ss＂

shetookadeepbreath，herheartpoundgwithaixoffearandhope＂whendoweleave?＂

＂toorrownight，＂hesaidftly＂i，llhaveeverythgreadyallyouodoistrt＂

sukielookedtohiseyes，seegtheloveaerationthereshekhahateverchallensyahead，theywouldfacethetother＂itrtyou，＂shewhispered

thedaypassedabrofpreparationandsecrecyhanfenglgadearraswithtrtedallies，ensurgthattheirdeparturewouldgounnoticedsuk

iepackedafewpreciobelonggs，herheartheavywiththekhatshewasleavgbehdthelifeshehadknown

asnightfell，theytthegarden，theirheartspoundgwithanticipationhanfenglgtookherhand，hisgripfirandreassurg＂areyouready?＂heaskedftly

shenodded，hereyesfilledwithdeteration＂yeslet，sgo＂

theyovedsilentlythroughtheshadows，slippgpastguardsandservantswhowereunawareoftheirpnsastheyreachedtheedoftheestate，asenseoffreedowashedoverthetheywereleavgbehdaworldofdanraion，steppgtotheunknownwithnothgbuttheirlovetoguidethe

butjtastheywereabouttocrossthethreshold，avoutthedarkness＂gogwhere?＂

sukie，sheartskippedabeatasxietiaeppedtoview，hiseyesgleagwithtriuph＂didyoureallythkyouuldescape?＂hesneered

hanfenglgsteppedprotectivelyfrontofsukie，hisexpressionfierce＂we，releavg，xietianxieandthere，snothgyoudotos＂

xietianxieughed，aenagund＂oh，butthereisyoee，i，vebeenwatgyouoyourlittleloveaffairhasnotgoneunnoticedandnow，youwillpaythepriceforyourbetrayal＂

beforetheyuldreact，xietianxiedrewhissword，thebdegltgtheoonlighthanfenglgphedsukiebehdhi，draghiwnon＂run，sukie！＂heshouted＂i，llholdhioff！＂

sukie，sheartracedwithfearaerationsheuldn，tleavehanfenglgtofacexietianxiealoneshehadtofight，tostandbyhissideshedrewherowndagr，herhandssteadydespitetheterrorherheart

xietiahe，hisoventsswiftanddeadlyhanfenglihihead－on，theirsashowerofsparkssukiewatchedhorrorastheonfought，theirskillsevenlyatchedsheknewshehadtodothg，butsheuldn，tseeanopeng

asthebattleradon，sukiesawhercexietianxiewasfocedonhanfenglg，hisbackturohershetookadeepbreath，suongallherdndforward，aigforhisunprotectedsi