Chapter Seventy-Seven: Reunion of Brothers

The carriage came to a halt before the entrance of a grand restaurant.

Old Zhao leapt down first, turning to Chu Bing with a stern warning, "The young master has important business to discuss. You are not to speak."

"This partnership is crucial. If you mess it up, I won’t forgive you!" he said in a low, menacing tone, his sharp eyes fixed on her.

Chu Bing scoffed quietly as Li Mohan jumped down from the carriage.

"Let’s go," he said, hands clasped behind his back, striding ahead. Chu Bing followed close behind, her gaze roaming with curiosity, earning her a harsh mocking from Old Zhao.

The second floor of the restaurant was remarkably quiet. Uncle Zhao instructed Chu Bing to wait at the door.

Li Mohan wanted to bring her inside, but Old Zhao stopped him. "Young master, now is not the time for indulgence. You’re here for business. If it goes wrong, you won’t be able to explain to the prime minister!"

Seeing Li Mohan’s hesitation, Chu Bing volunteered to stay outside. After all, with only a door between them, could she really be kept in the dark? She possessed a Concealing Formation, after all!

Li Mohan and his servant entered the room, leaving Chu Bing bored in the corridor. Suddenly, the system in her mind spoke, "Li Yuxi is nearby!"

"What? Where?" Chu Bing immediately tensed, scanning her surroundings.

Could that twisted Li Yuxi be lurking in the shadows, waiting for a chance to kill Li Mohan?

"In the room opposite you," the system replied.

Chu Bing tiptoed to the opposite door, poked a hole in the paper window, and peered inside.

Li Yuxi sat across from a short, portly man, their conversation tinged with something sinister.

"Second young master Li, it’s not that I won’t do you this favor, but your demands are too high," the fat man said. "However, perhaps some compromise can be reached."

His lecherous eyes lingered on Li Yuxi.

"Oh? How do you propose we compromise?" Li Yuxi’s eyes narrowed, a half-smile playing on his lips.

The fat man chuckled, suddenly reaching for Li Yuxi’s hand on the table. "Second young master, you truly astonish me. Rarely does a man possess such beauty..."

A flash of coldness passed through Li Yuxi’s eyes. His fingers curled into claws as he suddenly lunged for the fat man’s throat.

"You... you..."

"I detest useless fools who somehow have the audacity," Li Yuxi sneered, his grip tightening.

The fat man’s face quickly turned a mottled purple, unable to utter a single word. His eyes bulged in terror, but Li Yuxi showed no intention of letting go.

Chu Bing covered her mouth, not daring to make a sound.

Li Yuxi truly intended to kill the fat man!

No matter how desperately he struggled, it was futile; his face grew pale and lifeless, his breathing shallow.

Li Yuxi’s gaze flickered as he spoke, "If you want to live, nod your head."

The fat man managed two feeble nods.

Li Yuxi relaxed his grip slightly. "Since you wish to live, you should be able to agree to the terms I mentioned earlier?"

"Yes, yes!" gasped the fat man.

Li Yuxi released him, a smile on his lips, seemingly gentle. But everyone present knew the ruthless heart concealed beneath that harmless expression; none dared underestimate him again.

The fat man’s eyes filled with desperation as he pleaded, "Don’t kill me, I’ll agree to anything..."

"Nine-tenths of the profits," Li Yuxi said, holding up his fingers.

The fat man hesitated, his face contorted in misery. "Second young master, isn’t nine-tenths a bit much? My people have to eat too..."

"So it seems Lord Wang doesn’t value his life," Li Yuxi remarked, sipping his tea unperturbed.

The fat man shuddered. He cursed himself for having provoked this demon. Gritting his teeth, he had no choice but to accept all of Li Yuxi’s demands.

Chu Bing watched from outside, witnessing everything, her wariness of Li Yuxi growing ever deeper.

"Red Sleeve? What are you doing pressed against someone else’s door?" Old Zhao stepped out, finding Chu Bing peeking at the opposite room. He narrowed his eyes, "What mischief are you up to now? Hurry up!"

Chu Bing spun around, finding Li Mohan and Old Zhao standing behind her, both surprised.

She brushed off her clothes and forced a smile. "Finished your discussion?"

Li Mohan glanced at her, then at the tightly closed door opposite. "It’s settled. Let’s go back."

Chu Bing hesitated, choosing not to reveal Li Yuxi’s presence in the opposite room to Li Mohan.

Yuxi’s methods were unpredictable, and his intent towards Li Mohan murderous; best not to complicate matters further.

The three quickly descended to the ground floor. Chu Bing and Li Mohan returned to their carriage.

Because of Li Yuxi, Chu Bing had forgotten the earlier awkwardness.

Li Mohan observed her closely, noticing her distracted demeanor.

He frowned slightly. "Was there someone in that room?"

Chu Bing hesitated, about to tell him she’d seen Li Yuxi, when suddenly a commotion erupted from the carriage behind them.

Both she and Li Mohan lifted the curtain to look outside, only to see a familiar figure standing in the road ahead.

It was unmistakably Li Yuxi.

A cold smile curved his lips. "It’s rare that brothers meet. Why leave without so much as a greeting, big brother?"

Li Mohan’s expression grew colder still.

Chu Bing shrank back, watching him warily. "He’s the one I saw in that room," she whispered.

Li Mohan’s brows knitted, alert. "Stay in the carriage, don’t go out."

He turned to give her the instruction, then lifted the curtain and strode out alone.

Chu Bing stared after him, peering through the window. Unexpectedly, Li Yuxi looked directly at her, his smile deepening.

Chu Bing hastily dropped the curtain, hiding in the carriage.

That lunatic!

No—she still wore her mask. Li Yuxi couldn’t possibly have recognized her!

Then why did he smile?

Chu Bing sneaked another glance through a narrow gap.

"Big brother, you remain as elegant as ever. Surely you’ve had beauties to accompany you these days—must be quite the life," Li Yuxi said, tapping his fan with a mischievous grin.

Li Mohan’s expression was unchanged, but the coldness in his eyes intensified. "What do you want?"

"Why so distant, big brother? Your younger brother just wishes to reminisce," Li Yuxi replied lightly. "When you were gravely wounded last time, what did our father say?"

"Oh, I heard he assigned several skilled bodyguards to our third brother. As for you... apparently nothing at all."

Li Yuxi’s voice gradually dropped, growing colder. "Our father, it seems, only cares for his legitimate son."

"As his sons, it is not our place to question our father," Li Mohan answered quietly, his gaze icy and sharp.