C21 Once Again Being Crippled?

The assassin hadn't expected his meticulously plotted murder to be foiled. He paused, stunned, then raised his sword for another strike at Ling Xiao.

"You've got some nerve!" Ling Tao intervened in the nick of time, wielding his spear and stabbing at the attacker.

With no other option, the assailant had to cease his pursuit of Ling Xiao