Chapter 157: Avoiding! 1
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She peeped through the window to see if she has a chance of sneaking into the alchemy class without getting caught by the third elder, She looked around to find the third elder then she finally found at the far end of the alchemy class, she smiled happily since that only makes it easy for her to sneak into the class without getting caught but just as she was about to raise her head to go through the door, the third elder turned around.
She gasped in shock and quickly ducked before the third elder catches her sneaking into the class but her figure didn't escape Huo Qiang's eyes, the third elder turned towards the direction of the window with his eyes squinted suspiciously.
"Who is there?" the third elder asked with a stern look on his face, up until that moment, he still hadn't noticed that Huo Ying isn't in the alchemy class and that is indeed her saving grace, the third elder walked towards the window with a searching look on his face.
Huo Qiang panicked seeing that he is almost close to catching her, he rubbed his hands together frantically, unsure of what to do in order to stop him from going any further, Huo Mei who is sitting next to him noticed his uneasiness and his eyes fixed on the window which is quite unlike him.
"What is wrong?" She inquired with a concerned look on her face.
"Huo Ying, she is outside the window," Huo Qiang whispered, looking deeply worried, she has always been late to his alchemy class and the third elder has threatened to punish her regardless of her position as the young mistress of the sect.
"What! she is late again, I didn't even notice," Huo Mei exclaimed in a whisper then she turned towards the window.
"Third elder!" both of them chorused in unison then they glanced at each other in surprise but they didn't have the time to drag it on for long, the third elder stopped his tracks and turned to them with an annoyed look.
"What is it?" he questioned
"There is something I don't understand about this refining process so I was hoping that third elder will explain it to me," Huo Qiang quickly responded, the third elder slumped his shoulder and gave him a doubtful look, he clearly asked him if he understood the process at the beginning of the class and he claimed he understood it and now he is saying he doesn't understand.
The third elder ignored him and continued walking towards the window, one more step and Huo Ying will be caught!
"Third elder!" they called again in an alarming volume, the third elder was almost startled by them, he turned to them with an angry look this time, it wasn't enough that he is being unnecessarily troublesome but they are now trying to scare him to death.
"It is very important," Huo Qiang said in a low voice, realizing that he has pissed off the third elder, he can only hope that he won't be punished but the probability of not getting punished is too small considering how strict the third elder is when it comes to his classes or training sessions.
"Okay, but after this class, stay behind and light up the thousand layer cauldron until it is hot enough to refine hundred heartwarming pills," the third elder instructed, he looked towards the window and sighed before moving onto Huo Qiang.
"Ahah thousand layers cauldron, isn't that too hard to light up," Huo Mei whispered, she didn't dare to say it aloud otherwise, she might also be given the same punishment.
"It's alright," Huo Qiang responded with a smile to ease her worries, then he turned to the third elder as he arrived at his seat.
"What is it that you don't understand," the third elder asked while Huo Qiang scanned for something to say when he finally found one.
"Ah, third elder, I don't understand the sequence of adding the herbs to the....."
"Thank God, I thought I was really going to be punished," Huo Yin whispered to herself then she heaved a sigh of relief, with her head still ducked, she moved away from the window slowly towards the door, as soon as she reached the door and was about to sneak into the class, she realized that the third elder is too close to her seat so she quickly hid from sight, biting her lips, she suddenly realized that the person who called the third elder was Huo Qiang.
"Did he see me by the window...?" she pondered, she really wished that was the case then she remembered that they haven't even spoken since the incidence that occurred between them back in the wind sect, she frowned at the thought that she actually thought he called him over because of her.
"No way, he hasn't even spoken to me since then, why would he make the effort to rescue me," Huo Ying whispered with her back rested on the wall, she took a peep inside the classroom then she observed that the third elder was explaining how to use the spirit herbs to him, but unexpectedly, he turned to her direction for a moment and turned back to face the third elder.
