Chapter 202

Ye Mo struggled, but remained powerless, likely from exhaustion. He gently stroked Ning Qingxue's messy hair; it still smelled pleasant.

He couldn't understand how she'd found him. No one knew he'd fallen. While he wouldn't have been surprised if Han Yan had found him, he doubted even she would have come, even knowing he'd fallen.

Even if Ning Qingxue had known, how could she have reached this place? Shen Nong Jia wasn't dangerous for him, but it was extremely perilous for her. Her arrival was miraculous. He couldn't fathom what had driven her.

Touching her back, he discovered numerous wounds to her ligaments and back. How much pain had she endured?

He lifted her hand, a bloody mess; there wasn't a single uninjured patch of skin. She seemed to be wincing in her sleep, but remained unconscious.

A pang of pain struck Ye Mo's heart. He knew Ning Qingxue held a favorable impression of him, perhaps even love, evident in her desert trip. Her journey to Flowing Snake to repay a kindness was one thing, but her desert trip, and now this desperate trek to the bottom of the cliff, were something else entirely. Even a heart of stone would be moved.

He'd once thought her a merely beautiful, arrogant rich girl, from a different world. But now he understood her less well than he'd believed.

Beneath her cold exterior lay a fiery, stubborn heart. Aside from his master, Luo Ying, who else would treat him with such devotion? He realized he'd been too harsh.

He touched her hair, remembering her words that night: "I really want to call you husband, but I can't say it..."

"I've already married Ye Mo... that box is his wedding gift. Don't separate me from that box. There's a herb I left for Ye Mo in the yard... if he comes, give him this phone. Otherwise, never mind..."

He recalled leaving her in the desert—the disappointment and longing in her eyes. She'd had so much more to say. He remembered the bloodied Silver Heart Grass and the small medical kit she clutched even as death approached.

Was that love?

Lost in thought, he gazed at the high moon, its pale light bathing him and Ning Qingxue in tranquility.

...

The morning sun, partially obscured by mist, filtered into the ravine. A crow's caw awakened Ning Qingxue.

Ye Mo? As she tried to sit up, she felt arms around her waist. Her clothes were torn, and Ye Mo's arm rested across her semi-nude body.

Ning Qingxue blushed, but felt a warmth spread through her. In those terrifying days, only in Ye Mo's arms had she felt safe. She felt a pang of hunger.

Why hadn't Ye Mo moved? She realized he was still unconscious, merely asleep. He was breathing, but his lips were severely cracked.

Thirsty? No, he'd probably lost a lot of blood. Ning Qingxue carefully repositioned him before rising. She needed to find water.

She regretted drinking all the water; she should have saved some for him. But she knew that without it, she wouldn't have reached him.

She approached the slain snake and picked up Ye Mo's sword, realizing it was over six meters long. She couldn't fathom how he'd killed it.

Leaving the sword beside him, she started towards the thorny passage, but a black shadow darted past. Even in daylight, she couldn't see it clearly.

She stopped, remembering the eerie green eyes that had terrified her the previous night. Defenseless, venturing out would be suicide.

She retreated. If she died, what would become of Ye Mo? Though she didn't understand why the shadow hadn't entered the thorny brush, she used the sword and some branches to create a barrier.

The shadow's speed terrified her.

She examined the area. The thorny brush covered five to six acres. She wondered if it was the snake's territory, deterring other creatures.

As the sun rose higher, she saw more clearly. A few meters away, on the cliff face, were several trees, the smallest being four meters tall.

They bore egg-sized green fruit. There seemed to be nothing else edible.

Looking at the still-unconscious Ye Mo, she began digging into the cliff face. Her dagger was surprisingly sharp, making the task easier.

She examined the dagger—picked up at the clifftop—surprised by its sharpness.

Four meters was challenging, but with the dagger, she climbed quickly.

She found five fruits; two were partially red, three green.

Unsure if they were edible—she'd never seen them before—they resembled peaches, but different from those she'd eaten the day before.

She bit into one; it was sweet and juicy. Hunger made her want more, but she resisted, saving the rest.

After a while, feeling fine, she knew they weren't poisonous. She approached Ye Mo, helping him sit up and resuming chest compressions.

Soon, Ye Mo awoke, looking apologetically at Ning Qingxue. He remained silent, knowing his blood loss. Without a way to restore his chi, his fate was uncertain.

"You're awake. Eat something. You seem dehydrated," Ning Qingxue offered the fruit.

Ye Mo accepted one, eating immediately.

"Where did you find these? They're delicious. Have you eaten?" he asked, surprised.

"I have, but I don't like the taste much. Eat up, there are four more," Ning Qingxue said, handing them over.

He noticed a bite mark on one, and looked at her questioningly.

Ning Qingxue quickly explained, "I tried a few; I didn't like the taste. I only took a bite of this one. You don't mind, do you?"

Ye Mo seemed to understand, smiling but saying nothing. He knew she wouldn't dislike the fruit, though it was slightly bitter.

He didn't return the bitten fruit. His condition made staying here too dangerous.

Seeing him finish, Ning Qingxue breathed a sigh of relief. "I'll go see if there's anything else edible..."

She swayed, nearly falling, realizing her exhaustion.

Smiling reassuringly, she turned to Ye Mo, intending to rest before attempting to climb the seven- or eight-meter tree.

But Ye Mo stood, steadying her. "I'm sorry, Qingxue. I don't know how you found me, but I've brought this trouble upon you."

Ning Qingxue trembled, turning. It was the first time he'd spoken to her so gently. Overwhelmed with longing and nervousness, she rushed into his arms. "Ye Mo, I... I..."