Chapter Forty: Saving Her

Li Haoran followed Chu Bing into the temple hall. Only two young monks were scattered about, cleaning. When they saw Chu Bing and her companion approaching, they greeted them politely.

Chu Bing’s gaze fell on the young monk tied to a pillar. Everyone seemed to have forgotten about him, and he hung his head in dejection. If not for the faint rise and fall of his chest, one might have thought he was already dead.

“Miss Chu, what brings you here?” one of the monks asked.

Chu Bing withdrew her gaze and replied casually, “I have something to ask him.”

The young monks exchanged glances, then, understanding the situation, quietly withdrew.

Only Chu Bing, Li Haoran, and the bound monk remained in the temple hall.

“Little monk, do you know if there’s anything valuable in this temple?” Chu Bing probed.

There was something odd about this monk. Chu Bing remembered that the night she pursued him, it was the red envelope on him that had caught her attention. But once she’d caught him, the envelope had vanished.

“The red envelope was transferred to Eunuch Liu that night!” the system in her mind suddenly explained.

Chu Bing was startled. “Red envelopes can be transferred?”

“Of course they can!”

“You’re too cunning!” she muttered. What if one day she angered the system and it transferred her red envelope to someone else? That would be a disaster!

The system sneered. “Don’t think I’m as shameless as you. Each red envelope can only be transferred once and only under special circumstances. Last time, you were just unlucky.”

Chu Bing rolled her eyes inwardly but kept a solemn expression.

The young monk, finally receiving attention, slowly opened his eyes, tears streaming down his face. “I don’t know. Please, benefactors, let me go. I was only deceived for a moment...”

Li Haoran frowned. “It seems he really doesn’t know anything.”

He was just a low-level informant and likely ignorant of recent events.

Chu Bing sighed. The matter had circled back to its tangled beginnings.

Li Haoran decided to try speaking with the abbot to see if he could learn anything useful.

Chu Bing was about to check on the wounded bodyguards when, passing through the bamboo grove, she suddenly noticed bloodstains on the ground and a piece of yellow cloth.

The color was similar to her own robes, but she was certain it didn’t belong to anyone from the temple.

The guards all wore black; Li Haoran was dressed in blue today, and the monks wore gray. So this yellow cloth... must belong to an outsider!

Chu Bing instantly teleported into the bamboo grove. The deeper she went, the more uneasy she felt, for the ground was soaked with blood, black earth turned crimson.

What had happened here?

“Who are you people? What are you doing in our temple?”

“Bald monk! Hand over the secret map and we’ll spare your life!”

...

Chu Bing heard the sounds of fighting and held her breath, creeping toward the source. Hiding behind a tree, she saw dozens of people entangled in battle.

She watched for a long time before discerning four distinct groups: those in black, those in yellow, those in purple, and the temple’s gray-robed monks.

None of the four sides cooperated, but all vented their fiercest attacks on the monks.

Chu Bing’s heart tightened. She didn’t know who the other three groups were, but she recognized the gray-robed monks as those who had hosted her and the bodyguards.

Gritting her teeth, she took advantage of the chaos to set up a concealment array where she stood.

She was no match for so many attackers on her own—she had to try another way.

The formation was ready, but how could she lead the monks to it?

The situation in the clearing grew graver. Most of the monks were already wounded, and the three outsider groups pressed them ever harder.

Suddenly, a black-clad man thrust his sword at a gray-robed monk’s chest, while a yellow-robed opponent also pressed in.

Chu Bing’s eyes hardened. She hurled a hidden weapon at the attacker.

Without regard for exposing herself, she teleported to the monk’s side and seized his wrist. “Come with me!”

“Miss Chu!” The monks, seeing Chu Bing, were overjoyed, looking at her as if she were their savior.

She gave them a look, and without hesitation, they changed tactics, ready to follow her and seize the chance to escape.

Suddenly, a gust of wind whistled by. Before Chu Bing could react, foes in black and purple lunged at her simultaneously.

The flash of blades froze her breath. She dodged desperately, but was soon overwhelmed by the sheer numbers.

A blade arced straight for her head.

Was this where her life would end?

Chu Bing squeezed her eyes shut, unable to face what came next.

But the pain she expected never arrived.

She cracked open one eye and saw a familiar figure shielding her.

It was Li Mohan!

He had saved her!

But why?

Chu Bing was bewildered, but quickly regained her senses—this was no time for confusion. She bit her lip hard, her hands moving faster, firing hidden weapons to drive back any enemy who approached.

“Hide!” Li Mohan ordered gruffly as he fought, glancing her way.

Chu Bing’s heart fluttered. Li Mohan... seemed to harbor no ill will toward her. In fact, he was helping her!

At that moment, a figure dropped from a nearby tree. A familiar mask flashed past her eyes, and before she could react, someone seized her wrist.

She stared at that mask, her mouth twitching in exasperation. What had she done to deserve this? Why did all three Li brothers seem to seek her out?

When Li Mohan saw her grabbed, his face darkened. He turned to face the masked man, and they began to duel.

Li Yuxi flicked his wrist, tossing Chu Bing behind a tree before launching himself at Li Mohan. His sword danced in cunning, shifting angles.

Li Mohan, worried for Chu Bing, couldn’t focus fully and soon left an opening. With a deft strike, Li Yuxi knocked the sword from his hand.

The clash of blades rang out, sharp and clear.

As the two fought, the black-clad and purple-clad attackers abandoned their assault on the monks and turned on each other.

Seizing the opportunity, Chu Bing hurriedly beckoned the monks.

The monks edged away from the battlefield, inching toward her until they reached the edge of the array.

Without time to explain, Chu Bing pushed them inside and whispered, “Stay here and don’t make a sound!”

Though puzzled, the monks trusted her.

Huddled deep within the formation, they dared not make a single noise.