Chapter 697: Checking Identity

Hearing Ye Mo would be returning with her, Mu Xiaoyun worried. She quickly waved her hand. “Mo dear, you don’t need to go back. It’s hard to find a job like that, so I’ll just visit you. You stay here, and I’ll go back myself. I’ll visit later.”

Looking at Mu Xiaoyun’s expression, Ye Mo was confused. Did she really think he was her husband? Just then, the waiter arrived with their food.

He was using her, but she seemed decent, so Ye Mo would give her some wealth before leaving. He might lack coins, but he possessed hundreds of tons of gold.

Mu Xiaoyun’s eyes widened at the food. Ye Mo knew she must be hungry, so he picked up his chopsticks. “Let’s eat. We can talk while we eat.”

Mu Xiaoyun didn’t pick up her chopsticks, staring for a long time before saying, “Mo dear, isn’t this meal very expensive? Are we being wasteful?”

Ye Mo hadn’t expected that, coughing, “Um, I’ve earned quite a bit these years, so don’t worry. Eat all you like.”

Seeing Ye Mo didn’t mind, Mu Xiaoyun carefully picked up her chopsticks and began to eat.

Dinner was quiet. Ye Mo didn’t know Mu Xiaoyun’s plans and didn’t want to reveal himself by talking too much, so he spoke little. Mu Xiaoyun remained silent, waiting for Ye Mo to eat each dish before eating hers. She seemed tense and nervous.

Ye Mo finished quickly. Although Mu Xiaoyun ate well, much food remained.

Scanning his spirit sense, Ye Mo noticed increasing numbers of soldiers. Many trying to leave town were stopped. Clearly, he couldn’t leave today.

“Let’s go,” Ye Mo said, standing. He wanted to take Mu Xiaoyun back to the Yu estate.

Mu Xiaoyun looked at the leftovers, hesitating before asking, “Should we take the leftovers back?”

Ye Mo thought, ‘If Mu Xiaoyun were only using me, she wouldn’t care about this. She’d find a way to escape.’

Suddenly, the doors opened, and a Yu estate manager entered. Seeing Ye Mo and Mu Xiaoyun, he breathed a sigh of relief. “Mo Ying, thank goodness you’re here! I’ve been looking for you. The Young Miss wants to see you, but couldn’t find you.”

Ye Mo intended to go to the Yu estate anyway. “Oh, then I’ll go right away. I just ate here. You can pay for the food. I’ll go ahead. Xiaoyun, let’s go.”

Ye Mo pulled Mu Xiaoyun out before the man could react. The man then saw the waiter awaiting payment.

…

“Mo dear, why don’t I wait outside?” Mu Xiaoyun saw the grand Yu estate and hesitated to enter with Ye Mo.

Ye Mo pulled her. “Let’s go in together. It’s dangerous outside now.”

Mu Xiaoyun said nothing, following Ye Mo carefully.

“Mo Ying, where did you go? I told you not to wander around! The Young Miss took you on to work for her, not to roam freely!” a servant scolded.

Mu Xiaoyun shivered.

Ye Mo looked coldly at him. “Shut up. I was hired by the Young Miss for a high price. If you say another word, I’ll kick you out.”

The servant, unfamiliar with Ye Mo, didn’t dare speak further. After a moment, he said, “The Young Miss said to go to the guest hall. Message delivered.”

The servant quickly left.

Ye Mo’s spirit sense detected two men in official clothing recording something in the hall. Young Miss Yu was also there. Ye Mo understood: an identity check.

Ye Mo pulled Mu Xiaoyun. “Xiaoyun, let’s go.”

Seeing Ye Mo with a woman, the Young Miss frowned, then composed herself. She looked at Ye Mo. “Mo Ying, these officials have questions. Answer honestly.”

Seeing the red-clothed man, Ye Mo knew he was in danger. The man possessed earth level peak power. Escape would be difficult if he blew his cover.

The red-clothed man asked, “What’s your name? Where are you from? What do you do?”

“My name is Mo Yousheng. Due to a disaster in my hometown, I fled to Huang Ping Village three years ago. For lack of food, I changed my name to Mo Ying and went into business. I was robbed by bandits and later saved by Young Miss Yu. I became a servant of the Yu estate. I lost my money and face, too ashamed to see my family. I didn’t expect my wife to find me here in Ci Xi Town.” Ye Mo’s reply was simple, lacking real content.

Before the red-clothed man could respond, Young Miss Yu added, “I met Mo Ying at Hang Shui half a year ago. His business was going well, but—Sigh—”

Ye Mo didn’t know why she helped him, nor where Hang Shui was, but he wouldn’t point that out.

Mu Xiaoyun was confused. She was sure Ye Mo lied, but wouldn’t betray him.

“Your wife’s name?” the red-clothed man asked impassively.

“Mu Xiaoyun,” Ye Mo replied.

“Search ‘Mu Xiaoyun,’ and get me a drawing of Mu Xiaoyun and Mo Yousheng,” the red-clothed man ordered.

“Yes!” A man retrieved many books.

Ye Mo was shocked. How could he pretend to be Mo Yousheng now? There were paintings of them!

Ye Mo thought quickly. If they discovered his deception, escape would be difficult. An earth level peak expert would be a tough opponent.

He might escape town, but what then? The identity system was strict. Even leaving town, where would he go? The deep woods? Escape would still be hard.

If that happened, he’d have to leave Mu Xiaoyun behind.

Soon, the book and paintings were found.

The red-clothed man looked at the painting, nodding. “Put it away.”

Ye Mo was shocked. His spirit sense detected the man in the painting was about 80% like him.

Had his face not been ruined, his deception would be obvious, but his injuries obscured the differences.

No wonder Mu Xiaoyun thought he was her husband!

Ye Mo breathed a sigh of relief, receiving a white card indicating his identity check was complete.

Young Miss Yu glanced at Ye Mo and Mu Xiaoyun. “Go rest. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

A maid took Mu Xiaoyun to shower. Although Mu Xiaoyun protested, Ye Mo sensed she wanted to go.

Returning, Ye Mo found Mu Xiaoyun prettier than Young Miss Yu! Her tattered clothes and dirt had hidden her beauty, but clean, her face was lovely. Her previously constrained chest now filled her clothes.