7 ：A idescribable feelig
theoonhunghighthesky，castgasilverglowovertheopulentgardenofthehanfailyansionnternsswayedntlythebreeze，castgflickergshadownthegroundtheairwasfilledwiththefragrantstofbloogjase，glgwiththedistantstrafapipabegpyedbyaskilledithegrandbahostedbythehanfailywasfullsg，andtheurtyardwasfilledwiththechatterandughteroftheeliteofthecity
sukie，dressedanexisitesilkgownthatshiredtheoonlight，stoodbyacherryblostreeherhearasastorofeotionsshewatchedasguestsilledabout，hereyeasionallydriftgtoherbrother，hanfenglialkgtoagroupofn，hisexpressioncalandposed，buteveryoften，hiseyeswouldseekherout，filledwithanunspokeion
astheevengworeon，sukiefoundherselfcreasglyawareofhanfenglg，spresencesheuldfeelhisgazeonher，evenwhenshewasn，tlookgdirectlyathitheiriions，subtleahang，hadnotgoneunnoticedbytheuestsurursandwhispersfollowedthewherevertheywent，butsukiepaidthenodherhearastoofull，tooflicted
＂isshan，youlookexisitetonight，＂afailiar，icyvoiterruptedherthoughtssukieturofdherselfface－to－facewithxietiahepowerfundalevolentbosftheregionhiseyesweredarkandtense，apredatorysilepygonhislips
sukieforcedapolitesile＂thankyou，lordxieyourpresencegraceurhubleba＂
xietiaeppedcloser，hisgazeneverleavghers＂i，vebeenwatgyoualleveng，isshanyouaretrulytheostbeautifulflowerthisgardeniouldbeashaifsuchaflowerweretowitherawaytheeoneunworthy＂
sukie，sheartpoundedherchestsheuldsehedanrrkgbehdhiswords＂iaftteredbyyourattention，lordxie，butiassureyou，ybrotherandyfailytakeexcellente＂
xietianxie，ssilewidened，buthiseyesreaedld＂ah，yes，yourbrotherheseesiteprotectiveofyoualostpossessive，oneightsay＂
beforesukieuldrespond，hanfenglgappearedatherside，hisexpressioncalbuthiseyesfshgwithanr＂lordxie，ibelieveysisterhaseaedyoulonnoughifyouwouldexce＂
xietianxie，sgazeshiftedtohanfenglg，hissileneverwaverg＂ofurse，youngasterhaniouldnotdotooverstayywele＂hebowedslightly，buthiseyeslredonsukieaontlonrbeforeheturnedandwalkedaway
hanfenglilytooksukie，sar，leadgherawayfrothecrowd＂areyht?＂heasked，hisvoicelowandfilledwith
sukienodded，herheartstillrag＂yes，i，fihankyou＂
theywalkedsilenont，thenightairogasttheirskthegardenwasieternow，theundfthebafadgtothebackground
hanfenglgspedbyasallpond，thewaterreflegtheoonlightheturofacesukie，hiseyessearghers＂yohouldbecarefurouianxiehe，sdanro＂
sukielookeddownatthewater，herrefleripplg＂iknowbutit，snotjthii，worriedabout＂
hanfenglgfrowned＂whatdoyouan?＂
shetookadeepbreath，strugglgtofdtherighords＂fenglg，i，vebeenfeelgstraelyaboutaboutyou＂
hisfrowndeepened，buthedidn，tterrupther
＂iknowwe，resupposedtobesiblgsthisworld，buttisifeellikethere，sthgorebeeen，＂shetued，hervoicetreblg＂idon，tknowifit，sjtorifyoufeelittoo，buti，tiganyore＂
hanfenglg，sexpressionftened，andhereachedouttontlycupherfahishand＂sukie，iifeelittoobutit，splicatedwe，relivgaworldthathasitwnrulesandexpectationsandevenifwe，renottrulyreted，othersbelieveweare＂
tearswelledupsukie，seyes＂buhatabouhaefeel?shouldn，tthatatter?＂
