"Since you're both back, go and get busy first. I have something to talk to your Senior Sister Bai," the master said softly as he saw Chen Tianyi's excited look.
"Okay then. Senior Sister Bai Susu, you must join us when the inner - sect test starts," Hu Ke'er said.
"Don't worry. Since you helped me subdue the Nether Moon, I'll surely help you," Bai Susu said, rarely smiling at Hu Ke'er.
"Thanks then," Hu Ke'er said with a smile. She took Chen Tianyi's hand and walked out of the Flying Tiger Hall.
"Let's go, Senior Brother Chen," Hu Ke'er said.
"Sure," Chen Tianyi replied and followed Hu Ke'er out.
"Junior Sister, what shall we do now?"
"Well, Senior Brother Chen, you were injured in the Thousand Snow Abyss. You should take a good rest. I'll go to the blacksmith's shop to see if my Qianji Umbrella is ready."
"Junior Sister, I'll accompany you. It might be too slow if you walk there alone."
"Are you sure your injury is okay, Senior Brother Chen?" Hu Ke'er asked, looking worried.
"Don't worry, Junior Sister. I'm fine. It's just a minor injury and I'll recover soon. It won't affect my sword - flying," Chen Tianyi said as he summoned his flying sword and reached out his hand to Hu Ke'er.
"Let's go, Junior Sister."
"Okay, thanks, Senior Brother Chen," Hu Ke'er said as she took Chen Tianyi's hand and jumped onto the flying sword.
"Hold on tight. Let's go," Chen Tianyi said.
"Okay."
With that, Chen Tianyi flew towards the blacksmith's shop with Hu Ke'er.
"Senior Brother Chen, with Senior Sister Bai Susu's help, do you think we'll surely pass the inner - sect test?"
"It's not that certain," Chen Tianyi said softly.
"Why? Senior Sister Bai Susu is so powerful. With her help, how can we not pass the inner - sect test?" Hu Ke'er asked in confusion.
"Junior Sister, you're underestimating the inner - sect test," Chen Tianyi said.
"Although Senior Sister Bai Susu is really powerful, you and Yuan Liuer have almost no combat power. So it's still quite uncertain this time."
"Oh—" Hu Ke'er frowned slightly after hearing Chen Tianyi's words.
"Are you saying that you think Yuan Liuer and I will hold you and Senior Sister Bai Susu back, Senior Brother Chen?" Hu Ke'er said discontentedly.
"No, no. I'm just stating the fact. But if your Qianji Umbrella is really powerful, we still have a chance," Chen Tianyi said.
"Senior Brother Chen, you remind me. I remember we asked Senior Sister Yuan Liuer to get familiar with the weapons I made before going to the Thousand Snow Abyss. If she's practiced well, she might become a powerful fighter for us."
"If it can have a surprise effect, we might really pass the inner - sect test. So it still depends on your and Yuan Liuer's combat power."
"Oh, so this test is about the weakest link effect of a wooden barrel," Hu Ke'er said subconsciously.
"What's the weakest link effect of a wooden barrel?" Chen Tianyi asked in confusion.
"It's simple. The amount of water a wooden barrel can hold is determined by its shortest plank. Because once the water level exceeds the shortest plank, the water will spill out."
"I see. It's just like the four of us. Although Senior Sister Bai and I are the long planks, you and Yuan Liuer are the short ones. You two are the key factors that determine how much water the barrel can hold."
"Yeah." Hu Ke'er nodded after hearing Chen Tianyi's words.
"Don't worry, Senior Brother Chen. Yuan Liuer and I will work hard. We won't hold you back."
"Junior Sister, I didn't mean that. Just do your best. If we really can't pass the test this time, we can try again next year," Chen Tianyi quickly explained.
"Don't worry. With the weapons I made, Yuan Liuer and I won't have low combat power," Hu Ke'er said confidently.
"Junior Sister Ke'er—" Just as Hu Ke'er and Chen Tianyi were chatting, they heard a clear female voice coming from afar.
"Oh, it's Senior Sister Yuan Liuer," Hu Ke'er said as she looked in the direction of the voice and saw Yuan Liuer waving at them below. Hu Ke'er quickly waved back.
"Senior Sister Liuer," Hu Ke'er called out.
Chen Tianyi quickly controlled the flying sword to land.
"Junior Sister, you're back from the Thousand Snow Abyss," Yuan Liuer said happily when she saw them.
"Yes, we're back," Hu Ke'er said excitedly.
"Junior Sister, you and Senior Brother Chen came back so soon from the Thousand Snow Abyss. Did anything interesting happen? Are you injured?" Yuan Liuer asked as she sized up Chen Tianyi and Hu Ke'er.
"Well, nothing interesting happened. But Senior Brother Chen was injured. Although I gave him your White Jade Pill and he recovered a bit, he's not fully recovered yet."
"What? Let me take a look," Yuan Liuer said, looking concerned.
"Then I'll trouble you, Senior Sister Liuer," Chen Tianyi said softly.
"Okay." Yuan Liuer reached out and placed her hand on Chen Tianyi's wrist.
"Senior Brother Chen, you're not seriously injured. You're just short of qi and blood. Taking some pills will make you better," Yuan Liuer said as she took out a black pill from her bosom.
"This is the Blood - Qi Dispersion Pill. Taking this should make you recover almost completely. I don't want you to be in a bad condition before the inner - sect test."
"It's okay. We'll get you fully recovered before the test. Thanks, Senior Sister Liuer," Chen Tianyi said as he took the pill from Yuan Liuer.
"By the way, Senior Sister Yuan Liuer, how are you getting on with the weapons I asked you to familiarize yourself with?"
"Pretty well," Yuan Liuer said with a slight smile on her lips.
"Junior Sister, the weapons you made are very powerful and easy to operate. So I got familiar with them in no time."
"Good," Hu Ke'er said, nodding her head.
"By the way, Senior Sister Liuer, have you seen the young blacksmith?"
"Oh, that young blacksmith? He's over there working. It seems he's busy making a special weapon for you, Junior Sister."
"Really? Is the Qianji Umbrella ready?"
"Not yet. But it seems only the last step is left."
"Great! I'll go and take a look."