Chapter 110: Bitter Well

Translator: Tim Editor: Chrissy

In the wind-corroded caves, Ye Mo watched Luo Susu, who was worsening by the minute. He was very worried, but he was also depleted. If he gave Luo Susu more of his blood, he might not survive.

Ye Mo resented his inability to gather the small amount of spirit chi needed to break through. If he were at the third level, there would be no problem.

His mind wandered; he seemed to see the yellow-dressed girl giving him more than half her water. After a long time, the image of the yellow-dressed girl blended with his master, Luo Ying. He could no longer distinguish between Luo Ying and Luo Susu.

Suddenly, Ye Mo awoke. He knew he couldn't hold on much longer, but he couldn't bear to watch the woman he loved die before his eyes. Thinking this, Ye Mo resolutely slit his wrists and offered his blood to Luo Susu's mouth.

Ye Mo's wounds healed quickly, but he had made up his mind. As soon as they healed, he would cut himself again. He felt deep down that Luo Ying was Luo Susu. Otherwise, why would he love her so deeply?

He didn't know how many times he cut himself, but Ye Mo felt a sudden weariness. He knew he was dying.

He didn't expect to die in this desert. Ironically, he died with a woman surnamed Luo—Luo Susu, Luo Ying.

A smile touched Ye Mo's lips. He thought he didn't belong here anyway. Since he was going to die, dying with the woman he loved satisfied him.

The moment he lost consciousness, his mind held only the image of Luo Ying and Luo Susu. One moment it was Luo Ying, the next Luo Susu; then they merged. He didn't want to think. Whether it was Luo Ying or Luo Susu, he was content as long as he had one by his side.

An unknown amount of time passed. When Luo Susu awoke, the moon was high, bathing the cave in bright light. Suddenly, she realized her face veil was gone; her heart leaped. But soon, she saw Ye Mo's wrist still at her mouth, the wound scabbed over. She carefully removed his hand to find him sleeping on the sand, unconscious. His other hand was around her waist; a smile remained on his lips.

Luo Susu understood she had been saved by Ye Mo. Without his blood, she would have died.

Ye Mo risked his life carrying her out of the swarm of bugs and then used his own blood to save her. But why would Ye Mo save a stranger? Was it simply because she gave him a bag of water?

Besides Lan Yu saving her life, this was the first time Luo Susu felt she owed someone. Though she might not live, she still felt indebted to him, even if she died immediately.

Luo Susu had never been so close to a man, much less carried by one for two days and a night. The man beneath her had a pale face, but he still smiled. She wondered what he was thinking.

Luo Susu reached out a trembling hand and touched Ye Mo's face. Though sandy, his features were easily discernible. He was very lean. The moment she touched his face, a sense of familiarity washed over her, but it felt fleeting, almost intangible.

Had he died?

Luo Susu felt melancholy. Though she hadn't found Ning Qingxue, she had repaid her debt to Lan Yu, only to almost die in the desert. But how could she repay a man who had already died?

He had used his own blood to save her. Though she was still dying, she would die after him.

Luo Susu couldn't understand why Ye Mo had saved her. She imagined that when the bugs caught up, Ye Mo would abandon her instead of his bag. If he hadn't saved her, perhaps he would still be alive.

But he abandoned his bag instead of her. Her usually unmoved heart was stirred for a stranger.

Her memories were simple. At age five, she was taken away to learn secret arts. Twelve years later, she returned to thank Sister Lan Yu. She trained at the Hidden Doors, learning ancient Chinese martial arts. Those from the Hidden Doors were forbidden in the mortal world. The Peace Door, where she trained, kept its distance from human affairs. Only she knew the hardship of helping Lan Yu.

Besides repaying her debt to Lan Yu, nothing else bound her to the mortal world. Her memories before age five were of the city; afterwards, only the simple, innocent memories of the Hidden Doors.

Though young, she had never experienced emotional upheaval. In her eyes, there was nothing but training. But today, a stranger died for her, and for the first time, she felt touched. Not for anything else, but for his actions.

