Chapter 35: Ye Mo's Absence
It began with the sight of Ah Fa sprawled on the ground, Ye Mo standing victoriously on his chest, his gaze cold as he stared at Ah Fa and Wang Chuan. The speed of Ye Mo's victory was astonishing; Ah Fa was Song Shaowen's most trusted henchman. Before Shaowen even hit the ground after Ye Mo's swift attack, he was kicked.
"Crack!" Ye Mo's kick shattered Song Shaowen's leg. "Argh!" Song Shaowen cried out, breaking into a cold sweat. Wang Chuan trembled, witnessing the brutal display. "What kind of man is he? His moves are terrifying. He's a monster."
"Get in the car!" Ye Mo's murderous glare sent shivers down Wang Chuan's spine. He dared not disobey, quickly climbing into the vehicle. His fear intensified as Ye Mo effortlessly carried both Song Shaowen and Ah Fa, one under each arm, and followed.
Song Shaowen was in agony, near fainting. Given another chance, he'd choose any insult over facing Ye Mo, the demon. Shaowen, usually considered the demon, now understood; the true demon was the seemingly weak Ye Mo.
When he tortured people, he at least showed emotion. But Ye Mo's leg-breaking was as casual as stepping on an ant; his expression remained impassive.
The car was only a few hundred meters away, parked on a secluded side street—Song Shaowen's habit to avoid attention. At 2:00 a.m., the streets were deserted. Ye Mo threw Song Shaowen and Ah Fa into the back seat, took their money, then sat beside Wang Chuan, ordering, "Drive to Guilin."
Guilin, bordering several small countries in the mountains, was sparsely populated—ideal for Ye Mo's cultivation. Even if anyone discovered Song Shaowen's death, apprehending Ye Mo there would be extremely difficult.
"What? Guilin?" Wang Chuan was shocked. Guilin was nearly a thousand kilometers from Ning Hai.
"No arguments," Ye Mo snapped, silencing Wang Chuan. He started the BMW, speeding away from Ning Hai.
About an hour into the drive, Ye Mo remembered his medical kit in his room. Returning would mean waiting until dawn, so he abandoned the idea. It only contained soup, pills, a letter, and miscellaneous items.
Song Shaowen, Ah Fa, and Wang Chuan were humiliated. They were used to dishing out punishment, but this time, the supposedly useless Ye Mo had not only defeated them but robbed them as well.
"Young Master Mo, I wronged you. But you know the Song family's power. If anything happens to me, you won't escape. If you let me go, I won't harm you further—" Song Shaowen began to plead, realizing Ye Mo's savagery surpassed his own.
Before he finished, "Slap, slap!" Ye Mo struck him twice, then said slowly, "Stop your lies. It's best if the Song family stays out of this. If they interfere, I'll erase them from Beijing. I, Ye Mo, do as I say. You might not live to see it."
"You" Song Shaowen spat out teeth, trembling with a mix of anger and fear. Ye Mo's words implied a death threat, a possibility Song Shaowen, despite his disbelief, dreaded. Regret gnawed at him.
Another hour passed. Seeing the highway winding precariously along a mountainside, Ye Mo thought, "It's almost dawn." Pushing the car off the cliff seemed ideal. He never intended to reach Guilin.
Then he spotted a camera. He suddenly ducked and swerved the wheel. Wang Chuan, still planning how to alert the police, was caught off guard. The car veered sharply, plunging off the cliff.
As the car plummeted, Ye Mo kicked open the door, using his Wind Controlling Technique to glide to the cliff face. While he needed the third stage of Chi Gathering for full effectiveness, his second stage was enough to save his life.
The BMW crashed, exploding in a fiery ball. Ye Mo was relieved; he'd planned to destroy the car himself if it hadn't burned.
Avoiding cameras, he disappeared into the forest.
Ning Qingxue awoke to find Xu Wei gone to work and Ye Mo hadn't made her breakfast. This was unlike him. She missed his presence; even the expensive wine he'd consumed wasn't enough to soften this disappointment. She was leaving the next day, which was a relief; his presence was becoming increasingly repulsive.
Disappointment grew as Ye Mo remained absent at noon. She realized her dependence on him. Without him, would she go without food? The absence of Song family harassment was a comfort, however, especially given her impending departure with her parents.
Later, she noticed his neglected flower pots. Some plants had died; a silver-colored pot, one Ye Mo had particularly cherished, was missing. Annoyance welled up; she almost called Li Mumei when her phone rang.
"Qingxue, great news! Song Shaowen's car went over a cliff on Feng Jin Highway around 4:00 a.m. He and his henchmen are dead! You're safe! I'll pick you up tomorrow" Li Mumei's jubilant voice was almost unbelievable.
After hanging up, the news still felt surreal. Relief flooded her, followed by the urge to retrieve her marriage certificate and divorce Ye Mo upon his return.
That afternoon stretched endlessly. Even at 8:00 p.m., Ye Mo hadn't returned, but Xu Wei had come home, finding Ning Qingxue waiting outside, rather than in her room. Ye Mo was still absent.
"You're Xu Wei, right?" Ning Qingxue asked hesitantly.