Chapter 721: Life or Death Battle

Translator: Timothy_ Editor: GlobeGlotter

Ji Yilan quickly said, “With your talent and Grandma’s teaching, you’re sure to reach great heights and even surpass your predecessors.”

“Thank you, Martial Sister Yilan.” Mu Xiaoyun wasn’t stupid. She knew this concerned her husband.

Ji Yilan nodded. “Xiaoyun, I know your relationship with your husband is excellent, and I don’t want to say much. However, I heard something I need to tell you. Your husband seems to have a relationship with an outer sect member from Shang Qing Mountain, Yu Yuyan. They were together before, and—and—”

Mu Xiaoyun calmly looked at Ji Yilan—she knew what was coming.

Ji Yilan was too embarrassed to mention abortion, but Mu Xiaoyun understood. She rose and said, “Thank you for your concern, Martial Sister Yilan. A wife doesn’t discuss her husband’s failings. I know his character. Even if what you said is true, it’s the other woman being promiscuous. It has nothing to do with my husband. I come from a medical family; I know my husband.”

Mu Xiaoyun continued, “Martial Sister Yilan, meeting my husband is my greatest fortune. As long as he’s well, I’m happy. Martial Sister Yilan, I’m leaving.”

Ji Yilan couldn’t believe she’d failed before even beginning.

“Aunty Lian, did I say something wrong? I felt I was very euphemistic,” Ji Yilan said, frowning.

The middle-aged woman emerged from behind the curtain and sighed. “Mu Xiaoyun is a truly good woman. She’s loyal and very intelligent. Her husband is fortunate to have her.”

“Aunty Lian, what do you mean?” Ji Yilan asked.

“Yilan, you misunderstood. She said she comes from a medical background, meaning she knew from the start her husband hadn’t done anything with Yu Yuyan. Yu Yuyan is still a virgin, and she knows it, so she doesn’t care,” Miao Lian shook her head.

Ji Yilan exclaimed, “So, if that’s true, wouldn’t what I said work?”

Miao Lian shook her head again. “You don’t understand her. She was saying she never doubted her husband.”

“So, that’s it?” Ji Yilan was dazed. Then she said, “But if that’s false, why did Mo Ying admit to it?”

Miao Lian fell silent, then said, “I don’t know why, but Mo Ying is no ordinary man. Today I saw a sword nearly pierce his neck, yet he didn’t flinch. That’s not the courage of a normal person.”

“But Aunty Lian, Mo Ying has no talent. Without talent, you can’t cultivate. How can an ordinary person be so composed?” Ji Yilan remained confused.

Miao Lian smiled. “While I know it’s improbable for Mo Ying, not all untalented people can’t cultivate. The founder of the All Heaven’s Sect, Du Dutian, supposedly lacked talent, yet he nearly broke through the boundaries of great heaven. Mu Xiaoyun is very talented and devoted to her husband. You shouldn’t discuss her husband with her again.”

“Yes, I understand,” Ji Yilan nodded.

In the following days, Ye Mo felt Miao Lian and Ji Yilan treated him much better than before.

Ye Mo noticed this but didn’t ponder why. He asked them more questions. First, where the herbs were found. It was either in places rich with spirit herbs or Xing Jia Mountain.

Ji Yilan didn’t think much of it, but Miao Lian noticed Ye Mo’s purposeful questioning.

Besides this, Miao Lian found it odd that Ye Mo asked about Taiyi and Ci Hang Jing Mosque but not Kun Qian Sect.

After his inquiries, Ye Mo learned the hidden sects’ land was vast, with countless mountains rich in spirit herbs. The most famous was Wu Wen Mountain.

It boasted the best and highest-quality herbs.

However, it was often shrouded in poisonous mist year-round, and contained venomous, ferocious beasts. Gathering herbs there was difficult, but every five years, the poison retreated slightly for about a month. That was the best time to harvest.

So every five years, the hidden sects would gather to collect herbs. Even with the slight mist retreat, it remained poisonous. People needed antivenom or venom prevention pills; masks were useless, as poison would eventually enter their bodies.

There were limited spots each time. Special graded sects had twenty or so, while third-grade sects only had three.

Hearing the next opening was in half a year, Ye Mo rejoiced. He wouldn’t be idle, and since he had many herbs, he could make antivenom pills and enter earlier.

…

Ye Mo tried for days but couldn’t break through to stage six. He was so close, but knew it was due to his subconscious fear of causing a commotion. The slightest disturbance could alert the masters.

With that concern, Ye Mo couldn’t break through, so he stopped cultivating. He went to the Shu Mountain Sword Sect’s area.

“You’re Mo Ying, Liu Lei’s friend?” someone immediately recognized him.

Ye Mo scratched his nose. Liu Lei was just an outer sect disciple; he shouldn’t be that famous.

“Yes, where’s Liu Lei?” Ye Mo asked, despite already locating the grim-faced Liu Lei with his spirit sense.

The man pointed to Liu Lei’s room. He couldn’t be bothered to talk further.

“Hmph—Liu Lei didn’t make a good friend; that’s his fault.” Ye Mo frowned at this but said nothing.

“Brother Mo, what brings you here?” Liu Lei asked upon seeing Ye Mo.

Ye Mo smiled. “Brother Liu, didn’t you say to come visit when I had time? You don’t seem happy; what happened?”

Liu Lei sighed. “Brother Mo, since you’re here, I won’t hide it. I probably only have one day left to live, those bastards!”

“What happened?” Ye Mo asked.

Liu Lei said, “That day after you left, Shang Qing Mountain’s people blamed me for interfering. Then, a guy named Si Maping challenged me. I impulsively agreed, but later learned this battle is to the death. One of us must die.”

Ye Mo frowned. Liu Lei added, head down, “My family paid dearly for me to enter Shu Mountain Sword Sect. If I die, they won’t cope well.”

“Why did you accept?” Ye Mo asked. Even if Liu Lei hadn’t known it was to the death, he wouldn’t have accepted such a challenge so readily after joining the hidden sects.

Liu Lei sat down. “I was tricked.”