"Do you still want to be with him after tonight?" his tone showed that he really wants to know her answer, she smiled faintly and placed the cup on the table.

"I don't know, I don't feel like my heart hurts because of his betrayal, I—I just feel empty, the same way I felt before I met him, I feel like there is a void in my heart that was filled with something but I lost it overnight and Chen Kai…he was the one who filled that void but now…it feels empty again," she answered in a sentimental tone with her hand clutching the shirt on her chest.

​​

"A void…that sounds familiar," he muttered, remembering that was how he felt when he woke up from a coma but he couldn't find her not until his investigation many years later revealed that she is one of his cousin's friends.

"You must be really tired, tomorrow might be worse than today if you are going to work so I suggest you rest early,"

"Now that you mention it…there is still tomorrow for me to face, I bet I am going to become the spectacle of their gossip tomorrow…sigh!"

"You have never been afraid of such things before, as long as you remain the confident Yu Yan you have always been then I best you won't have any problem," he stood up to leave.

"Why aren't you asking?" she questioned, he immediately understood what she means, he turned to face her.

"I kissed you back there even after what happened, I thought you would at least ask why but you didn't…" he fixed his eyes on her without saying anything, she felt awkward, she licked her lips and placed the cup of tea on the table then she stood up to face him.

"You see…it bugs me when I leave things unsaid so if you have anything to say…or ask…" she stuttered, she fluttered her eyes nervously, she has never kissed anyone like that except for Chen Kai, at that moment she felt she was possessed.

He turned completely and placed his hands in his pocket with a faint smile on his lips.

"Do you have anything you want to say to me?" he questioned.

"I…I do have something to say, I don't want you to misunderstand me thinking I might have taken advantage of you because of the situation, I just…it just felt like I needed to do it…kiss you," she explained with much effort he stared at her intently for a while, but he suddenly started walking towards her, she fluttered her eyes nervously, not knowing what he intends to do.

He stopped at her front, he was too close that she could feel his breath on her forehead when he sighed with his head looking down, Now that he is standing this close, she felt really short compared to him.

"I am sorry," she blurted out, not knowing what else to say in this situation, he was looking at her with a straight face that she couldn't read.

"For what?" his voice sounded deep.

"For taking advantage of you…"

"Cute…" his lips spread into a charming smile that she fluttered her lashes upon looking up, his smile seemed to take away the emptiness she felt.

"Huh…"

"I wanted to kiss you first, but you seemed like you didn't want it, if kissing me will make you feel better then I don't mind, you can take advantage of me as much as you want," he widened his smile, tucking at her heart.

Lub dub!!!

She could feel her heart beating against her chest wall, her eyes remained focused at his lips strangely for a woman whose heart has just been broken, she swallowed her non-existent saliva still fixing her eyes on his lips before she slowly raised her gaze to meet his eyes.

"Then…" she hadn't finished her sentence when he held the back of her head and pulled her towards him, placing his lips on hers and softly running his lips over hers, she closed her eyes and clutched his arm, immersing herself in the moment, a part of her feels like everything about the moment is wrong but another part just wants to forget the consequences the moment will bring, how their relationship might change.

{Is this because I am heartbroken or do I really need him?}

She questioned herself.

She removed her hands from his shirt then she wrapped her arm around his neck.

- - - - - -- --- -

The next morning, the mood in the sect turned from a happy and celebrative mood to a melancholic one, they all wore long faces, remembering that yesterday was just a fantasy and today their second young mistress and the first guardian will have to return to the flame sect.

"Huo Lan, I promise that very soon you won't have to leave again," Huo Ying promised, holding her hand, Huo Lan smiled faintly and nodded, saying she believes in her sister. Her mother also came forward and hugged her.

"Mr dear daughter, I am sorry for being so powerless,", Huo Lan placed her hands on her back and patted her back gently.

"Mother, I am thankful that you were willing to let me go, if you didn't, everyone would have been in danger, but I believe in you all, one day, I will surely be able to stay with you," her mother unwrapped her arms from her back and looked at her sentimentally.

"We will be leaving now," Huo Mei who is to escort her back to the wind sect with Huo Lian said, bowing her head.

After the attack last time, the sect madam arranged for hundred disciples to go with them, but she forbade Huo Ying to go with them.

"Protect them at all cost," the sect madam ordered.

"We will make sure we escort her back safely," Huo Mei and Huo Lian chorused in unison then they turned to leave while the disciples bowed their heads as the disciples who are to guard them followed behind them.

Huo Ying watched them pass through the gate with tears gathering in her eyes, she felt very peaceful and happy having her sister in her arms that she even told her she was smiling through the night, she really wished she won't have to see her back again.

Seeing her sister made her strengthen her resolution to become strong, strong enough to bring her sister back.

After they passed through the flame forest, they met Meng Hui and Feng Shui already outside, with more wind sect disciples, they figured they must have requested for more disciples.

"What are these disciples for?" Meng Hui questioned, the disciples all had the flame masks on that she couldn't even differentiate them, since Huo Ying introduced herself, she was able to recognise Huo Ying but now that they are all in flame masks, they were confused.

"I am Huo Mei, a guardian of the flame sect, we will be escorting the second young mistress to prevent any harm from coming to her like yesterday," Huo Mei answered.

"As you can see, the wind sect has sent more disciples, so you have nothing to worry about, please return with your disciples and handover the second young mistress and her aide," Meng Hui ordered with full authority resounding in her voice but Huo Mei stepped forward.

"We can't do that unless we see the second young mistress arrive at the wind sect safely, I don't think we can entrust the safety of our young mistress to people from the wind sect especially since you were incapable of protecting her," Huo Mei responded with equal authority resounding in her voice.

Not knowing what else to say, she reluctantly turned to her disciples and raised her sword to signal them to set out for the wind sect, Huo Lan and Su Ci entered the carriage while the guardians rode on horses and the disciples on foot.

- - - - - - - - - -

"Useless!" She thundered, springing up from her throne, she disappeared to his front in an instant and grabbed his neck then she pushed him to the pillar.

"Master…." He struggled to utter as he was almost going out of breath and he could hear his neck bones making a crunching sound, but he knew it is no use to struggle…against this woman, no one can win.

"Don't call me that, I didn't raise you to become this useless, I had rather take your life this moment," she tightened her grip on his neck, he looked into the eye hole of her mask but the only emotion he could see is anger…no mercy.

"I w-would have succ-ceeded but her twin su—ddenly arrived, she had an outburst and k-killed all the disciples," he struggled to explain, trying his best to catch his breath.

"Shut up!" she flung him in a second causing him to hit his back on another pillar before dropping to the ground, he did not have time to gasp for hair before he spat out blood.

She stepped forward but he quickly scurried to her before she reached him.

"I warned you…I definitely warned you not to underestimate her, I underestimated him and that is the reason why I am in this situation now…," she kneeled on one knee then she lifted his chin with one of her metal claws.