Ye Mo instructed, "I'll begin spirit-controlling the flying cloud pike. Yangzhu and Ye Ling, immediately burn your clothes and wash your hair."
Song Yangzhu was stunned but didn't question him. Ye Ling, however, blushed, asking, "Brother, what did you mean?" She understood Song Yangzhu could disrobe in the small cave, but not herself.
Ye Mo, realizing his words were poorly phrased, explained, "Li Bailsen likely planted a spirit sense mark on you. I checked earlier and found nothing, but any such mark would reside in your clothing. Burning your clothes and showering will eliminate it."
Song Yangzhu replied, "Husband, I can change here, but Ye Ling doesn't have a place."
Ye Mo, noting her use of "husband" for the first time, urged, "We haven't time for this. Change quickly. Afterward, join Ye Ling on the flying cloud pike; we need to escape. I'll turn away; hurry!"
He focused on spirit-controlling the pike. The Zheng Yuan Sword Sect wouldn't let the death of their genius disciple go unpunished. Escape was their only option.
Understanding the urgency, Song Yangzhu and Ye Ling quickly changed clothes, cleansing themselves with a water spell. By the time they finished, Ye Mo was barely standing. The burst essence pill was potent but had severe side effects. He entrusted Ye Ling with piloting the pike, instructing Song Yangzhu to carry him.
She lifted him onto the pike as Ye Ling took control, enlarging it before launching into the sky. "Fly south," Ye Mo directed. "Don't worry about spirit stones. It uses top-grade ones; I have three thousand. Use them freely."
Besides the control room, the pike contained a small, eight-square-meter cabin, sufficient even for ordinary Golden Core cultivators. He chose south because the pike's speed would outpace any Foundation Establishment cultivator, and a Golden Core cultivator wouldn't risk themselves for a low-grade spirit artifact.
Six hours later, Ye Mo summoned Song Yangzhu to the cabin, leaving Ye Ling to pilot. Hearing muffled moans, Ye Ling, though unmarried, instantly understood. She couldn't comprehend her brother's haste but knew he wasn't acting out of lust.
She pretended not to notice until silence fell, realizing he'd erected a sound barrier. He was mitigating the burst essence pill's side effects, and their last intimacy had been six months prior.
Song Yangzhu, outwardly cold but inwardly passionate, didn't require explanation; she eagerly embraced Ye Mo. The past half-year had deprived her, and she seized the opportunity. She discarded her clothes without foreplay, succumbing to pleasure and moaning. Ye Mo, remembering Ye Ling, blushed and quickly activated a sound barrier.
Hours later, Ye Ling saw Song Yangzhu emerge with disheveled hair, a flushed face, and a look of contentment. Speechless, she questioned whether all married women were so bold.
Song Yangzhu blushed deeper, explaining, "Your brother had side effects from the burst essence pill. We—we—"
Ye Ling erupted in laughter. "Sister-in-law, your turn at the controls. I'll rest and prepare food. Even without the pill, could you have resisted?"
Song Yangzhu, no longer shy, admitted, "No."
Defeated, Ye Ling declared, "I'll never discuss such things with a married woman again. I surrender."
Zheng Yuan Sword Sect:
Liu Zhenyue, fearful of Ye Mo's return, hesitated over accepting a mission, nearing stage nine. Huang Ping's visit interrupted her.
Seeing Liu Zhenyue's worry, Huang Ping asked, "Sister Zhengyue, does Ye Mo know you're back?" Liu Zhenyue nodded.
Huang Ping then asked, "Do you know Ye Mo's current cultivation level?"
Liu Zhenyue guessed, "Isn't he at stage eight chi gathering? Has he reached stage nine?"
Huang Ping revealed, "Ye Mo is a Foundation Establishment cultivator. A newly ascended Foundation Establishment cultivator sealed Ye Mo's residence, destroying his dan tian!"
"What?! In months, he went from stage eight chi gathering to Foundation Establishment level one?!" Liu Zhenyue was astonished.
Huang Ping continued, "I heard he left the sect hours ago with his sister and wife."
"What?!" Liu Zhenyue was shocked. How had Li Baisen allowed it?
Huang Ping added, "Strangely, he didn't stop him or send anyone to follow."
Liu Zhenyue concluded, "Li Baisen must have pursued them personally. Sigh—"
Huang Ping suggested another mission, but Liu Zhenyue, exhausted, declined. She believed Li Baisen wouldn't target her.
After Huang Ping left, Liu Zhenyue recalled the pill Ye Mo gave her—a precious one, indicating his Foundation Establishment status implied no ordinary pill.
Examining the pill, she gasped, "A Foundation Establishment pill?!" Her hands trembled, nearly dropping the immeasurable treasure for chi gathering cultivators.