<p style="font-size:16px">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.＂Doyoufeehat?Likewe，rebeingfollowed?＂
Hefrowned，hiseyessingthesurroundings.＂Yes，Isetoo.Weobecautious.＂
Theytinuedonward，theirsensesheightened，everysoundandmovementputtingthemohetensioweenthemalpable，asilentuandingpassiweehattheyostayvigint.
Astheynearedaclearing，Sukieheardarustlinginthebushes.Shetensed，herhandmovingtothehiofhersword.HanFenglingpcedareassuringhandonhershoulder，histouchgroundingher.
内容未完，下一页继续阅读 </p><p style="font-size:16px">＂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，andhehelpedthegiroherfeet.＂Wewohemharmyou，Mei.You，resafewithus.＂
Justashespoke，agroupofsoldiersemergedfromthetrees，theirarmlintingmenaglyinthesunlight.Theysurrouhem，theironsdrawn.
＂Hahegirl，＂theleaderofthesoldiersdemanded，hisvoicecoldandauthoritative.＂ShebelongstotheDarkLordnow.＂
HanFenglingsteppedforward，hisstaective.＂You，llhavetogetthroughusfirst.＂
Theleadersneered，raisinghissword.＂Sobeit.＂
Thebattlethatensuedwasfierdchaotic.Sukiefoughtwithallhermight，hertrainingandmagicabilitiesingtothefore.Shemovedwithgradprecision，herswordfshingassheparriedandstruck.HanFenglingwasawhirlwindofpowerbesideher，hismovementsfluidanddeadly.
内容未完，下一页继续阅读 </p><p style="font-size:16px">Meiwatchedinaweandfear，herheartpoundingasthefightragedaroundher.ShecouldseethedeterminationinSukie，seyes，thestrengthinHanFengling，smovements.Theywereunlikeanyoneshehadeverseen，aaglimmerofhopeforthefirsttimesiheattahervilge.
Finally，afterwhatfelikeay，thestofthesoldiersfell.SukieandHanFenglingstoodpanting，theirbodiesbruisedandbloodiedbutvictorious.Meirantothem，tearsstreamingdownherface.
＂Thankyou，＂shesobbed，gingtoSukie.＂Thankyouforsavingme.＂
Sukiehuggedhertightly，herheartbreakingfortheyounggirl.＂You，resafenow，Mei.We，llprotectyou.＂
HanFenglinglookedaround，hisexpressiongrim.＂Weomove.Therecouldbemoresoldiersnearby.＂
Theytiheirjourney，MeiwalkiweenSukieandHanFengling，hersmallhandgrippingSukie，stightly.Astheytraveled，Meitoldthemmoreabouttheattahervilge，hervoicetremblingwithemotion.Sukielistenedily，herheartagforthesufferingMeihadendured.