thedawnofanewdaybroughtasenseofcalandhopetothesallvilwheresukie，hanfenglg，andihadfethevilrshadbeencrediblykd，food，sheer，andabriefrespitefrotheirarduojourneyyet，theshadowofthedarklrogpowerloodoverthe，andsukiekheirtiofpeacewasfleetg

asthefirstlightoffieredthroughthedow，sukiestretchedandgotoutofbed，feelgasenseofdeterationtodaywasthedaytheywouldgatheroretellinthedarklord’spnsandfurthertheirissiontosavethekgdooflianshedressedicklyandietly，noantgtowakei，whowasstillundasleep

steppgoutside，sukietookadeepbreathofthecrispair，savtheontarytranilitythevilwasgtolife，withvilrsbegngtheirdailyroutes，unawareofthedanrofathergonthehorizon

hanfenglgwasalreadyup，sharpenghisswordbythefirehelookedupassukieapproached，hisfacebreakgtoawarsilethatadeherheartftter

“good，”hegreetedher，hisvoicefilledwithwarth

“good，”sukiereplied，returnghissile“didyoleeell?”

hanfenglghoughhiseyesheldahtofwearess“aswelisliketheseareyoureadyfortoday?”

sukie’sexpressiongrewserio“yes，iaweofdouhatthedarklordispnngandshibeforeit’stoote”

hanfenglgreachedout，takgherhandhis“we’lldoittother，sukienoatterwhat，we’llfaceittother”

theirtenderonasterruptedbytheundofhurriedfootstepstheyturoseethevilleader，theelderlyanwhohadweledthe，approagwithalookof

“hanfenglg，sukie，”hecalledout，hisvoiceurnt“there’sthgyouosee”

theyfollowedthevilleadertotheoutskirtfthevil，whereagroupofvilrshadgatheredaroundafigurelygonthegroundastheyphedthroughthecrowd，sukie’sbreathcaughtihroatthefigurewasaldier，badlyjuredandbarelyscio

“hestubledtothevihis，”thevilleaderexped“hekeptaskgforyou”

hanfenglgkbesidetheldier，hisexpressiongri“peoyou?whodidthis?”

theldierughed，hisvoiceweak“thedarklord…he’spnnganattackhehasaneon，thgpowerfulyouhavetoshi…beforeit’stoote”

sukie’sheartraced“whereishepnngtoattack?”

theldier’seyesflickered，hisstrengthfadg“thecapital…hewantstotakethecapital”

withthosewords，theldier’seyesclosed，astillhanfenglgstood，hisjawsetieratiotothecapitalifthedarklordtakesit，theentirekgdowillfall”

sukienodded，herrelveunwaverg“thenwehavenotitowasteweogatherouralliesaothecapitalidiately”

thevilrs，overheargtheversatiooururaongsttheselvesfearanduatyrippledthroughthecrowd，buttherewasalasenseofdeterationthevilleadersteppedforward，hisvoicesteady

“wewillhelpyouanywayweeaybesall，buehavebravenandwonwillgtofightforthekgdo”

touchedbytheiroffer，sukieandhanfenglgthahevilrsandbeganakgpreparationsforthejourneyaheadi，sensgthegravityofthesituation，approachedsukie，hereyeswidewithdeteration

“iwanttohelp，”shesaidfirly“i’notafraidiwanttofightforyfailyandforeveryoneelsewhohassuffered”

sukiekdown，pgahandoni’sshoulder“you’reverybrave，iwe’llneedalheheletbutreber，yoursafetyistheostiportantthgstaycloseto，andwe’lthroughthistother”

astheysetoutforthecapital，asenseencypropelledtheforwardthejourneywaslongandarduo，buttheirdeterationneverwaveredalongtheway，theyenteredroupfvilrsandrebelswhojoiheircae，swellgtheirranksandbolstergtheirspirits

onenight，astheycapedbyariver，sukieandhanfenglgsatbythefire，theirhandsiwiheflickergfscastawarglowontheirfaces，andforaont，theyallowedtheselvestorexandenjoyeachother’spany

