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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，restilloutthere，seargfor＂

hanfenglg，sexpressiondarkened，andhehelpedthegirltoherfeet＂wewoheharyou，iyou，resafewith＂

jtashespoke，agroupofldierserdfrothetrees，theirarltgnaglythesunlighttheysurrouhe，theironsdrawn

＂hahegirl，＂theleaderoftheldiersdeanded，hisvoiceldandauthoritative＂shebelongstothedarklordnow＂

hanfenglgsteppedforward，hisstaective＂you，llhavetotthroughfirst＂

theleadersneered，raisghissword＂beit＂

thebattlethatensuedwasfierdchaoticsukiefoughithallheright，hertragandagicabilitiesgtotheforesheovedwithgradprecision，herswordfshgassheparriedandstruckhanfenglgwasawhirldofpowerbesideher，hisoventsfidanddeadly

iwatchedaweandfear，herheartpoundgasthefightradaroundhersheuldseethedeterationsukie，seyes，thestrengthhanfenglg，soventstheywereunlikeanyoneshehadeverseen，aaglirofhopeforthefirsttisiheattahervil

fally，afterwhatfeltlikeay，thestoftheldiersfellsukieandhanfenglgstoodpantg，theirbodiesbruisedandbloodiedbutvictorioirantothe，tearsstreagdownherf