"Cough!" Coughing out blood, Cang Chao answered, "I don't know. My body moved on its own as if being controlled by someone else. Even my mouth didn't open when I tried to shout. Grrr."
His voice was decreasing in volume as if life were leaving his body.
Hu Shui froze for a moment, staring at him in disbelief. She turned sharply toward Huan Tian, anger burning behind her eyes. Her fists tightened at her sides as she took a step forward, but when she saw him—lying there, half-conscious and coughing blood—her rage tangled with grief.
Her chest rose and fell heavily before she swallowed her fury.
"Master Huan Tian," she asked in a trembling voice, "why did you let Cang Chao take that attack?"
Huan Tian raised his head weakly, his eyes clouded with pain. He tried to speak, but another violent cough racked his body.
"Cough!"
Thick blood spilled from his mouth, staining his chin crimson.
