Lady Jiao's sword sliced through the air, forcing the cloaked figure into a corner of the rooftop garden. Trapped between stone walls and her gleaming blade, the man turned to face her.
"Who are you?" Her golden qi illuminated the space between them. "Why does the Shadow Sect chooses to attack us now?"
The man remained silent, his dark robes rippling in the night breeze. His face stayed hidden beneath the deep hood, but his stance betrayed years of martial training.
Shadows began materializing around Lady Jiao - first two, then five, then a dozen cloaked figures emerging from the darkness. They moved in perfect unison, forming a circle around her. Their qi signatures pulsed with deadly intent.
Lady Jiao's sword tracked each new threat, its golden light pushing back the encroaching darkness. But for every shadow she focused on, two more appeared behind her.
