Shen Yebai also guessed why Qin Moyu didn't take the patterns seriously. If he didn't know some inside information like him, he probably would have thought it was a normal phenomenon caused by the cultivation technique.
But in fact—
“Because… those aren’t patterns, they’re seals.” Shen Yebai sighed softly.
"A seal?!" Qin Moyu's eyes widened.
Shen Yebai nodded: "Does Mo Yu know that people live in the extremely cold places?"
"I know... and it's said that everyone there possesses the Crimson Lotus Karmic Fire, so I must be from the Extreme Cold Land, right? But that's not right, the Extreme Cold Land seems to have a barrier that prevents people from entering or leaving at will, so how did I get out?" Qin Moyu asked several questions in a row. He didn't expect Shen Yebai to seem to know a lot about the secrets of the Extreme Cold Land.
But this makes no sense. Master Xuanjing knew because he was just one step away from reaching the Tribulation Transcending stage and had lived a long life, allowing him to piece together clues from different books in the Guanlan Sect's library. But Shen Yebai was clearly a rogue cultivator with no one to rely on, so how did he know?
Shen Yebai smiled bitterly, "Because it's not a barrier, but a seal... or rather, a curse."
"The people who live in the extreme cold have no names, but they have profound cultivation and long lifespans. For some reason, they cannot leave the barrier of the extreme cold. Even if they manage to escape by chance—and some people have indeed succeeded—they will be devoured and die after using the Red Lotus Karmic Fire outside."
"This is why everyone thinks the Red Lotus Karmic Fire is very powerful, because it is a magical weapon that can ruthlessly devour even its owner. So gradually, the people of the extreme cold region discovered that the patterns that appeared when using the Red Lotus Karmic Fire were not due to the technique, but rather a warning not to leave the extreme cold region."
Shen Yebai was lost in memories, or rather, fragments of memories.
In the frigid land where heavy snow falls, even those dressed in fur coats and embroidered clothes, with youthful and beautiful faces, cannot conceal the suffocating sense of decay emanating from their souls, tainted by time. It's as if the person standing in front of you is not a human, but a human-shaped antique.
They are indifferent to desires and have no interest in power, money, or influence. Only when freedom is mentioned do their eyes flash with fear and trepidation.
Shen Yebai walked into their midst and saw the woman who had been sitting in the corner, wearing a light blue long velvet dress and holding a child, making sarcastic remarks about freedom.
The memory abruptly ended.
“Seal…” Qin Moyu unconsciously touched his cheek. He thought of that remnant soul again. If someone possesses the Red Lotus Karmic Fire, they will be cursed. So, is the remnant soul that flickers every time he uses the Red Lotus Karmic Fire suppressing something for him?
Moreover, if the Red Lotus Karmic Fire is indeed a warning, then those trapped in the extreme cold by the barrier did not abandon themselves, but instead placed their hopes on themselves.
"In short, Mo Yu, use the Red Lotus Karmic Fire sparingly. With me here, I will protect you." Shen Yebai snapped out of his reverie. He didn't intend to tell Qin Mo Yu these things because he couldn't explain them, and he was also afraid that if Mo Yuan's identity were revealed, Qin Mo Yu might despise him.
He had never cared about the bloodshed, whether real or fabricated, that had been inflicted on him. Since bearing a bad reputation could help him better achieve his plans, why not?
But now, Shen Yebai regrets it.
"I understand, I'll use it less often in the future." Qin Moyu recalled the person he had seen in the library who "disappeared" after using the Red Lotus Karmic Fire, which must also be due to that curse.
Relieved by Qin Moyu's assurance, Shen Yebai breathed a sigh of relief, but then worried about something else: "Speaking of which... Moyu, didn't you bid on that box at the Tengwang Pavilion auction? Is it still with you? Could you...?"
Shen Yebai hesitated for a long time, unsure of how to ask Qin Moyu for the box.
Judging from what that person told him, the box was definitely more important than the Red Lotus Karmic Fire. But Qin Moyu was so persistent that day, it was clear that he really liked the box. He had just said that he would get Moyu whatever he wanted, but now he was asking him for something, which made Shen Yebai very frustrated.
Speaking of the Tengwang Pavilion auction, Qin Moyu was furious. She went on and on about the whole incident, from beginning to end, especially the part where Nan Xun stole her identity and she was chased by Mo Yuan. She was more wronged than Dou E.
"...I explained to him that someone had impersonated me, but he just wouldn't believe me—okay, even if it were me, I wouldn't believe it either, but that doesn't stop me from being angry," Qin Moyu muttered.
Shen Yebai dared not tell Qin Moyu that he was Mo Yuan.
However, as long as the box isn't in Qin Moyu's hands, that's fine.
Faced with the Red Lotus Karmic Fire, which suddenly turned from a golden finger into a landmine, Qin Moyu was depressed for a while, but then he came to terms with it. Having potential dangers was better than having no one to rely on. So he had to work harder to practice his spells so that he could have a skill to rely on.
“However, even if you’re surprised, you shouldn’t have touched the Red Lotus Karmic Fire without any precautions. If I hadn’t reacted quickly, your hand might have been ruined.” Qin Moyu complained as he rummaged through his storage bag, trying to find some medicine to treat Shen Yebai.
"At the time, I was only thinking about verifying whether it was really the Red Lotus Karmic Fire. I was in such a hurry that I didn't think about all that."
Shen Yebai pursed his lips: "Mo Yu, don't worry, it's okay even if you don't apply the medicine. It will be fine in a while."
Shen Yebai has traveled across the four continents for so long, facing life and death countless times, but he has always persevered. This mere frostbite is nothing to him.
But Qin Moyu's careful search for medicine warmed his heart.
"Of course I know." Qin Moyu took out bottles and jars, looking at this one and smelling that one.
He said irritably, "But you're a human being too. You feel pain and discomfort. You may not care, but it hurts me to see you like this."
Qin Moyu told Shen Yebai with a clear conscience how much she valued him, leaving Shen Yebai speechless for a long time.
His identity was special; from the time he could remember, he had only encountered subordinates or enemies. They either feared, respected, or hated him, but they never cared about him.
Even that person was the same.
Over time, Shen Yebai forgot that he was also a human being, capable of feeling pain, hatred, and resentment.
He was used to pretending and suppressing himself, and only in front of Qin Moyu did he find the feeling of being alive.
After searching for a long time, Qin Moyu finally found the medicine to treat frostbite and gestured for Shen Yebai to extend his hand.
Shen Yebai obediently handed his hand to Qin Moyu.
Qin Moyu lowered her head and focused intently on applying the medicine to him, unaware of the turbulent emotions surging in Shen Yebai's eyes.
In no mood.
I don't want to leave Momo.
Even if...
Rebel against him...
Even if...
Shen Yebai lowered his eyes, feeling an unprecedented sense of resentment towards his own existence.