Chapter 54: The Leisurely Person in the Forest

Translator: Tim; Editor: Tehrn/Carolin

Despite Fang Nan providing directions, his memory was hazy after so many years. Though Fang Nan offered to help, Ye Mo knew the search would be lengthy. The recent extermination of thirteen turbos necessitated resource redistribution in Flowing Snake, leaving Fang Nan preoccupied. He therefore declined Fang Nan's assistance, confident he'd be faster alone in the forest.

Ye Mo searched the vast forest for three days without finding Fang Nan's buried lama. He encountered numerous dangers, including a cheetah, two wolves, and twenty venomous snakes within a single day. Fang Nan's most crucial clue—two evergreen trees—remained elusive.

However, Ye Mo possessed ample patience. On the fourth day, despite the forest's depth, he resolved to search further, but first, he needed sustenance.

While roasting a wild rabbit and mentally reviewing his search area, gunshots interrupted his thoughts. He saw a robust, thirty-year-old man staggering toward him, clutching a triple-edged military knife.

The man was wounded and his clothes tattered. The most serious injury appeared to be a gunshot wound to his side, bleeding profusely through his ragged clothing.

Upon seeing Ye Mo, the man was astonished to find someone leisurely roasting a rabbit so deep in the forest. Even in his desperate flight, his hunger pangs were audible.

Ye Mo sensed a familiar, killer's Qi emanating from the man, similar to Wang Xu, whom he'd met at Su Jingwen's birthday party. He concluded they belonged to the same group, though he remained uncertain of their pursuers.

As Ye Mo considered Wang Xu, hurried footsteps approached. Three armed men appeared, and the injured man looked apologetically at Ye Mo, but remained silent.

The three men stopped when the injured man did, surprised to see Ye Mo roasting a rabbit. They recognized the inherent danger of the location and the unusual nature of his actions.

Silence descended, broken only by the sizzle and aroma of the cooking rabbit.

After a shared glance, the darker-skinned man said, "Friend, this isn't your concern. Please move. We only wish to apprehend the escapee."

His accent was peculiar. Ye Mo was about to retort, "This isn't your home; why should I move?" when one man raised his gun, threatening to shoot.

Before the trigger was pulled, barely audible sounds filled the air. Three red dots appeared on their foreheads, followed by spurts of blood. They stared at Ye Mo in disbelief before collapsing, their demise virtually instantaneous.

Ye Mo disliked killing but was merciless toward threats. His hardened nails served as a deterrent against future gun threats. The injured man watched in stunned disbelief as his pursuers were so easily dispatched. His earlier surprise at Ye Mo's relaxed demeanor was replaced by awe.

"The rabbit's ready. Would you like some?" Ye Mo asked the man, his tone pleasant. His positive impression of Wang Xu extended to this apparent associate.

"Ah, yes, thank you I'm Guo Qi. Thank you for saving my life." Guo Qi offered a fist salute, his demeanor calming. Ye Mo smiled, "It's nothing. Fate brought us together. I'm Ye Mo."

He sliced the rabbit in half. After retrieving and crushing some herbs from his pack, he sprinkled them on his portion. Guo Qi watched this seemingly unhygienic procedure with confusion. Ye Mo didn't offer the herb-sprinkled half; instead, he said, "Come here. I'll examine your wounds."

Guo Qi, understanding Ye Mo's intentions, approached. Ye Mo struck the opposite side of Guo Qi's wound with his palm, ejecting the bullet like a comet. Guo Qi felt no pain.

"How is this possible?!" Guo Qi exclaimed, astonished by the bullet's effortless removal.

Ignoring Guo Qi's shock, Ye Mo offered the rabbit half, along with two more herbs, "Chew these, apply them to your wound, and eat the rabbit. You'll be fine."

Ye Mo then resumed eating, unconcerned. Guo Qi marveled at the rapid healing and cooling sensation, intrigued by the potent herbs. His gratitude evolved into reverence. He was awestruck by Ye Mo's calm demeanor while roasting a rabbit in a dangerous forest, his ability to heal a gunshot wound and extract a bullet with a single touch.

Witnessing Ye Mo's swift killing of the Yue special forces solidified Guo Qi's awe. "Those three were Yue. Our squad was ambushed. Besides me, two died, and three survivors are likely captured. I escaped to seek help."

Ye Mo frowned. He wasn't a soldier. He viewed Guo Qi's unit's defeat with disdain. Though reluctant to assist, his negative experience with Yue, who had blockaded him upon his arrival in Flowing Snake, fueled his antipathy.

"While I'd like to help, I'm searching for something," Ye Mo said, rising to leave. He felt no obligation to aid a stranger, especially when he had pressing matters. He'd saved Guo Qi's life; further assistance would be a burden.