Glass rained down like jagged tears as the sniper's bullet tore through the safehouse window, the crack of gunfire echoing in the cramped apartment. Feng Ruoxi hit the floor hard, Jiang Yukang's weight pinning her as the phoenix pendant skittered across the tiles, its jade surface glinting in the dim light. Her heart slammed against her ribs, adrenaline surging through the lingering haze of poison, the phoenix mark on her wrist flickering faintly as if waking to the threat.
"Stay down!" Yukang barked, his voice a low growl over the chaos. His arm shielded her head, his body a wall between her and the unseen shooter. Another shot rang out, splintering the wall above them, plaster dust choking the air.
Xiao Zheng dove behind the couch, his knife already in hand, eyes darting to the shattered window. "Sniper's on the roof across the street," he snapped, peering through the gloom. "We're sitting ducks here."
