Four seconds into the fight, Meng cleared the last two paces in a leap. He brought down the iron cleaver with both hands. The dull gray light of Layer Four qi ran down the blade.
Pei Jing stepped into the swing. He caught Meng’s lead foot with a kick. The bone cracked, and the falling cleaver missed his shoulder by inches.
The Cloud-Splitter flashed upward through the mist and caught Meng at the gap in his chest armor. His good eye went wide. His cleaver fell between his boots, and he hit the stones with a wet thud.
Iron Vulture Li came swinging out of the smoke toward the spot where Meng had fallen. He had only one good eye and was fighting by sound. The mace swung hard enough to break an oak barrel.
Pei Jing ducked under it and caught Li’s wrist. Layer Five strength broke the man’s hold. The spiked mace dropped. Pei Jing turned Li away from him and drove the Cloud-Splitter through his vest. Li folded onto the cobbles. His gauntlets rattled against the stone.
Pei Jing turned back to Zhao. The man was still on his knees four paces away. He groped through the mud until he found his dropped crossbow. He pulled it to his chest and tried to work the lever by feel.
