Chapter 818: Each Having Their Own Plans

Huang Mei glanced at Ye Mo before suggesting, "Sister Yanqi, it's dark. Shall we stay here tonight and continue tomorrow morning?"

Feng Yanqi smiled sweetly. "Okay, let's stay. Sister Mei is so thoughtful, haha."

Everyone unpacked tents and began setting them up. Soon, all were pitched except for Ye Mo.

Feng Yanqi looked at him enticingly. "Little brother, what's your name? How about you sleep in my tent tonight?"

Ye Mo shook his head. "My name is Mo Ying. I'm used to sleeping outdoors."

Huang Mei offered Ye Mo a large, foldable umbrella for shelter. The taciturn man built a fire and roasted two rabbits, sharing the bounty with Ye Mo.

Ye Mo suspected the gathering of five ancient martial artists wasn't coincidental. They were either searching for something vital or had been lured there by Feng Yanqi. He chose not to inquire, sensing it best to remain silent.

Once inside their tents, silence reigned. Ye Mo's spirit sense revealed their activities: the middle-aged man cultivated; Huang Mei frowned; one younger man cultivated while the other fidgeted.

An hour later, Feng Yanqi emerged and called to Brother Chen's tent. "Brother Chen, are you asleep?"

Brother Chen immediately appeared, pleased. "Not yet, Yanqi. Come in, let's discuss tomorrow's route."

"Sure, but I need to use the bathroom first, and it's so dark," Feng Yanqi said, feigning embarrassment.

Brother Chen, misinterpreting her hesitation as romantic interest, offered, "Let me accompany you, Yanqi."

"Thank you," Feng Yanqi readily agreed.

Ye Mo's spirit sense followed them. Something felt amiss. Feng Yanqi, with her peak Black Level power, wouldn't fear a solitary trip to the bathroom, nor would such a short journey be necessary.

Then, Ye Mo observed Huang Mei leaving her tent, clad in dark clothing, difficult to discern. He initially thought she was following the pair, but instead, she entered Feng Yanqi's tent.

Ye Mo's spirit sense detected numerous markings within. Huang Mei, far from naive, had discovered and subtly altered them, leaving behind a tiny camera. She suspected Feng Yanqi but lacked definitive proof.

However, Huang Mei's inexperience would likely betray her; Feng Yanqi would undoubtedly notice the intrusion. Huang Mei swiftly exited after completing her task.

Helped by his renewed cultivation essence and using invisibility, Ye Mo discreetly entered Feng Yanqi's tent, restoring the markings Huang Mei had disturbed. Returning to his umbrella, he found Huang Mei waiting.

"Miss Huang," Ye Mo smiled. "Long time no see."

Huang Mei replied, "City Lord Ye, what are you doing here?"

Ye Mo mirrored her question. "I should ask you the same."

Huang Mei sighed. "After leaving San Francisco, I searched for you. I enjoy military strategy, but I served the wrong master. Zhu Hongsheng lacks the capacity for greatness. I left the Hong Martial Gang hoping to join you, but I couldn't find you. Then Northern Sand captured me, forcing me into their service."

"Why are you here? I didn't see you with Northern Sand," Ye Mo clarified.

Huang Mei smiled wryly, unaware of his meaning. "I sought to escape Northern Sand. During a mission near Ice Helm Island, I saw you on a screen, our target. I admired your abilities and wanted to help, eliminating my companions. But someone detonated the bomb at the last minute."

Ye Mo was stunned. Unknowingly, he had received assistance! While unclear about her escape, he believed her account. A sense of warmth enveloped him. A stranger had risked so much for him.

"I planned to assist you in Luo Yue and pursue my ambitions afterward, but failed. Years later, hearing you survived, my Luo Yue ambitions faded. Then I heard you went missing." Huang Mei's tone was subdued.

Ye Mo rose and bowed. "No, you did help me. Without your intervention, I might be dead."

He finally understood the bomb's delayed detonation – a mere tens of seconds after his escape from the perilous cave. Without Huang Mei, he would be dead.

Ye Mo stated sincerely, "Sister Mei, you saved my life. You delayed the detonation; otherwise, I wouldn't have escaped."

"Sister Mei, do you cultivate ancient martial arts?"

Huang Mei understood his desire to repay her debt. She nodded. "Yes. After you disappeared, I lost my drive for tactical maneuvering. I traveled, eventually finding an ancient martial arts cultivation method."

Ye Mo produced his device. If she possessed a spirit root, he'd teach her Truth cultivation.

"What's a spirit root?" Huang Mei asked instinctively.

Before Ye Mo could reply, his spirit sense captured Feng Yanqi disrobing and squatting, Brother Chen directly before her. Her blatant seduction made him uneasy.

Feng Yanqi's exposed form briefly registered in Ye Mo's mind, causing a visceral reaction before he quickly centered himself with a mental discipline technique.

Seeing his discomfort, Huang Mei inquired, "What's wrong? I have medicinal pills, need one?"

Ye Mo recovered, quickly stating, "Nothing. I was merely lost in thought."