Chapter 308: Catching the Thief and the Loot

Hearing Luo Xuan say that, Ye Mo’s face fell. “I can go, but not for a week. Not these few days,” he said. Even if he exposed himself, it would have to be after he made his pills and reached stage 4. Otherwise, he’d rather not. But this little girl already suspected him.

Luo Xuan smiled sweetly. “There’s still time before that qian bei’s birthday, so don’t worry.”

Watching Luo Xuan leave, Ye Mo suspected his little tricks had been seen through. Perhaps she knew all along the qi recovery pills were in his possession. How were little girls so smart these days?

Luo Xuan watched Ye Mo go and murmured, “My qi recovery pills were definitely taken by him. I didn’t think he was this bad. He’s a young man, but he’s lazy, calls hookers, and steals my things. He’s really bad. Big martial sister is right. People outside are too evil. I just don’t know where he hid my qi recovery pills. I’ll let you meet the Huo Que of Chun An University. This is your fault for stealing my qi recovery pills. When you offend Huo Que, let’s see what you’ll do. When you beg me for help, you can give my pills back.”

…

When Ye Mo returned, people were already replacing the door, and Luo Xuan watched from the side. Seeing Ye Mo, she nodded but said nothing. The door was replaced quickly, with Luo Xuan paying. Ye Mo, short on cash, didn’t offer to contribute, as she’d broken the door.

Watching Ye Mo close the door, Luo Xuan felt uncomfortable. This man was not only bad but also stingy. Even if she broke his door, she wouldn’t have taken his money if he’d offered. But he didn’t even offer.

Still, Luo Xuan took out her peach wood sword and hung it on Ye Mo’s door. Ye Mo saw it clearly—a genuine peach wood sword this time. It seemed Luo Xuan still had some conscience.

Seeing Luo Xuan go to bed, Ye Mo withdrew his spirit sense. He knew she hadn’t slept last night.

Ye Mo had planned to concoct other pills for practice, but his storage ring held few ingredients. Using them all might not even yield a chi-increasing pill. He decided to try the chi-increasing pills first. He had Luo Xuan’s qi recovery pills now. He wasn’t 100% certain of success, but it was better than yesterday’s zero chance.

He waited until Luo Xuan fell asleep before cutting half a blood coral and taking out the Shen Nong cauldron. He dumped the ingredients in and started melting them into liquid, as before.

Two hours later, Ye Mo felt his chi depleting. He immediately took a qi recovery pill. His chi recovered somewhat, but it was far from enough. Ye Mo sighed; this qi recovery pill wasn’t good, yet Luo Xuan treated it like treasure.

He swallowed five more pills. After six, his chi was halfway recovered. The withered chi fire at the cauldron’s bottom blazed again. An hour later, he ate two more, and the liquid began to coagulate.

Ye Mo focused entirely on the cauldron. This was his only chance. If he failed, he’d have no more qi recovery pills, despite a cauldron full of ingredients. In the cultivation realm, he could set up a chi-gathering formation, but now, he had nothing.

The liquid coagulated further. Though he wanted two more qi recovery pills, he couldn’t spare the attention.

Sweat poured from Ye Mo. His head steamed, but the aroma from the cauldron intensified. Eventually, the pill liquid formed into pills. Ye Mo yelled; a crisp sound came from the cauldron. A few faint red pills flew out, and Ye Mo quickly collected them in jade containers.

He’d made nine! Ye Mo was overjoyed. This far exceeded his expectations.

Ye Mo packed away the cauldron and realized he was drenched in sweat, weak from the effort. He felt gratitude toward Luo Xuan. Without her, even at his best, he couldn’t have made them.

Just as Ye Mo stood up, his door was kicked open.

Luo Xuan looked at the exhausted Ye Mo, speechless.

After a long while, she managed, “You…”

Ye Mo looked at her helplessly. He wanted to cry. This girl had kicked his door twice—first the front door, then his bedroom door. Luckily, he’d finished the pills; otherwise, he’d be finished.

“Luo Xuan, please don’t kick my door. You’re violating my privacy,” Ye Mo sighed.

If not for Luo Xuan’s qi recovery pills and his successful concoction of chi-increasing pills, and his good mood, he might have kicked her out already.

“Sorry, I didn’t know what you were doing. I left a key, and I called and rang the doorbell, but you didn’t answer. I thought something had happened,” Luo Xuan said awkwardly.

Ye Mo looked at her helplessly. “Am I not allowed to go out? I’m not your husband. You don’t need to watch me constantly. Please, don’t kick my door again. And stop saying sorry,” Ye Mo sighed. He’d be moving in a few days anyway. He was scared of her.

Luo Xuan couldn’t say she’d left a sign on his door, allowing her to know if he left or if anyone—or any ghost—entered. She couldn't bring herself to say it. Her intention was to check for ghosts, but she was too embarrassed to admit it. Then, her eyes fell on a bottle beside Ye Mo—obviously her qi recovery pill bottle.

Ye Mo saw her notice and couldn’t criticize her further. This was catching the thief and the loot.

Ye Mo laughed awkwardly. “Aiya, hahaha, look, I found your qi recovery pills. You can have them back, but I think only three are left. I think ants ate the rest. Evil ants! Don’t they know these are precious?” He thrust the bottle back into Luo Xuan’s hands.

Luo Xuan took the bottle and opened it. Seeing only three pills left, tears welled in her eyes.

Ye Mo stood there, embarrassed. After a while, he said, “Sorry, I took your qi recovery pills. I’m also cultivating martial arts, and they’re useful to me. What I said before was a lie.”

Looking at Luo Xuan’s sad face, he couldn’t lie to her anymore.

Luo Xuan wiped her eyes, holding the jade bottle tight, but said nothing.

Ye Mo sighed. “Okay, when you go to that qian bei’s birthday, I’ll go, and I’ll annoy Huo Que so he’ll look for trouble with me. Is that okay?”

Luo Xuan carefully took back the pills, her face recovering. She looked up at Ye Mo. “I knew you took the pills. When you ate them and were fine, I figured you were also cultivating inner qi. I wanted you to give some back, but because of me, you almost got killed by the ghost, so I said nothing.”

Ye Mo was dazed. This little girl knew, and he’d been acting. This was awkward. It seemed that thinking others were fools made you the real fool.

Seeing Ye Mo’s awkwardness, Luo Xuan felt better. “I planned for Huo Que to trouble you, but since you returned my pills, I’ll let you go. Come with me. I won’t let Huo Que bother you in the future. Don’t worry, just… just…”

“Just what? If you have something to say, say it,” Ye Mo said shamelessly. The awkwardness over, he was back to normal.

Luo Xuan looked at Ye Mo hesitantly. “Since you’re also practicing ancient martial arts, I need to remind you that the taboo for martial artists is distraction and lust. I see you aren’t entirely bad, so I must warn you. It’s up to you if you listen.”

Ye Mo was shocked by Luo Xuan’s blunt words. He knew what she thought of him. That policewoman called him a whorehound.

Ye Mo waved his hand. “I know. You go back first. I’ll go into seclusion for a few days. Don’t kick my door again. I’ll find you when I’m done.”

He wanted to compensate Luo Xuan with two chi-increasing pills, but not before he ascended.

“Psch.” This was the first time Ye Mo saw Luo Xuan laugh like that. He was dazed. Luo Xuan said speechlessly, “Sigh, I suggest you don’t. You’ve watched too many fighting dramas. Hahaha, don’t forget to eat. I’m going.”