The next morning, before dawn's first light, Li Hua stood in Elder Sun's study, posture perfect as always. Elder Fu sat beside the Vice Sect Master's desk, his expression giving no indication of their shared ordeal in the Forbidden Zone.
"Elder Sun, Elder Fu," Li Hua greeted formally, bowing. Inwardly, she wondered exactly what Elder Fu remembered of their expedition. When Mo Xing and she had followed the nine-tailed fox deeper into the ancient shrine, Elder Fu and the other disciples had still been unconscious from the attack.
"Disciple Li Hua," Elder Sun acknowledged with a slight nod. "I'm pleased to see you've returned safely. Elder Fu reports that you remained behind to investigate the anomalous entities. Were you able to discover anything more about their nature or origin?"
