"Young Miss Huo Lan," the sect leader called as they walked closer to where she was, she immediately stood up and paid her respect to the sect leader and the elders then she put on a confused look.

He felt as if a boulder had been lifted up his chest when he saw her looking innocent as she scanned everyone present, he just couldn't understand how she could conjure ice and flame and how she returned to the sect but he decided to leave the questions for later, for now, he needs to make sure they don't find out.

​​

{Is she really the one,}

If indeed she is the one then he will definitely do all he can to get rid of her, else with her, the flame sect will become formidable.

He narrowed his gaze at her and scanned her appearance, her scarlet red hair and eyes still remained the same, according to the report he received from them, the person had one azure blue eyes and the other scarlet red just like hers.

"I wonder what..."

He struck her forehead abruptly before she could finish speaking, her entire body froze on the spot, Su Ci who had just arrived widened her eyes.

"What do you think you are doing?" she queried but all paid no attention to her.

He brought his hand from her forehead to both sides of her head, she immediately felt a sudden surge of energy flow through her body and her power stirred up inside her, she balled her fist together in fear of his purpose.

Bohai who understood his father's intention hung his breath at his throat, for fear of what will be revealed.

He held up his index and third fingers and stuck her hand from her shoulder to her palm, with that move, she felt the same feeling of the danger she felt before, just as if a strong force is forcing her to bring out her inner power.

She struggled for fear that what happened back there might happen again, but the man before her was just too strong, she could sense her body heating up and a gust of wind blowing towards her direction, her scarlet red hair started flying in a different direction while her eyes colour also deepened.

The first eye changed...they held their breath, waiting for the second...then the second also changed into a deeper red colour.

"She is not the one," Meng Hui muttered, she didn't know if she should feel happy or sad that she is not the one who possesses such strange power.

She glanced at Bohai to see what his reaction is but he just had the same look as them, she raised her brows.

{Are you really not involved?}

She pondered.

"Forgive me, it was necessary," sect leader Lin apologised indifferently then he released her pressure point, she exhaled deeply as whatever he did previously made her unable to breathe, then they all turned and walked out but Lin Bohai waited for them to leave first without noticing him then he quickly turned to her.

"The restaurant owner described someone who is similar to you, is it really not you?" he quickly whispered before they notice he is not with them.

"What are you talking about, what restaurant owner...I was scared we might get found out as it was already getting late so I used the same method you used to distract the disciples at the gate to get into the sect," she responded, feigning ignorance.

The look of confusion on her face assured him that she definitely isn't the one, he heaved a sigh of relief before giving her an endearing gaze then he turned around after placing a letter in her hand and left the cave to quickly catch up with them.

Su Ci quickly rushed up to her as soon as she watched him leave, she held her shoulder and examined her carefully with her face squeezed out of worry, Huo Lan watched her with a smile as she watched Su Ci scan her as a mother would.

"Aiyaah...I am fine, you don't need to check me like that," she removed her hands from her shoulder and held her hands instead.

"Why did you..." she raised her voice but Huo Lan hugged her mid-sentence, making her hang her words in her throat.

"I am sorry, I shouldn't have gone out," she tightened her hands around her back, Su Ci who was angry at her could not help doing the same hearing her apologize.

"You promised not to use the necklace again, how did you go outside the sect?"

"Bohai took me out of the sect," she fessed.

"What!" Su Ci exclaimed as she pulled away from her with shock written all over her face.

"He took you out of the sect, don't joke with this...?"

"I am not joking, actually...there is something I did not tell you..." she bit her lips in hesitation and lowered her gaze, afraid to hear what Su Ci would say about it.

"Actually...I am in love with him and he also told me he feels the same way about me so..." the gasps of disbelief Su Ci blurted out made her unable to continue, she took a few steps backwards and shook her head, unwilling to believe that she is actually saying something so foolish.

"You don't know what love is, Bohai is part of the wind sect, he is our enemy...how can you say you love him!" She queried, raising her voice at her, her body shook, hearing her raise her voice at her for the first time without minding their position.

She raised her gaze only to see her eyes burning with anger, she moved closer to Su Ci and held her hand.

"I know what love is, I told Huo Ying about it and she told me I love him, she also wasn't against it...Su Ci, I..." she snapped her hand away.

"Although I don't know what position he holds he is definitely someone who is committed to his sect, if in the future, the flame sect and the wind sect are against each other, you will be torn between both sides do you know! I can't watch you go through such torment...." she wasn't angry that she is in love with her enemy but she just couldn't watch Huo Lan devote herself to a love that will hurt her in the future.

Her eyes lightened up, sensing the reason behind her reaction is not anger but worry.

"Su Ci, I know you are worried about me but I trust Bohai, although we haven't known each other for a long time, he definitely loves me if not why would he risk bringing me out of the sect and we even..." She halted, not wanting to disclose too much but it was already too late judging from the interrogating gaze Su Ci was directing at her.

"We kissed..."

"You have even gone that far, what are you thinking Huo Lan," she definitely sounded like a nagging grandmother.

"Don't nag me...Huo Ying also did that with Huo Qiang," she defended, bringing Huo Ying down with her.

"The first young mistress and Huo Qiang! this is getting even more interesting, if the first young mistress knows about this and she is not against it then it can only mean she also trusts him but all I care about is that you don't get hurt...no matter what,"

Huo Lan smiled broadly and wrapped her arms around her neck, snuggling her face against hers, just as that moment, she remembered he placed something in her hand so she pulled away and opened the letter.

{....please make sure to inform my sister of the importance of her evaluation in the martial hero contest....}

Their eyes widened as they raised their gaze to make each other....

"Huo Lan...." Su Ci muttered, the ghastly look on her face knowing that in few months time, she will have to show that she no longer poses as a danger to the world even though she hasn't even mastered it yet.

A loud gasp escaped her mouth as the letter dropped to the ground.

They headed straight towards the sect hall to discuss the issue.

"Sect leader, what do we do about this?" the second elder of the sect inquired while the others directed their focus on him anticipating his answer to the question.

"Hmmn..this concerns the martial alliance and even the government but no matter what, this matter must not be leaked out of the city, the ice clan has already gone extinct and no one has ever since the ice power since then, I suspect that might be a trick played by someone," he brushed his fingers against his short beard and squinted his eyes in thoughts.

"I agree with father, I will make sure no one knows of this issue," Bohai added with his head bowed, then the sect leader hummed and nodded his head in agreement.

- - - - - - - - - - -

As usual, she sat in front of the eerie decorated mirror in the dark throne room with her metal claws caressing her face but her mind in deep thoughts, scheming and planning what steps to take in order to remind the world of her existence.

Her eyes darted to the side immediately she sensed another presence in the throne room, quickly recognising who it is, she stood up from the seat and strode down the stairs then she walked towards her dear disciple who she severely injured and yet spent great effort to heal him again.

"Greetings, master," he greeted with his hands cupped and raised, she curled up her lips devilishly and moved closer to him.

"Where are they?"