The sharp, metallic 'clang' of steel hitting high-grade ballistic material echoed violently over the piercing screams of the crowd.
Before the flying blade could even cross the two-foot gap toward Chen Ying's chest, the lead bodyguard—a towering, ex-special forces operative whose reflexes had been honed by a decade in active combat zones—moved on pure, instinctual muscle memory. He didn't flinch, nor did he hesitate. With a sweeping upward motion, he thrust his heavy ballistic briefcase directly into the line of fire.
The throwing knife struck the exact center of the briefcase with terrifying, compact force. Sparks briefly illuminated the dim space between the crowd and the car as the tip embedded itself deeply into the dense, bulletproof fabric. The sheer impact of the throw vibrated through the guard's thick forearm, but his stance remained as unyielding as stone.
