In the past, Qin Moyu might have been smug upon hearing such words, but now only a faint smile appeared in his eyes, which vanished in an instant.
The Qin Moyu who could be easily coaxed and be carefree and happy all day long is no more.
"But Ye Bai, I still want you to say yes."
Qin Moyu suddenly raised his head and said seriously, "Let me take revenge alone."
Shen Yebai frowned, about to speak, when Qin Moyu interrupted him.
“I know you’re not afraid of getting involved with the Fen family for my sake, and I know you’re willing to help me get revenge, but—”
"Ye Bai, I don't want to."
Qin Moyu grasped Shen Yebai's hand, interlocking their fingers as before, her expression resolute: "I want to avenge my master with my own hands."
Qin Moyu was unaware of Fen Tian's strength, nor was he sure how much of a chance he had against him. Given Shen Yebai's personality, he would probably make the first move for Qin Moyu's sake.
As a disciple, if he couldn't avenge his master with his own hands, the guilt in Qin Moyu's heart would be enough for him to offer his neck for execution.
Shen Yebai understood Qin Moyu's meaning, but it was precisely because of this that he felt even more heartache. His desire not to let Qin Moyu get hurt ultimately succumbed to Qin Moyu's persistent gaze, and he agreed not to intervene, but with one condition.
“Alright… I will accompany you to find Fen Gong so you can take revenge yourself. But Mo Yu must promise me that you will not disregard everything for revenge, even to the point of dying together with him.” Shen Yebai spoke these words with unusual seriousness, even a hint of fierceness.
"……good."
The matter was settled, but a new problem arose—where was Fen Gong?
Qin Moyu had no clue, but Shen Yebai provided a way to find Fen Gong.
"Yunqi Tower?" Qin Moyu frowned. He had heard of this mysterious organization that investigated secrets, but...
"Aren't their main forces in the Western and Southern Continents? Where are we supposed to find them? We can't exactly go to the Western Continent, can we?" Qin Moyu asked with some concern.
“Although Yunqi Tower’s main influence is in the Western and Southern Continents, it doesn’t mean that Yunqi Tower doesn’t exist in the Eastern Continent; it’s just more hidden. I happen to know a place where I can contact Yunqi Tower,” Shen Yebai explained.
Only then did Qin Moyu feel relieved.
Now that he had a lead for revenge, Qin Moyu was extremely anxious, but there were still some things he needed to do before setting off.
Qin Moyu picked up the Qingyun Sect plaque, washed it clean, took out the jade pendant his master had carved for him, erected a cenotaph, and solemnly kowtowed three times in front of it.
The courtyard was now a ruin, and everything that held Qin Moyu's memories had turned to ashes. All Qin Moyu could take with her were the two jars of wine she hadn't finished drinking that night.
Ironically, when the sect still existed, Qin Moyu left with a single-minded focus on leaving, never thinking of looking back. Now that the sect is destroyed, he keeps turning back, but there's no one left at the sect gate to watch him leave.
Master...
Qin Moyu silently recited these words in his heart as he left Qingyun Sect side by side with Shen Yebai.
...
The location of Yunqi Tower, which Shen Yebai mentioned, is Chengyuan Town, the place where the Liu family massacre occurred, and also the starting point of everything.
The family whose young master was possessed by a ghost has moved away, and the walls and courtyards with their red and green tiles have fallen apart and are now abandoned.
The original mansion of the Liu family has disappeared and been replaced by four new houses with plaques bearing the names of the Li, He, Zhang and Qi families. Although no one can be seen entering or living there, the new houses are decorated in a more magnificent and luxurious manner than the last.
The two inns where Qin Moyu had stayed were still thriving as always, but the Liu family massacre case was replaced by other gossip topics after people had finished talking about it over tea and dinner, as if the Liu family had never existed.
This is probably what it means to be cold-hearted and indifferent in the world.
Shen Yebai led Qin Moyu to a small alley. There was only a dilapidated wooden door in the alley, with a tattered lock that was practically useless.
"Stay close to me." Shen Yebai took Qin Moyu's hand and pushed open the door to enter. However, the room was empty, with only a few oil lamps diligently illuminating the space.
Shen Yebai led Qin Moyu to a lamp and gently placed his free hand on the wall. Qin Moyu keenly sensed a slight fluctuation of spiritual energy from the array, and the area before her eyes turned into a pitch-black tunnel-like place.
Shen Yebai had taken the lamp down at some point, and after walking a winding path for a while, he suddenly remembered something and stopped.
"It's better not to reveal your identity." Shen Yebai took out two black robes and two masks from his storage bag and gave one to Qin Moyu.
Qin Moyu understood immediately, took the device, and quickly put it on, her movements very practiced.
But Qin Moyu didn't wear the mask; instead, she returned it to Shen Yebai.
Shen Yebai was puzzled.
“I’ll use Yu Lin’s identity. If anything happens, I’ll use the Red Lotus Karmic Fire to avoid exposing Ye Bai.” Qin Moyu said, pulling down his hood to reveal only his patterned chin. In an instant, his aura and tone changed, becoming indifferent and cold.
Shen Yebai disagreed, saying, "I've told you about the dangers of the Red Lotus Karmic Fire..."
“It’s better to guide than to block. That day I even… Don’t worry, I know what I’m doing.” Qin Moyu was very insistent and thought of another advantage of using Yu Lin’s identity. “Moreover, if I use Yu Lin’s identity to deal with Fen Gong and eventually let him die on the Red Lotus Karmic Fire, then the Fen family will most likely investigate Yu Lin. It would be best if they couldn’t find out that I am Yu Lin, but even if they do, it will take a long time, which is better for me as well.”
Qin Moyu was right. Compared to the Red Lotus Karmic Fire, which could explode at any time, the threat of the Burning Family was much greater, so Shen Yebai had no choice but to agree.
“Then I’ll pretend to be your guard. Don’t worry, I won’t reveal my swordsmanship. I also know some knife skills.” Shen Yebai said, his expression changing instantly.
—Shen Yebai has truly changed his face.
It transformed into a face unfamiliar to Qin Moyu, with thick eyebrows and big eyes, and no matter how Qin Moyu looked at it, she couldn't tell that it was a disguise.
Qin Moyu couldn't help but reach out and touch Shen Yebai's face, finding nothing amiss.
"How did you do that?" Qin Moyu was surprised. Although Xuanjing Zhenren had changed the appearance of other people in front of him, that was because Xuanjing Zhenren had a high level of cultivation and used profound magic to activate spiritual energy to change it. Shen Yebai's cultivation was not as good as Xuanjing Zhenren's, so how could he change his appearance so easily?
“It’s an array.” Shen Yebai pointed to an inconspicuous accessory on his waist, a dark red gemstone, and explained, “It has a magic array engraved inside. It can change one’s appearance according to one’s thoughts, but only I can use it.”
The ruby was smaller than a thumb, and the magic circle that could be disguised so perfectly must be complex, not simple. It was truly amazing that it could be engraved into a gemstone.