Chapter 196: Bottom of the Cliff

Translator: Tim Editor: Chrissy

Ning Qingxue burst into the room; the door to the east room remained closed. She had calmed down, realizing how irrational she was. How could Ye Mo have returned? When the bead saved her life, she felt she was drifting further from him, as if they were in different worlds.

Ning Qingxue carefully opened the room, finding it dusty. Sighing, she began to clean. She would ask about the grass buds when Xu Wei returned.

After packing, she found Xu Wei still absent. Annoyed, she went for a walk, subconsciously heading toward the street where Ye Mo had sold his fake medicine.

Though the streets bustled and the sky remained light, vendors were already gathering. Ning Qingxue bought another golden cake and stood where Ye Mo’s stall had been. She sat, imagining his feelings there—likely wishing for customers.

“Come have a look! Ancestral recipe, cures all illnesses—headaches, fevers, internal and external injuries, shortsightedness… Only your imagination limits what I can cure!”

Ye Mo’s voice echoed in her memory, but where was he?

Ning Qingxue bit into the golden cake. It was from the same store, made by the same person, yet tasted bitter today, as if something were missing.

She stood, planning to see Su Jingwen tomorrow and then visit Ning Hai University. Her phone rang—it was Su Jingwen.

“Qingxue, are you back in Ning Hai?” Su Jingwen’s tone was bright, suggesting a good mood.

“Yes, did Mumei tell you? I was planning to see you tomorrow,” Ning Qingxue replied. She had only returned that day; only Li Mumei knew. Su Jingwen’s knowledge meant Li Mumei had told her.

Su Jingwen immediately said, “Yes, where are you? I’ll come to you; I have things to discuss.”

Ning Qingxue waited briefly at a café before Su Jingwen arrived.

“Qingxue, you look so thin! What happened?” Su Jingwen asked, remembering Ning Qingxue's usual concern for her appearance. Her current pallor was striking. What had happened?

Ning Qingxue shook her head, eventually saying, “Nothing, I just want to ask you something. You said you bought charms from a master—do you know how to use them?”

Su Jingwen looked surprised but answered, “Yes, I’ve used several. But now I know who sold them to me.”

“Is it Ye Mo?” Ning Qingxue stood abruptly.

Su Jingwen stared, shocked. “It is. But Qingxue, how did you know?”

“So it’s true,” Ning Qingxue murmured, sitting down again, her gaze distant.

“By the way, since you’re with Ye Mo, he’d teach you,” Su Jingwen said tartly, then softened, “Is Ye Mo really not Luo Cang?”

Ning Qingxue shook her head silently, lost in thought.

A tall young man entered the café. Su Jingwen stood and waved. “Weizheng, cousin, over here.”

The young man approached and saw Ning Qingxue’s frowning face. He felt stunned, thinking of Lin Daiyu. He’d always considered Jingwen beautiful, but seeing Ning Qingxue, he realized there was someone even more beautiful.

The girl’s pretty brows were slightly furrowed, a few stray strands of hair adding to her innocent look. She wore no makeup, her natural beauty evident. Yet, her face was gaunt, her clothes casual. Who was this girl?

…

Ye Mo awoke slowly, his body aching. He struggled to sit up.

Crack! He wasn't on solid ground; he began to fall again. Luckily, he landed on a branch near the ground.

Splat! Ye Mo hit the leaf- and mud-covered ground, the impact softened. He was still heavily injured. He instinctively reached for medicinal pills in his ring, but as soon as he used his spirit sense, his head throbbed, nearly causing him to faint. He stopped; what was happening?

He couldn't use his spirit sense; was he too severely wounded? He looked at his wounds; bleeding had stopped, but dizziness made him crave water.

He tried using chi to heal, but his dantian felt as unresponsive as his spirit sense. Intense pain followed any attempt.

What was this? Though heavily bleeding, most wounds had healed, likely due to the herbs he consumed. But he couldn't use his spirit sense or chi. If this continued, he would die at the bottom of the cliff.

The unhealed wounds were a long slash on his back and one on his waist. The sword that wounded him had also saved him. The severe injuries from the sword were preferable to falling to his death.

That sword had also brought him near the cliff’s edge, allowing him to grasp handholds and survive. Fortunately, he was in the Shen Nong Jia; elsewhere, the cliff would have been barren, and he would have perished.

Ye Mo retrieved the long sword, using it to support himself as he surveyed the cliff bottom. It was gray and indistinct.

He decided to find a safe place to tend his wounds. If his power returned, he could climb out.

He'd risked his life for some herbs and nearly been killed by Bian Po. Besides the sword, he'd learned the power of a true Earth Level master, but gained nothing else except wounds.

Ancient martial arts at the Earth Level were incredibly strong. Even at Stage 4 Chi Gathering, he couldn't guarantee victory against Bian Po.

If not for the cliff and his calculated actions to drag Bian Po down, he would be dead.

No wonder these people avoided the mortal world. Cultivating ancient martial arts to this level—Elementary Stage Earth Level—was remarkable. A Tertiary Stage Earth Level or Heaven Level master would be terrifying.

As Ye Mo stood, he sensed danger. A crunching sound came from behind. Without turning, he slashed.

Psh! A snake, as thick as a beer bottle, had its head severed. Blood spurted high.

The sword was incredibly sharp; there was no blood on it. A fine blade. He turned to examine the snake—a three-meter-long serpent. Even without venom, it could kill him.

Ye Mo endured the stench and drank some snake blood, feeling slightly better. He took the sword and began to clear a path. The swamp threatened to engulf him.

He moved slowly, knowing an area devoid of human signs was dangerous. The white mist hinted at peril.

Scattered animal bones warned him. As he avoided them, a black shadow darted toward him, its stench unbearable.

Ye Mo sneered. Even without chi, he wouldn't be bullied by animals. He swung his sword; the shadow howled, leaving a furry tail and blood before disappearing back into the swamp.

It had a cat's tail. Ye Mo probed with his sword, unable to identify the attacker.