ThedawnofanewdaybroughtasenseofcalmandhopetothesmallvilgewhereSukie，HanFengling，andMeihadfe.Thevilgershadbeenincrediblykind，food，shelter，andabriefrespitefromtheirarduousjourney.Yet，theshadowoftheDarkLrowingpowerloomedoverthem，andSukiekheirtimeofpeacewasfleeting.

Asthefirstlightofmfilteredthroughthewindow，Sukiestretchedandgotoutofbed，feelingasenseofdetermination.TodaywasthedaytheywouldgathermoreintelligentheDarkLord’spnsandfurthertheirmissiontosavetheKingdomofLian.Shedressedquicklyandquietly，notwantingtowakeMei，whowasstillsoundasleep.

Steppingoutside，Sukietookadeepbreathofthecrispmair，savthemomentarytranquility.Thevilgewasingtolife，withvilgersbeginningtheirdailyroutines，unawareofthedangerousfatheringonthehorizon.

HanFenglingwasalreadyup，sharpeninghisswordbythefire.HelookedupasSukieapproached，hisfacebreakingintoawarmsmilethatmadeherheartflutter.

“Goodm，”hegreetedher，hisvoicefilledwithwarmth.

“Goodm，”Sukiereplied，returninghissmile.“Didyousleepwell?”

HanFenglinghoughhiseyesheldahintofweariness.“Aswellasoimeslikethese.Areyoureadyfortoday?”

Sukie’sexpressiongrewserious.“Yes，Iam.WeofindoutwhattheDarkLordispnningandstophimbeforeit’stoote.”

HanFenglingreachedout，takingherhandinhis.“We’lldoittogether，Sukie.Nomatterwhat，we’llfaceittogether.”

Theirtendermomentwasinterruptedbythesoundofhurriedfootsteps.Theyturoseethevilgeleader，theelderlymanwhohadweledthem，approagwithalookof.

“HanFengling，Sukie，”hecalledout，hisvoiceurgent.“There’ssomethingyouosee.”

Theyfollowedthevilgeleadertotheoutskirtsofthevilge，whereagroupofvilgershadgatheredaroundafigurelyingontheground.Astheypushedthroughthecrowd，Sukie’sbreathcaughtihroat.Thefigurewasasoldier，badlyinjuredandbarelyscious.

“Hestumbledintothevilgethism，”thevilgeleaderexpined.“Hekeptaskingforyou.”

HanFenglingkbesidethesoldier，hisexpressiongrim.“peoyou?Whodidthis?”

Thesoldiercoughed，hisvoiceweak.“TheDarkLord…he’spnninganattack.Hehasa