hanfenglgpulledhertoatightebrace，hisvoicebreakg＂itattersto，sukieitattersorethananythgbuehavetobecarefultherearepeoplewhowouldeourfeelgsagast＂
shegtohi，herheartag＂idon，tcareeoplethkijanttobewithyou＂
heheldherforalongont，thenpulledbackslightlytolooktohereyes＂iwantthattoo，sukiebuehavetobesartaboutthiswe，tletoureotionscloudnt＂
beforesheuldrespond，theundoffootstepsapproagadethebothteheyturoseeaservantbogdeeply＂youngasterhan，isshan，lordxiereestsyourpresence＂
hanfenglg，sjawtightened，buthenodded＂we，llberightthere＂
astheywalkedbacktotheba，sukie，sdracedshekheirfeelgsforeachotherwerereal，buttheobstaclestheyfacedseedsurountablexietianxieowerfuleney，andtheirretionshiasboundtoattrawatention
backattheba，xietiaoodattheteroftheurtyard，hiseyesgleagwithalice＂ah，thereyouare，＂hesaidsoothly＂iwasjttellishowfortuheyaretohavesuchabeautifundtalentedhostess＂
sukieforcedasile，butherhearasheavysheuldfeelhanfenglg，sprotectivepresencebesideher，astantreihattheywerethistother
therestoftheevengpassedabrsukieexdpleasahtheguests，herdonlyhalfontheversationssheuldfeelxietianxie，seyenher，hispreseant，ulgreihedaheyfaced
asthebadrewtoaclose，hanfenglgguidedhertoaietererofthegardealk，＂hesaidftly
shenodded，herheartpoundg＂iknow＂
hetookadeepbreath，hiseyesfilledwithdeteration＂sukie，i，tpretendthatourfeelgsdobuehavetobecarefulxietianxieiswatg，andhe，snottheonlyoneweofdarotectourselvesandourfaily＂
shelookedupathi，hereyesfilledwithtears＂whatdowedo?＂
hepulledhertoanotherebrace，hisvoicefir＂westaystroaytotherandwefightforwhaebelieve＂
astheystoodthere，holdachotheruheoonlight，sukiefeltasenseofhopeiouldn，tbeeasy，butshekheyuldfacewhateverchallenscatheirway，aslongastheyhadeachother
daysturoweeks，aensioweensukieandhanfenglgonlygrewstroheyspentoretitother，theirbonddeepengwitheachpassgdaytheypracticedtheirartiartstother，traedstrategy，andstudiedthewftheirfailybesseverystolengnce，everybrhoftheirhands，everysharedsilewasasilentproiseoftheiritnttoeachother
oneeveng，asthesuabzeeandpk，theyfoundtheselvesalohegardenonceoresukiesatonastonebench，watgthekoifishswizilythepondhanfenglgapproached，hisfootstepsftonthegravelpath
＂sukie，＂hesaidftly，sittgbesideher＂i，vebeenthkg＂
sheturohi，hereyessearghis＂abouhat?＂
＂aboutaboutourfuture＂hetookherhandhis，histouchwarandreassurg＂we，tkeephidgourfeelgsit，snotfairtoeitherof＂
sukienodded，herheartagwiththeweightoftheirunspokenlove＂buhaedo?ifpeoplefdout＂
＂we，lldealwithit，＂hesaidfirly＂totheri，veadearrastoleavethispcewestartoverwherenew，wherenooneknows＂
hereyeswidenedsurprise＂youanleaveeverythgbehd?＂
henodded＂yesit，stheonlywaywetrulybetotherbuehavetoactfastxietianxieisbegorespicio，andit，nlyaatteroftibeforeheakeshisove＂
tearsfilledsukie，seyesassherealizedtheagnitudeofwhatheroposg＂idon，anttoloseyou，fenglgbutidon，antutourfailydaher＂
heseezedherhand，hiseyesfilledwithdeteration＂ourfailywillbesafei，veadesureofitbutyouandiwedeserveaceathappess＂
shetookadeepbreath，herheartpoundgwithaixoffearandhope＂whendoweleave?＂
＂toorrownight，＂hesaidftly＂i，llhaveeverythgreadyallyouodoistrt＂
