Chapter 116: Departing Overnight

Li Yuxi raised his hand and swore to the heavens, his face pale as if he might faint at any moment, yet he forced himself to hold on with every breath.

Chu Bing timidly asked, “Why do you like me?”

She felt that Li Yuxi’s affection might truly be genuine.

A gentle smile played at the corners of Li Yuxi’s lips. “Because you never abandoned me at the bottom of the cliff.”

Though letting go of him would have allowed her to climb to the summit more quickly, even when exhausted and on the verge of collapse, she never released him.

Li Yuxi always remembered the sweat on Chu Bing’s forehead and the pleasant fragrance that clung to her.

It was that scent that woke him again and again in the stillness of midnight.

At that moment, Chu Bing’s guilt reached its peak, and she couldn’t help but take a step toward Li Yuxi.

The ever-watchful system quickly warned, “Host! Don’t be brainwashed by his few words! The mission is most important!”

Chu Bing’s foot froze mid-air. A flicker of struggle passed through her eyes. She bit her lip hard, steeling herself, then turned away and vanished in a flash.

The light in Li Yuxi’s eyes slowly extinguished, darkness swallowed his vision, and he finally collapsed to the ground.

Chu Bing summoned her lightness skill and swiftly returned to the inn.

The inn was silent, all were asleep.

She went straight to Li Mohan’s room.

Mohan was seated on his bed, meditating and cultivating. Hearing the movement, he opened his eyes and saw Chu Bing standing before him.

He frowned, surprised. “Why have you come here?”

Chu Bing’s expression was troubled. The events in the forest had unsettled her deeply.

Li Yuxi had laid his heart bare to her, yet she had given him only a jar of wine.

She could still see the disappointment in Li Yuxi’s eyes.

Taking a deep breath, she suppressed her guilt and looked at Li Mohan. “Young Master, Li Yuxi has been drunk because of me. We should set off now.”

Li Mohan was taken aback. “You drank with him?”

His gaze scrutinized Chu Bing, a strange coldness flickering in his eyes.

---

A trace of agitation crossed Chu Bing’s brow. She waved her hand. “That’s not the point. The point is we should leave while he’s still asleep!”

If Li Yuxi sobers up, not only will we be stuck here, but that fellow will probably give me a good thrashing!

A chill ran down Chu Bing’s spine. No, tonight they must leave!

She looked at Li Mohan anxiously. “Young Master, once Li Yuxi wakes up, we won’t be able to leave!”

Li Mohan stared at her steadily, then suddenly jumped off the bed and whistled sharply.

A man dressed in black leapt through the window, kneeling on one knee. “Young Master, your orders?”

Li Mohan replied coolly, “Inform everyone to pack up. We leave tonight.”

“Yes, sir.”

The black-clad man bowed and swiftly departed.

Chu Bing was startled—she hadn’t realized this black-clad attendant had been by Li Mohan’s side all along!

A sense of danger surged in her heart. She had been far too relaxed lately! If enemies crept to her bedside, she might not even know how she’d die!

The system took the opportunity to scold, “Told you to train yourself properly! Now you see there are stronger forces out there!”

“You want me to train when you’re always pushing me to finish the mission? How am I supposed to focus on cultivation?” Chu Bing retorted bluntly.

Right now, she considered surviving in this ancient world a blessing; she dared not hope for more.

Soon, Old Zhao and the others were up, harnessing the horse-drawn carriage in the courtyard. Li Mohan descended the stairs, Chu Bing following.

Old Zhao glanced at Chu Bing, then looked at Li Mohan with concern. Lowering his voice, he asked, “Young Master, why depart so suddenly? Has something happened?”

Li Mohan shook his head and climbed aboard the carriage first. “Travel as fast as possible. We must cover as much ground as the night allows.”

Standing on the carriage, he reached out to Chu Bing. She hesitated briefly, then placed her hand in his palm. With a gentle pull, Li Mohan helped her up.

He lifted the curtain, letting Chu Bing enter first, then followed closely behind.

“Let’s go quickly.”

“Yes.”

---

Though Old Zhao couldn’t grasp the full reason, he obediently drove the carriage out toward the countryside with another servant.

The carriage jolted swiftly and repeatedly. Chu Bing gripped the window ledge tightly, feeling nauseous, as if she might vomit the meal she had eaten that evening.

Li Mohan sat upright, seemingly unaffected by the rough ride. He glanced at Chu Bing and softly said, “Why don’t you sit beside me?”

Chu Bing was momentarily stunned, failing to react. The carriage jolted again, and she lunged forward, nearly colliding with the wall. Li Mohan reached out and steadied her firmly.

Opening her eyes, Chu Bing met Li Mohan’s concerned gaze. Her heart immediately calmed.

She leaned into his embrace and smiled up at him. “Young Master, you saved me again.”

Closer now, Li Mohan could smell that pleasant fragrance on her. Uncomfortable, he averted his eyes. “It was nothing. Sit beside me—there’s an armrest here, so you won’t fall.”

Chu Bing didn’t hesitate. She settled herself on Li Mohan’s lap. Why sit on the cold, hard bench when there was a human cushion ready?

Pouting adorably, she declared, “I want to sit on you!”

At her movement, Li Mohan stiffened. The softness of her body sent an electric shiver through him, making him too stunned to move.

He forced a stern expression. “That’s improper. Get down immediately!”

Though he always wore a cold face, Chu Bing no longer feared him as before. She had long realized Li Mohan was a paper tiger—his outward severity masked a heart that was most vulnerable and unguarded with her among the three brothers.

Beneath that icy facade was a helpless, earnest soul.

Grinning, she pressed herself closer to him. “Young Master, don’t be so cold. Tell me—how can I sit on your lap openly and properly?”

Her finger traced circles on Li Mohan’s chest, her voice soft. “Is it... by marrying you, or... by becoming yours?”

Li Mohan’s breath hitched. He struggled to restrain the burning turmoil inside. “Don’t say such nonsense! Hongxiu! You’re a young lady; how can you say these things? Get down this instant!”

“Answer me!”

Chu Bing cupped Li Mohan’s face firmly, forcing his eyes to lock onto hers. “I know you understand what I’m saying. Don’t avoid me. You must give me an answer today!”

Li Mohan’s gaze darkened, fixed intently on Chu Bing.