Her words warmed her heart so much that she couldn't help turning to hug the girl but she could feel the hotness of her body despite the cold water they are soaking in.

"Su Ci,"

​​

"Hm,"

"Your body, why is it hot...too hot?" she asked, Su Ci quickly pulled her arms from her neck then faked a smile.

"That is because I have been using my power too much these days, it is nothing much, you probably don't know it since I don't tell you but your body has also been hot these past few days," she lied through her teeth, Huo Lan scrunched her brows as she placed her hand on her forehead to feel her temperature, although she is burning up a little, it is not as bad as Su Ci's body.

"But-"

"No buts, let me wash your hair, it's been a while since we have had a good soak," she excused the discussion, turning her back forcefully then raking her fingers through her hair, although she feels unsettles in her heart, Su Ci has always been right about everything so she decided to take her word for it.

Just a few meters away from the cave, Bohai and Meng Hui are practising by the waterfall where they have always practised since young.

Ever since her last fight with Huo Ying, she has made it her goal to surpass the girl though she doesn't know what level the girl is at, she still blindly plans to surpass her and Lin Bohai holds the same intention in his heart.

Every stroke of his sword expresses his desperation to win the girl especially since their last fight keeps replaying in his head, he really used all his power if not almost but he couldn't beat the girl, this has never happened before not for the past few years since he last won the martial hero's contest.

Whilst he is thinking of one, the other keeps popping into his head, the formidable power that destroyed the restaurant along with other sturdy buildings keeps bothering him, he has never thought of her as a competition, in fact, he has never thought of anyone as competition before the flame sect came out into the world.

If the destructive power is really hers, then it only makes her powers more terrific, not only does she possess the strongest flame power but also the extinct power of the ice clan which remains a mystery till this day along with the extinct flame clan.

The flame power has remained a myth that is why no one ever connected her powers to the flame clan.

{Huo Lan, Huo Ying....}

He kept calling in his head as he swung his sword around until-

"Brother Bohai!" Meng Hui exclaimed with her eyes widened at the sword on her neck.

He quickly regained his senses then dropped his sword to the ground, they were originally training far away from each other but he suddenly started coming for her, she tried to fend off his attacks thinking it is part of the practice but it turned serious until he aimed his sword for her neck.

"I am sorry," he apologised frantically then picked up his sword and returned it to its sheath.

"What were you thinking about, you were lost in thought?" she asked, wanting to intrude on even his inner mind.

"Nothing, I am probably tired from all the practising, I need to rest," he excused himself then walked away while she watched him with discontent on her face.

"Is he still thinking about that flame sect witch?" she muttered as she watched him disappear from her view with her grip on her sword tightening and her nose flaring.

She is practising really hard only to help him win again but he has his mind filled with someone else, that, she can't bring herself to reconcile with.

He got called into his father's study where the sect leader of the thunder sect and talisman sect were seated to his surprise as he wasn't expecting them to be at the wind sect. He took his seat opposite his father as different thoughts of what they might want to discuss through his mind.

"Martial uncle, martial Aunt," he greeted with his head bowed and hands cupped together, he was sure his uncle wouldn't have come without his cousin but he decided not to ask.

"Bohai, are you prepared for the contest?" Sect leader Meng asked, he clouded his curiosity with a smile then nodded as he answered.

"Yes martial aunt,"

His father nodded his head satisfactorily at the confidence in his answer but it doesn't mean his trust for his son has been regained.

"We are relying on you do defeat the young mistress of the flame sect," sect leader Zhou added with a sneer underlying his facade.

Why should he rely on Bohai to win the competition and let all the glory go to the wind sect when he can just put his son in the limelight or Yun Biyu who is in fact more talented than Tang Fan.

"I will not disappoint you,"

Though he appears to be confident, in his mind he is still thinking of the fight he had with her, knowing exactly how important this competition is for his father, he understands the danger in losing his glory and position in the heart of the martial world and the wind sect .

"You may leave," his father said then he stood up and bowed slightly before leaving the room.

He originally thought they were going to have him there while they discuss but if his father sent him out then it must mean they are plotting something....maybe concerning Huo Lan's test.

"Seems like is it up to you to win against the flame sect," he heard a voice remark then turned to the direction of the voice where he saw Tang Fan and Yun Biyu standing afar with a stoic look on her face.

He walked towards him with a smug look on his face earning an eye roll from Bohai.

"If you were competent then it would have been up to you," Bohai replied, the smile on Tang Fan's face faded but he didn't want to look defeated so he decided to put the smile back on.

"I heard you had a fight with her after the alliance meeting but from what I heard, you couldn't defeat her," he taunted again as he watched Bohai ball his fist, by his reaction he could tell that the rumour his father heard is true.

"Do you think I am like you who jumps at every opportunity to fight," he moved closer to him.

"You have to learn to be coolheaded at times,"

he completed then walked past him as Tang Fan watched him disappear with his eyes burning in anger just like he does at every slightest taunt.

He suddenly felt her gaze on him so he turned to Yun Biyu who has been standing still without joining in, she looked disappointed in him and embarrassed at the fact that she is even associated with him.

"Are you looking down on me too?" He questioned but she merely stared at him demeaningly.

"I wonder how sect leader is going to pass his seat to you in the future," she responded then shook her head before walking away with her sword in her hand.

If there is anyone he hates aside from Bohai then that person is surely Biyu who has always proved herself to be more competent than him and his father always compares him to her or Bohai even though she is just an orphan that was raised by him.

If she wasn't a female then his position in the future will surely be at risk.

Not only did Bohai take away his glory but also the woman he loves, he has always harboured feelings for Meng Hui since they were young but she has never given him a chance or even spared him a glance if not a look of ridicule.

She was his first drive to defeat Bohai but now the glory and favour of the martial world is his drive, he has learned to think that with the power and glory comes the woman he loves.

He has always seen her try to get his attention to no avail when he can give her all she wants and even more as long as she asks for it.

He was just about to leave the place when he saw Meng Hui walking towards him but as soon as she saw him, she quickly turned away.

He quickly ran up to her then pulled her arm.

"Meng Hui," he pronounced

She rolled her eyes then turned to face him, the look in her eyes showing just how irritated she is to see him.

"What do you want?" She questioned

"I came here with my father so I thought I would see you but what a coincidence that you are here even before I could find you,"