Chapter Ninety-Six: Big Black, the Donkey

As soon as Chu Bing woke, she felt sore all over, as though someone had spent the whole night pressing down on her.

“Bah, bah, bah!”

What was she thinking so early in the morning?

The System, which had long since seen everything, silently gave her a pitying look. It truly worried that once the host learned the truth, she would be frightened out of her wits.

After washing up, Chu Bing began to alter her appearance in the mirror.

Although her face after the cleansing marrow treatment was undeniably beautiful, she was heading back to find Li Mohan, and it was better to use the face of Red Sleeve for now.

Besides, that face was far too lovely. If it attracted some lecherous villain, she would be sick to death.

“Host, you really have no shame,” the System muttered silently. It had never seen anyone praise themselves so openly.

Chu Bing snorted. “What do you know? Not to mention anything far away, that Lord Ren only ever saw me when I was disguised as Red Sleeve, and he already wanted to take me as a concubine. Do you think he would still spare me once he saw me like this?”

Ren Changfeng was arrogant and overbearing. If he set his mind on her, who knew what else he might do.

Chu Bing had no intention of provoking that man again.

Before she had the strength to protect herself, beauty too great was its own crime.

The System had no rebuttal and could only say, “In that case, Host, you should finish the mission as soon as possible.”

Chu Bing pressed the last piece of mask onto her face, completely concealing that exquisite countenance of hers, and said carelessly, “Isn’t that exactly what I’m trying to do? Once I return to the Li Residence, I’ll ask Li Mohan about Li Haoran.”

Chu Bing was full of confidence. After all, she had once saved Li Mohan’s life, so he surely would not brush her off.

Li Mohan was far kinder than that Li Yuxi.

After packing her things, Chu Bing went downstairs, checked out of the room, and called over the innkeeper’s assistant.

“Hey, where do you sell horses around here? Find me one, and this silver reward is yours.”

Chu Bing took a piece of silver from her purse, weighed it in her hand, and asked the assistant with a smile.

The assistant’s eyes went straight to it.

His gaze followed the silver, unable to look away. “Please wait a moment. I’ll go ask my friend. He works at the post station; ordinarily, horses are sold only there.”

Chu Bing understood. In places like this, horses were valuable goods and had to be registered with the authorities.

The assistant slipped out through the back door of the inn and was just about to head for the post station when, suddenly, a dark shadow dropped from the sky.

The man before her wore a blazing red robe. His features were exquisite, like a snow lotus of unrivaled, seductive beauty.

He stared at Chu Bing’s retreating figure, a faint smile curling at the corners of his mouth.

The inn bustled with people coming and going. Chu Bing sat in a corner with a cup of tea.

At the table opposite, four men sat together, talking loudly and animatedly.

“Did you hear about that bandit stronghold in the back mountains? It was wiped out in one sweep. I passed by there last time, and everyone was dead!”

“I know, I know. I heard the court did it! Sigh, with unrest at home and enemies outside, the fighting on the border is getting tighter by the day. So many have died already. From where I see it, this world has been in chaos for a long time!”

...

Chu Bing raised her teacup to hide the expression on her face.

She suddenly realized something.

The world was in chaos now. Li Yuxi, Ren Changfeng, even Li Mohan—every one of them seemed to be vying for the realm. And yet... why did the System specifically require her to teach Li Haoran to become a martial arts master?

Could it be that her crossing over... had been only to serve as Li Haoran’s personal coach?

By the logic of transmigration, her role should not be this small!

The only explanation was that Li Haoran must be extraordinary, which was why the System had invested so much effort in him.

Sensing Chu Bing’s thoughts, the System silently pretended it did not exist.

At times, it felt this host was hopelessly foolish; at others, her intuition made even the System uneasy.

The assistant returned from the back door and jogged over to Chu Bing, looking somewhat flustered. “Miss, I asked my friend just now. The horses at the post station have all been sold out. There are only a few donkeys left... you see...”

Donkeys?

Chu Bing twitched at the corner of her mouth. “Fine, a donkey it is.”

It was still better than relying on her own two legs, wasn’t it?

The distance from here to the Li Residence was at least several dozen li. She certainly did not want to walk all the way back alone.

The assistant let out a breath of relief. “Please come with me.”

Chu Bing followed him outside and saw a very sturdy donkey.

She did not react much, but the System cried out in surprise, “This donkey is good.”

Chu Bing blinked. “How can you tell it’s good?”

Could a donkey really be better than a horse?

The System said mysteriously, “Ride it for a while and you’ll know.”

After the incident with that mysterious fruit last time, Chu Bing had gained a bit more trust in the System, so she paid closer attention to the donkey.

She patted the black donkey’s head. The donkey obediently nuzzled her palm.

“From now on, I’ll call you Big Black!”

Big Black brayed once, then kept circling in the direction behind Chu Bing.

Chu Bing looked over in confusion and could only see the lush, green forest.

“Customer, since you seem satisfied with the donkey, I’ll head back to work now.” The assistant forced a careful smile. Before Chu Bing could answer, he turned and left. Chu Bing reached out to stop him.

The assistant’s face went pale. Guiltily, he did not dare look at Chu Bing, only to see the young lady smiling as she handed over the silver.

“Here’s the payment. Thank you.”

“Y-yes, yes...”

The assistant took the silver and hurried off. His steps were so panicked he nearly ran into someone. Chu Bing narrowed her eyes at his departing back. “System, don’t you think that assistant is acting a little strange?”

“A little,” the System said. “But this donkey really is better than ordinary horses.”

Chu Bing touched her chin. Well, fine. A commoner with no martial arts skill at all—what could he possibly do to her?

She patted Big Black’s head and said with a smile, “Big Black, oh Big Black, I’m your master. Please take good care of me from now on!”

From the branches behind her, it seemed as though a soft laugh drifted out. Chu Bing narrowed her eyes and looked over, but saw nothing unusual.

Had she misheard?

She did not take the little episode to heart and led the donkey toward the Li Residence.

Deep in the dense forest, Chu Bing rode atop the little donkey in a green robe, swaying lazily as she moved forward. Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the leaves and fell across her face. Resting her head on one arm, she looked as though she might as well have melted entirely into the donkey’s back.

Then, all at once, Chu Bing’s heart jolted.

That sensation of being watched made her feel unbearably ill at ease.

She whipped around abruptly, but behind her there was only branches swaying in the wind, with not a single human figure in sight.

Frowning slightly, she said, “System, why do I feel like someone’s following me?”

The System caught sight of a familiar figure and deliberately turned a blind eye, remaining silent.

If it told the truth, the host would probably be so startled she’d fall straight off the donkey.

Better to leave her some dignity.

Seeing nothing amiss, Chu Bing turned back and continued lying against Big Black. Then, suddenly inspired, she sang at the top of her lungs, “I have a little donkey, and I never ride it...”

Her clear, bright song echoed through the forest. A breeze passed through, the branches swayed, and a figure in a fiery red robe stood quietly among them, his gaze fixed tightly in Chu Bing’s direction, lingering there for a very long time.