TPGA - 75

Chapter 75: Injury

With each step Li Shimin took, he meticulously kicked away the snow beneath his feet to make the path easier for Yunyi to tread. So far, their descent had been relatively smooth.

As they passed a steep cliffside, Li Shimin slowed his pace, carefully guiding Yunyi downward. The woman before him was either the assassin or the only lead in the investigation. Until he found the assassin, he wouldn’t allow anything to happen to Yunyi.

Both were focused on the treacherous path ahead and failed to notice a loose section of the cliff wall to their left. Small stones began tumbling down the slope. By the time they realized what was happening, it was too late—a boulder the size of a human head came crashing down. If struck, they would surely be injured. There was no place to take cover, and even if Duan Zhihong wanted to intervene, it would already be too late.

“Be careful!” Li Shimin reacted first, instinctively pulling Yunyi aside. She narrowly avoided the rolling boulder, but he wasn’t as fortunate. Though he managed to dodge his head, his right shoulder was struck by the boulder. The weight and momentum of the rock sent him stumbling forward. Yunyi tried to steady him, but instead, she was pulled down with him, landing hard on her back against the unforgiving rocks, sending a sharp pain through her body.

When she finally regained her senses, she found Li Shimin lying on top of her. His masculine scent filled her nostrils, causing her heart to race. Flustered, she pushed at him, but as soon as her hand touched his shoulder, he let out a pained groan. She quickly withdrew her hand and asked, “What’s wrong?”

Li Shimin’s forehead was slick with cold sweat as he gritted his teeth and said, “My shoulder was hit by the rock. It doesn’t look good.”

“What… what should we do? Can you get up?” Yunyi stammered, her mind in turmoil. Before today, she had never been in such close physical contact with a man, let alone repeatedly in one day. She didn’t know how to handle the situation.

“I’ll try.” The pain in Li Shimin’s right shoulder was excruciating, leaving it nearly immobile. Using his left arm for support, he managed to roll off Yunyi and sit on the nearby slope, gasping for breath. Despite trying to avoid moving his right shoulder, the injury was still aggravated, causing more pain. Beads of cold sweat dripped from his forehead.

Seeing Li Shimin injured, Duan Zhihong immediately prepared to rush to his aid. But just as he took a step forward, he noticed Li Shimin subtly waving his left hand behind his back, signaling him not to approach.

Duan Zhihong understood Li Shimin’s intentions, but now that one shoulder was injured and the other person’s foot was hurt, how could they possibly descend the mountain? Moreover, if Meixue took advantage of the situation to attack, Second Master might not be able to defend himself. Any harm that befell him would leave Duan Zhihong unable to atone for it, even if he later captured Meixue. However, disobeying Second Master’s orders was also unthinkable. This was a difficult predicament.

After much hesitation, Duan Zhihong reluctantly returned to his hiding spot, keeping a vigilant eye on Li Shimin’s movements so he could intervene if necessary.

Meanwhile, Meixue frowned deeply and said with concern, “Such severe pain likely means a broken bone. We need to get down the mountain quickly for treatment; otherwise, if it becomes displaced, it will be even worse. Second Master, can you walk?”

Li Shimin wiped the snow from his face and forced himself to stand. “As long as I don’t move my right shoulder, I think I can manage. But you…”

“I’m fine,” Meixue replied. Carefully crawling to the side, she broke off two sturdy branches, stripping away the excess twigs and leaves. She handed one of the branches to Li Shimin to use as a makeshift cane. With its support, they braved the wind and snow, slowly making their way down the mountain. After taking twice as long as the ascent, they finally reached the base of the mountain without further incident. Their horses were still tied to the tree where they had left them.

Once the pain in his shoulder eased slightly, Li Shimin said apologetically, “I’ve truly inconvenienced you this time.”

“Second Master, please don’t say that. You wouldn’t have been injured if you hadn’t pushed me out of the way of the falling rock.” As she spoke, Yunyi moved forward to untie the reins from the tree.

Li Shimin gazed at her back with a complex expression. Logically, with his injury, this should have been the perfect opportunity for an assassination attempt. Yet this woman still showed no signs of hostility. Throughout their hours together, Yunyi had appeared entirely ordinary, with no abnormalities. Had he simply been overthinking things?

While lost in thought, Yunyi led the horse closer. “Second Master, it’s getting late. Let’s hurry back.”

Li Shimin was about to agree when he remembered his injured shoulder. “Meixue, do you know how to ride a horse?”

Yunyi instinctively started to nod but caught herself just in time, forcing the motion into a shake instead. She timidly replied, “I’ve never ridden a horse before.”

Li Shimin furrowed his brow. “Though my left hand is fine, the movement of the horse will inevitably aggravate my right shoulder, making it impossible for me to focus on controlling it. If something unexpected startles the horse along the way, both of us could be in danger.”

“What should we do?” Yunyi asked anxiously.

After a moment of thought, Li Shimin suggested, “I’ll teach you how to control the horse. You can ride.”

“Me?” Yunyi pointed at herself and shook her head repeatedly. “How could I possibly ride? No, I can’t do it.”

“You’re exceptionally clever. From what I’ve seen, you excel in dance and painting, surpassing many others. Riding isn’t complicated—I’m sure you’ll learn quickly.”

Yunyi hesitated. “But I’ve never done this before. I’m afraid…”

“You can do it. If we delay any longer, we really won’t make it back to the city in time.” Seeing him insist, Yunyi reluctantly agreed. “Alright, I’ll give it a try.”

Compared to their earlier ascent, mounting the horse this time was particularly difficult. After finally settling into the saddle, Yunyi nervously gripped the reins and timidly urged, “Giddy up! Giddy up!”

Her hesitant demeanor elicited a chuckle from Li Shimin, despite his pain. “If you speak so softly, Qingyun won’t hear you. Also, don’t grip the reins too tightly—it makes the horse uncomfortable.”

Yunyi quickly loosened her grip on the reins and stammered, “I didn’t know… So… what should I do now?”

“Don’t be so nervous. Riding isn’t as complicated as you think. Once you get the hang of it, I’m sure you’ll come to enjoy the sensation of galloping, like soaring through the clouds.”

Under Li Shimin’s guidance, Yunyi gradually grasped the basics. When she tried urging the horse again, Qingyun obediently moved forward a few steps. Delighted, Yunyi exclaimed, “Second Master, look! I’ve got it!”

All of this, of course, was an act to deceive Li Shimin. In truth, not only could she handle a well-trained horse like Qingyun, but she was also capable of taming even a wild one.

Li Shimin showed no suspicion and smiled kindly. “I always said you’re exceptionally clever—anything you learn, you master immediately. Alright, let’s hurry back.”