Chapter Eighty: Not for the Sake of Saving You

Chu Bing pointed at the wild bear at the mouth of the cave, so panicked that she could barely speak.

“You go first,” she managed.

Li Mohan’s expression shifted; though he could barely muster any strength, he stood firmly in front of Chu Bing.

She stared at his back, stunned for a moment. Despite the wounds he carried, his posture was slightly hunched, yet his bearing remained noble.

Chu Bing bit her lip and stepped forward, grabbing Li Mohan’s wrist tightly. “We leave together!”

She would never abandon him!

The stench grew stronger. Chu Bing could already see the beast’s fangs.

She tried to pull Li Mohan with her, but he wouldn’t budge.

His voice was hoarse. “If you take me with you, you won’t escape.”

He was nothing but a cripple now.

Chu Bing’s face flushed with anxiety, her hands gripping him desperately. “I don’t care! If you refuse to leave, I won’t leave either! Unless you want me to die with you, you’ll come with me now!”

Li Mohan was struck, looking down at the girl beside him. Her round eyes stared at him, her fingers clinging so tightly her nails turned white.

A sharp pain pierced his heart.

“I’ll go with you.” He twisted his wrist, enclosing Chu Bing’s hand in his own.

He retreated into the cave, pressing a torch into her hand. “Go!”

Perhaps wary of the fire, the wild bear hesitated, prowling around them, its furious roars echoing.

Li Mohan led Chu Bing deeper into the forest. She glanced back at the relentless beast pursuing them, sending a volley of silver needles its way.

But the bear’s hide was thick and tough; the delicate needles barely scratched it.

Li Mohan’s wounds reopened as they ran, blood dripping onto the earth, the scent driving the beast behind them into a frenzy.

Chu Bing gritted her teeth, maximizing her teleportation, but with a companion and in unfamiliar woods, the bear quickly found them again.

The stench grew heavier, the wild bear nearly upon them. Just then, a sharp sound split the air; the beast gave a guttural cry and collapsed.

“What happened?” Chu Bing and Li Mohan leaned against a tree, bewildered.

How had the bear suddenly fallen?

Li Mohan caught his breath, his gaze fixed intently on a nearby tree. “Show yourself.”

Chu Bing followed his gaze, only to see a familiar figure leap down.

It was Li Yuxi!

Why was he here?

Chu Bing gripped her silver needles, instinctively stepping in front of Li Mohan.

Li Yuxi stabbed his sword deep into the fallen beast; it let out a final whimper and fell silent.

He lifted his bloodstained sword, spun it with a flourish, and finally looked at Li Mohan and Chu Bing with careless indifference.

“Brother, I thought you were dead.”

Chu Bing gritted her teeth in frustration—this Li Yuxi had a sharp tongue!

Li Mohan, however, did not react, his tone calm. “Thank you for saving us.”

A flicker of surprise crossed Li Yuxi’s eyes, though his lips curled in disdain. “You’re mistaken. I wasn’t saving you; this creature was simply too bothersome.”

Li Mohan pulled Chu Bing behind him. “What are you planning?”

Li Yuxi’s gaze swept over Chu Bing’s dirty face, losing interest at once.

“Of course, I’m here to eliminate all threats.” He pointed his sword at Li Mohan, its aura fierce. “Brother, you’re formidable. If I don’t kill you while you’re weak, my own life will be in danger once you recover.”

“You know I wouldn’t kill you.” Even hearing his brother threaten his life, Li Mohan’s expression did not change.

Li Yuxi sneered, a hint of mockery in his eyes. “What if our partial father commands it?”

Li Mohan paused, frowning slightly. He said nothing, understanding the possibility in Li Yuxi’s words.

Li Yuxi advanced step by step, sword in hand. Chu Bing felt the pressure in the air, panic rising in her heart. She shouted loudly, “Wait!”

Her voice cut through the night, drawing both men’s attention.

Chu Bing’s mind raced—Li Mohan was wounded, no match for Li Yuxi now!

She couldn’t let them fight head-on.

Taking a deep breath, she faced Li Yuxi. “You resent your father—why kill Li Mohan? He’s not even the Prime Minister’s real son!”

“Hongxiu!” Li Mohan’s face changed.

Li Yuxi’s eyes brightened with interest. “Go on.”

Chu Bing shook off Li Mohan’s hand. “I overheard the eldest young master and Uncle Zhao talking—he’s not the Prime Minister’s biological son! The Prime Minister only uses him!”

Whether or not it was true, she needed to distract Li Yuxi!

Li Yuxi stroked his chin, suspicion clouding his face.

Li Mohan’s face was pale. “I may not be his real son, but he raised me. I regard him as my father.”

His gaze grew resolute. “If he ordered me to kill you… I would not hesitate.”

“Will you stop talking!” Chu Bing, exasperated, stomped on Li Mohan’s foot. She’d just managed to suppress Li Yuxi’s murderous intent, and now he’d stirred it up again!

Li Yuxi observed their dynamic with amusement, suddenly laughing. “You’re quite the character, little girl.”

“You remind me of someone from my past.”

Chu Bing’s heart skipped; she froze, standing at attention.

Was her identity about to be exposed again?

Hearing Li Yuxi mention Chu Bing, Li Mohan’s expression changed. He pulled Chu Bing behind him. “She’s with me.”

Li Yuxi’s smile widened. “I never expected my ascetic brother to fall for someone. I wonder what makes this little girl so interesting… I’m curious.”

Without warning, he moved; his sword thrust at Li Mohan, who released Chu Bing’s hand to dodge.

Before Chu Bing could react, Li Yuxi seized her by the waist.

She struggled fiercely, kicking and twisting, but it was useless.

Li Yuxi felt the familiar sensation, his fingers twitching. He frowned, murmuring low, “Not just familiar… even the feel is identical. Are you the little wildcat’s sister?”

Chu Bing’s face darkened with anger. “You’re the wildcat! No, you’re the sister!”

“Sharp-tongued,” Li Yuxi chuckled, spinning her around and locking both wrists firmly.

Li Mohan watched Li Yuxi toy with Chu Bing like a cat, his expression tense. “Let her go!”

Li Yuxi snorted. “Let her go? Impossible. I want to see what it is that caught your attention, brother!”

Unable to break free, Chu Bing, desperate, bit Li Yuxi’s arm hard.