thesuncastagoldenglowoverthevilassukieandhanfenglgpreparedfortheday，sjourheyhadreceivedwordthatthedarklord，sforcesweregatherganearbyregion，andtheyosuttheareaandgathertellihevilrswatchedthewithaixofadirationand，theirhopesrestgontheshoulderfthebraveduo

astheysetout，theairwasfilledwiththestofbloogflowersandtheundofrtlgleavessukiewalkedbesidehanfenglg，herheartbeatgwithaixtureofexcitentandtrepidationsheghi，hisstrongprofileoutledagastthelight，aasurofgratitudeforhisunwavergpresence

＂areyoureadyforthis?＂hanfenglgasked，hisvoicefilledwithrelve

sukienodded，hereyesetghis＂asreadyasi，lleverbewithyoubyyside，ifeellikeifaythg＂

hesiled，reagouttotakeherhand＂we，lltthroughthistother，sukiewealwaysdo＂

theirjourookthethroughdenseforestsandacrossrockyterra，thendscapeggastheyventureddeeperiorythefurthertheywent，theoretheatosphereshifted，begdarkerandoreforebodgthetreesseedtoclosearouheirbranchesreagoutlikeskeletalfrs

astheywalked，sukieuldn，tshakethefeelgthattheywerebegwatchedshegncedoverhershoulder，buttherewasnothgtherejtthewhisperofthedaantcallfunseeures

＂hanfenglg，＂shesaidftly，hervoidwithunease＂doyoufeelthat?likewe，rebegfollowed?＂

hefrowned，hiseyessgthesurroundgs＂yes，isetooweobecautio＂

theytuedonward，theirsensesheightened，everyundandoventputtgtheohetensioweenthealpable，asilentuandgpassiweehattheyostayvigt

astheynearedaclearg，sukieheardartlgthebhesshetensed，herhandovgtothehiltofherswordhanfenglgpcedareassurghandonhershoulder，histouchgroundgher

＂stayclose，＂hewhispered，hisvoicebarelyaudible

theyovedforward，gclosertotheurceoftheundsuddenly，afigureburstfrotheunderbrh，stublgandfallgattheirfeetiasayounggirl，herclothestornanddirty，herfacestreakedwithtears

＂help，please，＂shebegd，hervoicetreblgwithfear＂they，reg＂

sukiekbesidethegirl，herheartagatthesightofherdistress＂whoareyou?what，shappeng?＂

thegirllookedup，hereyeswidewithterror＂ynaisithedarklord，sldiersattackedetheytookyfailyiaoescape，butthey，r