Then Huo Mei turned to look at her with a scolding look on her face while she bit her lower lips as a sign of repentance, Huo Mei nodded her head and turned back to her front, she gave Huo Qiang a slight nudge, signalling him to end the act.
"ah...third elder, I understand now, thanks for your thorough explanation," Huo Qiang said to the third elder who nodded his head before walking back to the front of the class, Huo Mei quickly signalled Huo Ying to come into the class. She quickly crawled into the class and took her seat next to Huo Mei with her head lowered under the table.
As soon as the third elder arrived in front of the class, she raised her head but her head banged the tip of the table, letting out a groan, the third elder eyes caught her as she raised her head, he tilted his head to both sides in confusion, he was sure that she wasn't there a moment ago, in fact, he hasn't been noticed her since the class began.
"Huo Ying, where have you been?" he asked with a frown
"aahah...I have been here all along," she answered
"Impossible, I have just been there but you weren't there," the third elder responded
"Third elder, you must have been mistaken, I have been here all along but I was trying to pick my writing brush so my head was lowered," She lied, the elders and other masters in the sect are not required to call her the young mistress during the classes even though they have to outside the classes.
"I don't care, the fact that I didn't see you means that you were not refining the spirit pills if not, why is the refining tripod on your table not heated?" the third elder answered with the stick in his hand pointing at the refining tripod on the table she is seated on, her shoulders slumped when she realized how stupid she was to have given such excuse with the tripod right in front of her.
Huo Mei had the urge to tap her forehead at Huo Ying's failed act but that would only let the third elder know that she was in on it, while Huo Qiang secretly glanced at her with worry written on his face.
"hmmm! I am really disappointed in you, you will join Huo Qiang in lighting up the thousand layer cauldron, I will only give both of you one hour to complete this task," the third elder instructed.
"aaahaaah!" the disciples in the class exclaimed with the other guardians, the thousand layer cauldron is one of the hardest cauldrons to light up when using the flame power and it consumes one's internal force to make it the right temperature for use.
"third elder, don't you think the thousand layers is too..."
"Third Elder, can we please do it separately," Huo Ying asked, interjecting Huo Mei who was about to intercede for them with an awkward side glance at Huo Qiang, she didn't want to be alone with him in the same room, not with the air of awkwardness between them.
"I have made my decision and it is final, you should be thankful that I am not giving you separate punishments, as a guardian and the young mistress of the sect, you are supposed to be setting good examples for the disciples but..." he shook his head in disappointment, leaving the both of them hanging their heads in the air.
"by the next alchemy class, I want to see twenty lightning spirit pills from each of you," the third elder announced then he flicked his sleeve and left the class, still frowning.
"Young mistress, it seems like the third elder is really angry with you this time, why were you late to class?" Huo Mei asked with a mixture of a concerned and scolding look on her face.
"I woke up late and I was expecting one of you to wake me up but who would have known that you will all leave me behind," Huo Ying answered, it was pretty obvious that she is trying to shift the blame to them.
"How is that our fault, you are the young mistress, you should learn to take responsibility for your own actions," Bingchen said as he and Huo Lian who were seated at another end of the class walked towards them, Huo Ying and Huo Mei glared at him.
"I know you aren't going to say anything supportive so don't even bother saying anything at all,"
"I am just saying the truth, Huo Qiang has always been the one to wake you up so you should blame him if you want to blame anyone," she frowned hearing his name again while he looked away from her in guilt.
"good luck with the thousand layer cauldron, I still have a research to make," they didn't need him to say more to understand that he was talking about making the mind-destroying pagoda, the looks on their faces turned downcast almost immediately.
"Alright, I will see you later," Bingchen said then he turned to leave while Huo Lian followed behind him, she lowkey glared at Huo Ying but no one saw the expression on her face at that moment.
She found out after Huo Mei returned to the sect that she got injured because of Huo Ying, she didn't need anyone to tell her that after seeing the injury on her twin's shoulder, since then, she has been smiling in front of them but secretly despising Huo Ying in her heart.
