Chapter 188: Escape

Translator: Tim Editor: Chrissy

When Ye Mo arrived at the airport, Han Yan was already waiting. She appeared to have been there for some time.

Han Yan carried a bag. Seeing Ye Mo with only a small bag, she was shocked, thinking it wouldn't hold enough clothes, let alone equipment. She knew their destination was far away.

She didn't know that if Ye Mo hadn't been hiding his ring, he wouldn't have carried a bag at all.

Ye Mo quickly boarded the plane and sat with Han Yan. Though Han Yan wore no makeup, she had a pleasant aroma. While not strikingly beautiful, she had a refined temperament.

Seeing Ye Mo silently playing with a jade bracelet, Han Yan grew annoyed. "My information said we were going to Hu Zhong Province. Why are we going to Xian Mountain?" she asked.

"I have some private business," Ye Mo replied, then fell silent again.

Han Yan frowned, but seeing Ye Mo's disinterest, she stopped talking.

Ye Mo thought about Ye Ling's words from the previous night: "The bracelet is from Dad. Your mother left it for you."

The bracelet was old. Ye Mo examined it with his spiritual sense, finding nothing unusual; it was ordinary.

Sighing, he put the bracelet on. Yun Bing, who had planned to return to Ning Hai, decided to stay an extra week because of Ye Ling. He didn't know why, but she seemed different.

"Do you know the organization North Sand?" Han Yan asked quietly, noticing Ye Mo finally stopped playing with the bracelet.

Ye Mo looked dazed. "I've only heard of it. Why?"

Han Yan breathed a sigh of relief, seeing Ye Mo finally listening. "You saved Feng Tian from the desert, right? She's from North Sand. She said the data came from North Sand. She didn't explain how, but it's definitely related."

Ye Mo wasn't surprised Feng Tian was from North Sand; otherwise, she wouldn't have known Wen Dong. He was searching for Wen Dong, and Feng Tian might know something about North Sand. "Do you know Feng Tian's whereabouts?" he asked.

Han Yan shook her head. "No. She gave the information to Li Hu. My grandfather didn't realize the data's value then, so they didn't take it seriously. North Sand is supposedly the world's largest independent organization. Members are worldwide, including top scientists and military equipment. Their goal is a democratic country more powerful than America, but their methods are despicable."

Ye Mo knew Wen Dong was from North Sand, but not the organization's nature.

Han Yan sneered. "Dreams are nice, but the members are too diverse. Before establishing the country, many sought to profit from the data. The data you received was leaked by an insider."

North Sand was aiming to create a country. Ye Mo, though unfamiliar with politics, knew it wouldn't be easy; resource-rich areas were already claimed.

"Do you know the exact situation of North Sand?" Ye Mo thought knowing the organization would help.

Han Yan shook her head. "I never cared. Grandfather only told me after I left."

"Which hidden sect are you from? How do you join?" Ye Mo abruptly changed the subject.

Han Yan closed her eyes, remaining silent. Ye Mo didn't press; it seemed difficult to learn about hidden sects from her.

After leaving the airport, Ye Mo hailed a taxi to Xiang Shan Valley. Han Yan didn't know why, but her grandfather had instructed her to follow Ye Mo's lead, as he wasn't an ordinary person and had obtained the data.

So, though curious why Ye Mo didn't start with North Sand, she didn't ask.

The taxi stopped halfway up the mountain. Ye Mo dismissed it and took Han Yan to a street with food and hotels.

He hadn't gone far with Wen Dong last time, but it wasn't far from the parking lot. Ye Mo recalled seeing Wen Dong enter a hotel from a distance.

He didn't know which hotel, but it was his only lead. If he couldn't find Wen Dong, he'd have to look for Feng Tian, which Han Yan said would be difficult.

"Why are we here?" Han Yan knew North Sand wouldn't have a base in Xiang Shan Valley.

"A friend who knows something gave me the data. I came to investigate."

Han Yan initially thought Ye Mo knew a friend here, but after following him and asking around, she realized he didn't. She was speechless.

Though not a popular tourist spot, there were many hotels. How long would this take?

Fortunately, her worry proved unfounded. When Ye Mo entered a small hotel run by an elderly couple and inquired about Wen Dong, the owner didn't seem surprised, studying Ye Mo intently.

Ye Mo knew he was in the right place.

"Looking for Dong Dong?" the male owner, a man in his sixties, said slowly, clearly knowing Wen Dong.

Ye Mo quickly replied, "Yes, uncle. I'm Sister Dong's friend, Ye Mo." To appear close, he called her sister, a thought that made him cringe.

"You're Ye Mo? Oh, wait." The old man retrieved a letter. "Dong Dong asked someone to give this to you if you came within three months. If not, she said to burn it."

Ye Mo took the letter, surprised. Without Han Zaixin's matter, he wouldn't have come. Even if he had, how would Wen Dong know he'd find this place and leave a letter?

Ye Mo opened it, dazed again. It contained one word: run. What did it mean? Han Yan saw it and looked at Ye Mo curiously.

The owners retreated to the backyard.

The word "run" was fading. Ye Mo suddenly understood. Wen Dong wanted him to flee and hide his identity.

Something had happened to Wen Dong.

That was Ye Mo's first thought. Something must have happened because of the data, and they were interrogating her about its whereabouts. Only Wen Dong knew she gave it to him.

She hadn't revealed him, instead telling him to leave. Though they met occasionally, she was clearly trustworthy.

Han Yan saw Ye Mo's face change and was about to ask when his expression turned bleak as he stared at the inn's door.

"I knew you'd come. Wen Dong wouldn't talk, but what good is that?" a cocky voice said.

Han Yan saw Ye Mo rush out. When he returned, he carried a woman.

Her hair was matted, her clothes torn, and she was covered in wounds, her face pale.

The moment he pulled Wen Dong from the car, he knew she wouldn't survive. Her heart was shattered; she was lifeless. He could treat her heart with his chi, but her life force was gone. He couldn't save her without a life-restoring spiritual herb. While he had some pills, they were inadequate.

Ye Mo channeled his chi into Wen Dong, trying to revive her, but to no avail.