8 ：Bewildermet
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＂iknowpeoplewhoightbeabletohelpweooveickl