Hard to Handle

After finishing his work, Tang San rested briefly in his room, then went to Cinderella's door and knocked softly.

"Sis, are you awake?"

A moment later, the door opened a crack. Cinderella appeared in her nightdress, rubbing her sleepy eyes, her long golden hair falling messily over her shoulders.

"Tang San? What's wrong?" Her voice was soft with sleep.

Tang San handed her the heavy, dark Sand-Shadow Dart. "This is for you. Use it to protect yourself."

Cinderella paused, then took the cold metal box. Its weight surprised her.

She looked down at the strangely shaped hidden weapon, surprise flashing through her blue eyes. "Is this a hidden weapon? Did you make it from the Black Profound Iron you just bought?"

"Yes." Tang San nodded, his voice as even as before.

"It's called the Sand-Shadow Dart. It's fairly powerful. The trigger is here. Aim it at your target and channel a little Soul Power into it. It's loaded with poisoned steel needles. Once they draw blood, death follows."

He briefly explained how to use it, pointing out the trigger and the precautions she needed to take.

Cinderella was quick to understand and soon had it memorized. Holding the cold weapon, she could sense the danger within it. Then she looked up at the faint shadows beneath Tang San's eyes and realized he had spent the night making it.

"Thank you, Tang San," she said softly, a gentle smile on her face.

The trust in Cinderella's smile softened Tang San's eyes for a moment.

"Keep it close. Don't go anywhere without it," he told her. "Heaven Dou City is full of strangers. Someone is bound to cause trouble."

"I know." Cinderella nodded obediently and carefully put the Sand-Shadow Dart into her Storage Soul Tool ring.

Just then, a door opened at