Chapter 90: Plan

Yun Bing awoke from a sound sleep, suddenly remembering something. She reached out, her hand falling empty. He had left. Though she knew Ye Mo was departing today, his quiet departure, without even a farewell, left her feeling a sense of loss. Beside her bed, however, she found a letter:

“Sister Bing, thank you for saving my life. I’ll come back for you one day. I’m leaving now. Ye Mo.”

Reading his words, a wave of relief washed over her. His promise to return reassured her. While her feelings for Ye Mo weren't deep, she enjoyed his company, and wondered if she'd been too lonely. Almost immediately, however, her worry for his safety returned.

…

“What? You killed Qian Longtou’s only son? No wonder Nan Qing’s been acting so erratic lately… His men are everywhere. Some even came to us, but since the boss didn't say anything, we didn't dare confront them. I never imagined you killed Qian Shiping,” Wu Xueming exclaimed, his shock palpable even after a long moment of stunned silence.

His recent seizure of Huang's position, and the prospect of eternal life with Yu Miaodan, had filled him with elation. But Ye Mo’s revelation left him speechless. Qian Longtou, a man with his own private army, wielded power exceeding that of some national leaders. He operated with complete impunity—a privilege beyond the reach of even heads of state. And everyone knew Qian Longtou had only one son. His death would inevitably draw intense scrutiny from both the underworld and the government. Yet, Ye Mo had killed him.

Ye Mo calmly observed Wu Xueming, prepared to leave at the first sign of wavering support. He needed a safe haven, and had initially sought Wu Xueming's assistance for temporary aid. His power was still too weak, but upon reaching the 3rd stage of cultivation, he would become a target regardless of Qian Longtou's actions. He was not one to be hunted without reprisal; those who hunted him would eventually become his prey.

“Brother Ye, I’d planned to invite you to join Metal River, but that’s clearly impossible now. Joining us would endanger both you and the organization,” Wu Xueming finally composed himself.

Ye Mo nodded. Even without the Qian Longtou incident, Metal River wasn't the life for him.

After a pause, Wu Xueming said, “I can help you get a new identity, but you’ll need to alter your appearance and lay low for a while. This isn't something you can solve by going overseas.”

From Wu Xueming, Ye Mo learned the full extent of Qian Longtou’s power. Having slain his only son, Ye Mo knew that the ensuing revenge would be merciless.

Since arriving, he’d never felt such a pressing need to increase his strength. He understood that failure to do so would lead to his destruction.

He had two options for rapid advancement: planting Silver Heart Grass, or searching the desert for the rarer Purple Heart Vine, a quest reliant on luck. Silver Heart Grass was more reliable, but required two years to mature—time he didn't have. Without reaching the 3rd stage swiftly, he might not survive that long.

He decided to secure a suitable location, plant the Silver Heart Grass, and then immediately search the desert. Neither could wait. Upon reaching the 3rd stage of Chi Gathering, he would confront Qian Longtou personally, and tell him to his face that he had killed his son. And then what could Qian Longtou do?

This relentless pursuit infuriated him. Whether it was the Song Family or Nan Qing, the constant hunting by mortals was unacceptable. He was a cultivator, not prey.

Wu Xueming, however, proved to be a true and dependable friend. Despite knowing that shielding Ye Mo would create future difficulties, Wu Xueming didn’t hesitate. He owed Ye Mo his life, and consequently didn't even tell Yu Miaodan about Ye Mo’s actions.

Wu Xueming helped Ye Mo create a new identity: Mo Ye. To avoid recognition, Ye Mo added a scar to his face, resulting in a somewhat disfiguring, yet effective, passport photo.

Nan Qing's far-reaching influence necessitated this precaution. Ye Mo also needed an undisturbed location to cultivate his Silver Heart Grass.

Jing City's cold climate was unsuitable, and too conspicuous. Ye Mo had soil samples from his previous residence analyzed. The results indicated suitability in parts of the southern cities, but not all. Northern areas and other locations were unsuitable.

Finally, he chose Luo Cang in Jiangsu Province, near Shanghai. His choice wasn't related to Chi Wanqing; Luo Cang’s soil most closely resembled his sample, and Metal River, under Wu Xueming, controlled much of the local underworld. Furthermore, there were direct flights to Dakumile, providing easy access to the desert.

A week later, despite Wu Xueming's considerable influence in Jing City, Ye Mo opted for the train to Luo Cang, to avoid suspicion. It wasn't fear, but a lack of time to engage in conflict. He chose a non-reserved seat, refusing the money offered by Wu Xueming. He considered their relationship equal, and accepting money would feel like an obligation. He still had about $50,000.

There was no direct train to Luo Cang, requiring a change in Zhengzhou.

His compartment held only one other passenger: a woman in her forties, who appeared astute yet exhausted, promptly falling asleep. Ye Mo thought her carelessness unwise; even exhaustion shouldn't preclude vigilance against potential thieves. However, he had no intention of stealing from her, even if she carried a million dollars. He settled into his seat, closed his eyes to meditate, and pondered how to settle in Luo Cang – find a job first, or a place to live?