Chapter 146: Shifting Sands of Conflict

The three of them remained at a stalemate.

Sweat poured down Chu Bing's forehead in anxiety.

"System, can you please release the acupoints on my body first?"

This feeling of being utterly unable to move and having one's body completely at the mercy of someone else was simply terrible!

The system was reluctant to pay her any mind.

"Host, I am afraid I must decline your request."

"Why?"

"Because the host only thinks of me when she needs something and never bothers with me otherwise. The system now feels it should have a bit of a backbone, so... I am not going to help you this time! Figure it out yourself!"

Chu Bing swore she could definitely hear laughter in the system's voice!

What a heartless thing! Was this really the time for laughing?

She cried out tearfully, "System, my great master, please help me, just this once!"

Though she couldn't move an inch at present, she could vividly feel the chilling aura radiating from Li Mohan's long sword. What if he accidentally slashed her by mistake?

Chu Bing wailed endlessly in her heart, exhausting every flattering word she could muster, but the system remained completely unmoved.

Meanwhile, Li Yuxi and Li Mohan had already begun to clash.

In order to break free from Li Mohan's long sword, Li Yuxi deliberately shoved Chu Bing aside. True to expectations, for the sake of Chu Bing's safety, Li Mohan abandoned his offensive against her, cast Li Yuxi aside, and moved to catch Chu Bing.

However, the moment Li Yuxi broke free from Li Mohan, he deftly drew Chu Bing's long whip, coiled it around her waist, and dragged her back into his embrace once again.

He retreated repeatedly with Chu Bing, putting distance between them and Li Mohan.

Watching herself get pulled back by this madman all over again, Chu Bing saw her hopes vanish once more, wishing desperately that she could close her eyes in despair.

Pity that she couldn't even close her eyes right now.

With a cold face, Li Mohan glared at Li Yuxi, swung his long sword, and advanced toward him once more.

A flash of bloodthirsty light crossed Li Yuxi's eyes, and the smile on his face grew even more ghostly. "Elder brother, I have never liked others laying hands on my possessions. If I kill you here today, she will belong to me forever."

Every hair on Chu Bing's body stood on end. This Li Yuxi was simply too terrifying!

"System, I beg you, please help me release these acupoints! This Li Yuxi is a complete lunatic! If I actually die here, how unjust would that be!"

Chu Bing didn't doubt for a second that if Li Yuxi were to lose, he might casually kill her on the spot!

Madmen possessed no sense of reason whatsoever!

Perhaps startled by the wild scenarios running through Chu Bing's head, the system didn't say anything further this time and very readily released her acupoints.

The moment she regained freedom of movement, Chu Bing didn't hesitate for an instant. She struck straight at Li Yuxi's chest with a palm strike, using the recoil to soar directly in the opposite direction.

Li Mohan caught her.

Chu Bing stumbled a few steps to steady herself, then looked up to see Li Yuxi clutching his chest, staring at her with a ghostly expression.

"You hate me that much?"

What?

Chu Bing was baffled.

The system provided a sympathetic live commentary for her, "That palm strike of yours just now was far too forceful. Li Yuxi had zero defense against you, so he sustained internal injuries."

Therefore... Li Yuxi must have thought Chu Bing did it on purpose, solely to get away from him!

Although that was indeed the case, for some reason, Chu Bing felt a mild sense of guilt.

She let out a dry laugh, attempting to explain, "It's not like that..."

"Miss Chu!"

An anxious voice rang out from behind. Chu Bing stiffened all over—it was Li Haoran!

What on earth was going on here? Had all three brothers shown up?

Stiffly, she turned around to see Li Haoran clad in iron armor, flanked by numerous elite soldiers, striding into the courtyard.

Since the courtyard couldn't hold them all, they stood densely packed outside the gates, a dizzying sight to behold.

Chu Bing's heart pounded wildly. With all three Li brothers present at this epic moment, a profound sense of unease washed over her.

"Doesn't this look like a Shura field? Tsk tsk, Host, it seems I should start preparing a coffin for you!"

The system watched the show with malicious glee; it had long been deeply dissatisfied with Chu Bing's habit of flirting everywhere. Well, look at her now—she had overturned her carriage!

Chu Bing...

"Shut your trap!"

What Shura field! She had never flirted around indiscriminately! Her heart and eyes had always held room for Li Mohan alone!

Unable to help herself, she tilted her head upward, wanting to look at the man beside her. However, Li Mohan's gaze was fixed squarely on Li Haoran, his entire body emanating a dangerous aura.

Chu Bing silently took a step away from Li Mohan.

"Elder brother? Second brother? Why are you two here as well?" Li Haoran carefully stepped around the corpses on the ground, walking toward them with a subtle flicker in his expression.

Li Mohan turned around, his white robes stained with blood, his expression detached. "Third brother... those elite soldiers I brought out, whose people were they?"

Li Haoran paused, acting as though he didn't understand why Li Mohan would ask such a thing. "Naturally, they are people from the estate, personally trained by Father. Elder brother, where are those elite soldiers? Where have they all gone?"

"Didn't Father send you to scout out the enemy's intelligence? Why are you here? And why are you with Second Brother?" Li Haoran's tone was filled with curiosity and innocence, an expression of sheer bewilderment that only made Li Mohan's gaze grow ice-cold.

If he hadn't known this third brother's true colors long ago, he might well have been deceived by this facade.

He slowly lowered his eyelids to conceal the coldness within, offering an unhurried explanation, "We entered the desert and ran into a group of formidable men in black. They killed all of our men. If not for Second Brother, I would be a corpse by now."

What?

Li Yuxi saved Li Mohan?

Pricking up her ears nearby, Chu Bing widened her eyes, staring in disbelief first at Li Mohan and then at Li Yuxi.

She still vividly remembered Li Yuxi's earlier intent to kill Li Mohan!

What on earth was going on between these two brothers?

Were they locked in some kind of twisted love-hate dynamic?

Pui, pui, pui!

Upon hearing Li Mohan's words, Li Haoran also looked at Li Yuxi with a surprised expression. Li Yuxi had already reined in his outward demeanor the moment he spotted Li Haoran, and at this moment, he even managed to squeeze out a smile. "Indeed. After all, Father has taught us since we were young to help one another as brothers. Seeing Elder Brother in danger, how could I not help?"

He blinked, smiling with profound meaning. "I imagine that if Third Brother had witnessed such a situation, he certainly wouldn't have stood by and watched someone die, right?"

Hearing this gave Chu Bing goosebumps all over. If Li Yuxi were truly this kind-hearted, she would write her name backward!

Li Haoran, however, maintained a calm demeanor and a sincere gaze, looking entirely convinced. "Of course! I would certainly have saved Elder Brother!"

He turned his head to look at Li Mohan, his expression deeply agitated. "Elder Brother, you've suffered greatly this time. It's just as well that you return with us so that Father can thoroughly investigate just who dares to make a move against you!"

Li Mohan's expression remained indifferent. "Mm."