After a moment of silence, Ye Mo finally said, "Brother Zhuo, if you trust me, leave me your address. Once I finish my business here, I'll go help your son Huatang. Maybe I can cure him. Also, I have to tell you, the so-called black-purple root you mentioned doesn't treat dementia symptoms. That old Chinese doctor must have heard some nonsense."
With a shout of surprise, Zhuo Aiguo grabbed Ye Mo's hand excitedly. "Brother Ye, you really can help Huatang?"
Ye Mo nodded. "It shouldn't be a big problem."
"Of course I trust you, of course!" Zhuo Aiguo hurriedly pulled out a finely made business card and handed it to Ye Mo. "This has my home address and phone number, including my cell. Please, Brother Ye."
He didn't think Ye Mo was lying. Even if he hadn't witnessed Ye Mo's incredible skills today, he felt Ye Mo wasn't the bragging type. Though their time together was short, Ye Mo seemed steady, trustworthy—a friend worth having.
Ye Mo glanced at the card and nodded. "But I can't go to Yanjing now. It may be half a year or even a year from now." Ye Mo knew that going to Yanjing now might be walking into a trap.
"That's fine, as long as Brother Ye remembers," Zhuo Aiguo said happily without a hint of impatience. Even if black-purple root could cure his son, it would take two or three years. Besides, Ye Mo had said it probably wouldn't cure him at all. Yet Ye Mo's promise gave him hope.
He had no questions about why Ye Mo didn't come with them now. Ye Mo was a master with his own affairs. Also, Zhuo was no stranger to the outside world; Ye Mo staying so close to the remote border must have his reasons. As a friend, not everything needed to be asked.
"Haha, Brother Ye, I'll immediately arrange a banquet to welcome you and Brother Zhuo," Fang Nan was happiest not because of the deal today but because he had met someone like Ye Mo—and that Ye Mo planned to stay here for a while.
While Xiao Lei was getting a bit anxious, Ye Mo and Zhuo Aiguo came out—behind them was a tall long-haired man.
The meal was merry, but Xiao Lei noticed that both Zhuo Aiguo and the tough-looking long-haired man treated the plainly dressed Ye Mo with great respect—true respect from the heart. Zhuo Aiguo was a wealthy head of a major Yanjing enterprise, no surprise. But that big man was obviously no good, yet he also showed deep respect for Ye Mo.
Though Xiao Lei wanted to ask many questions, she knew she and Ye Mo weren't familiar yet. She had asked driver Xiao Yu a lot but he knew nothing.
Fang Nan arranged the lodging. After dinner, Ye Mo went out alone. No one knew where, except Zhuo Aiguo guessed a little.
That night Ye Mo went to the old lair of the Thirteen Guardians. What annoyed him was that it was empty—no treasure, no savings. He really didn't understand how those guys had made a living for so long with nothing to show for it. His hopes of striking it rich were dashed.
Early the next morning, Fang Nan came to their place. His Pu Dao Society was now one of Liushe's three major gangs. Among the three gangs, the Thirteen Guardians were the weakest—and they were now wiped out by Ye Mo. So the Pu Dao Society was now the second largest gang in Liushe.
Thanks to Fang Nan's protection, Zhuo Aiguo and others were safe in Liushe; no one dared to cause trouble. The next day, Zhuo Aiguo said goodbye to Ye Mo—he was leaving Liushe.
"I'll send a few brothers to escort you to the highway," Fang Nan offered when seeing them off.
Ye Mo didn't stop him. The Thirteen Guardians blocking that road had been wiped out by Ye Mo, so even without an escort Zhuo Aiguo was safe. But since Fang Nan insisted, Ye Mo didn't object.
Xiao Lei approached Ye Mo hesitantly, "Um, Ye Mo, could you leave me your phone number? I'd like to thank you again when you get to Yanjing."
Though shy at first, she spoke fluently in the end—after all, she was a reporter.
Ye Mo smiled slightly. "No need to thank me. Actually, I don't have a phone, so there's no number to give. Don't worry about it."
Xiao Lei was stunned. In her view, no man would refuse a pretty woman's request for a phone number—but Ye Mo did. She absolutely did not believe Ye Mo had no phone. Who nowadays didn't have a mobile phone?
Seeing her awkwardness, Zhuo Aiguo knew Ye Mo truly had no phone but said, "Let's hurry or we'll miss the flight to Xianshan."
Helpless, Xiao Lei could only leave with Zhuo Aiguo, feeling deeply wronged. Since Fang Nan was there to help with lodging, Zhuo Aiguo's assistance was no longer needed.
Fang Nan arranged for Ye Mo to stay in a temple nearly twenty li from Liushe. It had once been home to a wandering monk who knew Fang Nan. The temple was funded and built by Fang Nan. Three years ago, the monk suddenly disappeared, leaving the temple vacant.
If Ye Mo hadn't insisted on a remote place, Fang Nan would have arranged a luxurious residence in Liushe. That day, Fang Nan sent some men to clean the temple, and Ye Mo moved in. His main purpose was to cultivate Silver Heart Grass and investigate the origins of the Purple Heart Vine.
Fang Nan said that seven years ago, while fleeing, he discovered a Tibetan lama's corpse in a valley near the Vietnam border. On the corpse he found the wooden box, sensing it was special, so he kept it. Later, he learned it contained black-purple root.
Having obtained the black-purple root, Fang Nan buried the lama nearby.
Ye Mo asked Fang Nan for a map and the exact burial spot to pay a visit. Since the lama had Purple Heart Vine, he might have other things on him—worth checking out.
The temple was not small, about fifty or sixty square meters. Most importantly, Ye Mo had cleared about one mu (roughly two-thirds of an acre) around it to specifically plant Silver Heart Grass.
Ye Mo didn't dare plant all thirty-nine seeds at once since he wasn't sure if this place was suitable. If the seeds rotted, he'd have no way to recover.
Although he couldn't confirm if these were the only Silver Heart Grass seeds in existence, even if there were others somewhere else, he might never find them.
He planted nineteen seeds and tidied up the area, setting some protections. Then Ye Mo planned a trip to the forest. It would take over a month for the seeds to sprout. His cultivation was at a standstill, so he wanted to visit the lama's burial site.
After saying goodbye to Fang Nan, Ye Mo left Liushe, heading toward the place Fang Nan had escaped from. For Ye Mo now, increasing his strength was the most important thing.