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＂

    hanfenglg，seyesftened，andhereachedouttotakeherhandhis＂iknow，sukiei，vefeltittoobuti，vebeentrygrotectyou，tokeepyoafe＂

    tearsfilledhereyesassheshookherhead＂idon，tneedprotefroyownfeelgsioknowthae，rethistother，thae，renotalonehowwefeel＂

    heseezedherhand，hisvoicefir＂you，renotalone，sukiei，velovedyouforalongti，lohanievenrealizedbutourworldisplicated，andoursituationisdanro＂

    ＂idon，tcareaboutthedanr，＂shesaid，hervoicebreakg＂icareaboutyoui，tkeeppretendgthati，notihyou＂

    hanfenglgpulledhertohisars，holdiightly＂iloveyoutoo，sukieorethananythgbuehavetobesartaboutthiswe，tletoureotionscloudnt＂

    shegtohi，feelieadybeatofhisheartagastherown＂iknowbuti，tkeephidghowifeeliobewithyou，trulybewithyou＂

    hekissedtheofherhead，hisvoiceawhisper＂thenwewillbewe，llfdawaytoakethiswork，noatterwhatittakes＂

    theirversationwasterruptedbyaknothedoorsukiepulledback，wipiears，ashanfenglioastandgoutsidewaslizifeng，sukie，ldfriendandfidantfrotheirpreviolifehehadbeenasteadfastallythroughtheirordeal，andseeghibroughtawaveofrelief

    ＂zifeng！＂sukieexcid，rhgtoebracehi＂whatareyoudoghere?＂

    lizifeurhehug，asileonhisface＂icatoakesureyou，rebothsafenewfxietianxie，sdeathhasspread，andtherearestillthoseloyaltohiwhoightseekreven＂

    hanfenglgnodded，hisexpressiongri＂wethoughtasuchwe，vebeencareful，bue，tletuarddown＂

    theyvitedzifengside，aookaseatatthetable，hisdeanorserio＂i，vebeengathergrationthereareruorsthatxietianxie，salliesareregroupgtheyighteafteryouboth＂

    sukie，sheartsank＂we，tkeeprunngforeverweofdawaytoendthisthreatondforall＂

    hanfenglglookedthoughtful＂weogatherourownallies，peoplewetrtifwebuildastronnoughwork，weightbeabletofendoffanyattacks＂