Nian Hai's eyes widened before he crumpled on top of me.
I scrambled to get his heavy body off mine, needing to breathe. The man who tried to kill me thumped onto the floor, cheek-first into the dirt. I sat up, scooting away as his eyes rolled. His mouth opened and closed silently, trying to speak.
Nian Qu fell to her knees, a dazed expression on her face as she stared at the dagger in her brother's back.
"Nian Qu," I called out for her cautiously. She didn't answer, her blood-stained hands resting upon her lap.
Nian Hai gurgled into the floor, trying to say something. Nian Qu came alive at the sound, crawling over to my side. Her whole body was trembling as she scrutinised Nian Hai's face.
"Remember how you put a dagger into Master's back?" Nian Qu's voice trembled as she reached out and grabbed my dagger by its handle.
With a strong tug, Nian Hai let out a sound between a yelp and a groan when the blade left his body.
