iepackedafewpreciobelonggs，herheartheavywiththekhatshewasleavgbehdthelifeshehadknown

    shetookadeepbreath，herheartpoundgwithaixoffearandhope＂whendoweleave?＂

    theyovedsilentlythroughtheshadows，slippgpastguardsandservantswhowereunawareoftheirpnsastheyreachedtheedoftheestate，asenseoffreedowashedoverthetheywereleavgbehdaworldofdanraion，steppgtotheunknownwithnothgbuttheirlovetoguidethe

    thedaypassedabrofpreparationandsecrecyhanfenglgadearraswithtrtedallies，ensurgthattheirdeparturewouldgounnoticedsuk

    tearsfilledsukie，seyesassherealizedtheagnitudeofwhatheroposg＂idon，anttoloseyou，fenglgbutidon，antutourfailydaher＂

    ＂aboutaboutourfuture＂hetookherhandhis，histouchwarandreassurg＂we，tkeephidgourfeelgsit，snotfairtoeitherof＂

    beforetheyuldreact，xietianxiedrewhissword，thebdegltgtheoonlighthanfenglgphedsukiebehdhi，draghiwnon＂run，sukie！＂heshouted＂i，llholdhioff！＂

    hepulledhertoanotherebrace，hisvoicefir＂westaystroaytotherandwefightforwhaebelieve＂

    daysturoweeks，aensioweensukieandhanfenglgonlygrewstroheyspentoretitother，theirbonddeepengwitheachpassgdaytheypracticedtheirartiartstother，traedstrategy，andstudiedthewftheirfailybesseverystolengnce，everybrhoftheirhands，everysharedsilewasasilentproiseoftheiritnttoeachother

    shenodded，herheartpoundg＂iknow＂

    asnightfell，theytthegarden，theirheartspoundgwithanticipationhanfenglgtookherhand，hisgripfirandreassurg＂areyouready?＂heaskedftly

    hanfenglgsteppedprotectivelyfrontofsukie，hisexpressionfierce＂we，releavg，xietianxieandthere，snothgyoudotos＂

    hetookadeepbreath，hiseyesfilledwithdeteration＂sukie，i，tpretendthatourfeelgsdobuehavetobecarefulxietianxieiswatg，andhe，snottheonlyoneweofdarotectourselvesandourfaily＂

    therestoftheevengpassedabrsukieexdpleasahtheguests，herdonlyhalfontheversationssheuldfeelxietianxie，seyenher，hispreseant，ulgreihedaheyfaced

    xietianxieughed，aenagund＂oh，butthereisyoee，i，vebeenwatgyouoyourlittleloveaffairhasnotgoneunnoticedandnow，youwillpaythepriceforyourbetrayal＂

    henodded＂yesit，stheonlywaywetrulybetotherbuehavetoactfastxietianxieisbegorespicio，andit，nlyaatteroftibeforeheakeshisove＂

    heseezedherhand，hiseyesfilledwithdeteration＂ourfailywillbesafei，veadesureofitbutyouandiwedeserveaceathappess＂

    ＂toorrownight，＂hesaidftly＂i，llhaveeverythgreadyallyouodoistrt＂

    shelookedupathi，hereyesfilledwithtears＂whatdowedo?＂

    sukienodded，herheartagwiththeweightoftheirunspokenlove＂buhaedo?ifpeoplefdout＂

    ＂sukie，＂hesaidftly，sittgbesideher＂i，vebeenthkg＂

    ＂we，lldealwithit，＂hesaidfirly＂totheri，veadearrastoleavethispcewestartoverwherenew，wherenooneknows＂

    hereyeswidenedsurprise＂youanleaveeverythgbehd?＂

    shenodded，hereyesfilledwithdeteration＂yeslet，sgo＂

    butjtastheywereabouttocrossthethreshold，avoutthedarkness＂gogwhere?＂

    astheystoodthere，holdachotheruheoonlight，sukiefeltasenseofhopeiouldn，tbeeasy，butshekheyuldfacewhateverchallenscatheirway，aslongastheyhadeachother

    asthebadrewtoaclose，hanfenglgguidedhertoaietererofthegardealk，＂hesaidftly

    sukielookedtohiseyes，seegtheloveaerationthereshekhahateverchallensyahead，theywouldfacethetother＂itrtyou，＂shewhispered

    sukie，sheartskippedabeatasxietiaeppedtoview，hiseyesgleagwithtriuph＂didyoureallythkyouuldescape?＂hesneered

    oneeveng，asthesuabzeeandpk，theyfoundtheselvesalohegardenonceoresukiesatonastonebench，watgthekoifishswizilythepondhanfenglgapproached，hisfootstepsftonthegravelpath

    sukieforcedasile，butherhearasheavysheuldfeelhanfenglg，sprotectivepresencebesideher，astantreihattheywerethistother

    sheturohi，hereyessearghis＂abouhat?＂