The four assassins shared victorious looks as they stepped forth from the darkness, certain that the job was well done. They descended rapidly to the throne room where King Lei Moyao slumped on the ground with blood pooling under his lifeless form.
"We did it," whispered one of them, with eyes aglow. "The king has died."
"We need to get out of here before—" another started to say, but the assassin's words caught in his throat as an icy, rasping laugh filled the room.
The assassins spun in circles and their eyes grew wide in terror. King Lei Moyao appeared before them with his face contorted in a harsh, merciless smile. Dark energy surrounded him as his eyes flashed with ferocity.
"You truly believe you can kill me?" He was saying it in a low, menacing snarl. "I'm a Level 8 Demon Lord. Insects like you think you can defeat me?"
The assassins paled, their eyes snapping to the dead body on the ground. And as they looked on in shock, the body on the floor started breaking down into mist and disappeared like something otherworldly.
"What... what's that?" one of the killers stuttered, his legs quivering.
King Moyao's smile grew wider, showing sharp white teeth. "That was just a clone. On Level 8, I can make perfect duplicates of myself."
Before the assassins had time to react, Commander Wuji stepped into the room, his footsteps sounding ominously. He placed himself at the king's side, his expression empty of emotion.
The assassin gasped. "But... but Wuji and the officials are at the council chamber!"
"Are they?" Wuji drawled sarcastically, his eyes cold and calculating. "Or are you questioning reality now?"
The assassins' eyes scanned rapidly in all directions as panic struck. Then it was realized — they had been caught in a trap.
Flashback
Wuji had also spoken with King Moyao earlier in the week. "Your Majesty, if we reduce the number of guards, they will certainly attempt again."
King Moyao's jaw became taut. "Will you risk your honour on this?"
Wuji's eyes grew dark. "I swear to it. Let them think the palace is weak. Let them come to us."
Flashback ends.
In the present again, the assassins were clearly shaken. One of them had his eyes wide with fear and suddenly burst into hysterical laughter. "You've caught us? You're nowhere near!"
Before King Moyao and Wuji had time to react, the assassin pulled out his concealed knife and cut his own throat. He spurted blood in a fountain of crimson which painted the marble floors.
"No!" Wuji exclaimed, charging forward.
But it was too late. One by one, the other assassins did the same thing, cutting their own necks in sharp, violent motions. Blood accumulated beneath their bodies, filling their black robes.
Wuji made his fists, his jaw set. "Dammit... all the evidence is lost."
King Moyao moved forward himself, his eyes cold as he looked at the dead bodies. "Whether we have evidence or not, we've lured them out. Now we know just how desperate they are."
Meanwhile —
In Prince Yǔlín's quarters, the prince burst in with his jaw locked and eyes afire with rage. In the courtyard, the two guards looked at each other apprehensively as Yǔlín pulled out a sword from one of them and slammed the door behind him.
Inside, Su Shu sat by the window with a smirk. "Oh, the housekeeper's back. What now, to lecture me on palace protocol?"
Yǔlín moved forward, the sword held menacingly in his hand. The light danced across his face, emphasizing the dark anger in his eyes. Su Shu's smile slipped as she saw the murderous intention in his eyes.
"You," he said roughly, voice low and menacing. "Tell me what you know about the assassination attempt."
Su Shu swallowed hard to keep from showing her dismay. "Assassination attempt? On whom?"
Yǔlín stepped forward, the knife halting just inches from her neck. His jaw was pressed tightly together as Su Shu felt the cold metal scrape against her skin.
"Don't play games with me, Su Shu," he snarled. "I've had enough of being lenient." Her eyes locked with his, and for the first time ever, her face reflected a flicker of real fear.