sukielookedtohiseyes，seegtheloveaerationthereshekhahateverchallensyahead，theywouldfacethetother＂itrtyou，＂shewhispered
thedaypassedabrofpreparationandsecrecyhanfenglgadearraswithtrtedallies，ensurgthattheirdeparturewouldgounnoticedsuk
iepackedafewpreciobelonggs，herheartheavywiththekhatshewasleavgbehdthelifeshehadknown
asnightfell，theytthegarden，theirheartspoundgwithanticipationhanfenglgtookherhand，hisgripfirandreassurg＂areyouready?＂heaskedftly
shenodded，hereyesfilledwithdeteration＂yeslet，sgo＂
theyovedsilentlythroughtheshadows，slippgpastguardsandservantswhowereunawareoftheirpnsastheyreachedtheedoftheestate，asenseoffreedowashedoverthetheywereleavgbehdaworldofdanraion，steppgtotheunknownwithnothgbuttheirlovetoguidethe
butjtastheywereabouttocrossthethreshold，avoutthedarkness＂gogwhere?＂
sukie，sheartskippedabeatasxietiaeppedtoview，hiseyesgleagwithtriuph＂didyoureallythkyouuldescape?＂hesneered
hanfenglgsteppedprotectivelyfrontofsukie，hisexpressionfierce＂we，releavg，xietianxieandthere，snothgyoudotos＂
xietianxieughed，aenagund＂oh，butthereisyoee，i，vebeenwatgyouoyourlittleloveaffairhasnotgoneunnoticedandnow，youwillpaythepriceforyourbetrayal＂
beforetheyuldreact，xietianxiedrewhissword，thebdegltgtheoonlighthanfenglgphedsukiebehdhi，draghiwnon＂run，sukie！＂heshouted＂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＂
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＂
lizifengnodded＂iknowpeoplewhoightbeabletohelpweooveickly，thoughtiisnotonourside＂
astheydiscsedtheirpns，sukiefeltarenewedsenseofdeterationtheyhadfauchalready，andshekheyuldovereanyobstacleiftheystoodtothertheloveshefeltforhanfenglgwashergreateststrength，andshewoulddowhateverittookrotecttheirfuture
thefewdayswereafrryofactivitylizifengreachedouttohistacts，andontheyhadasallbutloyalgroupofalliessukieandhanfenglgtraeddilintly，hongtheirskillsandprepargfortheiablefrontatioethetension，theirontstotherwerefilledwithtendernessandlove
oneeveng，afteraparticurlygruelgtragsessiobythefire，exhationglgwithtehanfengldanararoundsukie，pullgherclose
＂youwereaazgtoday，＂hesaid，hisvoicefilledwithadiration＂i，veneverseenanyonefightlikeyou＂
shesiled，leangtohi＂i，vehadagoodteacherandagoodreantofight＂
hekissedherftly，hislipslrgonhers＂iloveyou，sukieorethanwordssay＂
shelookedtohiseyes，herheartswellgwitheotion＂iloveyoutoo，fenglgandi，lnythiween＂
astheyheldeachother，thefirecragftlybesidethe，sukiefeltasenseofpeacetheirjourneywasfarfroover，butshekhataslongastheyhadeachother，theyuldfaychallen
thefollog，theyreceivedwordthatxietianxie，sallieswereontheoveiastiuttheirpnstoasukieandhanfenglgstoodsidebyside，readytofacewhatevercatheirway
thebattlewasfierdreleheirsallgroupofalliesfoughtvaliantly，eachperngivgtheirallrotecttheirhoandlovedonessukieandhanfenglgfoughttother，theiroventsperfectlysyheirlovegivirength
asthesu，castgabllowoverthebattlefield，itbecaclearthattheyweregagtheupperhandxietianxie，sforcesweredrivenback，theiroraleshatteredbytheunwaverierationofsukieandherallies
