Chapter 38: The Woman Who Got Off Midway

Ning Qingxue, rubbing her swollen, red eyes, picked up the anonymous letter. She knew it wasn't for her, but hesitated before putting it aside. Carefully packing Ye Mo's belongings into a case, she opened the door.

"Qingxue, what happened to you?" Li Mumei saw Ning Qingxue's swollen eyes and knew immediately that her suspicions were correct. Ning Qingxue was crying, and appeared deeply sorrowful.

"What's in the case?" Li Mumei eyed the case Ning Qingxue clutched protectively. Ning Qingxue's distress must be connected to its contents. She desperately wanted to know what had caused this usually stoic woman such evident grief.

"It's my things!" Ning Qingxue shook her head, refusing to relinquish the case.

Li Mumei sighed. "Qingxue, everything's settled. Let's go! We'll finalize the divorce today, then head to Yu State. Your father and his brother's negotiation didn't go well; we don't need to go to Beijing. The Ning Family Medical Materials will likely be divided."

Ning Qingxue shook her head. "Mumei, I want to wait two more days. Perhaps Ye Mo will return… and I don't want a divorce now."

"Why?!" Li Mumei stared, bewildered. Ning Qingxue had previously been eager to leave; this sudden change was baffling. What could possibly be so compelling about staying here?

Ning Qingxue remained silent, wondering when Ye Mo would return. The man she knew no longer seemed real. But when had she truly tried to understand him? Before or after their marriage, she had shown little genuine interest. Their initial meeting had even been motivated by self-interest. Li Mumei wisely refrained from further questioning; pressing the issue would be futile.

Later that evening, Xu Wei returned. For the first time, Ning Qingxue asked about Ye Mo. Despite her dislike for Ning Qingxue, Xu Wei recounted Ye Mo's activities since his arrival. Ning Qingxue found Ye Mo's life surprisingly simple; he simply went out and returned each day. Xu Wei, apparently, hadn't even realized he was a student.

…

Ye Mo left Qi Nong Cliff under cover of night. Though unafraid of the Song family, his power was still too limited. If they discovered his role in Song Shaowen's death and laid traps, he wouldn't find a safe place to cultivate his Silver Heart Grass, let alone advance his cultivation. The Song family's discovery of his involvement was inevitable—a matter of time. He needed to remain hidden, at least for three years.

Using his Cloud Shadow Steps, Ye Mo traveled at speeds comparable to a car. By 6 a.m., he reached Feng Tang Town, a mid-sized town in Feng Kou City.

He found a small hotel, intending to wash up, but realized he lacked his identity papers. Small hotels sometimes didn't require them, but he knew it would be unwise to stay in town without identification. He carried only a backpack with essentials, some food, and a few thousand dollars scavenged from Song Shaowen and his men. His goal: the mountainous regions of Gui Lin, a secluded spot near the border to cultivate in peace.

Standing outside a gas station, Ye Mo felt troubled. Traveling by car risked exposure due to his lack of identification; highway patrols frequently checked long-distance buses. Trains were an alternative, but Feng Tang Town lacked a station.

"Friend, heading somewhere? Need a ride?" A man in his thirties approached. Ye Mo’s luggage and prolonged presence at the gas station had attracted attention.

Ye Mo recognized the man as an unlicensed transporter, likely evading taxes. While most avoided such vehicles, others used them to save money. Ye Mo, however, preferred their routes, often using forest roads instead of highways, thereby avoiding complications.

"Where does your car go?" Ye Mo asked casually.

"Qi City, 55 dollars. Does that work for you?" the man replied hopefully.

Ye Mo knew Qi City; although slightly off course, it was in the right direction. The illicit transport market thrived here; the electronic board showed a 95-dollar fare to Qi City. This was almost half the price.

Ye Mo nodded. "Okay, lead the way."

The man led Ye Mo to a large bus and shouted, "Black Skin, I've got another one, 55 dollars to Qi City." He then left to solicit more passengers; he was a tout, not the driver. Boarding the bus, Ye Mo found a rear seat and closed his eyes to meditate. More passengers boarded, until a woman caught his attention. She wore gold-rimmed glasses and, while not beautiful, possessed a striking figure and an undeniable aura of danger.

It wasn't her attractiveness that caught Ye Mo's eye, but her palpable "killer's intent." Although outwardly unremarkable, her presence immediately signaled a deadly past. Her glasses seemed incongruous with her aura. She had killed before, and not just once.

She scanned the bus, seemingly oblivious to the leering glances directed at her curvaceous figure. Her gaze was sharp yet not arrogant, betraying a woman of experience and hidden depths. Ye Mo, a man with his own story, closed his eyes. Why bother with others? The bus was nearly full; although fewer than forty passengers, the journey commenced.

About half an hour later, a fare collector appeared. Ye Mo paid and continued meditating. Despite the rougher roads, the ride was relatively stable. The driver estimated a four-hour journey to Qi City; they were more than halfway.

Suddenly, a voice cut through the air. "Driver, stop! I'm getting off here."

"Madam, this is the Xiang Li Mountain District. There are no hotels here…" The driver warned, but was cut short. "That's my concern. Please stop the bus."