Chapter 91: So What If You Steal It

Translator: Tim Editor: Tehrn

Ye Mo knew he needed a secluded place in Luo Cang to cultivate his Silver Heart Grass. Daily observation would be time-consuming and suspicious before it matured. Furthermore, his tens of thousands of dollars wouldn't last long covering food and medicine.

Upon arriving at Shenyang Station, two more passengers boarded, filling the four-person compartment.

One was a man in his thirties carrying a black bag. His shifty eyes scanned the compartment. Noticing the sleeping woman, he smiled and addressed Ye Mo: "Hello, I'm Jin Jibing, heading to Beijing. What should I call you, friend?"

"Ye Mo," Ye Mo replied tersely. He disliked conversing with strangers, a habit honed over years of cultivation, and particularly disliked Jin Jibing's shifty gaze.

A woman in her forties awoke and sat up. Seeing Ye Mo's reticence, Jin Jibing greeted her instead.

Refreshed from her nap, the woman proved quite talkative, engaging in lively conversation. Ye Mo learned her name was Wang Yan, and she was also going to Beijing, but had business in Shenyang. Losing interest, he observed the other newcomer.

This was a young man in his twenties, plainly dressed with patched pants, suggesting limited means. Ye Mo wondered why he'd purchased a sleeper berth.

The young man seemed apprehensive, immediately retreating to his bunk and clutching his bag tightly. His vigilance impressed Ye Mo more than the talkative woman.

Jin Jibing, after chatting with the woman, turned to the young man, jokingly asking, "Little brother, gold in the bag? Haha, you're quite alert. We're all strangers, but be careful; no need to hug your bag so tightly."

"No, no gold, just…just some medicinal tools…" the young man stammered, clearly surprised by the attention.

"Oh, a doctor! My apologies. What's your surname?" Jin Jibing's tone was surprisingly uncondescending.

"Yu Erhu. My skills are passed down from my ancestors…" Yu Erhu's anxiety betrayed his inexperience.

Wang Yan's tone was skeptical: "Uh… I wouldn't have guessed you were a doctor. Where are you headed?"

Yu Erhu blushed, mumbling, "I have a ticket to Zheng State. I'm going there to… to see."

Ye Mo surmised that Yu Erhu had never left home and likely didn't know how he obtained the ticket. He doubted Yu Erhu's survival prospects in Zheng State, envisioning a future of begging.

However, an idea struck Ye Mo. He could open a clinic in Luo Cang, hiring the honest Yu Erhu. This would free Ye Mo to cultivate his Silver Heart Grass, and Yu Erhu could oversee the plants during his absence.

Jin Jibing and Wang Yan clearly disbelieved Yu Erhu, quickly losing interest, but Ye Mo's interest had piqued.

After a brief exchange with Yu Erhu, Ye Mo closed his eyes to sleep. Jin Jibing produced a magazine and glasses.

Ye Mo remained alert. Jin Jibing's earlier eye movements didn't suggest poor eyesight. Why the glasses now?

Ye Mo feigned sleep, his spirit sense constantly monitoring Jin Jibing. Soon, Jin Jibing ceased reading, his gaze shifting toward Ye Mo and Wang Yan's bags. A gleam of satisfaction crossed his face when he looked at Ye Mo's bag. Ye Mo, knowing the cash within, was surprised. How did Jin Jibing know? Did he possess spirit sense?

Ye Mo quickly realized Jin Jibing lacked spirit sense; his glasses were likely some type of infrared scanner.

Around 10 pm, Ye Mo pretended to sleep, curious about Jin Jibing's first target. He suspected himself, given his cash. A storage ring would have simplified matters…

As expected, Jin Jibing approached Ye Mo's bag, opened it, and pilfered the cash.

Ye Mo smirked, letting Jin Jibing take everything. He silently retrieved his money under the blanket, also taking everything from Jin Jibing's bag except his clothes – a simple task with his spirit sense.

Yu Erhu slept soundly, but Wang Yan witnessed Jin Jibing's actions. Jin Jibing glared at her; she silenced herself, terrified.

The train horn blared. Jin Jibing, laden with loot, prepared to depart. A young woman passing by noticed his actions, recognizing the theft and the sleeping victim.

She shouted, alerting others. Jin Jibing fled, ignoring the commotion.

"He stole your things, and you're still asleep!" the young woman exclaimed to Ye Mo.

Ye Mo opened his eyes, recognizing the concerned student's strong sense of justice. He smiled, "I didn't have much in my bag."

"You… You should call the police! I'll help."

Ye Mo, wishing to avoid the police, waved his hand: "No, it's fine. No need."

The girl, seeing his resolve, left. Ye Mo repacked his bag, now containing an extra twenty thousand dollars, miscellaneous items, and a stack of identity documents.

Wang Yan had seen Jin Jibing take notes from Ye Mo's bag, yet he claimed to have lost nothing, prompting her to shake her head in disbelief.