She watched how Huo Mei and Huo Qiang tried to cover up for her when she came in late and the worried look her sister gave Huo Ying after the punishment the third elder gave them, she felt that Huo Ying was taking all the love and attention she is supposed to receive from her sister.
What annoyed her the most are the fact that Huo Mei activated her healing blood that hasn't been cultivated which might have lead to the loss of her life back then and the fact that their life is somehow interconnected now whilst Huo Ying is oblivious of the fact annoyed her to the bones.
{She only cares about her, she never looks at me like that} she thought inwardly while she watched them talk before she left.
"Judging from the third elder's mood, I don't think I can help you with this young mistress," Huo Mei said.
"You don't have to but you can come with us, he didn't say no one was allowed to come with us," it was clear from her tone that was trying to avoid something....or someone, Huo Mei glanced at Huo Qiang to see if he was also looking reluctant and it was just as she thought.
{They are avoiding each other, I have to leave them alone or else this will go on forever}
"Huo Ying, I just remembered that I have something urgent to do, I will leave you to it then, bye," Huo Mei responded then she quickly packed her things and stood up from her seat.
"Huo Mei, Huo Mei!" Huo Ying called, hoping that she will return but she didn't, now that the other disciples have left and they are now the only ones left in the class, an air of awkwardness filled the class, Huo Qiang rubbed his hands on his palms nervously, this is exactly the situation he has been trying to avoid.
"Hmmn...." He turned to her to say something but before he could even say a word, she stood up from her seat and walked out of the class, his eyes followed her all the way until she was out of sight. He slumped his shoulders, feeling dejected, all this while, he thought she was still angry because of the accidental kiss so he has been avoiding her but seeing her attitude towards him, he is now sure that she is indeed angered by the incident.
He followed behind her until they got to the refining chamber, filled with pill furnaces, cauldrons, tripods, pot and some herbs, it didn't take long for them to find the thousand layers cauldron erected in the middle of the inner refining room.
"I will..." once again, she ignored him, she summoned her Qi and waved her hands in the air in opposite directions then she brought it down to the front of her chest, she brought them apart, conjuring flame in her hand then she turned around and pushed her hands forward.
The flame from her hand went towards the thousand layer cauldron with a stern look on her face, she wasn't even sparing him a glance not to talk of talking to him, she really wanted to talk to him but she is afraid of hearing what he want to say.
What if he wants to tell her that he is sorry for the kiss?
What is he wants to tell her that he really doesn't have feelings for her?
What if....?
She didn't want to think about it anymore, she had already realized that him feeling the same way she feels about him is only her wishful thinking since his attitude towards her after they kissed has already made it clear to her.
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She peeped through the window to see if she has a chance of sneaking into the alchemy class without getting caught by the third elder, She looked around to find the third elder then she finally found at the far end of the alchemy class, she smiled happily since that only makes it easy for her to sneak into the class without getting caught but just as she was about to raise her head to go through the door, the third elder turned around.
She gasped in shock and quickly ducked before the third elder catches her sneaking into the class but her figure didn't escape Huo Qiang's eyes, the third elder turned towards the direction of the window with his eyes squinted suspiciously.
"Who is there?" the third elder asked with a stern look on his face, up until that moment, he still hadn't noticed that Huo Ying isn't in the alchemy class and that is indeed her saving grace, the third elder walked towards the window with a searching look on his face.
Huo Qiang panicked seeing that he is almost close to catching her, he rubbed his hands together frantically, unsure of what to do in order to stop him from going any further, Huo Mei who is sitting next to him noticed his uneasiness and his eyes fixed on the window which is quite unlike him.
"What is wrong?" She inquired with a concerned look on her face.
"Huo Ying, she is outside the window," Huo Qiang whispered, looking deeply worried, she has always been late to his alchemy class and the third elder has threatened to punish her regardless of her position as the young mistress of the sect.