“doyoueverwonderwhatlifewillbelikeafteralhisiver?”sukieaskedftly，hereyesreflegthefirelight

hanfenglglookedather，hisexpressiontender“idoidreaofaworldwherewelivepeace，withoutfearordarknessaworldwherewebuildafuturetother”

sukie’sheartswelledwithlove“idreaofthattooandibelieveweakeitareality”

hanfenglgleaned，pressilekisstoherlips“withyoubyyside，iknowwe”

theirontofpeacewasshatteredbytheundofrtlgthebhesstantlyalert，hanfenglgdrewhissword，andsukiereadiedheragicafigureerdfrotheshadows，andtheywerebothrelievedtoseeiaheirsuts

“we’vespottedagroupofthedarklord’sldiersnearby，”thesutreported“theyseetobesettgupanabh”

hanfenglg’sexpressionhardened“weodealwiththebeforetheyattackgatherourfordprepareforbattle”

thecapsprangtoa，theairfilledwiththeundfpreparationsastheyovedthroughthedarkness，sukiefeasenseofunityandpurposetheywerenotjtfightgfortheselvesbutforeveryonewhohadsuffereduhedarklord’styranny

theabhwasswiftandbrutalsukieandhanfenglihechar，theiroventsperfectlysyheyfoughtsidebysidethedarklord’sldierswerecaughtoffguard，aleicklyturheirfavor

theidstofthefight，sukiespottedafailiarfacetheleaderoftheldierswasherthantheanwhohadattackedtheiroutpostandtakeni’sfailyasurofanraerationfilledher，andshefoughtherwaytowardshi

“you！”sheshouted，hervoicefilledwithfury“you’regawaythisti！”

theleadersneered，raisghisswordtoetherattack“you’reafooothkyoudefeat”

theirswordscshed，thesgthroughthenightsukiefoughitheverythgshehad，heranraerationfuelirengthhanfenglg，seeiruggle，ovedtosupporther，hispresencegivihefidencesheneeded

tother，theyoverpoweredtheleader，theirbirengthtooutohahafal，powerfulstrike，sukiedisardhi，herswordathisthroat

“tellwherei’sfailyis，”shedeanded，hervoicesteady

theleadergredather，buttherewasfearhiseyes“they’rebegheldthedarklord’sfortressyou’llneverreachtheti”

sukie’sgriptightenedonhersword“we’llseeaboutthat”

withtheleadersubdued，therestoftheldiersicklysurrehebattlewaswon，butsukiekheirjourneywasfarfroovertheyhadtoreachthecapitandsthedarklord’sattadtheyhadtorescuei’sfailyfrothefortress

astheyregrouped，hanfenglgpcedareassurghandonsukie’sshoulder“we’llsavethe，sukieiproise”

shelookedtohiseyes，herrelvestrengtheng“iknoillandwe’llsthedarklordondforall”

theirjourued，eachstepbrggtheclosertotheirgoahechalleheyfacedweredauntg，buttheirloveaeratioheovgforwardastheyhecapital，theyuldseethesignftheipendgattack:ldierspatrolliskirts，fortificationsbeied，aensiontheairpalpable

oneeveng，astheycapedwithsightofthecapital’swalls，sukieandhanfenglgsattother，theirheartsheavywiththeweightofthetaskaheadi，sensgtheirubesidethe，hersallhandslippgtosukie’s

“we’regogtowiwe?”iasked，hervoicefilledwithhope

sukiesiled，herheartswellgwithloveforthebravegirl“yes，iwe’regogtoandwe’regogtosaveyourfaily”

hanfenglgnodded，hiseyesfilledwithdeteration“we’veethisfar，andwe’renotgivgupnowtother，we’lldefeatthedarklordandbriothekgdo”

astheypreparedforthefalbattle，theirbondgrewevenstroheykhahateverhappeheywouldfaceittothertheirloveandtrteachotherwereunbreakable，andtheywerereadytofightforthefuturetheydreadof

thenightbeforethebattle，sukieandhanfenglgstoodonahilloverlookgthecapital，thecitylightsklgthedarkheyheldeachotherclose，dragstrengthfrotheire

