Qiao Wei trembled, his body wracked with a bizarre mix of awe and confusion. His mouth hung agape, brows furrowed in a question mark etched on his face. The blade in his hand wobbled, its deadly purpose dissolving.
A ragged gasp escaped him as his arm lost strength, the weapon missed its initial trajectory and slashed a wound across Xie Jianshen's cheek before it clattered to the ground with a metallic clang.
Across from him, a crimson stain blossomed on Xie Jianshen's cheek, mixing with tears that spilled from the latter's eyes.
A choked sob, thick with unshed tears, threatened to erupt from Qiao Wei's throat, but something far more violent surged up first. A metallic tang flooded his mouth, followed by a hot gush that erupted in a crimson spray. Only then did his gaze drop down, finally registering a spear's pointy tip protruding from his chest.
