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