A streak of cold light shot out.
A sleeve dart!
Gu Shen wanted to rush to the rescue, but another lethal strike from the Shadow Guard kept him tied up. He couldn't break free.
It was over!
Zhang Nian watched helplessly as the tiny glint rapidly grew in his pupils. His mind went blank, and he even forgot to dodge.
At the critical moment, a figure suddenly lunged over and slammed into him, knocking him aside.
"Pfft!"
The sound of the sleeve dart piercing flesh.
Zhang Nian fell to the ground. When he looked back, he saw a black sleeve dart embedded in his mother Madam Zhang's back. Blood instantly stained her clothes red.
"Mother!"
Zhang Nian's scream tore from his throat.
"D-don't... don't worry about me... Go..." Madam Zhang's face was deathly pale, blood bubbling from her mouth. She clutched her son's hand tightly, but her gaze fell on Gu Shen, who was locked in fierce combat. "Give... the token... to the... Third Prince..."
Just as the Zhangs were plunged into despair, the battle took a turn.
After landing a strike, the Shadow Guard fighting Gu Shen had no intention of prolonging the battle. He feinted, then immediately retreated, vanishing into the darkness after a few swift leaps.
He hadn't tried to kill Gu Shen, nor had he continued trying to seize the token.
It was as if his sole mission had been to fire that one dart.
Gu Shen didn't give chase. He hurried over to Madam Zhang and quickly examined her wound.
The arrowhead had been coated in a potent poison.
Gu Shen's expression turned grim.
"Why... Why would they do this?" Zhang Nian clutched his mother and sobbed uncontrollably. "Didn't they want the blueprints? Why use such a cruel trick?"
"They weren't trying to kill her."