"What! she is late again, I didn't even notice," Huo Mei exclaimed in a whisper then she turned towards the window.
"Third elder!" both of them chorused in unison then they glanced at each other in surprise but they didn't have the time to drag it on for long, the third elder stopped his tracks and turned to them with an annoyed look.
"What is it?" he questioned
"There is something I don't understand about this refining process so I was hoping that third elder will explain it to me," Huo Qiang quickly responded, the third elder slumped his shoulder and gave him a doubtful look, he clearly asked him if he understood the process at the beginning of the class and he claimed he understood it and now he is saying he doesn't understand.
The third elder ignored him and continued walking towards the window, one more step and Huo Ying will be caught!
"Third elder!" they called again in an alarming volume, the third elder was almost startled by them, he turned to them with an angry look this time, it wasn't enough that he is being unnecessarily troublesome but they are now trying to scare him to death.
"It is very important," Huo Qiang said in a low voice, realizing that he has pissed off the third elder, he can only hope that he won't be punished but the probability of not getting punished is too small considering how strict the third elder is when it comes to his classes or training sessions.
"Okay, but after this class, stay behind and light up the thousand layer cauldron until it is hot enough to refine hundred heartwarming pills," the third elder instructed, he looked towards the window and sighed before moving onto Huo Qiang.
"Ahah thousand layers cauldron, isn't that too hard to light up," Huo Mei whispered, she didn't dare to say it aloud otherwise, she might also be given the same punishment.
"It's alright," Huo Qiang responded with a smile to ease her worries, then he turned to the third elder as he arrived at his seat.
"What is it that you don't understand," the third elder asked while Huo Qiang scanned for something to say when he finally found one.
"Ah, third elder, I don't understand the sequence of adding the herbs to the....."
"Thank God, I thought I was really going to be punished," Huo Yin whispered to herself then she heaved a sigh of relief, with her head still ducked, she moved away from the window slowly towards the door, as soon as she reached the door and was about to sneak into the class, she realized that the third elder is too close to her seat so she quickly hid from sight, biting her lips, she suddenly realized that the person who called the third elder was Huo Qiang.
"Did he see me by the window...?" she pondered, she really wished that was the case then she remembered that they haven't even spoken since the incidence that occurred between them back in the wind sect, she frowned at the thought that she actually thought he called him over because of her.
"No way, he hasn't even spoken to me since then, why would he make the effort to rescue me," Huo Ying whispered with her back rested on the wall, she took a peep inside the classroom then she observed that the third elder was explaining how to use the spirit herbs to him, but unexpectedly, he turned to her direction for a moment and turned back to face the third elder.
Then Huo Mei turned to look at her with a scolding look on her face while she bit her lower lips as a sign of repentance, Huo Mei nodded her head and turned back to her front, she gave Huo Qiang a slight nudge, signalling him to end the act.
"ah...third elder, I understand now, thanks for your thorough explanation," Huo Qiang said to the third elder who nodded his head before walking back to the front of the class, Huo Mei quickly signalled Huo Ying to come into the class. She quickly crawled into the class and took her seat next to Huo Mei with her head lowered under the table.
As soon as the third elder arrived in front of the class, she raised her head but her head banged the tip of the table, letting out a groan, the third elder eyes caught her as she raised her head, he tilted his head to both sides in confusion, he was sure that she wasn't there a moment ago, in fact, he hasn't been noticed her since the class began.
"Huo Ying, where have you been?" he asked with a frown
"aahah...I have been here all along," she answered
"Impossible, I have just been there but you weren't there," the third elder responded
"Third elder, you must have been mistaken, I have been here all along but I was trying to pick my writing brush so my head was lowered," She lied, the elders and other masters in the sect are not required to call her the young mistress during the classes even though they have to outside the classes.
