Chapter 158: School Mate Reunion

Translator: Tim Editor: Chrissy

Yu Miaodan ate, showered, and seemed much more vibrant afterward; her face held a healthy flush. Looking at her across from him, he saw that although she was still curvaceous, her face appeared more fatigued than a few months prior. He knew, without asking, that something had happened to Wu Xueming.

Should he help Wu Xueming? In Luo Cang, the answer would be a definite yes; Wu Xueming was a worthy friend. Now, he wasn't so sure. Though he hadn't seen Wu Xueming since leaving Jing City, he sensed a change stemming from their last encounter. Wu Xueming was no longer the same.

"Xueming changed drastically," Yu Miaodan began, without waiting for Ye Mo to ask. "I know what happened between you in Luo Cang. I talked to him, but he said women shouldn't be involved in such things. He even yelled at me. Later, he craved power, and I gradually felt like I didn't know him anymore. He wasn't the person he used to be. More than once, I wanted to leave him, but I couldn't. I kept going back."

Seeing Ye Mo listen silently, Yu Miaodan sighed. "He changed so much he felt like a stranger. He even killed the people Metal Mountain sent to monitor him. That's when I decided to leave. His lust for power finally caught Metal Mountain's attention, and he underestimated them."

"When Xueming thought he controlled most of Metal River's power, Metal Mountain spent a single night forcing him into a desperate struggle for survival."

Yu Miaodan wiped her eyes. Ye Mo saw her body and hands tremble.

She paused, then produced a paper-wrapped package. "Before Xueming died, he suddenly woke up and said that if given another chance, he wouldn't become Metal River's boss and would take me far away. He asked me to give this to you."

She handed the package to Ye Mo. She had completely calmed down.

Ye Mo took it; it felt heavy, like a metal slab. He frowned. "Xueming is dead?"

Yu Miaodan nodded, stood, and said, "I've given you this; I need to go."

"Wait," Ye Mo said, opening the package to reveal a black metal slab. Why would Wu Xueming give him this?

Seeing Ye Mo's confusion, Yu Miaodan explained, "Xueming knew you practiced ancient martial arts. He said this would be helpful."

Ye Mo examined the metal. His face filled with shock. It was Otherworldly Geng Iron Essence. How could this exist on Earth? Where did Wu Xueming get it?

This was rare even in the cultivation realm, let alone Earth. It was a top-tier material for making flying swords, though a bit small. Even so, it was unimaginably valuable. The materials he'd received from Han Zaixin were worth less than 0.1% of this.

He understood Wu Xueming's intentions. The man must have guessed he cultivated ancient martial arts and that this material would be useful. He'd told Yu Miaodan to bring it to him, making his intentions clear—he wanted Ye Mo to save Yu Miaodan's life.

With such a material, even a cultivator wouldn't dare touch Yu Miaodan, much less a gang. And Ye Mo wasn't heartless.

"I'm grateful for Brother Xueming's gift. You can stay here. Even the Heavenly Emperor wouldn't dare touch you. As for Metal River, I don't consider them a threat." Then, a thought struck him. Yu Miaodan had intentionally escaped to Luo Cang, meaning Metal River had chased her here.

Had they taken his Silver Heart Grass? If so, it would be easy. He would annihilate Metal River from Luo Cang.

Hearing Ye Mo, Yu Miaodan wept. She understood why Wu Xueming had told her to find Ye Mo. In his eyes, only Ye Mo could save her. Ye Mo wasn't afraid of Qian Longtou, so how could he fear Metal Mountain?

"Who's hunting you?"

Yu Miaodan paused, then said, "One, a thin man in his thirties. I saw him at the station. He looked bleak. He was probably tracking me, so I joined a tour group to avoid him."

Ye Mo immediately recognized the man Yu Miaodan and Yu Erhu had described. He remembered the bleak man who'd tried to take the Space Abyssal Rock. It was likely him. Since he recognized the Space Abyssal Rock, he likely recognized the Silver Heart Grass. He should have killed him at the social night, not just robbed him.

So this man worked for Metal River? Lang Ji had mentioned a powerful master at Metal River about to break through. Was this him? The man was strong, but not stronger than Lang Ji. His eyes, however, were excellent.

Because of Wu Xueming's gift, he'd handle this, especially since Metal River had stolen his Silver Heart Grass.

"Live here. If you're bored, learn medicine with Lu Xiaozhen and Yu Erhu. I suspect Metal River stole some of my things, so even if they don't bother me, I'll find them. After I eradicate Metal River, you can go wherever you want." Ye Mo was certain the bleak man was from Metal River, or at least connected to them.

Over the next few days, Ye Mo used his materials to create a defensive formation around the mansion, then made three bracelets for the others, instructing them to wear them to enter and exit. Patients would use a designated entrance.

Yu Miaodan was dubious, but Erhu and Xiaozhen trusted Ye Mo implicitly.

Ye Mo waited, but no one came to the mansion. The thieves hadn't acted on their threats. However, Ye Ling called to say her uncles had been sent away by her grandfather, and she was safe in Beijing.

Since Metal River hadn't come, Ye Mo wouldn't wait. He needed to go to Flowing Snake soon and had no time to waste. He'd go find them.

…

Su Jingwen hadn't attended a classmate reunion in three years. This was her first since graduation. She only came because it was in Ning Hai and Xiao Lei was attending.

"Jingwen, everyone's waiting," Xiao Lei called as Su Jingwen arrived.

Su Jingwen was always the center of attention. Many students gathered around her.

"Jingwen, you've never been to a reunion since graduation! Even Xiao Lei came from Beijing earlier than you," another girl said, pulling Su Jingwen.

Su Jingwen apologized. "My mother was sick a few days ago. I wasn't in the mood."

"Jingwen, I heard Wang Peng say your mother was cured with runic paper. Is that true? Is there really such a magical thing?" the girl asked curiously.

"Of course," Wang Peng said, approaching. "I went with Jingwen to buy it."

Su Jingwen frowned. Wang Peng wasn't a classmate. Why was he here?

Xiao Lei whispered, "Wang Peng's chasing me, but I'm not interested, so I told him about the reunion. I didn't expect him to follow."

Before Su Jingwen could respond, someone else said, "Runic paper saving lives isn't unbelievable. My cousin went to Luo Cang for a magic artifact social night—magic artifacts, sounds metaphysical, right?"

"Cheng Fei, tell us," a male classmate said.

"My cousin spent 200,000 on a defense necklace and another 200,000 on a beauty pill," Cheng Fei said.

"Your cousin's rich! That stall owner's a fraud," another classmate interrupted. "What a waste of money!"