Chapter 134: The Assassination

"Bring her in," Li Mohan said, turning to instruct Old Zhao.

Old Zhao hesitated. "Young Master, a woman like that—her background is far too murky. It would be better not to let her serve you closely..." Old Zhao assumed Li Mohan had decided to bring this woman into the small courtyard to serve him just to please Chu Bing.

Li Mohan frowned slightly. "Uncle Zhao."

The two words carried a deep chill. Old Zhao stiffened; he bowed his head lower and turned to leave at once.

Chu Bing, who had been watching the interaction between master and servant, could not help but cover her mouth and giggle. Li Mohan glanced at her, and her laughter gradually faded as she began to stare solemnly out the window.

Soon, Old Zhao brought the girl in. As she drew closer, Chu Bing could clearly see the girl's striking beauty. She had a delicate, oval face, cherry-red lips, and, above all, a pair of willow-leaf brows. Just a single upward glance from her was enough to make even Chu Bing, a woman herself, feel her heart skip a beat.

Chu Bing instinctively glanced at Li Mohan standing nearby. If he dared to show even the slightest interest in this girl, she would make him regret it! Fortunately, Li Mohan’s face remained as cold and expressionless as ever; she could discern nothing from it.

Folding her arms, she stood to the side, watching the woman blankly.

Old Zhao closed the door. Seeing that neither of the two in the room intended to speak, he had to clear his throat and ask with a stern face, "What is your name?"

The woman replied cautiously, "I am Jiaoniang. My father and I relied on each other to survive. He died of illness this year, and I had no money left to bury him, so I had no choice but to resort to this..." She wiped away tears as she spoke, crying with such sincerity that even Chu Bing felt a twinge of pity. If it were true, the girl was indeed wretched.

"Who sent you?" Li Mohan, who had been silent, interrupted her crying with an icy tone.

The expression on Jiaoniang’s face shifted. "No one sent me, sir. Please, have pity..."

"There are thin calluses on the web of your thumbs—the kind only someone who practices martial arts would have. If you claim they were caused by manual labor, your face and the rest of your skin are far too fair and delicate," Li Mohan said coolly. "A poor family could not raise a girl like you."

Chu Bing stood by in astonishment. So, he had known all along that this girl was not truly selling herself to bury her father, but had ulterior motives!

Jiaoniang’s eyes flashed with panic. She collapsed to the floor, her head trembling. Seeing her like this, Chu Bing hesitated for a moment. *Isn't she just trying to use the "selling herself" excuse to climb the social ladder into a wealthy household? Is that really such a big deal? Is there any need to be this terrified?*

Just as Chu Bing stepped forward to help her up, a cold light flashed. Jiaoniang leaped from the floor, pulled a soft sword from her sleeve, and struck directly toward Li Mohan’s vital points.

"Li Mohan!" Chu Bing gasped, instinctively moving to shield him.

Li Mohan pushed her aside with one hand and caught the sword with the other. "Seize her!"

Chu Bing steadied her heart and shouted to Old Zhao. The two of them lunged at Jiaoniang together. Having only held the advantage of surprise, Jiaoniang was quickly pinned to the floor by Old Zhao, who held her hands firmly behind her back.

"Who sent you?" Old Zhao pressed down on her, his voice fierce.

Jiaoniang looked up at Li Mohan and suddenly bit down hard on her tongue.

"Stop her!" Seeing she intended to commit suicide, Old Zhao reached out to dislocate her jaw, but he was a step too late. A trickle of blood spilled from Jiaoniang’s lips as she closed her eyes and went limp.

"She's dead," Chu Bing said, her voice trembling as she checked the girl's breath. She recoiled in fear. How could a person die so easily? She took a deep breath, her heart hammering against her ribs.

Li Mohan glanced at her. Seeming to sense her fear, he took a step toward her, shielding her with his frame. Chu Bing froze; looking up, she saw Li Mohan’s broad, sturdy back. She curled her lips into a soft, gentle smile.

"Take her away. Search for any clues to her identity," Li Mohan ordered Old Zhao calmly, his tone not a bit different from before, as if he hadn't just survived an assassination attempt.

Old Zhao acknowledged the order, went out to bring in some men, and had the body cleared away. The blood on the floor was wiped clean, and everything looked exactly as it had before. Yet, standing in the room, Chu Bing still felt uneasy, as if the place were haunted by the memory of death. She rubbed her arms and said to Li Mohan, "Shall we go somewhere else? I feel like this place is strange."

Li Mohan glanced at the floor, seemingly disgusted as well. "Let's go to the next room."

"No, why don't we go out for a stroll?" Chu Bing’s eyes darted about as she pleaded with him. Staying here was too boring, and after what had just happened, she felt completely unsettled.

Li Mohan shook his head, but seeing her expectant expression, he finally relented. "I'll have Old Zhao go with you. The two of you can go out."

"Aren't you coming?"

"I have a friend coming over." Li Mohan shook his head, a flash of coldness passing through his eyes.

Chu Bing hesitated, torn between going out and staying with Li Mohan. If she stayed, she could accompany him, but she didn't know what kind of friend he was meeting, and she didn't want to interfere with his business.

Li Mohan, having made up his mind, called Old Zhao in. "Uncle Zhao, go with Hongxiu and walk around."

Old Zhao paused, wanting to refuse, but as soon as he met Li Mohan’s gaze, he found himself unable to say no.

Chu Bing cheered and rushed toward Old Zhao. He dodged her with a look of disdain. "Acting so wild—what kind of decorum is that!"

Chu Bing stuck out her tongue, waved goodbye to Li Mohan, and ran off. As her figure faded into the distance, the warmth in Li Mohan’s eyes gradually vanished.

Shortly after Chu Bing left, a figure in black leaped through the window into the room.

"Master."

"Did you bring what I asked for?" Li Mohan’s voice held no warmth.

The man in black held up his hands, cradling a sandalwood box. Li Mohan took the box and opened it to reveal a jade hairpin. He took it out and examined it closely, a fleeting warmth crossing his eyes.

"Master, is this hairpin for..."

Li Mohan shot him a look, and the man in black immediately went silent.

The hairpin... was, of course, for Hongxiu. He only wondered if that girl would be able to feel the sentiment he had poured into it.