"I don't care, the fact that I didn't see you means that you were not refining the spirit pills if not, why is the refining tripod on your table not heated?" the third elder answered with the stick in his hand pointing at the refining tripod on the table she is seated on, her shoulders slumped when she realized how stupid she was to have given such excuse with the tripod right in front of her.
Huo Mei had the urge to tap her forehead at Huo Ying's failed act but that would only let the third elder know that she was in on it, while Huo Qiang secretly glanced at her with worry written on his face.
"hmmm! I am really disappointed in you, you will join Huo Qiang in lighting up the thousand layer cauldron, I will only give both of you one hour to complete this task," the third elder instructed.
"aaahaaah!" the disciples in the class exclaimed with the other guardians, the thousand layer cauldron is one of the hardest cauldrons to light up when using the flame power and it consumes one's internal force to make it the right temperature for use.
"third elder, don't you think the thousand layers is too..."
"Third Elder, can we please do it separately," Huo Ying asked, interjecting Huo Mei who was about to intercede for them with an awkward side glance at Huo Qiang, she didn't want to be alone with him in the same room, not with the air of awkwardness between them.
"I have made my decision and it is final, you should be thankful that I am not giving you separate punishments, as a guardian and the young mistress of the sect, you are supposed to be setting good examples for the disciples but..." he shook his head in disappointment, leaving the both of them hanging their heads in the air.
"by the next alchemy class, I want to see twenty lightning spirit pills from each of you," the third elder announced then he flicked his sleeve and left the class, still frowning.
"Young mistress, it seems like the third elder is really angry with you this time, why were you late to class?" Huo Mei asked with a mixture of a concerned and scolding look on her face.
"I woke up late and I was expecting one of you to wake me up but who would have known that you will all leave me behind," Huo Ying answered, it was pretty obvious that she is trying to shift the blame to them.
"How is that our fault, you are the young mistress, you should learn to take responsibility for your own actions," Bingchen said as he and Huo Lian who were seated at another end of the class walked towards them, Huo Ying and Huo Mei glared at him.
"I know you aren't going to say anything supportive so don't even bother saying anything at all,"
"I am just saying the truth, Huo Qiang has always been the one to wake you up so you should blame him if you want to blame anyone," she frowned hearing his name again while he looked away from her in guilt.
"good luck with the thousand layer cauldron, I still have a research to make," they didn't need him to say more to understand that he was talking about making the mind-destroying pagoda, the looks on their faces turned downcast almost immediately.
"Alright, I will see you later," Bingchen said then he turned to leave while Huo Lian followed behind him, she lowkey glared at Huo Ying but no one saw the expression on her face at that moment.
She found out after Huo Mei returned to the sect that she got injured because of Huo Ying, she didn't need anyone to tell her that after seeing the injury on her twin's shoulder, since then, she has been smiling in front of them but secretly despising Huo Ying in her heart.
She watched how Huo Mei and Huo Qiang tried to cover up for her when she came in late and the worried look her sister gave Huo Ying after the punishment the third elder gave them, she felt that Huo Ying was taking all the love and attention she is supposed to receive from her sister.
What annoyed her the most are the fact that Huo Mei activated her healing blood that hasn't been cultivated which might have lead to the loss of her life back then and the fact that their life is somehow interconnected now whilst Huo Ying is oblivious of the fact annoyed her to the bones.
{She only cares about her, she never looks at me like that} she thought inwardly while she watched them talk before she left.
"Judging from the third elder's mood, I don't think I can help you with this young mistress," Huo Mei said.
"You don't have to but you can come with us, he didn't say no one was allowed to come with us," it was clear from her tone that was trying to avoid something....or someone, Huo Mei glanced at Huo Qiang to see if he was also looking reluctant and it was just as she thought.
{They are avoiding each other, I have to leave them alone or else this will go on forever}
"Huo Ying, I just remembered that I have something urgent to do, I will leave you to it then, bye," Huo Mei responded then she quickly packed her things and stood up from her seat.
