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?＂