The dim light flickered, casting shadows that danced around Peng Xiu like restless spirits. She stood with trembling hands, the dagger clutched tightly behind her back.
Each breath felt heavy in her chest, weighed down by the burden of her task and the pain that gnawed at her heart. Han Xin was a few paces away, an imposing figure with eyes that burned like iron.
As she gathered her courage, Peng Xiu tightened her grip on the hilt. She moved toward him, her legs shaky yet determined. She summoned the most coaxing tone she could manage, her voice laced with false sweetness.
"I can tell you where he is," she said, her words trembling just like her body. "He will be safe, as long as you let me speak....Xin-ge, just give me five minutes... please."
Han Xin's eyes narrowed, fierce and piercing. He glared at her like an unyielding hawk sizing up its prey. The air around them thickened, heavy with an unseen tension.
