8 :Bewildermet(1 / 2)
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
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,thesybolnthegroundglogwithanotherworldlylightthepoweroftheritualsurdthroughher,fillihasenseofpurposeandrelve
hanfenglg’shandtightenedaroundhers“reber,noatterwhereyougo,iwillwaysbewithyou”
tearswelledsukie’seyesasshelookedathi“iloveyou,fenglgiwillebackforyouiproise”
asthefalwordfthetatioherlips,abldglightenvelopedsukieshefeltherselfbegpulledaway,theworldaroundherdislvgtoabroflorsandundsthesensationwaverwhelg,butsheheldontohanfenglg’swords,hislovegroundgherasshewasthrtbatotheunknown
whenthelightfaded,sukiefoundherselfstandgthefailiarsurroundgfheroldapartnttheoderedherwithitscaphonyofundsandsightsshetookaonttosteadyherself,herdreelgfrotheabrupttransitiontherealityofhersituationhitherwithfullforce–shewasback
deterioaketheostofherreturn,sukiewastednotisheicklyirsedherselfiudies,re-enrollghighschoolwitharenewedsenseofpurposeherfriendsandteachersweresurprisedbyhersuddentransforation,theonce-ordarygirlnowdrivenbyanunyieldieration
herfirsttaskwastoacetheentranceexassukie’snightswerespentpovertextbooks,herdawhirlwiions,historicaldates,andstifictheoriesherdayswerefilledwithcsses,eachlesnasteppgstoowardshergoalthechallenswereishefacedthewitharelvefedthefirefherpastexperiences
sukie’stransforationdidnotgounnoticedherteacherswereipressedbyherdedication,herpeersspiredbyherrelentlessdriveshefordnewfriendships,bondsbuiltonutualrespedsharedaspiratio,aidstthefrryofacadeicpursuits,herthoughtftendriftedtohanfenglg,hispreseanturcethandotivation
oernoon,afteraparticurlygruelxa,sukiesattheschoolurtyard,herdragwiththoughtfthefutureshewasjoedbyilg,herloyalfriendfroherpreviolife,whohadalcrossedovertothisti
“you’ved,sukie,”ilgsaid,hervoicefilledwithadiration“there’safireyouthaasn’ttherebefore”
sukiesiled,hergazedistant“i’vebeenthroughalot,ilgandi’velearhatifyouwantthg,youhavetofightforiitheverythgyouhave”
ilg’seyesftehuandg“you’rethkgabouthi,aren’tyou?”
“everyday,”sukieaditted,hervoidwithlongg“iproisedhiiwouldebadiwillbutfirst,ioakesurethahenido,igivethelifewedeserve”
astheonthspassed,sukie’shardworkpaidoffshegraduatedwithhonors,segapoheostprestigiouiesherchoseersce,adisciplihthepotentialtoshapethefutureshesawitasawaytoharhepowerofteologytocreateabetterworld,onewheresheandhanfenglguldbetotherwithoutfear
heruyyearswereawhirldofdisveryandnovationsukie’sbrillianceshoneeveryprojectsheuook,herpassionaivitysettgherapartfroherpeersshedevelopedgroundbreakgteologies,earngaodesaionfrotheacadeiunity
yet,despitehersuesses,sukieneverlostsightofherultiategoalsheiedwisely,buygbitandothercryptocurrencies,herfhtandtuitionleadgtosubstantialfancialgassheedhernewfouhtosecureafortablefuture,buygahoandacar,ensurgthaheica,shewouldbereadyrovideforhanfenglg
throughoutitall,sukie’sheartreaedanchoredtotheproiseshehadadeshekepttouchwithilgandlizifeng,theirbondalifelioherpasttother,theydevisedapurntotheaworld,toreuhhanfenglgandfulfillthedestytheyhadfedtother
thedayofthefalrituarrived,andsukiefeltaixtureofexcitentandtrepidatiooodthesaspohereshehadperfordtheitialritual,thesybolnthegroundglogwithafailiarlightilgandlizifengstoodbyherside,theirpresenceafreihestrengththeyshared
assukiebegantotthetation,theairaroundthecrackledwithenergythesybolsglowedbrighter,thepoweroftheritualbuildgtoacresdosukie’svoicewassteadyandclear,herheartfilledwithhopeaeration
thelightenvelopedheronceaga,theworldaroundherdislvgtoabroflorsandundsshefeltherselfbegpulledback,thesensationbothexhiratgandoverwhelgasthelightfaded,shefoundherselfstandgthefailiarsurroundgftheountavil
thevilrsgreetedherwithjoyandrelief,theirfaithherunwavergsukie’sheartracedasshesearchedforhanfenglg,hereyessgthecrowdwhenshefallysawhi,standgattheedofthevilwithalookofdisbeliefandjoyonhisface,shefeltawaveofeotionwashoverher
“fenglg!”shecried,runngtohi
hecaughtherhisars,holdiightly“sukie,youcaback”
“iproisediwould,”shesaid,tearsstreagdownherface“andialwayskeepyproises”
theystoodthere,edeachother’sebrace,theweightoftheirjourneyliftgfrotheirshouldersthelovetheysharedhadbroughtthebacktother,andnow,theyuldfallybegthelifetheyhadalwaysdreadof