"Huo Mei, Huo Mei!" Huo Ying called, hoping that she will return but she didn't, now that the other disciples have left and they are now the only ones left in the class, an air of awkwardness filled the class, Huo Qiang rubbed his hands on his palms nervously, this is exactly the situation he has been trying to avoid.
"Hmmn...." He turned to her to say something but before he could even say a word, she stood up from her seat and walked out of the class, his eyes followed her all the way until she was out of sight. He slumped his shoulders, feeling dejected, all this while, he thought she was still angry because of the accidental kiss so he has been avoiding her but seeing her attitude towards him, he is now sure that she is indeed angered by the incident.
He followed behind her until they got to the refining chamber, filled with pill furnaces, cauldrons, tripods, pot and some herbs, it didn't take long for them to find the thousand layers cauldron erected in the middle of the inner refining room.
"I will..." once again, she ignored him, she summoned her Qi and waved her hands in the air in opposite directions then she brought it down to the front of her chest, she brought them apart, conjuring flame in her hand then she turned around and pushed her hands forward.
The flame from her hand went towards the thousand layer cauldron with a stern look on her face, she wasn't even sparing him a glance not to talk of talking to him, she really wanted to talk to him but she is afraid of hearing what he want to say.
What if he wants to tell her that he is sorry for the kiss?
What is he wants to tell her that he really doesn't have feelings for her?
What if....?
She didn't want to think about it anymore, she had already realized that him feeling the same way she feels about him is only her wishful thinking since his attitude towards her after they kissed has already made it clear to her.
She peeped through the window to see if she has a chance of sneaking into the alchemy class without getting caught by the third elder, She looked around to find the third elder then she finally found at the far end of the alchemy class, she smiled happily since that only makes it easy for her to sneak into the class without getting caught but just as she was about to raise her head to go through the door, the third elder turned around.She gasped in shock and quickly ducked before the third elder catches her sneaking into the class but her figure didn't escape Huo Qiang's eyes, the third elder turned towards the direction of the window with his eyes squinted suspiciously."Who is there?" the third elder asked with a stern look on his face, up until that moment, he still hadn't noticed that Huo Ying isn't in the alchemy class and that is indeed her saving grace, the third elder walked towards the window with a searching look on his face.Huo Qiang panicked seeing that he is almost close to catching her, he rubbed his hands together frantically, unsure of what to do in order to stop him from going any further, Huo Mei who is sitting next to him noticed his uneasiness and his eyes fixed on the window which is quite unlike him."What is wrong?" She inquired with a concerned look on her face."Huo Ying, she is outside the window," Huo Qiang whispered, looking deeply worried, she has always been late to his alchemy class and the third elder has threatened to punish her regardless of her position as the young mistress of the sect."What! she is late again, I didn't even notice," Huo Mei exclaimed in a whisper then she turned towards the window."Third elder!" both of them chorused in unison then they glanced at each other in surprise but they didn't have the time to drag it on for long, the third elder stopped his tracks and turned to them with an annoyed look."What is it?" he questioned"There is something I don't understand about this refining process so I was hoping that third elder will explain it to me," Huo Qiang quickly responded, the third elder slumped his shoulder and gave him a doubtful look, he clearly asked him if he understood the process at the beginning of the class and he claimed he understood it and now he is saying he doesn't understand.The third elder ignored him and continued walking towards the window, one more step and Huo Ying will be caught!"Third elder!" they called again in an alarming volume, the third elder was almost startled by them, he turned to them with an angry look this time, it wasn't enough that he is being unnecessarily troublesome but they are now trying to scare him to death."It is very important," Huo Qiang said in a low voice, realizing that he has pissed off the third elder, he can only hope that he won't be punished but the probability of not getting punished is too small considering how strict the third elder is when it comes to his classes or training sessions."Okay, but after this class, stay behind and light up the thousand layer cauldron until it is hot enough to refine hundred