blingandfallingattheirfeet.Itwasayounggirl，herclothestornanddirty，herfacestreakedwithtears.

HanFengling，sexpressiondarkened，andhehelpedthegirltoherfeet.＂Wewohemharmyou，Mei.You，resafewithus.＂

HanFenglinglookedaround，hisexpressiongrim.＂Weomove.Therecouldbemoresoldiersnearby.＂

Thegirllookedup，hereyeswidewithterror.＂MynameisMei.TheDarkLord，ssoldiersattackede.Theytookmyfamily.Imaoescape，butthey，restilloutthere，seargforme.＂

Finally，afterwhatfeltlikeay，thestofthesoldiersfell.SukieandHanFenglingstoodpanting，theirbodiesbruisedandbloodiedbutvictorious.Meirantothem，tearsstreamingdownherface.

＂Thankyou，＂shesobbed，gingtoSukie.＂Thankyouforsavingme.＂

＂Helpme，please，＂shebegged，hervoicetremblingwithfear.＂They，reing.＂

Theleadersneered，raisinghissword.＂Sobeit.＂

HanFenglingsteppedforward，hisstaective.＂You，llhavetogetthroughusfirst.＂

Sukiekbesidethegirl，herheartagatthesightofherdistress.＂Whoareyou?What，shappening?＂

＂Hahegirl，＂theleaderofthesoldiersdemanded，hisvoicecoldandauthoritative.＂ShebelongstotheDarkLordnow.＂

Theytiheirjourney，MeiwalkiweenSukieandHanFengling，hersmallhandgripping

Justashespoke，agroupofsoldiersemergedfromthetrees，theirarmlintingmenaglyinthesunlight.Theysurrouhem，theironsdrawn.

Sukiehuggedhertightly，herheartbreakingfortheyounggirl.＂You，resafenow，Mei.We，llprotectyou.＂

Meiwatchedinaweandfear，herheartpoundingasthefightragedaroundher.ShecouldseethedeterminationinSukie，seyes，thestrengthinHanFengling，smovements.Theywereunlikeanyoneshehadeverseen，aaglimmerofhopeforthefirsttimesiheattahervilge.

Thebattlethatensuedwasfierdchaotic.Sukiefoughtwithallhermight，hertrainingandmagicalabilitiesingtothefore.Shemovedwithgradprecision，herswordfshingassheparriedandstruck.HanFenglingwasawhirlwindofpowerbesideher，hismovementsfluidanddeadly.