hefurthertheywent，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