heartwarming pills," the third elder instructed, he looked towards the window and sighed before moving onto Huo Qiang."Ahah thousand layers cauldron, isn't that too hard to light up," Huo Mei whispered, she didn't dare to say it aloud otherwise, she might also be given the same punishment."It's alright," Huo Qiang responded with a smile to ease her worries, then he turned to the third elder as he arrived at his seat."What is it that you don't understand," the third elder asked while Huo Qiang scanned for something to say when he finally found one."Ah, third elder, I don't understand the sequence of adding the herbs to the.....""Thank God, I thought I was really going to be punished," Huo Yin whispered to herself then she heaved a sigh of relief, with her head still ducked, she moved away from the window slowly towards the door, as soon as she reached the door and was about to sneak into the class, she realized that the third elder is too close to her seat so she quickly hid from sight, biting her lips, she suddenly realized that the person who called the third elder was Huo Qiang."Did he see me by the window...?" she pondered, she really wished that was the case then she remembered that they haven't even spoken since the incidence that occurred between them back in the wind sect, she frowned at the thought that she actually thought he called him over because of her."No way, he hasn't even spoken to me since then, why would he make the effort to rescue me," Huo Ying whispered with her back rested on the wall, she took a peep inside the classroom then she observed that the third elder was explaining how to use the spirit herbs to him, but unexpectedly, he turned to her direction for a moment and turned back to face the third elder.Then Huo Mei turned to look at her with a scolding look on her face while she bit her lower lips as a sign of repentance, Huo Mei nodded her head and turned back to her front, she gave Huo Qiang a slight nudge, signalling him to end the act."ah...third elder, I understand now, thanks for your thorough explanation," Huo Qiang said to the third elder who nodded his head before walking back to the front of the class, Huo Mei quickly signalled Huo Ying to come into the class. She quickly crawled into the class and took her seat next to Huo Mei with her head lowered under the table.As soon as the third elder arrived in front of the class, she raised her head but her head banged the tip of the table, letting out a groan, the third elder eyes caught her as she raised her head, he tilted his head to both sides in confusion, he was sure that she wasn't there a moment ago, in fact, he hasn't been noticed her since the class began."Huo Ying, where have you been?" he asked with a frown"aahah...I have been here all along," she answered"Impossible, I have just been there but you weren't there," the third elder responded"Third elder, you must have been mistaken, I have been here all along but I was trying to pick my writing brush so my head was lowered," She lied, the elders and other masters in the sect are not required to call her the young mistress during the classes even though they have to outside the classes."I don't care, the fact that I didn't see you means that you were not refining the spirit pills if not, why is the refining tripod on your table not heated?" the third elder answered with the stick in his hand pointing at the refining tripod on the table she is seated on, her shoulders slumped when she realized how stupid she was to have given such excuse with the tripod right in front of her.Huo Mei had the urge to tap her forehead at Huo Ying's failed act but that would only let the third elder know that she was in on it, while Huo Qiang secretly glanced at her with worry written on his face."hmmm! I am really disappointed in you, you will join Huo Qiang in lighting up the thousand layer cauldron, I will only give both of you one hour to complete this task," the third elder instructed."aaahaaah!" the disciples in the class exclaimed with the other guardians, the thousand layer cauldron is one of the hardest cauldrons to light up when using the flame power and it consumes one's internal force to make it the right temperature for use."third elder, don't you think the thousand layers is too...""Third Elder, can we please do it separately," Huo Ying asked, interjecting Huo Mei who was about to intercede for them with an awkward side glance at Huo Qiang, she didn't want to be alone with him in the same room, not with the air of awkwardness between them."I have made my decision and it is final, you should be thankful that I am not giving you separate punishments, as a guardian and the young mistress of the sect, you are supposed to be setting good examples for the disciples but..." he shook his head in disappointment, leaving the both of them hanging their heads in the air."by the next alchemy class, I want to see twenty lightning spirit pills from each of you," the third elder