People from the Hidden Doors were cold and focused solely on cultivation. No one would risk their life to save another. Yet Luo Susu had met someone willing to give his life for her. Perhaps when he dropped his bag, he was already prepared to die.

Why had he done that?

Luo Susu felt her emotions threatening to overwhelm her. She couldn't bear Ye Mo's death. Her eyes clouded. She knew this wasn't good, but she couldn't control herself.

"Susu, our cultivation requires a serene heart. You must not let anything affect your emotions—refrain from joy, worry, anger, pain… You must not become overly emotional." Her master's words echoed in her ears. Yet Luo Susu couldn't control her sorrow.

She didn't know how her master controlled herself, but she couldn't control her sorrow over a stranger's death. How could this be? Even if she owed him a life and was about to die, why was she so sad?

Suddenly, her heart ached, as if her power was leaving her. With a gasp, Luo Susu spat out blood. Looking at the crimson stain on the ground, her eyes were filled with dim sorrow. Was this a side effect of her cultivation?

She looked down at Ye Mo, his eyes tightly closed. Tears fell onto his face and trickled into his mouth. Luo Susu wondered if all her tears would bring him back to life.

Ye Mo, in boundless darkness, suddenly saw a clear well. He felt intensely thirsty and jumped in. He drank all the water, but it was meager and bitter.

He opened his mouth, waiting for more of the bitter water.

Luo Susu suddenly felt Ye Mo's heartbeat. Though faint, it was there. He wasn't dead. Luo Susu rejoiced. If only she had more water.

Without hesitation, Luo Susu grabbed Ye Mo's sword and slit her own wrist. Blood gushed out; she quickly offered it to Ye Mo's mouth. But her blood was too thick; he couldn't drink it.

Desperate, Luo Susu wept again. She sucked her own blood and fed it to Ye Mo. But immediately, she fainted. Her blood was too thick and coagulated quickly.

Ye Mo felt the bitter well water become viscous. His mouth felt a softness. He instinctively swallowed, and a warmth spread through his Dan Tian.

Ye Mo regained some consciousness. He seemed to realize something and began to cultivate. He became more and more aware, sure he was on the verge of a breakthrough. He wouldn't miss this chance.

Ye Mo's chi cycled through cultivation—one cycle, two cycles. The membrane preventing him from reaching the third level grew thinner and thinner. He pushed and pushed again.

Ye Mo focused only on breaking through that membrane.

Luo Susu felt warmth and a calming sensation. She opened her eyes, savoring it. Even if she died like this, she would be peaceful. She was grateful to the young man who saved her from the bugs, allowing her such a peaceful death.

But soon she realized this sensation emanated from Ye Mo. He still didn't open his eyes. His face was still pale, but more flushed than before.

Luo Susu rejoiced. She knew she couldn't last much longer, but if she could save him, she would have no regrets. She would have repaid her debt and could leave this world without regret. Then she felt close to this man. She didn't know why.

She slit her wrist again and fed her blood to Ye Mo's mouth.

Ye Mo was at the critical moment of his breakthrough. He didn't expect this.

But soon, he understood what had awakened him. That viscous liquid in his dreams was Luo Susu's blood. That softness was her lips. He felt moved, but didn't understand the bitter water.

Besides his master, Luo Ying, this was the first time Ye Mo was moved by a woman. He disliked tears and never cried, but now his eyes felt sore.

Ye Mo wanted to stop Luo Susu, but couldn't at that moment. He needed to focus all his effort on his breakthrough. Only then could he save them both.

Luo Susu suddenly raised her hand and wiped a tear from Ye Mo's eye, murmuring, "Sister Yu said today is my birthday. I didn't think I would spend my last birthday here." Then, she fell onto Ye Mo and fainted, a smile on her face, like his.

Whether she saved Ye Mo or not, she had done all she could. She owed no one and could leave without regrets.