Why?

He knelt heavily on the hard rock, yet felt no pain. The memories that Ruan Xinrou had instilled in him over the years were like an intricately woven net, now being torn apart bit by bit by the truth.

"Fourth Senior Brother, Bai Ying always bullies me... She deliberately broke the hairpin my mother gave me..."

"You used to hate her the most too, the two of you have never gotten along..."

"She killed my master and destroyed my spiritual root. You must help me avenge her..."

These words echoed in his mind, but they could no longer ignite the hatred in his heart.

Instead, he was filled with a deeper and more painful confusion—how could he have believed it so easily? How could he have not even bothered to do the most basic verification? Just because Ruan Xinrou disliked Bai Ying, did he naturally follow suit and dislike her as well?

"ah--!"

Yan Chiling suddenly raised his head and let out a roar that echoed among the cliffs, startling a flock of birds that were roosting at night.

He pounded his temples hard, hoping to shake out more buried memories. But apart from the image of the Cliff of Repentance, his mind remained a complete blank.

Staggering to his feet, Yan Chiling walked towards his senior brothers' residence like a walking corpse. The moonlight cast a long, lonely shadow behind him.

The disciples' residence was still lit. Su Yu was practicing his sword in the courtyard when he saw Yan Chiling's figure, and his swordplay suddenly stopped.

"Fourth Junior Brother?" He sheathed his sword with delight. "The Ancestor finally released you? Where have you been all this time? Everyone has missed you..."

Before he could finish speaking, Yan Chiling had already rushed forward, his hands gripping Su Yu's shoulders like iron clamps. His eyes were bloodshot, and his voice was hoarse beyond recognition:

"Senior brother, tell me... what exactly is the relationship between Bai Ying and me?"