Chapter 960: The Moment I Met You

Ye Mo's search area dwindled, fueling his anxiety. He'd covered ninety percent, yet Su Jingwen remained elusive. A ragged woman, crossing the street, noticed Ye Mo standing cloaked in snow, a sudden resonance stirring within her. Was he, like her, rooted to the spot by something he couldn't relinquish? Winter's grip had tightened; her days of wandering were numbered. Without shelter, death loomed. She yearned to roam, to revisit memories of Ning Hai—her journey from there to Luo Yue City for him, then to that small world, and finally this living hell. After reliving those days, she would seek wilderness solace, a peaceful departure. Perhaps in another life, she'd find belonging, and love returned.

Her only regret: the theft of her bracelet. To leave this world without it was a small pang. She harbored no greater regrets; she'd pursued her desires, refusing compromise. She only wondered about her mother, Yimo, Wanqing, Sister Yuehua, and him. Perhaps no one would ever know her final resting place.

Passing Ye Mo, she paused, her heart aching. She turned, her gaze fixed on the man standing still in the street. The bracelet—he held it in his hands! Dazed, she shifted her gaze from the bracelet to his face. Though his eyes were closed, snow dusting his hair and brows, she was shaken. An inexplicable feeling surged. Am I dead? Hallucinating? Is this really him? Why does it feel so real?

She dared not move, fearing this figure would vanish, leaving her alone in that strange, endless world. Tears streamed down her face, releasing countless pent-up hardships. She’d never cried before, yet now her tears flowed uncontrollably. In her loneliest, most helpless moments, the thought hadn't crossed her mind, even as death neared. But seeing him, helplessness, loneliness, and grief overwhelmed her. She wanted to cry, but that desire only reinforced her stillness. She would rather die slowly than risk the illusion's disappearance. She remained silent.

When I first met you, I was walking bustling city streets. The crowd surged around us. You stood alone in a corner, selling charms. Then, you weren't yet a part of my world, but you saved my mother.

When I met you last, I walked the streets of a foreign land. Snowflakes swirled around us. You stood alone in the middle of the street, waiting for the snow. Then, you were only a figment of my mind, granting me a peaceful departure.

The snow covered her, but she remained motionless. She wouldn't let him disappear, even if it was an illusion.

Ye Mo's heart sank. He'd allowed no one to penetrate his spirit sense, fully immersed in his search. Even an attack would have gone unnoticed. He'd never been so focused. Yet, he'd found nothing nearby. He sighed, preparing to withdraw his spirit sense when he saw her, a few meters away, unmoving.

How far must one search? Sometimes, what you seek is right before your eyes.

"Jingwen." He instantly recognized her. He'd sought her, and she'd found him. But why the silence? Why stand there?

A faint smile played on her lips, two frozen tears tracing her cheeks. Lacking his cultivation essence, her body was weak. Only faith sustained her.

Ye Mo's spirit sense registered her near-death state. Shocked, he quickly scooped her up, carrying her to his hotel.

He removed her disguise, revealing her familiar, beautiful face. With his power and skill, healing her should have been simple. Yet, she merely smiled, her gaze fixed on him. If he left her sight, she'd weep.

He felt a pang of sorrow and guilt. He'd worried about others, but Yimo's connection had led his concern toward Su Jingwen. He recalled her dinner invitation, their first dance.

"No matter what, I will cure her," he resolved, beginning to undress and bathe her.

His planned one-day stay extended to three. On the fourth, he took her to the city's most renowned doctor. As a cultivator, he’d never imagined needing a mortal physician. Despite his power and skill, he couldn't diagnose her ailment. He'd refined her marrow, cured old illnesses, but she remained unchanged. Numerous clinics yielded nothing. He knew only one person might help: Doctor King Sun Houchang, reputedly both a physician and immortal master, residing on distant Min He Mountain.

He immediately set off, holding Su Jingwen; carrying her on his back caused her to cry upon losing sight of him. Upon arrival, he found Sun Houchang an ordinary, and not particularly powerful, solo cultivator, the spiritual energy thin. Disappointment washed over him; Sun Houchang was inferior, his fame perhaps due to his cultivator status.

Still, he had to ascertain his skill. Ye Mo was stopped outside a formation by two female disciples, who informed him their master was absent. Two men emerged—one bearded, seemingly immortal; the other ordinary-looking. Yet, Ye Mo sensed both were seventh-level Golden Core cultivators.

"Brother Sun, I rely on you," the ordinary-looking man stated.

Ye Mo identified the bearded man as Sun Houchang, who chuckled. "Dao Friend Li, worry not. I'll do my best. In a month, you'll have good news."