​​

After hours in bed, she finally opened her eyes slightly, she could see the rays of sunlight coming from the opened windows but she didn't know whether to believe the sunlight is real, after all, she has been in that dark and demon filled pagoda, fighting day and night without rest and even when she stops to rest, the demons start to probe her inner demons.

She raised her hand slowly, blocking the rays of sunlight, seeing the reflection at that back of her hand, she smiled faintly...that was the least she could do in her weak state, she then remembered all that transpired in the pagoda yesterday, how she fought the demons and monsters with her bloodied body and almost exhausted strength, she remembered the look on everyone's faces when she came back....her master's hand on her cheek with tears trickling down her master's cheeks.

"I made it," she faintly remarked, still smiling at the reflection at the back of her hand.

"You are awake," Bingchen spurted out seeing her smile faintly with her hand raised up, she turned to her side and just stared at him without answering him, he quickly walked to the side of her bed and sat beside her.

He placed his hands on her forehead then he sighed in relief.

"Your fever is already going down, after you collapsed your entire body was burning up, thanks to the sect madam who absorbed your heat, your body might have exploded," Bingchen disclosed with his hands still on her forehead, she quickly sat up on the bed.

"Master...is she alright?" she questioned with a worried look on her face.

"You are the sick one and yet you are asking about someone else, absorbing your heat won't harm her, have you forgotten how formidable your master is," he responded then he flicked her forehead with a scolding gaze in his eyes, she rubbed her forehead and pouted her lips then she glared at him and raised her hand to hit him but he quickly held her hand up.

"You are this sick and yet you still have enough strength to hit me, it seems like your condition has really improved. Sigh!. you have really suffered," his last phrase carried a sentimental tone in it, she looked at him with sadness in her eyes as they stared at each other for a while, the month she spent in the pagoda seemed like hell for her, she couldn't eat or sleep and yet she has to constantly fight the demons and monsters and also resist them when they try to mess with her mind.

"I thought you would be happy that I was gone, why does it seem like you were worried about me?" she spoke gently but her eyes showed she wanted to hear something from him...was he really worried about her?

"I was worried about you, you don't know how much I made researches to find a way to enter the pagoda and bring you out without your mind being affected but I couldn't find anything, if you didn't make it, I..." he didn't finish his sentence when she wrapped her arms around his neck and started sobbing.

"Huo Li....." he called softly, placing his hands on her back.

The volume of her sob increased then it turned into a loud cry that almost startled him, he was confused.

"Did I say anything to annoy you?" he asked, patting her back like a baby but his question only made matters worse, she started crying louder, he tightened his arms around her hoping she would stop crying.

"What is it, Huo Li?"

"It was very scary!" she muffled amidst her tears

"Huh...."

"I was very hungry, tired and I really wanted to sleep but I couldn't, I missed being around all of you and I kept thinking of you all every day especially you, I was so scared and weak," she ranted, sniffing her nose and crying at the same time, he patted her back faster and hugged her tighter.

"Okay, okay, okay, it's alright now, you can now be around us for as long as you like and nothing is going to separate us again," he smiled patting her back, of course, he wouldn't miss the most important part of what she had just said.

{especially you...}

She unwrapped her arms around up then she held his hand and looked into his eyes, he thought something was about to happen until she used his sleeve to blow her nose, he scrunched his face while he heard the sound of her blowing her nose, when she was done, he quickly smiled again.

She picked his other sleeve and used it to wipe her tears then she sniffed her nose and turned to him.

"Where are the others?" she questioned while she stretched her neck to look outside the door.

"They are all preparing for the second young mistress's return," he answered with a smiley face now that he is breaking the good news to her.

"What! did the sect madam decide to attack the wind sect, what did I miss, I wasn't in the fight?" she turned downcast immediately.

"Relax, we didn't attack the wind sect, Huo Ying made the emperor grant her a request then she requested to be with her sister for a day,". She was relieved that she didn't miss such an important battle but she was also wished it wasn't just for a day.

"Just for a day, I say we should just attack the wind sect and take her back forever," She tried to stand up but he pulled her back to the bed.

"You still haven't changed, we should be happy we will be able to see her even for an hour and when she arrives, make sure you don't say anything about attacking the wind sect," he chided, she pouted her lips and nodded in agreement.

Even if she has been rid of her inner demons, one thing about her still remains the same and that is her urge to fight...Sigh!

"I need to see my master and the young mistress," she hurriedly stood up from the bed before he could catch her but he grabbed her elbow and pulled her back before she could cross the door, he pinned her to the wall, making her startled.

"I-I just wanted to see her..." she muttered, fluttering her lashed and swallowing her saliva.

"The sect madam ordered me to make sure you don't leave the room if you wake up while they are not here and she specifically said to use any method to make your stay...so I suppose now you will return to your bed obediently and lay down," his lips curled up tauntingly.

"Huh..." her cheeks started flushing red, he realized her mind was already drifting somewhere else.

"What are you thinking," he flicked her forehead again.

"Nothing, I-I wasn't thinking anything," she swallowed her non-existent saliva.

"I meant for you to continue sleeping or do you want us to remain like this....it seems like you quite like this position," he leaned closer towards her, she held her breath and widened her eyes, having his face closer to her.

{What is wrong with me? I can't let him win}

She smiled faintly but her lips soon curled up, he guessed she was about to do something he won't...aaarrrrgghhh!

He groaned, with his hand on his knee.

"Now this is the position I like," she stomped harder on his foot then she folded her arms and smirked before returning to her bed.

"You..." he held up his leg and groaned but he smiled, seeing her close her eyes as though she didn't just stomp on his foot.

{Huo Li will always be Huo Li, no matter what}

"Huo Li!" the doors flung open as the other guardians and Huo Ying ran into the room, they heard Bingchen scream when they had almost gotten to the room so they guessed she must already be awake.

"Huo Ying!" she quickly stood up from the bed and walked towards them, the girls wrapped their arms around her while Huo Qiang stood by the sideline, smiling broadly.

"I am so happy you made it out, if not, I won't be able to face the other members of the sect," Huo Ying said as they released her from their tight embrace.

"Huo Li, we are all really happy to see you again," Huo Mei said while the other nodded in affirmation.

"I am sorry to make all of you worried, I heard the second young mistress is returning today,"

"Yes, I and Huo Mei were originally supposed to wait outside the city to receive her but mother is worried something might happen on the way so she suggested I and Huo Li ride towards the wind sect until we meet them," the happiness on her face was too obvious, after all, this is the same sister she killed for and yearns for every day.