ThemsuncastagoldenglowoverthevilgeasSukieandHanFenglingpreparedfortheday，sjourheyhadreceivedwordthattheDarkLord，sforcesweregatheringinanearbyregion，andtheyoscouttheareaandgatherintelligehevilgerswatchedthemwithamixofadmirationand，theirhopesrestingontheshouldersofthebraveduo.

    Astheysetout，theairwasfilledwiththestofbloomingflowersandthesoundofrustlingleaves.SukiewalkedbesideHanFengling，herheartbeatingwithamixtureofexcitementandtrepidation.Sheghim，hisstrongprofileoutlinedagainstthemlight，aasurgeofgratitudeforhisunwaveringpresence.

    ＂Areyoureadyforthis?＂HanFenglingasked，hisvoicegefilledwithresolve.

    Sukienodded，hereyesmeetinghis.＂AsreadyasI，lleverbe.Withyoubymyside，IfeellikeIfaything.＂

    Hesmiled，reagouttotakeherhand.＂We，llgetthroughthistogether，Sukie.Wealwaysdo.＂

    Theirjourookthemthroughdenseforestsandacrossrockyterrain，thendscapegingastheyventureddeeperiory.Thefurthertheywent，themoretheatmosphereshifted，beingdarkerandmoreforeboding.Thetreesseemedtocloseinarouheirbranchesreagoutlikeskeletalfingers.

    Astheywalked，Sukiecouldn，tshakethefeelingthattheywerebeingwatched.Shegncedoverhershoulder，buttherewasnothingthere.Justthewhisperofthewindaantcallsofunseeures.

    ＂HanFengling，＂shesaidsoftly，hervoigedwithunease.＂Doyoufeelthat?Likewe，rebeingfollowed?＂

    Hefrowned，hiseyessingthesurroundings.＂Yes，Isetoo.Weobecautious.＂

    Theytinuedonward，theirsensesheightened，everysoundandmovementputtingthemohetensioweenthemalpable，asilentuandingpassiweehattheyostayvigint.

    Astheynearedaclearing，Sukieheardarustlinginthebushes.Shetensed，herhandmovingtothehiltofhersword.HanFenglingpcedareassuringhandonhershoulder，histouchgroundingher.

    ＂Stayclose，＂hewhispered，hisvoicebarelyaudible.

    Theymovedforward，ingclosertothesourceofthesound.Suddenly，afigureburstfromtheunderbrush，stumblingandfallingattheirfeet.Itwasayounggirl，herclothestornanddirty，herfacestreakedwithtears.

    ＂Helpme，please，＂shebegged，hervoicetremblingwithfear.＂They，reing.＂

    Sukiekbesidethegirl，herheartagatthesightofherdistress.＂Whoareyou?What，shappening?＂

    Thegirllookedup，hereyeswidewithterror.＂MynameisMei.TheDarkLord，ssoldiersattackede.Theytookmyfamily.Imaoescape，butthey，restilloutthere，seargforme.＂

    HanFengling，sexpressiondarkened，andhehelpedthegirltoherfeet.＂Wewohemharmyou，Mei.You，resafewithus.＂

    Justashespoke，agroupofsoldiersemergedfromthetrees，theirarmlintingmenaglyinthesunlight.Theysurro

    ThemsuncastagoldenglowoverthevilgeasSukieandHanFenglingpreparedfortheday，sjourheyhadreceivedwordthattheDarkLord，sforcesweregatheringinanearbyregion，andtheyoscouttheareaandgatherintelligehevilgerswatchedthemwithamixofadmirationand，theirhopesrestingontheshouldersofthebraveduo.

    Astheysetout，theairwasfilledwiththestofbloomingflowersandthesoundofrustlingleaves.SukiewalkedbesideHanFengling，herheartbeatingwithamixtureofexcitementandtrepidation.Sheghim，hisstrongprofileoutlinedagainstthemlight，aasurgeofgratitudeforhisunwaveringpresence.

    ＂Areyoureadyforthis?＂HanFenglingasked，hisvoicegefilledwithresolve.

    Sukienodded，hereyesmeetinghis.＂AsreadyasI，lleverbe.Withyoubymyside，IfeellikeIfaything.＂

    Hesmiled，reagouttotakeherhand.＂We，llgetthroughthistogether，Sukie.Wealwaysdo.＂

    Theirjourookthemthroughdenseforestsandacrossrockyterrain，thendscapegingastheyventureddeeperiory.Thefurthertheywent，themoretheatmosphereshifted，beingdarkerandmoreforeboding.Thetreesseemedtocloseinarouheirbranchesreagoutlikeskeletalfingers.

    Astheywalked，Sukiecouldn，tshakethefeelingthattheywerebeingwatched.Shegncedoverhershoulder，buttherewasnothingthere.Justthewhisperofthewindaantcallsofunseeures.

    ＂HanFengling，＂shesaidsoftly，hervoigedwithunease.＂Doyoufeelthat?Likewe，rebeingfollowed?＂

    Hefrowned，hiseyessingthesurroundings.＂Yes，Isetoo.Weobecautious.＂

    Theytinuedonward，theirsensesheightened，everysoundandmovementputtingthemohetensioweenthemalpable，asilentuandingpassiweehattheyostayvigint.

    Astheynearedaclearing，Sukieheardarustlinginthebushes.Shetensed，herhandmovingtothehiltofhersword.HanFenglingpcedareassuringhandonhershoulder，histouchgroundingher.

    ＂Stayclose，＂hewhispered，hisvoicebarelyaudible.

    Theymovedforward，ingclosertothesourceofthesound.Suddenly，afigureburstfromtheunderbrush，stumblingandfallingattheirfeet.Itwasayounggirl，herclothestornanddirty，herfacestreakedwithtears.

    ＂Helpme，please，＂shebegged，hervoicetremblingwithfear.＂They，reing.＂

    Sukiekbesidethegirl，herheartagatthesightofherdistress.＂Whoareyou?What，shappening?＂

    Thegirllookedup，hereyeswidewithterror.＂MynameisMei.TheDarkLord，ssoldiersattackede.Theytookmyfamily.Imaoescape，butthey，restilloutthere，seargforme.＂

    HanFengling，sexpressiondarkened，andhehelpedthegirltoherfeet.＂Wewohemharmyou，Mei.You，resafewithus.＂

    Justashespoke，agroupofsoldiersemergedfromthetrees，theirarmlintingmenaglyinthesunlight.Theysurro