Chapter Twenty-Seven Leaving This Place

The restaurant was in utter chaos, but neither Chu Bing nor Chu Wenyan had the energy to deal with it.

Chu Bing sat on a stone bench in the courtyard, watching as Chu Wenyan hurriedly blocked the gate. She gave a bitter smile, saying, “No need to bother. If they really come after us, one door won’t stop them.”

Those people could leap across rooftops and scale walls!

But she had set up an array in this courtyard; even if they managed to get in, they would never find them!

Chu Bing’s legs were trembling. Before she transmigrated, she was just an ordinary citizen. The most dangerous thing she’d ever encountered was nearly getting hit by a car while crossing the street—never anything like today, never so close to feeling the threat of death.

She pressed her forehead, desperately calling out to the system in her mind.

“System, system, this world is far too terrifying! People are dying left and right! Send me back!”

“Host, if you return now, you’ll die immediately.”

Chu Bing…

She looked miserable. “But it’s too scary here!”

The system began to feign death, ignoring all her pleas.

Chu Wenyan turned, his expression solemn as he looked at Chu Bing. “Sister, it’s too dangerous here. Let’s go back to our hometown!”

The events of the past two days had truly frightened this young man from a small village.

“Even if we manage to escape these men in black today, we’re still wanted for murder. That corrupt official won’t let us off easily. He’ll probably come after us tomorrow, and then prison awaits!”

Chu Wenyan still didn’t know that the magistrate and Yun Xin had already decided to have the siblings executed by slow torture.

But the prospect of prison was unbearable for a country boy who had never faced hardship.

Chu Bing was struck by a thought: yes, even if she couldn’t return to her own world, she could hide! As long as she left this place of trouble, the danger would naturally be far from her, and she’d be safe!

Her eyes lit up almost instantly, just as she was about to agree with Chu Wenyan, the system spoke coldly in her mind, “Host must quickly train Li Haoran to become a martial arts master. If you fail, your mission is considered unsuccessful and you will be erased.”

Erased…

You win!

Chu Bing’s spirits sagged, her shoulders drooping. She could leave, and Chu Wenyan could leave, but Li Haoran would never go! His home was here—how could he leave his familiar surroundings for a woman he’d just met?

“Sister?” Chu Wenyan was still waiting anxiously for Chu Bing’s answer, afraid she might refuse and insist on staying. He pleaded, “Sister, we can’t stay here any longer. That corrupt official won’t let us go, and these men in black aren’t ordinary people. Living in constant fear for our lives isn’t any way to live! Let’s go home!”

Chu Bing raised her head, looked at the young man before her, and shook her head with a bitter smile. “We can’t leave.”

“Why not?”

Because the system wouldn’t allow it! Of course, she couldn’t say that.

Chu Bing put on a serious face. “If we don’t clear our names, no matter where we run, we’ll always be fugitives, always afraid of encountering soldiers. Do you really want to live like that?”

“But…”

“If you’re afraid, then go by yourself. There’s a stack of silver notes under my pillow—the profits from the restaurant these days. Take them, go home, and live well with Father.”

As for herself, she obviously couldn’t leave.

Chu Wenyan’s face changed immediately. “Sister, what do you take me for? How could I abandon you and run away alone!”

He couldn’t possibly do something so heartless!

Chu Bing was moved, but she didn’t want to drag Chu Wenyan down with her. She was about to persuade him further when suddenly, footsteps sounded from inside the main hall.

It was already late, the moon high in the sky—who would come to this restaurant, where murder had nearly occurred, at this hour?

Chu Bing and Chu Wenyan’s expressions changed at once, both staring warily toward the gate.

The footsteps drew closer and closer, and then, a familiar figure appeared before the siblings.

It was Li Haoran!

“Miss Chu, Wenyan!” Li Haoran breathed a sigh of relief and walked toward them. “My men just checked the jail and couldn’t find you. We thought something had happened to you…”

When he saw the collapsed wall and the rubble strewn about the cell, he was furious and feared the siblings had met a tragic end.

Fortunately, Long San was more observant and noticed there were no bodies in the cell. Rushing back to the Chu family restaurant to try his luck, he found Chu Bing and Chu Wenyan just in time.

Chu Bing frowned. “You went to the jail?”

“Yes. The people from the county office already discovered you weren’t in your cell. They say you’ve escaped to avoid punishment, and I expect the city gates are closed now—they’ll search the whole city for you.”

Li Haoran’s expression was grave. “What on earth happened?”

He didn’t believe Chu Bing was the type to flee from punishment. If she wanted to escape, she would have done so the moment she entered the jail.

Chu Wenyan wasted no time recounting the events of the day, his voice indignant. “Those people were ruthless and relentless, chasing after me and my sister. If not for her quick wit, we’d be dead now!”

A cold glint flashed in Li Haoran’s eyes; he had already guessed that the man in black was his second brother.

Chu Bing saw Li Haoran’s expression and quickly interrupted Chu Wenyan. “You’re injured. Go and rest.” Seeing Wenyan about to protest, she hurriedly added, “Tomorrow there might be another fight. Your most important task now is to heal your wounds.”

Chu Wenyan thought it over: the county magistrate could come for them as soon as tomorrow. With his injuries, he’d only be a burden to Chu Bing. It was better to treat them first.

He glanced at Li Haoran, then said reluctantly, “My sister has had a fright today too. Make sure she gets some rest.”

Chu Bing rubbed her forehead. “Go on, hurry inside!”

Li Haoran smiled faintly. “Don’t worry, I’ll take good care of Miss Chu.”

Only then did Chu Wenyan turn and head into his room.

Chu Bing turned to Li Haoran. “That masked man was your second brother—he tried to kill me!”

She looked at Li Haoran with a complex gaze. She hadn’t expected his second brother to be a murderous fiend!

Li Haoran, who had grown up alongside such a maniac, must have suffered tremendous stress.

Chu Bing’s look was hard to read, and Li Haoran assumed she was frightened. He quickly reassured her, “Don’t worry. I’ll handle my second brother… I’ll take care of Li Yu Xi, and won’t let him trouble you again!”

His eyes flickered, his voice cold. “As for the magistrate, there’s no need to worry. He has wronged you without cause or evidence—he won’t hold that position much longer!”