Passing the Test

In Lihuo Hall, inside the pavilion at the center of the lake, Vice Hall Master Yin sat with a veil over her face, stern and unsmiling. She glanced at the disciple before her and asked in a deep voice, "Suhua, what was your purpose in using Licu Valley? Tell me."

Mei Suhua looked up at her master, then sideways at the expressionless Senior Disciple Sister, and smiled. "It was nothing much, Master. It was merely something Senior Disciple Sister told me to do the other day, when you went to Mocu Palace."

Vice Hall Master Yin frowned and turned to ask, "Zhuoqi, what did you tell Suhua to do?"

"Me?" Senior Disciple Sister Han Zhuoqi had clearly not expected to be implicated. She froze for a moment and looked at Mei Suhua strangely.

Seeing this, Mei Suhua immediately smiled. "Senior Disciple Sister, have you forgotten? Didn't you say the other day that Master had assigned you something? You were going with Master to Mocu Palace, and you were afraid Seventh Junior Sister would be anxious, so you told me about it."

Han Zhuoqi slapped her forehead. "That is true, Master. Wasn't it you who instructed me to test the martial arts of that pill-refining disciple called Xiaoyao? This disciple was recommended by Seventh Junior Sister and was also your lifesaver. Since I was to accompany you to Mocu Palace, I feared Ping'er would be anxious, so I mentioned it to Third Junior Sister. If Ping'er could not find us, Third Junior Sister was to conduct the test in my place."

But as soon as she said this, she understood. Her face changed drastically. "Third Junior Sister, you... you didn't send this disciple into Ghost Valley, did you?!"

"How could she not? He went to Ghost Valley!" Vice Hall Master Yin