Through a thin mist, Shi Chan looked at Liu Li with gentle, tender eyes. A warm smile played on his lips as he said softly, "Does the young lady remember when we came to this magic array many years ago?"
Liuli looked down at him, remained silent for a moment, then nodded and said softly, "I remember."
Shi Chan turned to look at the rows of stone pillars around him, and with a sense of nostalgia for the past, said in a low voice, "This is the second time I've come here. The last time I came, this demonic array had transformed into a deadly palace, and I was trapped inside. As for you, young lady..."
Shi Chan turned his gaze to Liu Li's small face. His deep black eyes, which had lost their usual composure, were now filled with longing. His voice was unusually gentle, as soft as a gently flowing stream, softly caressing Liu Li's heart and leaving her with a strange feeling.
Shi Chan paused for a moment, then continued, speaking gently, "The young lady was trapped in the formation with me to save this humble monk. For the past twenty years, I have dreamt countless times of what happened in that formation that day. In that treacherous demonic formation, we fought side by side, narrowly escaping death several times. After waking from the dream, I suddenly thought... what if we had died together in the demonic palace that day?"
"...No matter what happens to you, young lady, I would be willing to die in the Demon Palace on that day."
Shi Chan looked at Liuli tenderly, a deep sense of remorse creeping onto his face. His voice was heavy with sorrow as he said, "In that case, I wouldn't have repeatedly hurt you in the years to come, nor would I have killed so many people after falling into demonic possession, including the wrong one who killed you... Your death is the greatest regret and unease in my heart. I have woken up countless times from nightmares, filled with remorse and unease, my heart breaking, feeling like I'd rather be dead..."
Liuli was stunned. Looking at the remorseful expression on Shichan's face, she could almost imagine his regret and the painful way he would wake up in the middle of the night, unable to fall asleep because of his remorse.
I vaguely remember the first time I met that young monk. His eyes were clear and clean, and his expression was wise and calm, like an ancient well without waves.
He should have been free from all attachments and regrets; he should have been carefree and untouched by worldly entanglements; he should have been a lofty Buddha, not a mortal struggling in the mundane world…
Liuli didn't know why she felt this way. She remained silent for a long time, secretly feeling sorry for his pain and unease, completely forgetting the hatred she felt for the person he had killed.
This moment is the one when Liuli is most like her former self. Only the Liuli of the past would have smiled and comforted Shichan when he was killed by her, saying "It's okay." Only the Liuli of the past would not blame him for killing her, but would only feel sorry for his remorse and unease.
Liuli thought to herself, for someone who didn't care about life and death and only sought peace of mind, the torment of never being able to find peace of mind was probably more unbearable than death itself...
...It turns out that she wasn't the only one living in pain for the past twenty years.
A gentle breeze seemed to blow in from nowhere, stirring up the black mist in the formation. The mist spread out, but it could not obstruct their vision.
They stood facing each other, about two zhang apart. He had a gentle expression, while she looked blank. They stared at each other in silence for a long time.
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