Chapter 46: Leave No One Behind

She rushed all the way back, moving as swiftly as she could. Chu Bing finally returned to the bamboo grove near the temple and collapsed onto the ground. Her face was ashen, her forehead throbbing as though needles were piercing it.

“Are you satisfied now?” she asked the system in her mind.

She had nearly worn herself out, having used the teleportation skill far too many times.

The system feigned death, refusing to respond.

Chu Bing lay on the ground to rest. Only after a long while did she finally brace herself against a tree trunk and slowly make her way toward the temple. The closer she got, the more tightly her brows knit together.

It was far too quiet here.

Something was wrong.

Chu Bing approached the temple with caution. Even as she reached the entrance, not a single soul was in sight.

Suddenly, with a loud clang, a great blade swung down at her from above. Every hair on Chu Bing’s body stood on end as she twisted herself into a bizarre posture to narrowly evade the strike.

Whipping around, she found herself surrounded—a group of masked figures dressed in black emerged from every corner of the temple.

“Who are you?” Chu Bing demanded warily, instinctively retreating as her eyes darted about, searching for the best escape route.

There was no way she could take on so many foes!

The black-clad figures said not a word, simply brandishing their blades and charging at her.

Without hesitation, Chu Bing turned on her heel and ran.

Her pursuers were relentless. Already drained, she stumbled as she fled, feeling their presence closing in behind her.

“Miss Chu!”

A familiar voice rang out. Before she could react, a strong arm seized her wrist and pulled her into a building.

Long San released her hand and grinned. “I heard a commotion and came outside—never thought I’d see you, Miss Chu!”

Steadying herself, Chu Bing saw the room was filled with familiar faces. The secret guards and several monks kept watch at the doors and windows, all bearing wounds and looking thoroughly battered.

Li Haoran and the abbot sat in the center of the room. The abbot lay sprawled on the floor, his body covered in blood.

His face was deathly pale, and a broken blade was lodged in his chest, blood still gushing forth, staining the ground red.

Li Haoran was supporting him, his expression stricken with grief.

“What happened?” Chu Bing hurried to the abbot’s side and knelt down, her hands trembling, yet she dared not touch him.

Li Haoran shifted to give her space, his voice hoarse as he explained, “After you disappeared, I led people in search of you. Then, out of nowhere, a group burst into the temple, slaughtering the monks inside, all for the secret map.”

“The abbot fought desperately to escape with a few disciples, and we happened to meet. We’ve been pursued by those black-clad men ever since. Brothers have died or been wounded along the way…”

A flush of red appeared at the corners of Li Haoran’s eyes. The secret guards beside him were men he’d grown up with—brothers, really. And now, he’d watched helplessly as they were cut down before his eyes.

He was useless.

Li Haoran clenched his fists, his eyes burning with hatred.

Seeing this, Chu Bing patted his shoulder and softly comforted him, “We should leave here at once.”

Those men outside could arrive at any moment. Most of them were wounded or exhausted—there was no way they could hold out.

The abbot, lying on the floor, gasped for breath and gripped Li Haoran’s arm tightly. “Young Master Li, I entrust the secret map to you. I only ask that you protect the last of my disciples!”

With great effort, he drew a scroll from his robes and pressed it into Li Haoran’s hand, a pleading look on his face.

Chu Bing was stunned. The abbot’s complexion had turned grayish-white, a chill of death about him, making her heart pound with dread.

Was this… his final rally before dying?

Li Haoran seemed to notice as well. He grasped the abbot’s hand and said firmly, “Abbot, as long as I draw breath, I will protect them.”

A faint, gratified smile appeared on the abbot’s aged face, but it barely had time to form before it froze on his lips.

His eyes stared blankly out the window, and his arm slipped lifelessly to the ground.

A tremor ran through Chu Bing’s heart.

Li Haoran cautiously checked for breath, his voice shaking. “The abbot… has passed.”

“Abbot!”

“Master!”

Cries of grief filled the room as monks fell to their knees, their wails echoing pitifully, wrenching the heart.

Chu Bing stared, dumbfounded by the scene before her.

It was the first time she’d watched someone familiar die in front of her, leaving a hollow ache in her chest.

Li Haoran gently laid the abbot’s body down, knelt on both knees, held the secret map aloft, and declared, “Everyone, I, Li Haoran, swear here and now—I will find those murderers and avenge the abbot!”

Chu Bing wiped her eyes and grit her teeth. “Count me in!”

A chorus of voices rang out in response, morale surging.

Looking at these people, tears welled in Chu Bing’s eyes.

“There’s someone here!”

A shout sounded from outside, footsteps rapidly approaching.

The secret guards tensed, gripping their weapons and standing protectively in front of Li Haoran and Chu Bing.

Chu Bing lowered her voice, “I’ll go out and lure them away. You guard this place—don’t let anyone disturb the abbot’s peace.”

She hadn’t been able to save the abbot’s life, but she could at least guard his body from desecration.

Li Haoran grabbed her arm. “I’ll go with you.”

Chu Bing opened her mouth to refuse. She possessed the power of teleportation and was confident she could shake off their pursuers, but bringing Li Haoran would make it difficult. Yet before she could protest, Li Haoran leapt out the window.

“I’m here!”

“Quick, after him!”

Everyone outside was instantly drawn after Li Haoran, chasing him away from the building. Gritting her teeth, Chu Bing immediately gave chase.

She soon caught up to Li Haoran, intending to teleport them both to safety. But at that moment, a black-clad assailant hurled a small dart straight into her shoulder.

With a gasp of pain, Chu Bing’s face turned deathly white. Her legs gave out, and she collapsed to the ground.

Li Haoran stepped in front of her, sword raised across his chest, watching the black-clad attackers warily as he asked in a low voice, “Miss Chu, are you all right?”

Chu Bing shook her head. The dart was not poisoned—just a superficial wound.

Li Haoran breathed a sigh of relief and whispered quickly, “These people are ruthless and clearly have blood on their hands. I fear our chances are slim.”

Chu Bing clenched her fists. She refused to believe she would die in such a place.

She was about to ask the system for help when suddenly a familiar figure dropped down from the trees.

It was Li Mohan!

His cold gaze swept over the black-clad assailants. With a flick of his arm, a host of equally black-clad killers surged in from all directions. But each of these newcomers bore golden cords at their waists, and their presence was no less formidable than the original attackers.

The black-clad men exchanged glances, realizing they were outmatched. They edged closer together, warily eyeing their surroundings, intent on defending themselves.

Li Mohan raised his hand indifferently. “Leave no one alive.”

“Yes, sir!”