Chapter Sixty-Four: An Unexpected Encounter with Li Yuxi

Early the next morning, Chu Bing carried a bowl of ginger soup and went to find Li Mohan.

After drinking the night before, a bit of ginger soup would surely make him feel better today.

But as she approached with the soup, she encountered old Zhao, who now stood like a gatekeeper outside Li Mohan’s door.

“Miss Hongxiu, is there something you need?”

Chu Bing couldn’t shake the feeling that this old man was deliberately guarding against her!

She forced a stiff smile. “I thought the young master drank too much yesterday, so he’d likely wake with a headache. I made some ginger soup for him.”

Old Zhao narrowed his eyes at the soup and snorted coldly. “Miss Hongxiu, it seems you’ve already forgotten what you said last night.”

Only last night, she’d claimed she’d no longer seek out Li Mohan. Now here she was, contradicting her own words!

A flush crept up Chu Bing’s cheeks, but for the sake of her mission, she decided to act thick-skinned and pretend she didn’t understand.

Smiling sweetly, she raised the tray. “Uncle Zhao, I truly mean no harm. There’s no poison in the soup. If you’re worried, I’ll drink some first.”

With that, she scooped a spoonful and swallowed it.

Old Zhao’s expression softened slightly but soon hardened again. “Miss Hongxiu, as long as you’re here, I can’t rest easy. You’d best leave. Don’t worry, I’ll see you’re given enough silver to live comfortably elsewhere.”

Chu Bing paused. This old man was truly a tough one.

He wanted nothing for himself—only what was best for Li Mohan.

Someone like that had no weaknesses to exploit.

As the stand-off continued, Li Mohan emerged.

He looked somewhat haggard, clearly having slept poorly. But at the sight of Chu Bing, his eyes brightened.

“What are you arguing about now?” Li Mohan asked, his gaze shifting naturally away to look at Uncle Zhao.

Uncle Zhao saw his expression and immediately realized he’d speak up for Chu Bing. His face darkened. “Nothing,” he grumbled.

Chu Bing smiled and held out the ginger soup. “Young master, I made you some ginger soup.”

Li Mohan’s lips curved in a faint smile. “Mm.”

“…Young master, I have something to discuss with you.” Uncle Zhao, unable to bear their exchange of glances, quickly interrupted.

Li Mohan glanced at him, then turned and said to Chu Bing, “You go on and rest.”

Chu Bing understood they wished to speak privately and nodded, turning to leave.

But when she reached the edge of the courtyard, she didn’t actually depart. Instead, she used an array to conceal her presence and hid by the doorway, listening intently for any sounds within.

Perhaps what they were about to discuss concerned Li Haoran!

She held her breath, straining to catch every word.

“Young master, I’ve just received word. The second young master has founded an assassin organization called the Sky Pavilion. The first mission he issued is to find you.”

Li Mohan narrowed his eyes and replied slowly, “My second brother knows perfectly well I’m here in the estate. He doesn’t want to find me—he wants to warn me. If I’m not careful, he’ll come for my life next.”

Speaking of Li Yuxi, his tone was unnervingly calm, as if that bloody clash had been nothing but a dream.

Chu Bing clapped a hand over her mouth. Was Li Yuxi really so formidable?

In just a few days, he had established a powerful organization!

A sense of urgency pressed harder on Chu Bing’s heart. Even with the system backing her, if she couldn’t survive among these ancient schemers, she might as well dig herself a grave.

She glanced at the sky—it was still early, and Li Mohan and Uncle Zhao likely wouldn’t notice her absence for some time yet. She decided to stroll into town.

Perhaps she’d even spot a red envelope.

Right now, she felt utterly lacking in strength.

Chu Bing changed her clothes and left the Li estate.

The streets were lively as ever. The commotion at the Chu family restaurant had long since faded from people’s minds; life went on as usual.

She wandered near the restaurant—familiar places now belonged to others. She couldn’t help but sigh.

If not for that wretched magistrate, she and Chu Wenyan might still be running this restaurant, living happily.

Just as she was thinking about the county magistrate, a familiar face flashed by.

A small red sedan chair passed before her. The curtain lifted slightly, revealing Yun Xin’s face.

Though only for an instant, Chu Bing was certain it was Yun Xin.

Most importantly, a bright red envelope was stuck right on Yun Xin’s face—the one Chu Bing had been longing for.

Without hesitation, Chu Bing used her lightness skill to follow.

She kept her distance, trailing the sedan chair without getting too close.

Eventually, it stopped at a quaint courtyard.

Yun Xin lifted the curtain and stepped out. Soon, a young man with slicked hair and powdered face appeared from the house. He looked scholarly and affectionate, and the moment he saw Yun Xin, he wrapped an arm around her waist.

Chu Bing’s eyes widened. Was this Yun Xin’s lover?

This was turning into the scandal of the year. Who would have guessed Yun Xin had such tastes? Chu Bing almost wanted to see how the county magistrate would react to such a scene.

But the red envelope was still her top priority.

Suppressing her urge to watch the drama unfold, Chu Bing reminded herself she already had enough trouble. She couldn’t afford to court more.

Yun Xin and the man disappeared into the house, and soon suggestive noises drifted out.

Chu Bing scratched her ear. Would barging in now be too heartless?

Instead, she leaped onto the roof and basked in the sun.

Luckily, she didn’t have to wait long. Yun Xin soon emerged, now in a different outfit, her eyes soft and face glowing. She bade her lover farewell and climbed back into the sedan chair.

Chu Bing followed behind.

She had to snatch the envelope before Yun Xin returned to the county office.

The sedan chair swayed into a narrow alley. Chu Bing paused—this wasn’t the road to the county office.

Was Yun Xin meeting someone else?

Could she have another lover?

Chu Bing couldn’t help but feel a little admiration for Yun Xin’s boldness, but didn’t stop, setting foot into the alley herself.

To avoid detection, she cast a breath-concealing array.

Only Yun Xin’s voice could be heard in the alley. “Sir, I’ve carried out your instructions. The county magistrate suspects nothing, and the message has reached the court.”

What?

Yun Xin was working for someone else?

Chu Bing blinked and crept forward silently.

Then she froze in place.

She saw a mask she knew all too well—it was Li Yuxi!

Why was he here, and meeting Yun Xin?

A storm of emotions surged within Chu Bing, her face clouded with disbelief.

Li Yuxi seemed to sense something amiss. His dark eyes swept toward where Chu Bing hid, and she felt as if facing a deadly foe—utterly still, scarcely daring to breathe.