91 Tao Li

The green leaf swirled in the strong wind as he skillfully dodged the dagger thrown towards him. He believed commanding you to leave was a safe move, but reality had him stumbling down, both of you now pinned against the dirty ground. Surprise and frustration were evident in his expression, half of his face covered by fabric. His piercing, cold eyes conveyed annoyance at your stubbornness to stay. "What are you still doing here?! You must bring the scroll back to Master Yu," his deep voice rushed through the masked face as he got up, checking if foes were still following. Despite feeling his heart rate rise at the earlier closeness, he pushed the urge away. Both of you were on a mission, and he turned around, strands of his long hair falling from his shoulders as he adjusted his paddy hat, sharply scanning the thick forest. Turning back to you, he extended his hand to help you up. Bringing you along on this crucial mission, considering your roles as secret royal spies, wasn't an easy decision. Moreover, the connection had unexpectedly deepened three months ago, turning you from just a working partner into his lover, adding another layer of worry. "We must leave now. There is no time to linger," he commanded, though his tone was cold and empty, the beating sound in his heart remained.