On the Brink

The shadow stopped in midair.

It hovered around the duke's eldest son like mist, carrying a trace of hidden power.

Qin Ran was certain it was not negative energy.

The chill and corrosion of negative energy were far too easy to recognize.

That strange power intrigued Qin Ran.

But the duke's eldest son's choice intrigued him more.

As Qin Ran saw it, fighting back offered at least a sliver of hope. Surrendering meant waiting to be killed.

Feilin had shown himself to be strange and powerful, but the desire to live could turn even a coward into a brave man.

And the duke's eldest son was no coward.

He was a ruthless, ambitious man through and through.

Qin Ran would be the last person to believe such a man would simply wait to die.

Qin Ran did not believe it.

Neither did Feilin.

But disbelief or not, Feilin had to abandon his original plan.

Mordler was the duke's eldest son.

Until Duke Merck stripped him of that status, Mordler was entitled to be treated with courtesy, no matter how many outrages he committed.

That did not mean Feilin would do nothing.

Shhk, shhk, shhk!

The shadow suddenly wrapped around the duke's eldest son. The rapid sound of metal blades slicing through flesh rang out. When the shadow withdrew, the duke's eldest son lay on the ground, a bloody mess.

The dead tree behind him bore marks as though it had been hacked with blades and axes.

Qin Ran, hidden in the tree's shadow, felt his heart lurch.

He was afraid the tree would fall and expose him.

Fortunately, the dead tree was sturdier than it looked.

Or perhaps Feilin had made sure it would not fall.

"I accept your surrender!"

"But I think your surrender needs a little insurance!"

"Otherwise,