4 ：Susicio
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，tearsstreagdownherface
＂thankyou，＂shebbed，ggtosukie＂thankyouforsavg＂
sukiehugdhertightly，herheartbreakgfortheyounggirl＂you，resafenow，iwe，llprotectyou＂
hanfenglglookedaround，hisexpressiongri＂weoovethereuldbeoreldiersnearby＂
theytiheirjourney，iwalkiweensukieandhanfenglg，hersallhandgrippgsukie，stightlyastheytraveled，itoldtheoreabouttheattahervil，hervoicetreblgwitheotionsukielistenedily，herheartagforthesuffergihadendured
＂don，orry，i，＂sukiesaidntly＂we，llfdyourfailywe，lldoeverythiohelpyou＂
ilookedupather，hopeshghereyes＂thankyou，sukieidon，tknowwhatiwouldhavedohoutyou＂
astheyadetheirwaydeeperiory，sukieuldn，tshakethefeelgofuhatlredsheghanfenglg，whoseedlostthought
＂hanfenglg，＂shesaidftly，hervoicebreakgthesilence＂whatareyouthkg?＂
helookedather，hiseyesfilledwithaixofeotions＂i，worried，sukiethedarklord，sforcesaregrogstronrweobecarefularteachotherpletely＂
sukienodded，herheartswellgwithdeteration＂itrtyou，hanfenglgorethananyoneandikhistother＂
hesiled，hisexpressionfteng＂itrtyoutoo，sukieandwithyoubyyside，ifeellikewefaythg＂
theypressedon，theirbondstrengthengwitheachstepastheytraveled，theyenterednfthedarklord，sfence:vilsburotheground，failiestornapart，achedtothefacefthosetheytsukie，srelvegrewstroheaewhorrortheywitnessed，herdeteratiothedarklordunwaverg
oneeveng，astheysetupcap，sukieandhanfenglgsatbythefire，iledbeeehewarthofthefsandtheietofthenightprovidedaontofrespitefrotheirarduojourney
＂sukie，＂hanfenglgsaid，hisvoicebreakgthesilehere，sthgi，vebeenangtotellyou＂
sukielookedathi，herheartpoundg＂whatisit?＂
hetookadeepbreath，hiseyesfilledwithiy＂iknowwe，vebeenthroughalottother，andidon，anttoaddtotheburdenyou，recarrygbuteedyoutoknowhowueantoiloveyou，sukieorethanwordsexpress＂
sukie，sheartswelledwitheotion，tearsfillghereyes＂iloveyoutoo，hanfenglgwithallyheart＂
hereachedout，takgherhandhis＂noatterpens，wewillwaysbetotherourloveiurstrength，andiillguidethroughthedarkestoftis＂
iwatchedthe，asallsilepygonherlipsforthefirsttialongti，shefeltasenseofpeadhopeshekhaithsukieandhanfenglgbyherside，shewassafe
astheysatbythefire，shargtheirhopesandfears，theirbondgrewevenstroheywerenolonrjtopeoplebroughttotherbyfate；theywereatea，afailyandtheywerereadytofacewhateverchallensyahead
the，theysetoutonceore，theirheartsfilledwithdeterationandlovetheytiheirjourney，gathergrationandaidgthoseneedalongtheway，theyenteredoreallies，peoplewhosharedtheirgoalofdefeatgthedarklordapeacetothekgdooflian
oneday，astheyapproachedasallvil，theyweretbyagroupofvilrswhohadheardoftheirexploitsthevilleader，anelderlyanwithakdface，steppedfreetthe
＂wele，heroes，＂hesaid，hisvoicefilledwithgratitude＂wehaveheardofyourbraveryandyhtagastthedarklordwearehoohaveyouhere＂
sukieandhanfenglxdagnce，hubledbythevilrs，words＂thankyou，＂sukiesaid，hervoicere＂wearejtdogwhaetohelp＂
thevilleadernodded，hiseyesfilledwithrespect＂youreffortsahanyouknowplease，staywithforawhilerestandreverwewillprovideyouwithanythgyouneed＂
sukieandhanfenglggratefullyaeptedtheoffer，andtheywereshowntoasall，fortablehoewheretheyuldstaythevilrswerekdandwelg，thefoodandsupplies
astheysettled，sukieuldn，thelpbutfeesenseofuhedarklord，sforceswererelentless，atheirrespitewouldbeshort－livedbutfornow，shewasgratefulfortheontofpeace
thateveng，astheysatbythefire，sukieandhanfenglgtalkedabouttheirjourneyandtheirpnsforthefutureilistenedily，hereyeswidewithadiration
＂wewilldefeatthedarklord，＂hanfenglgsaid，hisvoicefilledwithvi＂andwewillrestorepeacetothisnd＂
sukienodded，herheartswellgwithdeteration
thedawnofanewdaybroughtasenseofcalandhopetothesallvilwheresukie，hanfenglg，andihadfethevilrshadbeencrediblykd，food，shelter，andabriefrespitefrotheirarduojourneyyet，theshadowofthedarklrogpowerloodoverthe，andsukiekheirtiofpeacewasfleetg
asthefirstlightoffilteredthroughthedow，sukiestretchedandgotoutofbed，feelgasenseofdeterationtodaywasthedaytheywouldgatheroretellinthedarklord’spnsandfurthertheirissiontosavethekgdooflianshedressedicklyandietly，noantgtowakei，whowasstillundasleep
steppgoutside，sukietookadeepbreathofthecrispair，savtheontarytranilitythevilwasgtolife，withvilrsbegngtheirdailyroutes，unawareofthedanrofathergonthehorizon
hanfenglgwasalreadyup，sharpenghisswordbythefirehelookedupassukieapproached，hisfacebreakgtoawarsilethatadeherheartftter
“good，”hegreetedher，hisvoicefilledwithwarth
“good，”sukiereplied，returnghissile“didyoleeell?”
