Chapter Seven The Man in Black

Chu Bing observed the situation and approached the middle-aged man, teasing, “Weren’t you always clamoring to report to the authorities? What’s the matter now? If you’d like, I can help you with that—what do you think?”

“I…” The man stammered but didn’t respond any further.

Seeing his guilty demeanor, the crowd began to suspect something was amiss.

Chu Bing then displayed the prescription she had just held in her hand for everyone to see. “This prescription includes an ingredient called Xin Stone. You might not recognize this name, but if I say ‘arsenic,’ surely you’ve all heard of it.”

“Arsenic?” The shopkeeper was startled. “Isn’t that poison for killing people?”

“That’s right, it’s deadly poison. Even the tiniest amount can be fatal.” Chu Bing glanced at the prescription. “But here, you’ve prescribed eight full qian. Are you afraid your brother won’t die quickly enough?”

The middle-aged man’s face flushed crimson, but he could find no words to refute her.

“This is just one prescription; I haven’t examined the others yet and may not even notice all the issues,” Chu Bing said, turning to the shopkeeper. “You’d better invite a proper physician to come and see which esteemed doctor at the renowned Baisheng Hall had the audacity to prescribe such a reckless, deadly remedy.”

The shopkeeper nodded repeatedly and immediately called for a waiter.

Just then, the middle-aged man slipped away, weaving through the bustling crowd.

With the excitement gone, the crowd dispersed.

“Thank you, young master,” the shopkeeper said, bowing deeply to Chu Bing.

“No need to be so formal,” Chu Bing replied. “I just happened to pass by.”

The shopkeeper sighed. “It seems I must sell this shop soon. The feng shui here truly isn’t favorable for me.”

Hearing he intended to sell the shop, Chu Bing’s interest was piqued. She quickly inquired and learned the proprietor wanted to leave because business was poor and accidents happened all too often. Chu Bing promptly expressed her intention to buy.

“If young master is interested, then it’s fate,” the shopkeeper still sounded uneasy. “Were it not for you, I fear I’d be burdened with that five hundred taels for life.”

To thank Chu Bing, he transferred the ownership of Wan Family Pavilion at the original purchase price.

Chu Bing hadn’t expected such a gain from her visit and was overjoyed.

Just then, a red light began to flicker on the ground. Chu Bing’s eyelid twitched; the scene felt familiar.

A thought struck her, and she cheerfully asked the shopkeeper, “Excuse me, do you have a shovel here?”

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After the shopkeeper departed, Chu Bing hurried to the backyard and started digging.

Previously, those red packets would appear before her on their own. This time, however, it stubbornly refused to float up, and she suspected the system was deliberately making things difficult for her.

Sweating profusely, she dug a pit nearly a meter deep. At last, Chu Bing saw the red packet, and collapsed weakly to the ground. After a moment, it floated right in front of her.

“Why didn’t you come out of the ground earlier? Did you have to exhaust me?” Chu Bing muttered in exasperation, but still tapped to open the packet.

System: “Congratulations, you’ve obtained a hidden weapon: Rainstorm Pear Blossom.”

Suddenly, a pear blossom of iron appeared in midair, exuding a chill.

Chu Bing picked it up and instinctively twisted it to the right. Instantly, ten interlocking iron leaves spun out, embedding themselves half an inch deep into the tables and chairs in the hall. Had it been a person, the victim would surely have died.

Twisting it to the left, all the leaves were swiftly retracted.

Truly, it’s as if the system provides a pillow when you’re tired, food when you’re hungry, Chu Bing thought. She’d been attacked just yesterday, and today the system gave her a hidden weapon.

Just as she prepared to study it further, someone called her from the doorway. Looking over, Chu Bing saw Li Haoran approaching with a gentle smile.

Chu Bing quickly composed herself, regaining her usual calm. “How did you know I was here?”

“Everyone along the way is talking about Wan Family Pavilion. A little inquiry told me it was you.”

“Oh, so you’re looking for me?”

“There’s an urgent matter at home—I may need to return.”

Well, that’s just fine, Chu Bing thought. Hurry and leave, so my mind won’t be disturbed.

“If you have nowhere to go, you can stay at my courtyard,” Li Haoran suggested.

Chu Bing didn’t refuse, since Wan Family Pavilion still needed renovations before it could house anyone.

After Li Haoran left, Chu Bing returned directly to the small courtyard. But just as she stepped over the threshold, a strong, forceful palm strike came flying straight at her face.

Chu Bing immediately summoned her internal energy, leaping back and landing in the courtyard. At the same time, several figures in black dropped down from the eaves.

Damn! She’d been discovered after all.

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“Young lady, we tried to advise you, but you wouldn’t listen,” the leader stepped forward. “Since you insist on entangling yourself with our master, don’t blame us for showing no mercy.”

With a command, all the black-clad men charged at Chu Bing, wielding sharp blades.

Chu Bing twisted her Rainstorm Pear Blossom, but to her dismay, not a single leaf hit its mark; they all embedded in the door.

As the enemy advanced, Chu Bing retreated again and again. When she tried to fire the hidden weapon a second time, it still missed, and no matter how she twisted, the petals wouldn’t return.

What’s going on? Not now, of all times!

Just as she wondered, a sharp pain shot through her left shoulder—a barbed arrow had pierced her arm.

“Ah!” Around her, the black-clad men cried out in agony.

“There are traps in this courtyard?” Chu Bing exclaimed.

“Miss Chu!” An anxious shout echoed from afar. She thought she heard Li Haoran’s voice, but her head grew heavier, and at last she collapsed.

A figure dashed over, catching her just in time.

Seeing the woman in his arms pale and clearly frightened, Li Haoran’s handsome face darkened. He lifted his fierce gaze and swept it over the courtyard. “Who gave you the courage to harm my people in my own courtyard?”

The men in black recognized Li Haoran and were instantly terrified, fleeing without a second thought.

Li Haoran didn’t give chase; he gently carried Chu Bing inside, carefully applying medicine. After confirming she’d only been drugged by the arrow’s sedative, he returned to the wrecked courtyard.

He had intended to tell Chu Bing about the traps hidden in the courtyard, but hadn’t expected she’d trigger them herself.

He stared for a long time at the black-clad men wounded and unconscious on the ground, then crouched down and removed the mask from one of them.

In the next instant, Li Haoran’s eyes widened in shock. “Xiao Zhu?”

Why would his father’s subordinate appear here—and attack Chu Bing? Could it be…