houted＂i，llholdhioff！＂

sukie，sheartracedwithfearaerationsheuldn，tleavehanfenglgtofacexietianxiealoneshehadtofight，tostandbyhissideshedrewherowndagr，herhandssteadydespitetheterrorherheart

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

asthebattleradon，sukiesawhercexietianxiewasfocedonhanfenglg，hisbackturohershetookadeepbreath，suongallherdndforward，aigforhisunprotectedside

thedagrstrucktrue，aiaoutaroarofpaiagredback，ctghisside，hiseyesfilledwithfury＂youlittlebitch！＂hesnarled

hanfenglgseizedtheopportunity，delivergapowerfulblowthatseianxiecrashgtothegrouoodoverthefallenan，hischestheavgwithexertion＂thisisforallthepayou，vecaed，＂hesaidldly，beforedrivghisswordtoxietianxie，sheart

sukiewatched，herbreathgshasps，asthelifedraedfroxietianxie，seyesshefeltaixofreliefandhorror，knogthattheyhadtakenaliferotecttheirown

hanfenglgturoher，hiseyesfilledwith＂areyht?＂

sheearsstreagdownherface＂yesbuhatnow?＂

hetookherhand，hisgripfirandreassurg＂now，weleavethispcetother＂

theyovedickly，leavgtheseofthebattlebehdastheyslippedtothenight，sukiefeltasenseofhopeaerationtheyhadfacedtheirgreatesteneyanderdvictorionow，theyhadacetobuildanewlifetother，freefrotheshadowfthepast

asthefirstlightofdawnbrokeonthehorizon，sukieandhanfenglgstoodonahilloverlookiytheyheldeachotherclose，theirheartsfilledwithasenseofpossibilitytheroadaheadwouldnotbeeasy，buttheykhataslongastheyhadeachother，theyuldfaychallen

and，handhand，theysteppedtothefuture，readytowritethechapteroftheirstory

thedaysfollogtheirescapewereabroftravendsecrecysukieandhanfenglgovedfrotowntotown，aygioolong，alwayswaryofbegdisveredthenightswerespenthuddledtotherforwarth，shargwhisperedversationsandstolefaffeeachpassgday，sukie，sfeelgsforhanfenglgdeepened，andsheuldsensehisfeelgsirroredherown

theyfallysettledaietvilledtheountas，farfrothereachoftheirehevilicturesehaven，withshgreeneryandcrystal－clearstreasthesiplelifeofferedastarktrasttotheopulenddaheyhadleftbehdforthefirsttiwhatfeltlikeay，theyfoundasebnceofpeace

oneeveng，asthesundippedbelowthehorizon，castgagoldenglowoverthevil，sukiesatbythedowoftheirsalltta，herthoughtsawhirldhanfenglgwautside，choppgwoodforthefireshewatchedhithroughthedow，hisstrong，gracefuloventscaptivatihesightofhibroughtawarthtoherheartthatsheuldn，tignoreanylonr

ashefishedandcaside，sukiegreetedhiwithaftsile＂youworktoohard，＂sheteasedntly

hanfenglgchuckled，wipgthesweatfrohisbrow＂it，sgoodtostaybykeepsydoffthgs＂

sukie，ssilefadedasshelookeddownatherhands＂fenglialk＂

hesetthewooddownandjoihetable，hisexpressionserio＂what，nyourd?＂

takgadeepbreath，sukiethisgaze，herheartpoundg＂fenglg，i，tkeeppretendgthateverythgisnoralbeeeniknowyoufeelittoothisewehaveit，sorethanjtsiblgs，orethanjtfriendship＂