Chapter 48: Ambushed

Translator: Tim Editor: Tehrn/Carolin

Su Jingwen touched the bracelet on her wrist, instantly regretting giving three beads to Ning Qingxue. She shouldn't have listened to Su Mei and changed her opinion of Ye Mo. Even witnessing the teacher's harsh words about Ye Mo didn't necessarily prove him guilty; perhaps the teacher was mistaken. Even if Ye Mo were at fault, it didn't concern her.

If a similar situation arose, she'd believe Ye Mo. After all, she knew him, unlike the teacher. "You know a person's face, but not their heart…" she mused. The teacher's cold demeanor didn't reflect her true nature. Su Jingwen believed Ye Mo was not as the teacher and Su Mei described him.

However, the beads were already given, and she couldn't retrieve them. She could only blame Ning Qingxue's inopportune request. Had it been even a day later, after her meeting with Yun Bing, she would have reconsidered.

Fortunately, she only gave three beads. Giving the entire bracelet would have resulted in far greater regret. After all, Ye Mo had made it for her. While not valuable, it was her only handmade gift.

She wanted to visit Ye Mo but didn't know his whereabouts; even Ning Qingxue was unaware. Li Mumei also didn't know, but Su Jingwen decided to ask, just in case. She pulled out her phone to call Li Mumei, but her own phone rang instead—it was Yun Bing, and Su Jingwen knew Su Mei must have given her number.

After arranging a meeting, Yun Bing arrived swiftly, within half an hour. Hearing Yun Bing's purpose, Su Jingwen was astonished. "What?! You want to see Ye Mo? Why? The last time I asked you about him, you said he was a…"

Su Jingwen trailed off, her meaning clear. "Since you spoke so poorly of him, why do you want to see him now?" she thought, but didn't voice her suspicion to the unfamiliar Yun Bing. While wanting to see Ye Mo, she didn't want to bring Yun Bing along.

"I misunderstood him," Yun Bing stated frankly. "I want to apologize."

Su Jingwen's heart lightened; she'd been right about Ye Mo. However, she disliked Yun Bing's impulsive judgment and subsequent desire for reconciliation. This kind of woman was irritating. Apologizing was only right after speaking ill of someone.

A quick call to Li Mumei yielded no news of Ye Mo; he'd vanished without a trace.

"What? Where did Ye Mo go?" Yun Bing's disappointment was palpable. She suspected Su Jingwen was withholding information, but Su Jingwen's expression convinced her otherwise.

…

Ye Mo relocated to Zhuo Aiguo's hotel and boarded an 8 AM flight the following day. Zhuo Aiguo had arranged the tickets. Two hours later, the plane landed at Gui Lin City Airport without incident. Zhuo Aiguo proved far more reliable than Wen Dong. Wen Dong had assured Ye Mo of safety, but had Ye Mo not been in the second stage of Chi Gathering and exceptionally cautious, he might have been killed. He wouldn't risk his life for $50,000.

"Ye Mo, we've arrived. Someone will pick us up. My plan is to go straight to Flowing Snake, avoiding an overnight stay in Gui Lin," Zhuo Aiguo stated, eager to leave. This suited Ye Mo perfectly; he also wanted to avoid delays.

An Audi arrived. The driver, a seemingly unassuming young man, respectfully addressed Zhuo Aiguo as "Boss."

"This is my chauffeur, Xiao Yu. He's been to Flowing Snake a few times and knows the area," Zhuo Aiguo explained.

Ye Mo assessed the youth; strong, but untrained in martial arts. Despite his quiet demeanor, the chauffeur drove steadily and swiftly. After two hours, the car left the paved road for a steep mountain path. Another two hours brought them to better roads, yet the area remained desolate, devoid of villages. Ye Mo wondered about their destination; its remoteness explained the need for a driver.

He welcomed the isolation. This remote location was perfect for cultivation and hiding from the Song Family, a colossal organization he couldn't currently contend with.

Ten minutes later, they entered a large valley. Ye Mo heard a sound, looked back, and saw their route blocked.

Zhuo Aiguo and the chauffeur also noticed. Zhuo Aiguo's face fell, but the driver remained calm. "Boss, just give them money. They usually only want money," he said. Zhuo Aiguo nodded. A hundred meters further, they were stopped, along with a Mercedes.

"Get out! All of you, get out!" a burly man with a megaphone shouted. Two men flanking him carried guns, inferior to Wen Dong's AK. Ye Mo doubted they could even hit him before he reacted.

Two people emerged from the Mercedes: a tall, somewhat bulky, handsome man and a tall, well-proportioned woman. The man was impeccably dressed in designer brands, yet his pale face betrayed his surprise at the situation.

The woman, turning to look at Ye Mo's Audi, appeared confused. Her graceful demeanor, perfectly fitted jeans, and subtly applied makeup made her striking. A silver necklace hinted at sophistication.

Though not as beautiful as Su Jingwen or Ning Qingxue, her unique temperament and long hair were captivating. Her closeness to the man and worried expression suggested a close relationship; she appeared less frightened than he was.