Chapter 128: A Moment of Peril

Chu Bing crouched in the shadows of a corner wall outside the Prime Minister’s courtyard. She had not expected the soldiers to arrive so swiftly, sealing off every path of retreat. Even with her teleportation ability, she could not jump such a great distance in an instant.

Was she going to perish here today? Chu Bing refused to accept it. She closed her eyes and began to absorb the "Red Packet" in her mind—a special reward granted by the system, containing a collection of unique martial arts techniques and maneuvers from countless legends.

As this vast ocean of information flooded her consciousness, her brain felt as if it were about to shatter. Yet, to avoid drawing attention, she had to grit her teeth and endure it in silence. Sweat poured down her forehead in thick beads, and her hands were clenched so tightly that her fingernails bit into her palms.

"Host, if you truly cannot bear it, we could wait until nightfall to receive the data. Let us leave this place first," the system urged, its voice heavy with concern.

Chu Bing was at a critical juncture; she was unwilling to give up. "It will be done in a moment..." she gritted out.

"It is too late!"

No sooner had the system spoken than a flash of sword light struck straight toward her.

*Bang!*

Chu Bing collapsed to the ground in a heap. She rolled twice and struggled to her feet, leaning against the wall for support. A masked man stood before her, his sword pointed directly at her. His aura was icy, and his eyes were devoid of emotion—he was nothing more than a killing machine. Chu Bing shivered.

"System, how did he find me?" she demanded. "I set up a concealment array on myself!"

The system had never been this grave. "Host, heed my advice: run while you can. You are no match for him."

That much was obvious. Chu Bing already realized the disparity in their strength after a single blow. Furthermore, her absorption of the martial arts techniques had been interrupted, leaving her effectively powerless. She reached for the soft whip at her waist, glaring at the man with wary eyes.

The masked man flicked his longsword and charged. *Clang!* His strike was lightning-fast; Chu Bing only had time to swing her whip to block. To her surprise, when her whip met his blade, she did not falter. It seemed Li Mohan had truly given her a treasure!

Gaining a sliver of confidence, Chu Bing lashed out with her whip more forcefully. The opponent, noticing her growing momentum, sharpened his sword style.

*Sssss.*

Experienced and ruthless, the man seized a gap in her defense and sliced into her shoulder. Chu Bing’s face turned deathly pale from the agony, and she stumbled backward. Just then, she realized she had been silently surrounded by the arriving soldiers. She had nowhere left to go.

Clutching her shoulder, she scanned the crowd, desperate to find a breach.

"What are you doing here? I heard Father encountered an assassin. Is he alright?"

Li Haoran’s voice drifted from afar. Chu Bing’s eyes lit up, and she instinctively looked toward the source. The masked man, however, seized the moment of distraction and lunged again, this time aiming his sword directly at her heart. If he landed this strike, she would surely die.

From a distance, Li Haoran had spotted the group of soldiers surrounding the corner. The leader was his father’s most capable subordinate, currently locked in a struggle with a petite figure. Li Haoran moved to intervene, but his guards stopped him. "Third Young Master, it is dangerous! You should not go over there."

Li Haoran hesitated, lowering his foot and turning to leave, when a pained cry rang out behind him. He spun around. If his ears served him right, that voice belonged to Chu Bing!

Chu Bing’s features were twisted in agony. She had managed to avoid the fatal strike, but the blade had bitten deep into her shoulder. The wound was severe; without immediate treatment, her arm might be crippled. Blood had already soaked through her clothes. As the man approached her again, she gritted her teeth. "System, if I die now, does it count as dying in the line of duty?"

"The host will not die."

"That remains to be seen," Chu Bing muttered with a bitter smile. "Though we bicker often, I must thank you. If not for you, I might not have survived a single day in this ancient world."

The system, rarely receiving such sentimental words, took a moment to process them before awkwardly huffing, "Rest assured, you won't die."

Chu Bing paused, asking hopefully, "Do you have a way to save me?"

"See that? Your savior has arrived."

What on earth was a savior? Despite her confusion, she followed the system's direction. The soldiers surrounding her began to part, clearing a path. A familiar figure walked toward her—it was Li Haoran. Even with a mask on, Li Haoran recognized the wounded figure kneeling on the ground as Chu Bing.

"Third Young Master," the soldiers bowed. Li Haoran ignored them, walking straight toward Chu Bing.

"Third Young Master, it is dangerous..." the masked man warned, blocking his path.

Li Haoran stopped, realizing that if he rushed to her side now, everyone would know he recognized her. If her identity were exposed, she would die even faster. He turned, his tone cold. "How is my father?"

"The Prime Minister was startled but is unharmed. He ordered us to capture the assassin at once. I am about to take this thief to him," the masked man replied, stepping toward Chu Bing.

Li Haoran’s eyes narrowed. He flicked a small stone from his sleeve toward a direction in the crowd.

"Who’s there?" The crowd fell into immediate disarray. He shot a glance at Chu Bing.

Chu Bing caught the signal. Gritting her teeth, she used every ounce of her remaining strength to teleport, bursting out from the center of the chaotic crowd! She dared not look back, running for her life. Her brain throbbed from the lack of oxygen, and she felt as if she might black out, but she dared not stop.

The wind roared in her ears. This time, the system did not mock her; instead, it actively guided her. "Go to Li Haoran’s quarters! That is the only place they won't search!"

To capture the assassin, the soldiers would ransack every corner of the estate—not even Li Mohan’s room would be spared. But they would not dare to intrude upon Li Haoran’s courtyard. Everyone knew how much the Prime Minister doted on this son; no sensible person would dare offend him.