thesereneountavilthathadbeesukieandhanfenglg’ssanctuaryceoftranilityandloveyet,despitethepeacetheyhadfound,alrgsenseofunfishedbessgsukiesheoftenfoundherselflostthought,ptiureandherroleitherdreaswerehauntedbyvisionfherforrlife,theodernworldshehadleftbehd,andtheunrelvedthreadsthatstilltugdatherheart
onecrisp,sukiesatbythestreathatranthroughthevil,thewater’sntleflowothiroubleddhanfenglgapproachedietly,hispresencealwaysaurceofforthesatbesideher,hishalybrhghers
“whattroublesyou,sukie?”heasked,hisvoiceftandfilledwith
shesighed,turngtoethisgaze“i’vebeenthkgalotaboutthelifeileftbehd,theodernworldtherearethgsileftunfished,peopleicareaboutandthere’sapartofthaondersifiuldhavedoneore,beenore”
hanfenglg’sexpressiohoughtful“doyouissit?thaorld?”
“ways,yes,”sheaditted“butit’snotjtaboutissgitifeellikeihavearesponsibilitytogoback,tofishwhatistartedandaybe,ifido,iakeabetterfuturefor”
henodded,uandgdawnghiseyes“you’retalkgaboutreturngtoyourti”
“yes,”sukiesaid,hervoicefirwithrelve“iogobadfaceypast,akethgsrightandaybe,jtaybe,ifdawaytosecureourfuture”
hanfenglg’sgriptightenedonherhand“iuandandiwillsupportyou,noatterwhatbuthowwillyoureturn?”
shelookeddownattheiriedhands,aixtureoffearaerationhereyes“i’vebeenstudyis,theohatspeakoftitravelthere’saritual,awaytoreversetheprocessaurntoyti”
hanfenglg’seyeswidehaixofaweand“itundsdanro”
“itis,”sukieaditted“butit’sariskihavetotake”
withhanfenglg’sunwavergsupport,sukiebeganreparefortheritualthevilrs,unawareofthetruenatureoftheirefforts,offeredtheirassistance,providgthenecessaryherbsandaterialsthenightoftherituarrived,theairheavywithanticipationanday
astheoonreacheditszenith,sukiestoodattheterofacirclearkedwithasybolshanfenglgstoodbesideher,hispreseeadygforcethevilrswatchedirevereheirfaithsukie’sabilitiesunshaken
sukietookadeepbreath,herheartpoundgherchestshebegantotthetation,hervoicesteadyandstrongtheairaroundthecrackledwithenergy,thesybolnthegroundg