Chapter 139: The Little Beggar

Li Mohan's pupils contracted slightly. It was actually Li Yuxi.

With a flick of his long sword, his voice grew ice-cold, "Are they your men?"

Li Yuxi raised a long eyebrow. "Eldest brother, please don't throw dirty water on me again. If I wanted to kill you, would I use these pawns?"

The chill on Li Mohan's face dissipated slightly.

Li Haoran was naturally proud and disdained to say one thing while doing another. Therefore... who on earth had sent these people?

Li Mohan's gaze was frigid. "Who the hell sent you?"

The soldiers looked at each other, backing away cautiously and huddling together defensively.

"Eldest young master, we are merely following orders and being loyal to our employer. It is better for you not to know."

"Hah, with this equipment of yours, you clearly came from our Li estate. Since you aren't my men, you naturally aren't my eldest brother's men either. Let me think—our old father hasn't reached the point of killing the donkey the moment it's taken off the millstone, so... are you Li Haoran's men?" Li Yuxi shook his folding fan, glancing sideways at the soldiers with a half-smile.

After all, not everyone had a strong psychological fortitude. Hearing his words, many of them instantly gave themselves away.

Li Yuxi tapped his palm with his folding fan, looking at Li Mohan with a smug smile. "Well, eldest brother, didn't I just help you ask? That good third brother of yours actually sent people to take your life."

Li Mohan's expression turned icy, the intent to kill surging deep within his eyes. "Step aside."

Li Haoran curled his lips into a smile, his features instantly coming alive with a vivid charm that drew the repeated glances of everyone around.

He walked toward Li Mohan. "Eldest brother, your condition doesn't look too good right now. Alone... you won't be able to escape, will you? How about I help you?"

Li Mohan's eyes flickered, but he remained silent.

Li Haoran gave a light chuckle. Before anyone could react, he flicked his wrist slightly, sending the folding fan in his hand flying toward the soldiers behind him. The soldiers collapsed to the ground in response. From beginning to end, it took no more than a single breath.

Li Mohan's expression froze. He had not expected Li Haoran's martial arts to have become so formidable!

He instinctively tightened his grip on the long sword in his hand.

Seeing this, the remaining soldiers gritted their teeth and charged at them with their weapons. Li Haoran remained completely calm, his palm sweeping through the air as a fierce gust of wind struck them heavily.

The stench of blood permeated the air.

Only Li Haoran and Li Mohan remained standing in the clearing.

Li Mohan's vigilance rose to its absolute peak.

"You don't need to be so nervous. I bear you no ill will." Li Haoran dusted off his sleeves, his demeanor free and easy.

He walked among the bodies scattered all over the ground with leisurely strides. The sea of blood behind him made his delicate features appear all the more bewitching.

"Eldest brother, both of you and I are born of concubines; we have never been valued by our father since childhood. His heart and mind are set entirely on the third brother. Now you've seen it for yourself—that third brother of ours has grown up and is learning to point a blade at us."

"If we don't join forces now, I'm afraid the Li estate won't have room for either of us much longer."

There was a hint of temptation woven into Li Haoran's voice, sending ripples through the depths of Li Mohan's heart.

He lowered his gaze indifferently, his expression remaining completely unchanged.

Seeing this, Li Haoran let out a helpless sigh. "I know what you're thinking. Father at least nurtured us, and you can't bring yourself to strike, right?"

"But right now, a blade is hanging over your head. You need to think clearly about what to do."

Li Haoran was no longer the defenseless third young master of the Li estate in the capital; he was a wolf cub that had grown fangs.

If Li Mohan remained completely unprepared, he would likely lose his life the next time.

Li Mohan tightened his grip on his long sword, staring at Li Haoran with a cold gaze. "And what does this have to do with you?"

Even if Li Haoran wanted to kill him, what did that have to do with Li Haoran?

To claim he cared about his eldest brother?

Li Mohan did not believe it.

The smile on Li Haoran's lips faded slightly. "The hundreds of people in my estate were wiped out overnight. Although the one who carried it out was Ren Changfeng, the location of my estate was leaked by Li Haoran."

"Li Haoran, Ren Changfeng—I will not spare a single one of them."

Coldness surged in his eyes, his entire being emanating a frigid aura. Standing opposite him, Li Mohan deeply felt the oppressive pressure radiating from Li Haoran.

This second brother of his was no longer who he used to be.

"What do you plan to do?"

Li Haoran curved his lips into a smile, his expression wicked and unrestrained.

Inside the manor.

In Li Haoran's courtyard.

Chu Bing was dressed in a long white robe, her long hair neatly tied up in a high ponytail at the back of her head.

"Your sword strikes must be fast. You cannot hesitate, and you must aim straight for the enemy's vital points! You only get one chance; you must never go soft-hearted!"

Chu Bing was currently instructing Li Haoran.

Ever since Li Mohan had left, Chu Bing no longer bothered to conceal herself, openly frequenting Li Haoran's courtyard.

Of course, before each of her visits, Li Haoran would dismiss all the maids and servants in the courtyard.

The long sword in Li Haoran's hand danced continuously, his aura as majestic as a rainbow. In just a few short days, he had undergone a complete transformation.

All of this was taught to him by Chu Bing, and he valued her more and more with each passing day.

If Miss Chu could stay by his side indefinitely, Li Haoran believed that his grand ambitions would gain an extra margin of certainty!

"Alright, that's enough for today." Seeing that the long robe on Li Haoran was drenched in sweat and checking that the time was right, Chu Bing simply called an end to today's training.

Li Haoran withdrew his long sword, raised his eyes to look at Chu Bing, and a bright smile bloomed on his face. "Miss Chu, I've felt myself improving very rapidly lately. I owe it all to you."

Chu Bing waved her hand dismissively. "What is there to thank me for? I had no choice either."

Given a choice, she would never stay here to play the role of a martial arts instructor; she would have long since gone out into the world with Li Mohan.

Li Haoran's eyes flashed, though he didn't ask what Chu Bing meant. He had already grown accustomed to her occasionally uttering bizarre and incomprehensible remarks.

"Alright then, I'll be heading back first." Chu Bing glanced at the sky, waved her hand, and prepared to leave.

Although Li Mohan was currently not in the courtyard, old Zhao kept a watchful eye on her every day. The fact that she could sneak away a few hours every day to come to Li Haoran's courtyard could already be considered a stroke of immense luck.

She didn't dare to delay any longer lest old Zhao find out and go snitch to Li Mohan.

Seeing this, Li Haoran's eyes flickered, and he suddenly called out, "Miss Chu, I'm heading to the county town today. Why don't you come with me?"

Chu Bing stopped in her tracks, whipped around, and stared at him with burning eyes.

She had been cooped up obediently in the manor all this time, spending every day either instructing Li Haoran or hiding in her courtyard practicing martial arts; she was utterly bored out of her mind.

If she could go out and wander around, that would truly be wonderful!

The smile on Li Haoran's face grew a fraction more genuine. "Of course I'm serious. I heard that a new storyteller has arrived at the tavern in town, and every day the crowd going to listen to him overflows the place, spilling out past the doors. So I wanted to take you along to join in the lively atmosphere."

The excitement in Chu Bing's eyes could no longer be concealed. "When are we leaving?"

"If you're willing, right now." Li Haoran's eyes were gentle, his tone doting.