Theguardlookedtowardtheflames。
“Idontknow。”
XieZhengdismountedimmediately。
“General!”oneofthesoldiersshouted。“Thefireisspreading。Youotgoinside!”
XieZhengignoredhim。
Hedrewhiscloakoverhismouthandrushedtowardtheentrance。
“Suyuan!”
Noanswer。
Hepushedthroughthesmoke。
“Suyuan!”
Deepihepalace,Suyuanheardsomething。Avoicecallinghername,sslowlyopenedhereyes。
Foramoment,shethoughtshewasimaginingit。
Thenshehearditagain。
“Suyuan!”
Hereyeswidened。Someonewasing。
Shetriedtostandbutherlegsnearlygaveway。
Outside,XieZhengforcedhiswaythroughanotherburningcorridor。
Hehadarrivedtoolatetopreventthetragedy。
Butperhaps—
Perhapshehadarrivedintimetosaveoneperson。
“Suyuan!”
ThenSuyuanfinallyheardhimclearly。
Shelookedtowardthedoorway。
Throughthesmokeandfire,afigureappeared。
Andforthefirsttimethatnight,Suyuanlookedfrightened。
Notofthefire。
Notofwhathadhappened。
Butofbeingfoundalive。