announced then he flicked his sleeve and left the class, still frowning."Young mistress, it seems like the third elder is really angry with you this time, why were you late to class?" Huo Mei asked with a mixture of a concerned and scolding look on her face."I woke up late and I was expecting one of you to wake me up but who would have known that you will all leave me behind," Huo Ying answered, it was pretty obvious that she is trying to shift the blame to them."How is that our fault, you are the young mistress, you should learn to take responsibility for your own actions," Bingchen said as he and Huo Lian who were seated at another end of the class walked towards them, Huo Ying and Huo Mei glared at him."I know you aren't going to say anything supportive so don't even bother saying anything at all,""I am just saying the truth, Huo Qiang has always been the one to wake you up so you should blame him if you want to blame anyone," she frowned hearing his name again while he looked away from her in guilt."good luck with the thousand layer cauldron, I still have a research to make," they didn't need him to say more to understand that he was talking about making the mind-destroying pagoda, the looks on their faces turned downcast almost immediately."Alright, I will see you later," Bingchen said then he turned to leave while Huo Lian followed behind him, she lowkey glared at Huo Ying but no one saw the expression on her face at that moment.She found out after Huo Mei returned to the sect that she got injured because of Huo Ying, she didn't need anyone to tell her that after seeing the injury on her twin's shoulder, since then, she has been smiling in front of them but secretly despising Huo Ying in her heart.She watched how Huo Mei and Huo Qiang tried to cover up for her when she came in late and the worried look her sister gave Huo Ying after the punishment the third elder gave them, she felt that Huo Ying was taking all the love and attention she is supposed to receive from her sister.What annoyed her the most are the fact that Huo Mei activated her healing blood that hasn't been cultivated which might have lead to the loss of her life back then and the fact that their life is somehow interconnected now whilst Huo Ying is oblivious of the fact annoyed her to the bones.{She only cares about her, she never looks at me like that} she thought inwardly while she watched them talk before she left."Judging from the third elder's mood, I don't think I can help you with this young mistress," Huo Mei said."You don't have to but you can come with us, he didn't say no one was allowed to come with us," it was clear from her tone that was trying to avoid something....or someone, Huo Mei glanced at Huo Qiang to see if he was also looking reluctant and it was just as she thought.{They are avoiding each other, I have to leave them alone or else this will go on forever}"Huo Ying, I just remembered that I have something urgent to do, I will leave you to it then, bye," Huo Mei responded then she quickly packed her things and stood up from her seat."Huo Mei, Huo Mei!" Huo Ying called, hoping that she will return but she didn't, now that the other disciples have left and they are now the only ones left in the class, an air of awkwardness filled the class, Huo Qiang rubbed his hands on his palms nervously, this is exactly the situation he has been trying to avoid."Hmmn...." He turned to her to say something but before he could even say a word, she stood up from her seat and walked out of the class, his eyes followed her all the way until she was out of sight. He slumped his shoulders, feeling dejected, all this while, he thought she was still angry because of the accidental kiss so he has been avoiding her but seeing her attitude towards him, he is now sure that she is indeed angered by the incident.He followed behind her until they got to the refining chamber, filled with pill furnaces, cauldrons, tripods, pot and some herbs, it didn't take long for them to find the thousand layers cauldron erected in the middle of the inner refining room."I will..." once again, she ignored him, she summoned her Qi and waved her hands in the air in opposite directions then she brought it down to the front of her chest, she brought them apart, conjuring flame in her hand then she turned around and pushed her hands forward.The flame from her hand went towards the thousand layer cauldron with a stern look on her face, she wasn't even sparing him a glance not to talk of talking to him, she really wanted to talk to him but she is afraid of hearing what he want to say.What if he wants to tell her that he is sorry for the kiss?What is he wants to tell her that he really doesn't have feelings for her?What if....?She didn't want to think about it anymore, she had already realized that him feeling the same way she feels about him is only her wishful thinking since his attitude towards her after they kissed has already made it clear to her.
