"I was too taken by my reunion with my sister to remember your condition, this is indeed my fault, how about you enter the city with us then we will provide treatment for you and book the best inn for you to stay at," Huo Ying responded with an apologetic tone that sounded sincere.

"Inn…aren't we staying at the flame sect?"

​​

"You must be joking Miss Meng Hui, the flame forest has a protective shield over it that no outsider can go through except those with the flame power and disciples of the sect, I am afraid the only person who can let you in is the sect leader and he is in seclusion," she smiled faintly then she turned to Huo Mei.

"Huo Mei, as soon as we arrive in the city book rooms for them in the best inn and pay all their expense," she turned back to Meng Hui who was still surprised that she really won't get to enter the flame sect this time.

"Since my sister has to return tomorrow, you can come and take her outside the flame forest, that is all," she turned back and they all started walking away, Meng Hui who was still dissatisfied had no choice but to do as she said and follow her after all, this is her city.

After they got into the city, Huo Mei arranged accommodation for Meng Hui and Feng Shui then they continued to the sect, they arrived at the sect in no time, they entered the forest and arrived at the main entrance of the sect, they alighted the horses then they handed them to the disciples at the gate who were overjoyed at the sight of the second young mistress and the first guardian of the sect.

As soon as they entered the sect, they headed towards the sect hall where everyone had been waiting for them to arrive.

"Young mistress, Guardian Huo Mei...." the disciples in front of the hall greeted then they noticed Su Ci and Huo Lan standing behind the duo, they quickly bowed their heads and cupped their hands together.

"This disciple greets the second young mistress and the first guardian!" the five disciples guarding the entrance chorused, Su Ci was surprised to see that they seemed so enthusiastic in greeting her and Huo Lan, it seemed to her that they are according her more respect than she deserves because she was named a guardian when she was still a child.

The people inside the hall heard their greeting, they all started murmuring, anticipating the moment they will walk through the entrance of the sect hall.

Su Ci and Huo Lan who were not used to the treatment bowed their heads to the disciples who also bowed their heads again, not daring to accept the bow from the second young mistress and the first guardian.

Huo Ying and Huo Mei chuckled, then they pulled both girls into the hall, as soon as they passed through the door, everyone's eyes fell on them, they all looked like they are seeing the long lost daughter for the first time since she was born, Huo Lan and SU Ci didn't know what to do about the many eyes on them so they just lowered their heads.

Her mother could hardly withhold her urge to sprint from the high seat and throw her arms around her daughter, tears almost dropped out of her eyes seeing her daughter all grown up.

"Mother, I have escorted my sister back to the sect safely," Huo Ying remarked with her head bowed, her mother nodded satisfactorily at her with a look of mixed emotions on her face, Huo Lan and Su Ci slowly raised their heads as soon as they heard Huo Ying say the word 'mother'.

Her eyes became teary as soon as she saw the woman seated on the high seat with the older men seating beside her and the empty chair beside the woman.

"M-mother..." Huo Lan muttered, she has never called anyone that word for eleven years and now it sounded foreign to her ears.

"Huo Lan," she couldn't hold it anymore, she ran down from the short stairs and hurriedly walked towards Huo Lan who stood frozen at the spot, she threw her arms around her and stroked her hair gently with tears dropping from her eyes...tears of Joy.

Everyone felt emotional seeing the scene in front of them, she had to sacrifice one of her twin daughters for the sake of the sect and also see Huo Ying every day who reminds of Huo Lan since they look the same.

"Mother has really wronged you, I am sorry for letting you go, I am really sorry," she pursed her lips and closed her eyes tightly letting the tears flow freely, she has yearned for this moment for the past eleven years and now that she is living it....it seemed too unreal for her.

"I-I missed you and sister and father," she finally managed to spurt out, wrapping her arms around her mother's back, she red eyeball had a glint to it as her eyes shimmered with tears.

Her mother finally stopped hugging her, she held her hand and smiled broadly, she wished she could hold her all day but she can't be selfish since they only have until tomorrow with her, then she noticed Su Ci standing behind Huo Lan.

The one person she is most grateful to.

She released Huo Lan's hands and held Su Ci's hands.

"Su Ci, you have sacrificed your freedom for the sake of the sect, even if you have not been in the sect for long, you are the most treasured guardian of this sect and the sect will forever be indebted to you," the look and words of gratitude she said to her fully overwhelmed her.

She originally thought she would just be someone who has been forgotten, and she might also be a shame to the guardians when she returns since her skills might not be on par with them.

"I only fulfilled my duty as a guardian, the sect doesn't need to be indebted to me," Su Ci responded with utmost humility, unknown to her, everyone in the sect respects her because of her sacrifice, back then, when they needed someone of the same age group to follow Huo mei to the wind sect in order to guard her, they couldn't bring themselves to force or chose any child to go with her.

But Su Ci who was just seven years old then, offered herself to be Huo Mei's guardian, even when the sect madam refused, she kept insisting.

The advanced disciples stepped forwards and bowed their heads with their hands cupped together.

"We greet the second young mistress and the first guardian!" they chorused, then Li Bing stepped forward.

"We deeply respect the first guardian and we have learned a lot from your sacrifice, it is really an honour to be able to meet you today," She proclaimed then the disciples bowed their head lower in agreement with her.

Su Ci looked at them with a bewildered expression, she didn't think she would be accorded with such respect upon arriving at the sect, she could only smile in embarrassment.

"A feast has been prepared to celebrate your return, let's not waste any more time on greetings, we should make memories together instead," the third elder interrupted with excitement, then they all started cheering, they exited the hall and arrived at the designated place where they had arranged the feast.

The third elder poured himself wine then he raised it to them.

"I raise this cup of wine to the return of the second young mistress and the first guardian, even though you still have to leave..."

"Do you have to ruin the mood from the beginning, why do you have to mention that?" the second elder scolded loudly, the third elder downheartedly dropped the cup and pouted his lips, making everyone burst into laughter.

"Although drinking is not encouraged in the sect, today, I give everyone the permission to eat and drink to your heart content," she raised her cup of wine to them and smiled broadly.

"Am I not part of this sect?" Huo Li who had just walked into the feast queried while relying on Bingchen's support to walk.

They were not surprised to see her at the feast, they were even surprised that she didn't arrive earlier, after all, Bingchen is not capable of restraining her.

"Didn't I tell you to rest in bed until tomorrow?" her master queried.

"But---master, this is not fair," she pouted her lips and fluttered her lashes but her master turned to Bingchen instead who looked like he had been abused before he finally gave up.

"I couldn't do anything to stop her, I tried my best but she---" he sighed and nodded his head, he left it to their imagination to imagine what she did to make him give up on restraining her.

"Since you are here then you can join in," her master reluctantly agreed, Huo Li bowed her head then she hurried to find an empty seat while Bingchen sat beside her but she soon saw an unfamiliar face beside Huo Mei.

"Is this the second young mistress?"