"What was their real purpose in coming to the Land of Bright Moon, Master?" Huantao asked, gazing into the distance with vacant eyes.
She seemed sharp-tongued, but like Emperor Zuntian, she cherished the friends around her. Even now, she couldn't bring herself to believe that Ao Shi, Qian Yue, and Wu Yao had been deceiving her.
She believed their respect for her was genuine, and that every time they called her Senior Sister, they meant it from the heart.
"They were looking for something," Emperor Zuntian said.
"Looking for something?" Huantao pressed. "What?"
"Even I don't know that much. Your grandmaster should know something," Emperor Zuntian replied.
"Then I'll go ask Grandmaster." Huantao immediately got to her feet.
"Stop!" Emperor Zuntian snapped, fixing his gaze on Huantao. "Even if you found out, what could you do?"
"I could help them look for it!" Huantao said.
"Don't be ridiculous!" Emperor Zuntian roared, furious at her words. "Do you know that would be tantamount to treason?"
"Whatever they're looking for must be something incredibly important. It might even affect how the balance of power shifts in the future!"
"So what?" Huantao shot back. "You knew how serious this was, Master. And yet you and Grandmaster still let them go, didn't you?"
Emperor Zuntian was at a loss for words.
"I inherited my soft heart from you and Grandmaster, so you can't blame me for it." Huantao turned and walked away.
"Get back here!" Emperor Zuntian pulled Huantao back and pressed her down onto a stone stool.
"Master, let me go. I still have to find what my junior brothers and sisters need." Huantao looked at Emperor Zuntian, her eyes dull and her face expressionless.
"Even if you find it, they won't be your junior brothers and sisters anymore. They'll only be your