The shadow had no such compunctions about attacking. It hurled itself at Wangji, ready to attack.

The stance was Jin Ling's, but the attacks were basic martial combat, no better than a common foot soldier under Jiang command. The demon had none of Jin Ling's creativity in battle.

Fairy kept barking as Wangji stopped, as the guqin came out, as though she could not understand why he had paused. She jumped, prancing back and forth, impatient to run, to take him to the alley where she had left her master. The sword--the monster and the sword didn't matter! Jin Ling was hurt!