After rebirth, the eldest sister voluntarily abdicated and gave way to the wise.

Chapter 604 Do You Still Remember?

The nights at Tianqian Sect were no different from anywhere else; they were endless, vast, and pitch black, obscuring even human faces. The only difference was that the buildings throughout Tianqian Sect emitted a faint, ethereal light, making it a blessed land, a place revered by all.

But at some point, this place transformed from a place of reverence into an inescapable shackle for her, suffocating her and leaving her helpless.

Jiang Liqian walked out blankly, unable to hear the many sounds behind her. Her mind flashed back to the scene inside the Nine Profound Palace, where Xu Youan held a long spear, the tip of which was piercing white bone, and blood was dripping from it.

His gaze was hidden in the vast expanse of crimson, his entire skeleton seemed empty and lonely, as if it were about to crumble before her eyes.

But Hu Yuheng fell tragically under his gun, his young and gentle face contorted in pain, a sight too painful to behold.

She still remembered, still remembered, by the bright moonlight outside the window, his gentle, low voice, he said, "Be careful," he said, "Hu Yuheng, that's my name."

As the long night drew to a close, the figures of people were sparse. Jiang Liqian kept her head down. Suddenly, a faint shadow of gauze appeared in front of her. Her eyes froze, and she slowly raised her head.

The moonlight was scattered, and the young woman looked at her sadly, her watery eyes filled with heartache that was about to burst forth.

Jiang Liqian stared at her blankly, suddenly realizing that she had changed a lot. In her eyes, she saw herself, and realized that she had changed a lot too.

The "indestructible" facade she had forced herself to maintain because of her status as the senior sister has crumbled. Why is she so pitiful and in so much pain now?

"Qianqian..."

Are you here to reassure me too?

Yun Ruyi shook her head with tears in her eyes. She wanted to get closer to her, but she was afraid that she would make her feel even worse, so she forced herself not to move any closer.

Her voice was soft and choked with emotion: "As long as you turn around, I'll always be here..."

"Really, really, you believe me."

Jiang Liqian stared at her desperate, red eyes and slowly shook her head.

Without saying a word, she turned and left.

As Yun Ruyi watched her resolute departure, she collapsed to her knees and knelt on the ground, weeping silently.

It turns out there really wasn't any chance left. It turns out that even the vast distances and the boundless sky between them weren't enough to bridge the gap between them.

But, but Qianqian, that wasn't her intention.

not like this……

......................................................

Jiang Liqian locked herself in her room.

Fearing she might do something rash, the eldest brother stood outside and earnestly tried to persuade her: "Junior sister, the innocent will clear themselves. Junior brother must have his reasons. I absolutely believe in his character, so you don't need to worry too much. Back then, Master..."

Si Chuan's heart skipped a beat, and a look of doubt appeared on his face.

Was he just about to say... "Master"?

But they don't have a master.

He paused for a long while before remembering to continue, "For Junior Brother to be able to join our Formation Peak, he must be..."

A gust of wind suddenly blew open the tightly closed door. Si Chuan was stunned for a moment, then took a step forward and pushed the door open completely.

"Little junior sister?"

The room was empty; there was no sign of Jiang Liqian.

-

Midnight.

As the first rays of dawn were still suppressed by the dark clouds, the outermost cell door of the Water Confinement Prison, deep within the forbidden area, was opened with a clang. The disciples guarding the outside fell into a deep sleep, oblivious to the comings and goings of the world.

In the deep, dark passageway, a glimpse of a frosty white skirt suddenly swept across the silent air, stopping at the edge of a pool of black water where ice-blue and pure white spirit rings intertwined and flowed.

Before they even entered, a chilling cold air rushed towards them, making them shiver and their faces turn pale with fear.

Inside this water prison, a young man, covered in blood and dressed in rags, hung limply by chains, his head drooping. Despite his remarkable restraint, muffled groans could still be heard.

Hearing the sudden soft sound from inside the water prison, he coughed twice and slowly raised his head.

A stunningly beautiful face came into his eyes.

His pupils contracted slightly, and he looked away.

"...Senior Sister".

Jiang Liqian stood outside the pillar of light, looking at him for a long, long time, before asking expressionlessly, "Why did you kill him?"

Xu Youan pursed his lips, then gave a nonchalant, roguish smile, which aggravated the wound on the corner of his mouth, causing him to wince in pain.

"He blocked my way, so I killed him. It's that simple."

"What's wrong with him?"

"What other path could it be? It's naturally the path of immortality..."

Jiang Liqian nodded: "Blocking someone's path to immortality is like killing their parents. You should indeed kill him. I will explain to the sect leader for you, and he will definitely release you."

After saying that, she turned and left.

Xu Youan frowned, her indifferent attitude faltering, and anxiously called out, "Senior Sister!"

Jiang Liqian stopped abruptly without turning around, and asked calmly, "What are you doing?"

Xu Youan opened his mouth, then lowered his head to conceal the complex and unreadable emotions in his eyes.

"...Senior sister, no one has wronged me. This is what I deserve. I am willing to accept the sect's most severe punishment."

"Don't do anything for me, senior sister, I'm not worth it."

Jiang Li tilted her head slightly and closed her eyes tightly.

Crimson blood vessels instantly filled her eyes.

She tried to suppress her anger and asked him as calmly as possible, "You said you deserved it—I ask you, is it you who deserved it, or me?"

"You killed him for me, didn't you?"

"No!" Xu Youan immediately retorted, his emotions suddenly rising, but he swallowed them back down, managing a forced smile. "Senior sister, please don't think too highly of me, okay? I'm not a good person, nor am I your good junior brother. I've committed many evils and my sins are grave. I'm not worthy of the Tianqian Sect, nor am I worthy of the Zhenfeng Sect. I should be executed."

"Never mind that, senior sister."

"Leave me alone..."

His fate was sealed.

Every extra minute and second he has now is both a reward and a torture for him.

He longed to see his senior sister a few more times.

However, he didn't want his senior sister to suffer for even a second longer.

Perhaps when he saw her coming on the wind that moonlit night, when he was at his most wretched and desperate, with her bright eyes, white teeth, and unparalleled beauty, it was destined that he would eventually find redemption in this life, and also fall into an abyss.

"I beg you, senior sister..."

Please.

Please.

Jiang Liqian could no longer hold back. She turned around and rushed over, slamming her palms hard against the pillar of light. Even though her hands were covered in blood, she didn't care.

Xu Youan suddenly stopped breathing.

"Xu, You, An!"

She gritted her teeth, her eyes bloodshot.

"What am I to you?"

Xu You'an stared blankly: "Senior Sister..."

"You have secrets, I won't pry; you always disappear, I won't force you; but now that your life is at stake, you tell me to ignore you? Xu You'an, do you still remember calling me 'Senior Sister'?"