fally，thestoftheireneiesweredefeated，andatriuphantcheerrosefrotheirrankssukieandhanfenglgstoodierofthebattlefield，theirhandscspedtightlytother，theireyesshgwithvictory
＂wedidit，＂sukiesaid，hervoicefilledwithaweandrelief＂wereallydidit＂
hanfenglgsiled，pulliohisars＂yes，wedidandnow，wefallybefree＂
astheyebraced，surrouheirfriendsandallies，sukiefeltadeepsenseofgratitudetheyhadfaiagablechallensanderdstrohaheirlovehadbeeedandhadendured，andnowtheyuldlookforwardtoafuturefilledwithhopeandpossibility
thedaysthatfollowed，thevilcelebratedtheirhard－wonpeacesukieandhanfenglgwerehailedasheroes，theirlovestorybegalendthatspiredotherstheyspenttheirdaysrebuildgandhealg，fdgjoythesiplepleasureflife
oneeveng，astheywalkedhandhandthroughthevil，sukielookedupathanfenglg，herheartoverflogwithlove＂thankyouforalwaysbelievg，＂shesaidftly＂fornevergivgup＂
hesiled，hiseyesfilledwithwarth＂iuldnevergiveuponyou，sukieyou，reyeverythg＂
sheleaned，kissghitenderly＂andyou，fenglg，areyforever＂
astheystoodthere，bathedthegoldenlightofthesettgsun，sukiekhatnoatterwhatchallensyahead，theywouldfacethetothertheirlovewasabeaofhope，atestanttothepowerofceaerationandaslongastheyhadeachother，theyulderanythg
theboweensukieandhanfengliroheachpassgdaytheybecaseparable，theirloveastanturcethandfortthevilthriveduheirleadership，andthesenseofunityandlidarityalpable
oernoon，astheyworkedtotherthefields，sukielookedoverathanfenglg，herheartswellgwithprideandlove＂fenglg，doyoueverthkaboutthefuture?aboutanttobuildhere?＂
hepaed，wipgthesweatfrohisbrow，andsiledather＂everydayiwanttocreateapcewherewelivepeace，whereourchildrengrowupsafeandhappy＂
hereyessparkledwithtearfjoy＂children?youreallythkaboutthat?＂
hetookherhand，hisexpressiontender＂ofurseiwanttobuildalifewithyou，sukieafailyafuturefilledwithloveandhappess＂
shethrewherarsaroundhi，herughterrggoutlikeabell＂iwantthattoo，fenglgorethananythg＂
astheystoodthere，ebraguheclearbesky，sukiefeltasenseofpletenessshe
hadneverknownbeforetheirjourneyhadbeenlongandarduo，butithadledthetothisontofpure，unadulteratedjoytheyhadfouheworld，andtother，theywouldcreatealegacyofloveandhope
theirlovestorywasfarfroover，buttheyfacedthefuturewithunwavergfideheyhadeachother，andthaasalltheyneededaslongastheystoodtother，theykhattheyuldovereanyobstadachieveanydrea
and，handhand，sukieandhanfenglgwalkedtotheirfuture，theirheartsfilledwithloveandtheirspiritsunbreakabletheirstorywaneofce，resiliendtheendurgpowerofloveandianlyjtbegng
thesereneountavilthathadbeesukieandhanfenglg’ssanctuaryceoftranilityandloveyet，despitethepeacetheyhadfound，alrgsenseofunfishedbessgsukiesheoftenfoundherselflostthought，ptiureandherroleitherdreaswerehauntedbyvisionfherforrlife，theodernworldshehadleftbehd，andtheunrelvedthreadsthatstilltugdatherheart
onecrisp，sukiesatbythestreathatranthroughthevil，thewater’sntleflowothiroubleddhanfenglgapproachedietly，hispresencealwaysaurceofforthesatbesideher，hishalybrhghers
“whattroublesyou，sukie?”heasked，hisvoiceftandfilledwith