oufeelthat?likewe,rebegfollowed?"
hefrowned,hiseyessgthesurroundgs"yes,isetooweobecautio"
theytuedonward,theirsensesheightened,everyundandoventputtgtheohetensioweenthealpable,asilentuandgpassiweehattheyostayvigt
astheynearedaclearg,sukieheardartlgthebhesshetensed,herhandovgtothehiltofherswordhanfenglgpcedareassurghandonhershoulder,histouchgroundgher
"stayclose,"hewhispered,hisvoicebarelyaudible
theyovedforward,gclosertotheurceoftheundsuddenly,afigureburstfrotheunderbrh,stublgandfallgattheirfeetiasayounggirl,herclothestornanddirty,herfacestreakedwithtears
"help,please,"shebegd,hervoicetreblgwithfear"they,reg"
sukiekbesidethegirl,herheartagatthesightofherdistress"whoareyou?what,shappeng?"
thegirllookedup,hereyeswidewithterror"ynaisithedarklord,sldiersattackedetheytookyfailyiaoescape,butthey,restilloutthere,seargfor"
hanfenglg,sexpressiondarkened,andhehelpedthegirltoherfeet"wewoheharyou,iyou,resafewith"
jtashespoke,agroupofldierserdfrothetrees,theirarltgnaglythesunlighttheysurrouhe,theironsdrawn
"hahegirl,"theleaderoftheldiersdeanded,hisvoiceldandauthoritative"shebelongstothedarklordnow"
hanfenglgsteppedforward,hisstaective"you,llhavetotthroughfirst"
theleadersneered,raisghissword"beit"
thebattlethatensuedwasfierdchaoticsukiefoughithallheright,hertragandagicabilitiesgtotheforesheovedwithgradprecision,herswordfshgassheparriedandstruckhanfenglgwasawhirldofpowerbesideher,hisoventsfidanddeadly
iwatchedaweandfear,herheartpoundgasthefightradaroundhersheuldseethedeterationsukie,seyes,thestrengthhanfenglg,soventstheywereunlikeanyoneshehadeverseen,aaglirofhopeforthefirsttisiheattahervil
fally,afterwhatfeltlikeay,thestoftheldiersfellsukieandhanfenglgstoodpantg,theirbodiesbruisedandbloodiedbutvictorioirantothe,tearsstreagdownherface
"thankyou,"shebbed,ggtosukie"thankyouforsavg"
sukiehugdhertightly,herheartbreakgfortheyounggirl"you,resafenow,iwe,llprotectyo