Qin Moyu's eyes darted around, but he dared not meet Xuanjing Zhenren's gaze.
Qin Moyu, whom Master Xuanjing had raised, could tell from the way Qin Moyu's eyes darted around that Qin Moyu was up to no good again. He glared at him and threatened, "Don't stammer, tell me the truth!"
Qin Moyu sighed and said, "Alright, then I'll tell you, don't worry."
It turned out that while the imperial physician was examining Xuanjing Zhenren's injuries, Shen Mo called Qin Moyu, who was waiting outside, over.
"Is something the matter?" Qin Moyu was led by Shen Mo to a secluded corner. It was fine when there were other people around, but now that they were alone, she suddenly felt that something was wrong.
He preferred to look down at the tips of his shoes rather than look up at Shen Mo, his awkwardness was obvious.
"Well, there are some things... I'd like to ask for your opinion on," Shen Mo said softly.
"What?"
"Zuo Shu said she has found Nan Xun's trail, so I will be setting off for Xizhou tomorrow to seek the senior's legacy. I wonder if Mo Yu would be willing to come with me?"
They actually asked me if I wanted to go look for the legacy together?
Qin Moyu asked in confusion, "Why do you want me to come along? I can't help you at all, and I'll only be a burden to you."
After all, Xiang Mei was a renowned master of formations. Although Shen Mo is now the undisputed number one in the world, he would inevitably be restricted in every way if he brought Qin Moyu along, and there might be some unforeseen changes.
So even though Shen Mo had said he wanted to take her along, Qin Moyu thought it was just Shen Mo being polite. After all, the pros and cons were there, and anyone who wasn't stupid wouldn't bring a burden along.
Shen Mo's answer to this question was unbelievably simple:
"But you said you wanted to go."
—Because you said you wanted to go, I took you there.
Disregarding gains and losses, disregarding right and wrong, acting on emotion to the point of being unrecognizable as Shen Mo.
Qin Moyu looked up, wanting to say, "Are you stupid?", but unexpectedly bumped into Shen Mo's gentle eyes.
Unlike the gentleness that came with guilt before, this gentleness now carries an added element of determined force and relentless passion.
"Actually, I've wanted to tell you this for a long time."
At this moment, Shen Mo's voice seemed to come from beyond the heavens, ethereal yet clear.
"I'm kind to you not because I feel guilty..."
Shen Mo said softly, taking a step forward until only a fist's width of space remained between them.
"It's that I like you."
Qin Moyu was completely stunned.
Shen Mo raised his hand to brush away the stray hairs from Qin Moyu's forehead and said with a wry smile, "Whether as Shen Yebai or Shen Mo, Momo, it seems that the only person I can't forget is you."
"but."
Shen Mo touched Qin Moyu's cheek and pressed his forehead against Qin Moyu's.
"Thanks."
After saying that, he kissed her.
Thank you for appearing in my life. Through joy and sorrow, you are the only one I can never give up.
The warmth of their lips was intoxicating. Unlike Shen Yebai's hasty kiss that day, Shen Mo's kiss was restrained and patient. But even the gentlest appearance could not hide their inherent greed, like travelers in the desert yearning for nectar.
But Qin Moyu didn't give Shen Mo a chance to continue indulging in his obsession. Realizing what was happening, he pushed Shen Mo away, his face and neck turning bright red.
Qin Moyu covered his mouth with the back of his hand. His violently pounding heart made him unable to hear anything else, and his mind was a complete mess under the kiss.
What shocked him was not only Shen Mo's kiss, but also the fact that he hadn't immediately refused.
Because when their eyes met, Qin Moyu saw Shen Yebai, not Shen Mo.
This time, Qin Moyu was finally certain that this was not an illusion.
Qin Moyu looked at Shen Mo, wanting to call out that name, but couldn't utter a single word.
"I still remember everything we agreed on, Mo Yu." Shen Mo's lips curled up slightly, revealing that familiar smile that Qin Mo Yu knew.
"Ye Bai?" Qin Moyu murmured to herself, her eyes filled with joy as she looked at Shen Mo, but even more so with disbelief.
He stared at Shen Mo for a long while before shaking his head violently: "No! You're not Ye Bai! Although, although you look a lot like him, but, but... you're not him!"
Qin Moyu's voice was very urgent; it sounded more like she was trying to convince herself than to convince Shen Mo.
“I am indeed not him, or rather, I am not just him.” Shen Mo reached out to brush away the stray hairs for him again, but Qin Moyu subconsciously dodged away, so he could only sigh and withdraw his hand.
"What do you mean?" Qin Moyu bit her lower lip, her eyes filled with complex emotions as she looked at Shen Mo.
For a moment, he thought it was really as Shen Yebai said, that his consciousness had returned after defeating Shen Mo, but after calming down and thinking about it, he knew that it was impossible.
"I am Shen Yebai, and also Shen Mo," Shen Mo answered truthfully, revealing the whole story of the fusion.
After Shen Mo finished explaining the intricacies of the situation, he reached out his hand to Qin Moyu, his eyes filled with undisguised pleading: "But whether it's Shen Mo or Shen Yebai, I love Moyu. Would you be willing to give me another chance to fulfill the promises I made to you?"
When he said this, Shen Mo didn't seem like a powerful cultivator at the Tribulation Transcending stage at all; he was as humble as any pursuer who was desperately trying to win the heart of his beloved.
Shen Mo, whom even Heaven could not control, was defeated so miserably by Qin Moyu's single glance.
Whether it's fate or calamity, I'll pursue it willingly.