Qingran didn't blink.
Didn't flinch.
The slight tremble in her fingers stilled entirely, and when she moved next, it was with surgical precision, grabbing Boran's collar, slamming him down to the floor with a bone-rattling crack.
The air around her exploded, slamming into the walls like a shockwave.
She crouched beside him, one knee pinning his chest. Her face lowered until they were nearly nose to nose.
Her voice came low.
"I should kill you."
He coughed, spitting blood to the side. "You won't."
"Don't tempt me."
"You never could, even when I begged for it. Remember?" His voice softened to mockery. "Back then, when you hesitated. When you cried."
Qingran didn't react.
Emotion drained from her face, replaced by the same calm that came just before she executed a target.
"I didn't hesitate.." she said coolly. "I just wanted to be sure you were worth the bullet. You weren't."
He chuckled again, but it was weaker now, the edge fraying beneath his amusement.
