"There's no other road here," a kind middle-aged man in the bus spoke up. "Once you go off this path, it's all wilderness—the Gui-Xiang mountain range. Sure, there are a few tourist spots, but most of it is untouched wild terrain. Getting off here… there's nowhere else to go."
The woman hesitated for a moment before sitting back down. Whether it was the logic of the man's words or something else, she didn't insist on leaving. But Ye Mo, on the other hand, had a spark of realization. Getting off here might not benefit others, but for him, it could be advantageous.
Ye Mo knew about the Gui-Xiang Mountains—a vast mountain range stretching across Lake Central, Xianghuai, and Southern Gui provinces. It was said to be one of the three largest mountain systems in Huaxia. Southern Gui bordered both Vietnam and the small country of Luser. The city he was heading to, Guilin, was in the far south of Southern Gui.
If he continued taking regular buses to Guilin, he'd have to transfer several times across all three provinces. Without an ID, the chances of being exposed would increase dramatically. But if he trekked through the Gui-Xiang Mountains, although it would take longer, it would be much safer. Moreover, many freight trains passed through these mountains—he might even catch a ride. Even if he didn't, traveling and cultivating along the way wouldn't be a problem for him at all.
"Driver, pull over. I'm getting off—my friend's picking me up," Ye Mo said as he stood and walked toward the front.
Not just the driver, but the entire bus was stunned. Even the woman looked at Ye Mo curiously. The reason she hadn't gotten off earlier wasn't because she feared the wild terrain—but because she worried others might suspect her and rumors would spread. After all, it was odd for a woman to get off alone in a place like this. She was still thinking up a good excuse to exit when someone else beat her to it. Perfect.
The driver didn't argue this time. If someone had a friend picking them up, that was reason enough. He stopped the bus, and Ye Mo stepped off. The woman followed right after.
What surprised everyone even more was that two other men also got off after them.
Even the experienced driver could tell—those two were clearly targeting the first two. Not wanting any trouble, he quickly restarted the engine and drove away.
Ye Mo knew why the woman got off—she had wanted to even before he spoke. But as for those two men following… he didn't understand.
It didn't take long to find out. The two men quickly surrounded the woman, and one of them glared at Ye Mo and barked, "Kid, if you want to live a few more days, get lost. This doesn't concern you."
Robbery? Ye Mo almost laughed. These two thugs looked fierce, but Ye Mo could tell—they weren't a match for that woman.
The woman stared coldly at the two men without saying a word.
"Hey sweetheart, hand over your money," the taller one said. "Don't pretend you don't have any—we saw you pull out a wad when you were on the phone. Must be tens of thousands, huh? My brother and I were gonna rob the bus, but if you've got that much, we'll just take yours."
He gave Ye Mo another warning glance and then turned his full attention to the woman.
Ye Mo chuckled inwardly. He had no interest in getting involved. Both sides were dangerous.
"Wait," the woman suddenly called out just as Ye Mo turned to leave.
"What?" Ye Mo turned back with a calm tone.
The woman, surprised by his lack of fear, studied him again. Yet no matter how she looked, Ye Mo seemed utterly ordinary. His canvas sneakers were plain, his demeanor casual. Thick-skinned guy, she thought.
"Do me a favor in a bit," the woman suddenly smiled, removing her glasses. Her average-looking face suddenly lit up—it was a completely different person when she smiled.
Ye Mo was stunned. He'd never seen someone's appearance change so drastically from just one smile.
"I don't like fighting." Ye Mo interrupted before she could finish her sentence.
The woman paused, then laughed and said, "I'm not asking you to fight. Just help me drag these two into the woods later… and bury them."
The two thugs, who had been glaring at Ye Mo warily—since he hadn't run like most people would—now froze.
Hearing the woman casually talk about burying them, the taller man lost patience. He lunged with a knife, aiming for her chest.
Crack—ah! Two sounds echoed. The man collapsed.
The shorter man hadn't reacted yet, still in a daze. But Ye Mo saw everything clearly.
The woman had caught the man's wrist as the knife came at her, twisted upward to snap it, then slapped the back of the knife, driving it straight into the thug's throat. All in one smooth, lightning-fast motion.
What a terrifying woman. The entire sequence had taken just a few breaths. Had Ye Mo still been at Qi Condensation Level 1, he wouldn't have even followed her movements.
This was the first real expert he'd met. Although Ye Mo, now at Level 2, could easily defeat her, this woman was proof: true powerhouses were hiding everywhere.
If he had encountered her a month ago, and a fight had broken out… Would he still be alive?
Ye Mo disliked that uncertain feeling. The only solution was to keep getting stronger.
The shorter man finally snapped out of his stupor. It had only been a few seconds, but he knew he'd messed with the wrong person. He turned to run.
But the woman kicked at the knife still lodged in the taller man's throat. It popped out, and she kicked it again. Like it had eyes, the blade flew through the air and buried itself in the fleeing man's back.
"Not bad, kid," the woman said, smiling again. "Told you I didn't need help fighting. Now I just need you to drag them into the woods and bury them. You can keep whatever money they've got."
Ye Mo asked calmly, "What if they don't have any money?"
The woman blinked—she hadn't expected him to ask that. Most people would've just done what she said without questioning.
"If they don't, take this instead." She pulled a stack of bills from her bag, tore off half, and tossed the rest to Ye Mo.
Ye Mo caught it—still stamped with the bank's seal. It had been 10,000 yuan, but she'd kept some. Probably 4,000 or 5,000 left. Quite generous.
He needed money anyway. Ye Mo smiled and said, "Alright, I'll take the job."
He dragged the two bodies into the woods by the roadside.
The woman watched him vanish into the forest, dragging the corpses with ease. A glimmer of admiration appeared in her eyes.
"Strong guy. And gutsy too," she murmured to herself. "Just a bit too pretty-boy for my taste."