Chapter 63: Departure
Translator: Tim Editor: Tehrn
Ye Mo urged Chi Wanqing to move to his left, as a bare cockroach was hiding under a rock to his right, watching them intently. Instead of fleeing, the creature was waiting for an opportunity to attack.
Chi Wanqing was unaware of the danger, but obeyed Ye Mo's instruction. Knowing the cockroach's cunning, Ye Mo subtly shifted, pretending not to notice the creature moving alongside them.
The bare cockroach, seeing Ye Mo's back, crept closer, preparing to strike.
"Why are you being so careful?" Chi Wanqing whispered. Ye Mo didn't answer, but suddenly spun around and snatched the cockroach from the air with lightning-fast reflexes, leaving Chi Wanqing speechless.
"Ji!" The bare cockroach shrieked as it was caught mid-leap. Without using chi, Ye Mo wouldn't have been able to capture the swift creature.
Feeling the cockroach's powerful struggle, Ye Mo urgently instructed, "Wanqing, quickly bite the tip of your finger! This thing is incredibly strong."
The cockroach, realizing it had been tricked, struggled even more fiercely. Ye Mo was astonished by its strength—remarkable for such a young specimen.
Chi Wanqing, seeing its green eyes, felt a chill run down her spine. Her fear wasn't for herself, but for Ye Mo. Responding to his yell, she immediately bit her finger, despite her confusion.
Ye Mo used a knife to slit open the cockroach's head. As blood flowed, he touched the wound with Chi Wanqing's bleeding finger, performing intricate hand gestures, as if working some kind of mystical art.
Chi Wanqing watched in stunned silence, noticing the sweat on Ye Mo's brow. She wanted to wipe it away, but feared interrupting him. His movements seemed mysterious, almost magical, yet she had complete faith in him.
Gradually, the cockroach's struggles ceased. Once released, it darted to Chi Wanqing's feet, rubbing its head against her shoe, as if showing affection.
Chi Wanqing, still focused on Ye Mo, was startled by the sudden movement. Ye Mo quickly reassured her: "It's subdued, but lacking spirit sense, you can only command it with words. Don't worry; it won't attack unless you order it to."
He explained that since Chi Wanqing wasn't a cultivator, she couldn't command the cockroach through her will, only verbally. Full mental control would take time.
"Brother Ye, how did you do that? It's so strange!" Chi Wanqing, seeing the cockroach's apparent docility, calmed down.
Ye Mo smiled. "It's a common folk method I learned. It only works on a few special creatures, and the bare cockroach is one of them."
"Bare cockroach?" Chi Wanqing found the name unusual for the snake-like creature.
"I'll call it 'Little Wolf'," Chi Wanqing declared, still slightly apprehensive. "It won't bite, right?"
"No," Ye Mo confirmed. Even untamed, bare cockroaches are drawn to chi, and even less so after a slave pact. He continued, "Feed it bamboo shoots, or let it hunt. Most people won't even see a bare cockroach."
Back at the campsite, the others were amazed by Ye Mo's capture of such a powerful pet. Lu Lin suggested making a small linen bag to keep Little Wolf close to Chi Wanqing.
Ye Mo had originally planned to leave after escorting them out of the forest. However, because of Chi Wanqing, he stayed.
Although Chi Wanqing had enjoyed riding on Ye Mo's back, she was now fully recovered and felt self-conscious, so she walked beside him.
For the next few days, Ye Mo taught Fang Wei some practical techniques, later sharing them with Guo Qi and Lu Lin. He even taught them basic breathing exercises; while not enough for chi cultivation, consistent practice would develop inner strength.
That evening, after Guo Qi prepared their campsite, Fang Wei invited Chi Wanqing to join the training.
Lu Lin playfully smacked Fang Wei. "Wanqing's getting private lessons from Ye Mo! What are you chattering about?" Chi Wanqing, playing with Little Wolf, blushed, glancing at Ye Mo but offering no explanation.
Ye Mo smiled, accepting Lu Lin's teasing. He hadn't actually planned private lessons, though he might have written out some breathing techniques if he had paper and pen.
Ye Mo appreciated Chi Wanqing's bravery in saving his life, and her apparent affection. However, he knew he felt only gratitude; his heart belonged to Luo Ying. He'd only captured the bare cockroach to repay Chi Wanqing.
The bare cockroach was also strategically important to Ye Mo, enhancing his safety in a world of stronger individuals. Giving it to Chi Wanqing was his way of repaying her kindness.
On the eleventh day, they encountered their relief team. It was time for Ye Mo to depart.
Chi Wanqing, feeling a sense of loss, pleaded with him to help her cousin at Luo Cang. She lacked a reason to keep him, hoping he'd visit her mother's company, providing a potential opportunity for her to leave the army and rejoin him.
Ye Mo, seeing her hopeful expression, couldn't refuse. However, he knew that obtaining Silver Heart Grass would take several years, making another meeting unlikely.
Watching Ye Mo disappear into the forest, Chi Wanqing felt a profound sense of loss and disappointment.