“we’vebeenthroughuch，”sukiewhispered，hervoicefilledwitheotion“butnoatterpenstoorrow，i’gratefulforeveryone’ve

shared”

hanfenglgkissedherforehead，hisvoider“ifeehesaway，sukieandiknowthataslongaswe’retother，wefaythg”

astheystoodthere，edeachother’sars，theykhatthefightaheadwouldbetheirgreatestchallebuttheyalkhattheirlovewastheirgreateststrengthandwiththatstrength，theywouldovereanyobstadervictorio

thedawnofthefalbattleapproached，andwithit，thefateofthekgdooflianhungthebasukieandhanfenglgwerereadytheywouldfightfortheirlove，fori’sfaily，andforthefutureoftheirworldandtheywoulddoittother

thecapitalcityoflianwasabtlghubofactivity，filledwithrts，nobles，andonersallgogabouttheirdailylivestheairwasthickwiththestofexoticspidtheundoflivelychattersukie，hanfenglg，andiadetheirwaythroughthecrowdedstreets，theirheartsheavywiththeweightoftheirissiontheyhadsuessfullygatheredtellinceaboutthedarklord’spnsandnowofdawaytoshi

sukie’sdwasragwithpossibilitiestheyhadlearhatthedarklord’sneonwasbegstoredtheheavilyguardedpacettgcloseenoughtodestroyiouldreireacleverpnandfwlessexecutionastheywalked，sukie’seyesweredrawntoagrandbuildgadorhsilkbannersandtricatecarvgsiastheostfaobrotheliy，knownforitsbeautifulurtesansaravagantperforances

apoforsukie’sdsheturohanfenglg，hereyesfilledwithdeteratiotothepadithkiknowhowifigairytothebrothendbeeoheirurtesans，iightbeabletotclosetoohaesstothepace”

hanfenglg’seyeswidened“sukie，that’scrediblydanrothebrothelisfullofspiesandrantsifyou’redisvered…”

sukiepcedareassurghandonhisar“iknowit’srisky，butit’urbestcewedon’thavetitoeuithanotherpntrt，idothis”

hanfenglglookedtohereyes，seeierationandstrengthwiththehenoddedslowly，hisvoicefilledwithrelve“alright，we’lldoitbue’llstayclose，andifanythgg，we’lyououtofthere”

sukiesiled，gratefulforhissupport“thankyouiproisei’llbecareful”

theyadetheirwaytothebrothel，andsukieapproachedtheentrahfidehedooran，aburlyanwithascarrunngdownhischeek，eyedherspicioly

“whatdoyouwant?”hegrowled

sukiestraightenedherposture，exudganairoffidendgrace“iseekeployntasaurtesani’veheardthisisthefiestablishntiy”

thedooranraisedaneyebrow，clearlytrigued“wedon’ttakejtanyoneyou’llhaveroveyourself”

sukienodded，hervoicesteady“iuandi’ready”

heledherside，whereshewastroduada，ashrewdwoanwithakeealenttheadalookedsukieupanddown，hergazepierg

“whydoyouwanttoworkhere?”sheasked，hertoical

sukiethergazewithoutflg“ihaveskillsthatuldbevaabletoyourestablishnti’fidentieayourostdisgts”

theada’seyesnarrowed，butshenodded“verywellyou’llhaveatrialperiodifyouipress，you’llstayifnot，you’reout”

sukieagreed，aragbegaelythedaysthatfollowedweregruelg，filledwithlesnsdance，idversationsukie’sdeterationneverwavered，andsheicklyprovedherselftobeafastlearheotherurtesans，itiallywaryofthenewer，begantowartoherastheysawherdedicationandskill

assheirsedherselfhernewrole，sukiekepthertrueissionattheforefrontofherdsheogairtofthebrothel’sostiias，especiallythosewithestothepaesuchaslordowerfulnobleknownforhisextravaganttastesandclosetiestotheroyalfaily

thenightofherfirstperforancearrived，andsukiefeaixtureofexcitentandnervesshedressedastunngsilkgown，herhairadorhdelicateflowersasshesteppedontothesta，theroofellsilent，alleyeheicbegan，andsukieovedgracefully，hereveryotioncaptivatgtheaudienceshedahapassionandelegahatlefteveryoneawe，herperforanceaperfectblendofbeautyandskill

aftertheperforance，lordroachedher，clearlyipressed“ynifit，”hesaid，hiseyesfilledwithadiration“i’veneverseensuchgradtalent”

sukiesiled，herheartpoundg“thankyou，ylordi’honoredbyyourpraise”

lordweitookherhand，hisgazetense“i’dliketospendtiwithyou，ifyou’rewillgihaveaprivaterooupstairs”

sukie’spulseiedthiswastheopportunityshehadbeenwaitgfor“i’dbedelighted，ylord”

theyasdedthegrandstaircase，andsukiefollowedlordweitoavishlyderatedrooastheysettledontoapshuch，lordweipouredthebothagsfe

