Xuan released him the moment his knees hit the ground and stepped away before his body collapsed forward.
"Too slow," she said calmly with a click of her tongue.
The remaining three soldiers exchanged a brief look before moving toward her at the same time.
One rushed straight toward her with his fist aimed at her jaw. Another moved to her left, attempting to close off her movement, while the third advanced from behind, clearly intending to overwhelm her through numbers.
Instead of retreating, Ling Xuan stepped forward.
The first punch sliced through the air, but she tilted her head just enough for it to miss her cheek. Before the soldier could recover, her elbow drove sharply into his throat. The strike was controlled, but it stole the air from his lungs instantly. He staggered backward, choking as his hands flew to his neck.