hanfenglghoughhiseyesheldahtofwearess“aswelisliketheseareyoureadyfortoday?”
sukie’sexpressiongrewserio“yes，iaweofdouhatthedarklordispnngandshibeforeit’stoote”
hanfenglgreachedout，takgherhandhis“we’lldoittother，sukienoatterwhat，we’llfaceittother”
theirtenderonasterruptedbytheundofhurriedfootstepstheyturoseethevilleader，theelderlyanwhohadweledthe，approagwithalookof
“hanfenglg，sukie，”hecalledout，hisvoiceurnt“there’sthgyouosee”
theyfollowedthevilleadertotheoutskirtfthevil，whereagroupofvilrshadgatheredaroundafigurelygonthegroundastheyphedthroughthecrowd，sukie’sbreathcaughtihroatthefigurewasaldier，badlyjuredandbarelyscio
“hestubledtothevilthis，”thevilleaderexped“hekeptaskgforyou”
hanfenglgkbesidetheldier，hisexpressiongri“peoyou?whodidthis?”
theldierughed，hisvoiceweak“thedarklord…he’spnnganattackhehasaneon，thgpowerfulyouhavetoshi…beforeit’stoote”
sukie’sheartraced“whereishepnngtoattack?”
theldier’seyesflickered，hisstrengthfadg“thecapital…hewantstotakethecapital”
withthosewords，theldier’seyesclosed，astillhanfenglgstood，hisjawsetieratiotothecapitalifthedarklordtakesit，theentirekgdowillfall”
sukienodded，herrelveunwaverg“thenwehavenotitowasteweogatherouralliesaothecapitalidiately”
thevilrs，overheargtheversatiooururaongsttheselvesfearanduatyrippledthroughthecrowd，buttherewasalasenseofdeterationthevilleadersteppedforward，hisvoicesteady
“wewillhelpyouanywayweeaybesall，buehavebravenandwonwillgtofightforthekgdo”
touchedbytheiroffer，sukieandhanfenglgthahevilrsandbeganakgpreparationsforthejourneyaheadi，sensgthegravityofthesituation，approachedsukie，hereyeswidewithdeteration
“iwanttohelp，”shesaidfirly“i’notafraidiwanttofightforyfailyandforeveryoneelsewhohassuffered”
sukiekdown，pgahandoni’sshoulder“you’reverybrave，iwe’llneedalltheheletbutreber，yoursafetyistheostiportantthgstaycloseto，andwe’lltthroughthistother”
astheysetoutforthecapital，asenseencypropelledtheforwardthejourneywaslongandarduo，buttheirdeterationneverwaveredalongtheway，theyenteredroupfvilrsandrebelswhojoiheircae，swellgtheirranksandbolstergtheirspirits
onenight，astheycapedbyariver，sukieandhanfenglgsatbythefire，theirhandsiwiheflickergfscastawarglowontheirfaces，andforaont，theyallowedtheselvestorexandenjoyeachother’spany
“doyoueverwonderwhatlifewillbelikeafterallthisiver?”sukieaskedftly，hereyesreflegthefirelight
hanfenglglookedather，hisexpressiontender“idoidreaofaworldwherewelivepeace，withoutfearordarknessaworldwherewebuildafuturetother”