It was a single deafening sentence.

Shen Shui Yan knew full well that Chu Mu Yun was only saying this because his feelings of love and hate had been reversed by the forbidden art, that he was mistaking him for Xie Qian Lan, not that he truly did not wish to see him...

However, Shen Shui Yan still felt the bitterness melting into his blood. The four long years he spent missing him and the restless torment mixed together to become a corrosive poison, constantly causing him great pain.

Shen Shui Yan calmed down slightly before saying, "Ah Yun, it was Xie Qian Lan who did all of those things, and the Beast of Charm is also his. I did not..."

"You're lying! I was the one who personally taught Xie Qian Lan to cultivate. Do you really think I wouldn't know what abilities he had? How could Xie Qian Lan know your disgusting and evil techniques? How old was he when you were doing those despicable things? He could never have done something as sinister and cruel as that!"

Shen Shui Yan, at least be more logical when you spout that kind of nonsense. I have no idea what kind of tricks you're trying to play again but don't even try and control me. We're no longer in the Human Realm right now, so don't think I'll be coerced by you!"

Despite Shen Shui Yan being the target of his castigations, his words were in fact criticisms of Xie Qian Lan.

It would be reasonable to say that Shen Shui Yan would only feel helpless at hearing such words, even wronged, but not sad.

However, every word that Chu Mu Yun said made Shen Shui Yan's face pale more and more. There was a complicated look in his eyes that not only contained sadness but also filled with remorse and regret.

Shen Shui Yan could not understand it, but Chu Mu Yun understood completely.

He said these words on purpose.

He was trying to test Shen Shui Yan.

After all, this was Greed, the one who had fully recovered his memories.

Chu Mu Yun knew just how much of a selfish person the character he created was.

But now...

Chu Mu Yun confronted Xie Qian Lan, stripping down what happened back then little by little, pouring out all the feelings of unease, resignation, and helplessness, completely bringing them back to those times.

As Shen Shui Yan heard him talk, his memories also returned to those times.

He was completely overwhelmed by remorse and regret.

If he had noticed the changes in Ah Yun back then, then Xie Qian Lan would never have been given the opportunity to take advantage of the situation like that.

If he had cared for Ah Yun more and paid attention to his feelings, then Ah Yun would never have had to carry this much on his back without daring to bare his mind to him.

If he had been more mature, less selfish, not thinking merely of monopolizing him, then would Ah Yun still have had to suffer through all of that?

If...If...If...

The countless "ifs" began to pile up, the greatest mockery of his own stupidity and incompetence.

Shen Shui Yan's lips trembled slightly as he spoke in a hoarse voice, "Ah Yun, I won't do it again, never ever again."

This reaction stunned Chu Mu Yun, and a complicated emotion flashed past his eyes.

Shen Shui Yan did his best to collect himself and spoke softly, "Don't worry. You'll understand once the forbidden technique is dispelled."

Chu Mu Yun wanted to say more, but Shen Shui Yan suddenly frowned, the temperature of his voice dropping by a few points. "I'm sorry, Ah Yun, but you need to rest for a while."

As soon as he finished speaking, he raised his hand, and a talisman glowing turquoise appeared out of thin air. With a slight raise of his eyes, a crystal-clear curtain of pale blue light surrounded Chu Mu Yun like a waterfall.

Chu Mu Yun exclaimed, "Shen Shui Yan, what are you trying to do?!"

Shen Shui Yan smiled. "Wait for me, Ah Yun."

Chu Mu Yun, "Zero, Absolute Consciousness."

Baby Zero was paying full attention and sobbing the whole time, so he reacted quickly.

When the skill was used, the disturbance that was surging from the curtain of light was greatly diminished.

Chu Mu Yun had never had his love and hatred reversed to begin with. If it was swapped again, then God knows what the hell would happen.

Still, it did not matter. All he had to do was figure out what Shen Shui Yan had gotten his hands on.

Reversing love and hate or reversing love and hate...

How could it be so easy to achieve?

If one's mind could be manipulated so easily, then there would be no such things as absolute love and eternal infatuation.

Chu Mu Yun's eyes were slightly downcast.

Baby Zero whispered, "It seems like...Lust is here."

Chu Mu Yun, "Mm."

Zero, "What should we...These two..."

Chu Mu Yun, "Don't get too immersed in the drama, baby."

Zero, "But their..." feelings really were serious, but he didn't say that out.

Chu Mu Yun, "That's why you can't delay. You have to be quick and decisive."

Zero: QAQ!

Chu Mu Yun laughed. "Don't forget what we're here to do."

As a system that needed its host to remind it of its duties, the DOS 4.0 system desperately needed a crack in the ground of at least 16 GB deep for him and his emojis to burrow into (:з」∠).

Xie Qianlan's Myriad Illusions Palace was impossible for others to find, but Shen Shui Yan's Clear Mist Palace was a clear target that was simply too easy to find.

Shen Shui Yan did not try to hide either. He waited for Xie Qianlan to come so that he could settle the scores with him.

Sublime mist stirred.

One man stood in robes as red as flames and the other in violet, like an immortal. Two men similarly possessing amazing talent had their swords drawn against each other.

Shen Shui Yan stared at him. "Xie Qian Lan, you really did dare to come."

Xie Qian Lan demanded, "Give him back."

Those words made Shen Shui Yan laugh. His dark eyes were filled with hatred, which made the smile on his lips even more grim and tyrannical. "What right do you have to say that? Give him back? When has he ever belonged to you?"

Xie Qianlan removed his usual suave exterior and responded with a serious demeanor. "Shen Shui Yan, you're not fit for each other. Sooner or later, he will only be driven to death if he stays with you."

Shen Shui Yan narrowed his eyes dangerously. "I'll return those words to you as is. Don't forget what you've done."

Xie Qian Lan, "You would never have been in love with him if I never did what I did."

Shen Shui Yan, "If you never did what you did, then Ah Yun would have belonged to me and only me forever, and I will protect him for as long as we live."

"Just like an object."

"And you're treating him like a toy."

It was impossible for these two men to come to a concession.

They made the same mistakes and were similarly making amends now. Both of them found it imperative to have that man.

Nobody could convince anyone, nobody could choose to back down.

So, they could only battle it out.

It was impossible to tell who made the first move.

However, the sound of the zither clanged with the magnificent and complicated runes floating in the air, stirring up a hurricane in this serene paradise!

There were flying sands and rocks. A giant tree was uprooted and carried into the air by the air current before being blasted into debris soon after by the terrifying pressure.

Xie Qian Lan did not sacrifice his beasts. In a battle of this level, with Shen Shui Yan on full alert, they would only be killed in an instant without being able to do much of anything.

Their cultivation levels should be near equal, but in fact, Shen Shui Yan was still slightly lacking.

That was because he had expended a lot of energy on reversing the forbidden spell on Chu Mu Yun before coming out.

Why would he do that at such a critical time?

Shen Shui Yan didn't do it recklessly. He had considered his options very carefully before coming to a decision.

That was because...the true victor can only be chosen by Chu Mu Yun himself.