Liang Chen turned away from Qing Lan Yong and walked over to the edge of the basin that was all that remained of the Storm Wolf sect. He sat down and pulled his right knee up to his chest, resting his chin on it while gazing out across the massive basin, his eyes flickering with his complex emotions.

Yumao slithered over to him and loosely curled around him, positioning himself so that he could rest his head on Liang Chen's shoulder from behind. He unfurled both his wings and enveloped Liang Chen in them as if he was trying to shield him from the world and give him a safe place for himself, a place just for him where he didn't have to worry about anything.

Yumao acted in a very simple and obedient manner most of the time, but that didn't mean that he wasn't clever enough to think for himself. He too wanted to kill Qing Lan Yong when he first saw him, but he changed his mind after hearing the full story from Yan Ying. Upon hearing the full story he also knew that he would have to stop this wrathful master of his from going blind with rage when he saw Qing Lan Yong again.

He knew that if Liang Chen really did end up killing Qing Lan Yong in a fit of merciless rage when they met again, learning the truth of what Qing Lan Yong had done would fill him with such complex and conflicting emotions that it would tear at his soul and mind. The strange mixture of anger, gratitude, and guilt of killing his sister's savior might even tear his mind completely apart. This would especially be the case if his sister was still alive to learn about it, but sadly she had already died, one of the Scourge King's shackles evaporating.

But even so, Yumao believed that he was doing the right thing, at least for now. Qing Lan Yong had to live for the good he had done and he had to live to atone for the bad he had done, his murder would leave a hole in Liang Chen's soul, one that would never be filled by anything other than an endless cycle of more revenge without redemption. While Yumao was enveloping him, Liang Chen's eyes suddenly grew sharper as he growled out a few words in response to the sound of footsteps from behind them.

"I said I don't ever want to see you again."

The sound of footsteps that was coming from behind him didn't stop despite Liang Chen's growling, they slowly and steadily came closer. Yumao pulled back his wings and shrank down to his usual tiny size, resting on top of Liang Chen's head and allowing him to turn his head. Qing Lan Yong was walking over with slow steps, blood staining his body and robe after Liang Chen slammed him into the ground several times.

But thanks to Liang Chen loosening the seal on him, his bloodline had already started to rapidly heal all his minor wounds, they were all practically gone already. Liang Chen had no idea what sort of bloodline Qing Lan Yong had, mainly because Qing Lan Yong himself had no idea what bloodline he had. There was no mention of a bloodline like his in the clan records, which meant that it was either a recessive bloodline that dated back further than the clan records did, or it was a mutated one that he had accidentally acquired over the years.

Qing Lan Yong didn't heed Liang Chen's words, nor did he seem to be afraid that Liang Chen might actually kill him. He continued walking over until he was only a single step away from Liang Chen and then sat down on the ground while facing him.

"I want to leave, I truly do. I want nothing more than to go to where my family is, but I cannot. I have hurt you more than anyone has ever hurt you, I have left a scar in you that can probably never be healed. They won't accept me over there until I've gotten your forgiveness, so I cannot leave yet."

Qing Lan Yong lowered his head slightly as he spoke, his voice lowering alongside his head. He had lost everything and was now all alone, the last thing he had to do before he embarked on his journey to the yellow springs was to somehow acquire Liang Chen's forgiveness for the great sin he had committed against him. Liang Chen's expression froze for a short second when he heard Qing Lan Yong's words, his eyelids twitching for a second before he snapped at him.

"Forgiveness? You want my forgiveness? Tell me, do you think I can forgive you for what you did to me, for what you took from me?! Go fuck yourself!"

Liang Chen stood up and kicked out before he could even think about his actions, his foot connecting with Qing Lan Yong's face and launching him backward again with a bloody face. He crashed into the ground and slid along it for a bit before standing up and wiping the blood off his face, walking over to Liang Chen again and sitting down, his eyes still as sorrowful and lonely as they were when Liang Chen first saw him again.

"Please, I will do whatever it takes to acquire your forgiveness, please allow me to reunite with them."

Qing Lan Yong lowered his head so much that his forehead touched the ground, practically pleading with Liang Chen. Liang Chen clenched his fists, the veins on his left arm bulging and writhing to the point of almost exploding, his teeth gnashing to the point where he felt like they would shatter as he spoke.

"You want to reunite with your family? Did you stop to think that I might feel that very same feeling when you robbed me of mine? Well, can you reunite me with my family? If you can't even do that, then forget about me forgiving you."

Qing Lan Yong kept his head lowered while remaining silent, each second of silence from him causing the flames within Liang Chen's chest to burn brighter. After what felt like an eternity, Qing Lan Yong shook his head weakly.

"I'm sorry, but I cannot bring them back, please find another way to forgive me."

Liang Chen's leg flashed forward again the moment Qing Lan Yong finished speaking, his foot once again smashing into his face and sending him flying backward. Qing Lan Yong once again stood up and walked over, sitting down in front of Liang Chen and lowering his head.

"I know that it is nearly impossible, but I must acquire your forgiveness before I go to them, otherwise they will never accept me, they were always like that."

Qing Lan Yong lowered his head again, a few drops of blood dripping down his face and landing on the ground. But once again, his words only served to further enrage Liang Chen. He grabbed onto Qing Lan Yong's collar and raised him into the air, furiously shaking him while roaring at him, his voice evnetuall ending up so low that it was barely a whisper.

"DON'T FUCKING GIVE ME THAT! YOU WERE THE GOAL I HAD ALL ALONG, THE GREAT AND MIGHTY HEAD THAT WAS SO DISTANT THAT I HAD TO GIVE IT MY ALL JUST TO GET STRONG ENOUGH TO REAP IT, STRONG ENOUGH TO GET MY PEACE! THEY TOOK YOUR FAMILY, STOP BEING SO PATHETIC ABOUT IT AND TALKING ABOUT RETURNING TO THEM! NOT ONCE HAVE I THOUGHT ABOUT RETURNING TO THEM, IT'S ALWAYS BEEN ABOUT MURDERING YOU AND EVERYONE ELSE INVOLVED, IT'S ALWAYS BEEN ABOUT BRINGING THEM BACK! SO RAGE, SCREAM AND ROAR AT THE HEAVENS, TURN YOUR ANGER AND SORROW INTO A SPEAR TO PIERCE YOUR ENEMIES! If you don't do that, then how will I ever know if the path I chose was the right one?"