For a moment, everyone froze—including Zhang Liang, who had been about to use magic, and Fan Kuai, who had risen from behind Liu Ji and was ready to spring out.
"Third Uncle." Xiang Zhuang looked uncertain. Silently, he glanced toward Fan Zeng, as though seeking his guidance.
But Fan Zeng was stunned as well.
He had expected someone to step forward and stop Xiang Zhuang's "sword dance," but he had thought it would be Zhang Liang, or Fan Kuai, who sat closer to Liu Ji. He had even considered that Xiang An, that second brat who never quite got along with him, might intervene.
He alone had never expected Xiang Bo, whom he knew fairly well, to block Xiang Zhuang's assassination attempt with a sword.
But now that things had come to this, the assassination absolutely could not be stopped, even if someone intervened!
Liu Ji occupied Within the Passes, controlled the former Qin lands as well as much of the north, and had practically inherited everything left behind by the Qin Dynasty. He had to die!
Fan Zeng considered himself Xiang Yu's strategist. He would never allow Liu Ji to monopolize so many benefits for himself!
Xiang Zhuang understood. Though he was somewhat wary of facing Xiang Bo, Fan Zeng's orders still had to be carried out.
"Then please enlighten me, Third Uncle." Xiang Zhuang controlled his tone, doing his best to keep it calm. His gaze sharpened once more, and killing intent fierce enough to sting the skin continued to surge toward Liu Ji.
"General!" Fan Kuai moved behind the still-shaken Liu Ji. Tense, he watched Xiang Zhuang and Xiang Bo resume their sword dance in the open space. Their blades flashed and crossed; what appeared to be a paired sword dance had, in truth, already become a