“toyourcredibleperforance，”hetoasted，raisghisgss

sukiekedhergssagasthis，herdragwithpossibilities“thankyou，ylordit’sanhonortoeaoneasdistguishedasyourself”

theychattedforawhile，lordweiclearlyenjoygherpanysukielistenedily，subtlysteergtheversationtowardsthepadthedarklord’spnsshelearhatlordweiwasdeedwell－ectedandoftenattendedprivategathergsatthepace

astheevengprogressed，lordweigreworefortable，andsukiesawhercesheleaned，hervoiceftandvitg“ylord，i’veheardruorsaboutaneonbegdevelopedthepacedoyouknowanythgaboutit?”

lordweichuckled，clearlypleasedwithhercuriosity“ah，thedarklord’ssecretprojectyes，i’vehearditeabitit’ssupposedtobecrediblypowerful，thgthatuldtheurseofthewar”

sukie’sheartraced“thatundsfasatgdoyouthkthere’sanywayiuldseeit?”

lordweiraisedaneyebrow，triguedbyherboldness“you’reitethecurioone，aren’tyou?perhapsiuldarranthgbutiouldreireabitofpersuasion”

sukiesiled，leangcloser“i’sureweetoanarra，ylord”

thenighttihadelicatedanceofwordsandsubtlepersuasionbytheendoftheeveng，lordweiwasthhlyented，andsukiehadsecuredhisproisetotakehertothepace

thefollogdayswereabrofpreparationandanticipationsukiekepthertrueiionshidden，atagherroleasadedicatedurtesanhanfenglgandireaedclose，readyttoaifneeded

fally，thedayarriveddressedherfigown，sukieapaniedlordweitothepacethegrandhallswerefilledwithopulendsplendor，butsukie’sfocwantheissionsheolocatetheonandfdawaytodestroyit

astheywalkedthroughthepace，lordweitroducedhertovarionoblesandofficials，eateradelicatebanceofcharandgsukie’sdwasstantlyw，analyzverydetaindgathergasuforationaspossible

eventually，theyreachedaheavilyguardedchaberlordweispoketotheguards，aeppedaside，allowirysukie’sheartpouheysteppediheroowasfilledwithtricateaeryandstraifacts，theairhugwithanotherworldlyenergy

“thisisit，”lordweisaid，hisvoicefilledwithpride“thedarklord’ssecretonisn’titagnifit?”

sukienodded，hereyessgtherooforanyvulnerabilities“it’scredible，ylordbuthowdoesiork?”

lordweibegantoexp，butsukie’sattentionwaselsewhereshespottedaserieftrolsandswitches，eaeglogwithafat，eerielightsheofdawaytodisabletheonwithoutarogspi

thkgickly，sukiefeignedafatgspell，lpsgtothefloorlordweirhedtoherside，hisnue

“sukie！areyht?”heexcid，hisvoicefilledwithworry

shegroaned，hervoiceweak“i’fe，ylordithktheexcitenasjttooue”

lordweihelpedhertoherfeet，histoutle“perhapsweshouldtyoofreshair”

sukienodded，alloghitoleadheroutofthechaberastheyexited，shesubtlydroppedasall，eohetrolsitowerfurtifactshehadacireddurirag，capableofdisruptgagiergies

astheywalkedthroughthepacegardens，sukiefeasenseofreliefthestonewouldactivateaatterofutes，rendergtheonelessshejtotoutofthepacebeforeaiced

lordweitiodoteonher，obliviotohertrueiionssukiepyedherroleperfectly，herdfocedontheissionastheyreturothebrothel，shefeasuroftriuphtheyhadsueededdisablgtheon，buttheirjourneywasfarfroover

bathesafetyoftheirarters，sukiesharedthenewswithhanfenglgaheirreliefandpridewerepalpable，buttheykhefighaswonthedarklordwouldnotbeeasilydefeated，andtheroadaheadwasstillfraughithdanr

astheypheirove，sukiefeadeepsenseofdeterationtheyhadefar，andtheirbondhadonlygrownstronrwithhanfenglgandi

byherside，shekheyuldfaychallen

tother，theywouldfightfortheirlove，theirfriends，aureofthekgdoofliahaheadwasua，buttheywerereadytofaceit，handhand，theirheartsunitedbyasharedpurposeandanunbreakablebond