Thefewdayswereaflurryofactivity.LiZifengreachedouttohistacts，andsoontheyhadasmallbutloyalgroupofallies.SukieandHanFenglingtraineddiligently，honingtheirskillsandpreparingfortheiablefrontatioethetension，theirmomentstogetherwerefilledwithtendernessandlove.

LiZifeurhehug，asmileonhisface.＂Icametomakesureyou，rebothsafe.NewsofXieTianxie，sdeathhasspread，andtherearestillthoseloyaltohimwhomightseekrevenge.＂

Hekissedthetopofherhead，hisvoiceawhisper.＂Thenwewillbe.We，llfindawaytomakethiswork，nomatterwhatittakes.＂

Shegtohim，feelieadybeatofhisheartagainstherown.＂Iknow.ButI，tkeephidinghowIfeel.Iobewithyou，trulybewithyou.＂

TheyinvitedZifenginside，aookaseatatthetable，hisdemeanorserious.＂I，vebeengatheringinformation.TherearerumorsthatXieTianxie，salliesareregrouping.Theymighteafteryouboth.＂

.＂

Sukie，sheartsank.＂We，tkeeprunningforever.Weofindawaytoendthisthreatondforall.＂

Theirversationwasinterruptedbyaknothedoor.Sukiepulledback，wipiears，asHanFenglioa.StandingoutsidewasLiZifeng，Sukie，soldfriendandfidantfromtheirpreviouslife.Hehadbeenasteadfastallythroughtheirordeal，andseeinghimbroughtawaveofrelief.

Oneevening，afteraparticurlygruelingtrain

Astheydiscussedtheirpns，Sukiefeltarenewedsenseofdetermination.Theyhadfauchalready，andshekheycouldovereanyobstacleiftheystoodtogether.TheloveshefeltforHanFenglingwashergreateststrength，andshewoulddowhateverittooktoprotecttheirfuture.

HanFenglingpulledherintohisarms，holdiightly.＂Iloveyoutoo，Sukie.Morethananything.Butwehavetobesmartaboutthis.We，tletouremotionscloudment.＂

LiZifengnodded.＂Iknowsomepeoplewhomightbeabletohelp.Weomovequickly，though.Timeisnotonourside.＂

＂Zifeng！＂Sukieexcimed，rushingtoembracehim.＂Whatareyoudoinghere?＂

HanFenglingnodded，hisexpressiongrim.＂Wethoughtasmuch.We，vebeencareful，butwe，tletuarddown.＂

HanFenglinglookedthoughtful.＂Weogatherourownallies，peoplewetrust.Ifwebuildastrongenoughwork，wemightbeabletofendoffanyattacks.＂