They gathered in the sect hall to discuss the issue of the attack on Huo Lan and Su Ci on their way to the sect, if there is someone trying to harm their second young mistress then they definitely can't let the person remain on the surface of this earth.

"Sect madam, we have waited enough for the wind sect's explanation," the first elder spoke in anger and frustration.

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"Mother, that so-called disciple of the wind sect said they are going to investigate the matter but we still haven't heard anything from them after this explanation," Huo Ying added, she couldn't understand why her mother demanded that they wait before requesting the emperor's intervention or taking justice into their own hands.

She gently picked the teacup from the stool next to her, she raised it to her lips and sipped it gently, seeing how composed she seemed even though the matter concerns Huo Lan, they just couldn't understand what she wants.

"You are all too impatient, do you think I will let the person who tried to kill my daughter live, even if the flame sect has been secluded for so long it doesn't mean that we can now be stepped on, the flame sect has always repaid good and evil, surely, I won't let this pass," she placed the teacup on the stool, curling up her lips.

"Mother, we really can't guess your intentions, you have always been impossible to read so please stop putting us in the dark," she was already frustrated to her limit, trying to guess what exactly her mother's intention is.

"This matter is too complex so I had to wait to see the truth myself, the wind sect did not bother themselves with this matter even if their disciple was injured, this can only mean one thing...." she stood up from her seat and walked down the three-step stairs with her red-polished fingers placed over each other delicately on her navel.

"The person behind this must belong to the court, the entire martial sects are under the wind sect so it is impossible that Lin Yuanlong hasn't sought justice for his disciples, the only reason why he would keep quiet is only if he doesn't want to disrupt the court or get the sects involved with the court but...."

"But...." she repeated after her mother, with her eyes fixed keenly on the woman standing in front of them.

"There is another person who should have been involved but wasn't involved, it is surely impossible that the emperor wouldn't know what happened even if he is far away in the capital and the only person Lin Yuanlong would ignore the issue for is the emperor," she concluded her explanation with full confidence in her hypothesis.

"But we examined their bodies, they were indeed wearing the prime minister's private army uniform and they seemed like well-trained men, there is nothing that suggests the prime minister is not the culprit," Huo Qiang stated, unwilling the believe the evidence before them for her hypothesis, he has always been someone who relies on facts instead of speculations.

"Mother is right, I saw the prime minister the last time we entered the palace, he doesn't look like someone who is stupid enough to let the assassins wear his private army uniform, Mother! this must be a scheme," she concluded confidently, her mother turned to her and smiled.

"I am guessing the reason why the emperor has gone this far is that he suspects me and the prime minister might be colluding,"

"How come, did sect madam have any private meeting with the prime minister?" the third elder questioned, hoping that she didn't make any deals behind their back which will put the sect in a tight spot.

"I know what the court is like, there is no way I would be stupid enough to do so but I did have a conversation with the prime minister and it seemed to me that he is indeed trying to rope the sect in,"

"So what are we going to do next?" Huo Mei questioned, she has listened to the entire conversation and from what she has deducted, the person responsible for the incident is the emperor but she wondered what plans the sect madam has for that issue now that the enemy has been confirmed especially now that he is the one person who seemingly has the ultimate power in the entire nation.

"Of course we will...do nothing,"

"Do nothing! mother, how can we let this go?" Huo Ying retorted immediately, unwilling to take a step back.

"If you want to survive in this world then you must know when to advance and retreat, the emperor has failed in his attempt and is plan is probably to turn the flame sect and the prime minister against each other but not doing anything will anger him and cause more damage to his pride," she responded reassuringly.

She inhaled deeply, inside her, she desperately wants to remove the sect and all other dangers of going face to face with the emperor in her mind but considering that she has no proof to prove her speculation and confronting him might cause more damage than benefit, she decided to restrain herself.

"But! this doesn't mean that this matter will be forgotten, meanwhile, in five months, it so happens that will be the emperor's birthday month and the martial hero competition will also be held in the same month this year, you must all prepare for both occasions. The martial world is not only about strength but the ability to make use of knowledge and learn the ways of the world,"

"Understood!" the guardians, Huo Li and Huo Ying chorused.

She exhaled deeply, glancing outside the hall, she couldn't help but worry about the challenges they might have to face after they make their official public appearance.

"That reminds me!" she exclaimed with her eyes widened and a fearful look on her face.

"What is it?" her mother questioned while they all fixed their eyes on her.

"I intended to use the opportunity of Huo Lan returning to the sect to inform her that she will be tested on the day of the martial hero competition but we were too distracted that we forgot to tell her about it," she answered, she bit her finger in nervousness while the others also had a look of regret and guilt until she spoke again.

"I have a way to let her know of this, surely, the wind sect will never let her know for they don't want her to return but I know someone that will if mother will entrust me with this task?" she cupped her hands and lowered her head, they wondered who she was referring to but knowing that she would have mentioned the person's name and not refer to the person as 'someone' if she intended to tell them who it is, they decided not to question her.

"Make no mistake, you must let her know the importance of this test," her mother answered.

After they left the sect hall, Huo Ying returned to her quarter immediately, she sat down and dipped her brush into the ink ready to write a letter when she heard a knock on her door, she frowned, wondering who it is disturbing her at the moment.

"Who is it?"

"Huo Qiang," the masculine voice responded, she eyes brightened immediately, she dropped the brush next to the inkstone and cleared her throat.

"Come in,"

He gingerly entered with a smile that any lovey-dovey couple will have during the first few months of dating, he folded his arms behind his back as he walked up to her and took his seat next to her on the table.

"What are you doing?" he inquired, seeing the inkstone and paper on the table, she smiled and picked up the brush again then she started writing the letter she intended to write.

"I am writing a letter to Lin Bohai," she disclosed unhesitantly, although she can't bring her self to tell others about Huo Lan and Lin Bohai, she still can't help herself as she can't lie when it comes to Huo Qiang.

"Lin Bohai...is this related to getting the information to Huo Lan, how is he going to help with that?" the quizzical expression on his face mixed with confusion, he couldn't understand why Huo Ying who should hate and distrust someone like Lin Bohai who is the mutual enemy of the sect would trust him with such important task.

Huo Ying sighed and dropped the brush at the edge of the inkstone again, she already knew he would ask this, she turned to him with a serious expression on her face.

"Actually...I think there is a close relationship between my sister and Lin Bohai," she confessed but the confusion in his mind deepened, he raised his brows, asking her to give more explanation, she placed her arm on the table and moved closer to him.

"When we attended the alliance meeting in the wind sect, I noticed that Lin Bohai seemed to be treating me differently from how I thought he would treat me and the way he looked at me...