Chapter 203: I Know

Ye Mo sighed; he understood Ning Qingxue's feelings. But in this moment, he also understood her fragility. Her legs trembled, making it clear she could barely stand.

"Qingxue, let's talk later. If you trust me, sit down for a while," Ye Mo said gently, helping her to sit.

"Mhm, I'll listen to you…" Ning Qingxue murmured, nearly falling asleep mid-sentence. Ye Mo knew she was exhausted and shouldn't be disturbed.

He carefully laid her down and picked up his sword. Walking to the cliff, he saw holes dug by her, evidence of her climb to gather fruit.

Regaining some strength, Ye Mo climbed the seven-meter-high tree. He found only five egg-sized fruits.

Though more trees loomed above, Ye Mo knew he couldn't climb further; his body wouldn't hold up. More importantly, Ning Qingxue needed nourishment. After gathering all five fruits, he looked up. The higher tree also bore only five fruits.

It seemed each tree yielded only five fruits at a time. Ning Qingxue had claimed she ate many and even disliked them—a lie, Ye Mo knew. His heart softened toward her. Understanding people was difficult. If he'd left Ning Hai then, their paths might never have crossed, and he would never have seen this side of her.

Returning, he found Ning Qingxue awake and struggling to rise. Her weakness was evident. Ye Mo quickly helped her, offering the five fruits. "Eat something."

"You picked these from the cliff?" Ning Qingxue instantly recognized his efforts.

Ye Mo nodded. "You must be hungry. Eat first."

Ning Qingxue took two. "Two are enough. You eat the rest."

Ye Mo subconsciously shook his head. "I've already eaten."

Ning Qingxue paused, then laughed. Her eyes welled up as she looked at him. "I know there are only five fruits on each tree. I counted. There are five here, so you must not have eaten unless you picked from two trees. But I know you only picked one, right?"

Ye Mo nodded awkwardly. "Didn't you say you ate earlier? And you gave me five."

Ning Qingxue blushed, biting into a fruit. "I did eat. Didn't you see one with a bite mark?" she said softly.

"Why only one bite? And how did you know I only picked five and returned?" Ye Mo asked, surprised.

"I know," she replied simply, without further explanation. He realized she'd only answered his second question—and vaguely at that—leaving the first unanswered.

"You know," Ye Mo repeated. He understood: his concern for Ning Qingxue had prevented him from climbing higher for more fruit; he'd returned immediately to alleviate her hunger. Her acknowledgment meant she understood his actions.

Ye Mo gazed at Ning Qingxue as she ate. He finally understood why she'd pursued him here. She trusted him implicitly. Words failed him.

Her serene eating reminded him of their meals in Ning Hai. She'd always been like this: quiet, yet their thoughts aligned.

His gaze drifted to her chest. Her clothes were badly torn, revealing wounds and glimpses of her snowy skin. The night he'd treated her wounds flashed through his mind.

Ning Qingxue finished a fruit, then noticed Ye Mo staring. Blushing, she instinctively shielded her chest. There was no anger, only embarrassment.

Ye Mo quickly looked away, but then worried about infection. He, as a cultivator, wasn't at risk, but Ning Qingxue was.

Suddenly, he understood her bite mark. She’d been afraid the fruit was poisonous and had tasted it first before giving it to him.

"Qingxue…" Ye Mo called. She looked at him questioningly.

He pulled her into his arms. Surprise and joy filled Ning Qingxue’s heart. It was the first time he'd held her so closely. Though slightly embarrassed, she didn't resist.

"I'm just a poor man. Why are you like this? You could find someone better…" Ye Mo began, but Ning Qingxue silenced him with a kiss.

After a moment, she said, "Because I like you, even if you're… I don't care. I just want to be with you…"

Before she finished, she felt something hard against her back. Ye Mo was aroused. He was holding a nearly naked beauty, and a physical response was inevitable.

Ning Qingxue, inexperienced in such matters, initially didn't grasp the situation. Her reaction was instinctive, like Yun Bing's. But realizing what was happening, she quickly pulled away, burying her face in his arms.

Her heart pounded. Though unfamiliar with such intimacy, she understood its nature. She hadn't expected Ye Mo to be…normal.

She realized the Ye Family's claim of Ye Mo's impotence was a ploy to cast him off. He was perfectly normal. Had she known, would she have dared to marry him? She found herself thanking the Ye Family.

Ye Mo, though awkward, was helpless. He was a young man, holding a half-naked woman; a reaction was natural.

"Um, sorry, that's not something I can control…" he stammered.

Ning Qingxue was even more embarrassed by his apology. "You're bad…" she whispered.

Seeing his silence, she feared he was angry, lifting her head to find him gazing at her. Startled, she quickly lowered her head like an ostrich. "I really like it, but not now…after we go back…"

Ye Mo’s heart leaped. He’d barely heard her last words; his arousal vanished instantly. Ning Qingxue, sensing his change, looked up in confusion.

"Qingxue, I'm sorry…" Ye Mo apologized.

Her face paled again, and he realized the depth of her feelings. He pulled her close again.

She tried to sit up, but he held her fast. She didn't struggle, simply wiping her eyes. She didn't speak, nor did she touch the fruit.

He couldn't avoid it. Ye Mo sighed, gathering his thoughts. "Qingxue, you've shown me such devotion, and I like you too. If it weren't for Luo Ying, and since I can't advance my cultivation here anyway, I might as well spend my life with you. But…there's still Luo Ying in my heart. Until I find her, I can't do anything that would betray her…"

Ning Qingxue looked up, confused. "Luo Ying? Who is she?"

Ye Mo fell silent. He knew he couldn't hide this; confessing was necessary. "Luo Ying was my woman in my past life. Maybe she's in another world, or maybe nearby, but I can't find her… Qingxue, would I lie and invent a woman?"

Ning Qingxue shook her head. "No."

Her past experiences—magical artifacts, charms, the terrifying Shen Nong Jia sky ditch—had changed her. She was no longer the girl who scoffed at Su Jingwen's tales of charms. Her understanding of love, and her maturity, had deepened.

Before, she might have summoned a helicopter to rescue Ye Mo. Now, she understood the Song Family’s machinations. Before, she wouldn't have risked her life for an uncommitted love; now, she did so without hesitation.

"Thank you, Qingxue, for believing me," Ye Mo said gratefully, hugging her tightly. "I feel I can find Luo Ying. Without her, I wouldn't be here. She cares for me as you do."

Ye Mo didn't elaborate, and Ning Qingxue didn't press him. Some things required only unspoken understanding.

However, Ning Qingxue raised her head. "I know. I'm happy you understand my feelings. But can you promise me one thing?"