Han Qi bowed deeply, expressing his regret: “I know that like Di Jun, I’ve acted despicably and hurt you. I’m truly sorry.”

Xiang Haikui didn’t accept his apology.

Han Qi continued: “But I still hold some hope that when you act, you won’t be guided solely by your personal ‘loves and hates.’ That isn’t the true Way.”

Xiang Haikui shook her head: “No, I’m just an ordinary person. My ‘loves and hates’ are my Way.”

She didn’t want to hear his grand principles. “Elder, you consider yourself a sage, but I can’t quite distinguish whether your Way is based on your own ‘loves and hates’ or the collective choice of all humankind.”

On one hand, Xiang Haikui deeply admired Han Qi from the bottom of her heart.

But there was one point she couldn’t agree with.

For the advancement of the human race, Han Qi had been helping Di Jun commit genocide.

Not just against the Mountain Sea Clan—those various clans that attempted to assassinate Di Jun all fell victim to the machinations of this “Imperial Advisor.”

Moreover, judging from Han Qi’s attitude toward the Mountain Sea Clan, his participation in these massacres wasn’t reluctant; he was even quite willing. Any race whose interests conflicted with human development had to be eliminated. He was determined to elevate humanity, even if by force.

Just as Yin Changli had said, fundamentally, Han Qi was similar to Di Jun.

If one day Han Qi became the ruler of the Three Realms, he might become a second tyrannical Di Jun.

None of this should have concerned Xiang Haikui, and she couldn’t judge others based on her values—she simply disagreed.

But given the current situation, she needed to rescue her master from imprisonment, and no one could stand in her way.

They would inevitably meet as enemies on the battlefield.

No need for further words.

Yin Changli, having contended with him for so many years, now found it tiresome to even speak with him: “Han Qi, I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve asked you this. Do you truly believe that all of humanity wishes to prosper through such hasty, cruel, and genocidal methods?”

Han Qi fell silent for a moment, not responding to Yin Changli, only looking at Xiang Haikui: “I previously felt that you were deeply influenced by Brother Changli.”

Xiang Haikui was too tired to explain that she had known Yin Changli first but had never been brainwashed by him.

Seeing she wouldn’t listen, Han Qi could only bow in farewell: “If that’s the case, there’s nothing more to say. Farewell.”

After adding that they would meet again, Han Qi took Xing Nü and disappeared.

Only Xiang Haikui and Yin Changli remained on the shore.

Xiang Haikui stood for a while, then supported herself as she sat cross-legged to regulate her breath and heal her wounds.

At this moment, the Other Shore City across from them was magnificent, with various spiritual energies interweaving, colliding, and surging, arranged in distinct layers. The most brilliant explosions high in the sky came from Qi Yin and Dugu He.

From Xiang Haikui’s perspective, that distant sea city didn’t appear to be engulfed in war but rather resembled a grand fireworks display viewed from across the shore—magnificent.

Seeing Yin Changli sit down beside her, Xiang Haikui turned her head: “Aren’t you going to control the situation?”

“The outcome is already decided.” Yin Changli also began regulating his breath, giving her a smile. “My injuries aren’t light either.”

Xiang Haikui inevitably felt awkward, knowing she had caused them. But not wanting to bring it up again, she didn’t apologize.

Just as she turned her face toward the Other Shore City, she heard him ask: “Are you certain you want to stand with us? I hope it’s not because you were moved by Old Master Qi’s reckless actions today…”

Xiang Haikui countered: “Do you think it’s wrong to stand with you?”

Yin Changli: “You are, after all, of the human race.”

Xiang Haikui laughed: “And Shu Luoye was the Heavenly Race crown prince.”

Yin Changli: “He was a madman.”

“He wasn’t a madman,” Xiang Haikui raised her eyebrows. “The Shu Luoye you describe was a wise and clever person who could engage with you for so many years, preventing you from killing Que Chi, persuading you to create bonds of goodwill…”

How could such a person possibly be a madman?

Just as Di Jun had questioned, among the Heavenly Race, many had low spiritual perception, no different from ordinary people—did they all deserve to die?

Of course not.

So, how could someone like Shu Luoye, who widely created bonds of goodwill and always left room for mercy, possibly create a divine artifact meant to exterminate an entire race?

Xiang Haikui tilted her head slightly, leaning closer to whisper: “You and Shu Luoye became close friends, so your principles must have been very compatible. I don’t know him, but I know you. You couldn’t possibly associate with a madman.”

Yin Changli made an “Oh” sound, then asked a soul-searching question: “What? In your eyes, am I not just a piece of garbage?”

“There is certainly a quite garbage-like part of you.” Xiang Haikui glanced at him, telling him not to change the subject.

Yin Changli pressed his lips together.

“You are very kind.” After a pause, Xiang Haikui uttered these four words.

Whether with Di Jun or Han Qi, Xiang Haikui constantly felt the presence of the word “race” in their interactions.

For the sake of their race, they would stop at nothing, even sacrificing some of their kind.

Like how Han Qi targeted Yin Changli, allowing blood to flow in Yin Sha City despite knowing the Meng family’s actions, even adding fuel to the fire.

But with Yin Changli, Xiang Haikui didn’t feel the concept of “race.”

Though he was also lofty, loved putting on airs and attitudes, always displaying that “I’m the smartest and best, you’re all trash” expression…

That belonged to personal superiority, unrelated to race, which was why he could trade equally with anyone.

He never killed the innocent; instead, he created bonds of goodwill and saved people everywhere.

In those early years, Xiang Haikui had often felt his kindness.

“Shu Luoye must have been similar, which is why you two could become close friends,” Xiang Haikui lowered her voice again to whisper. “So what you and Shu Luoye intended to do couldn’t have been as simple and brutal as eliminating the Heavenly Race and reviving the Mountain Sea Clan, right?”

These two men had been tirelessly seeking some form of “balance.”

That’s why Xiang Haikui could say, “I choose the Mountain Sea Clan” without any psychological burden.

Yin Changli, who had been blaming himself for being “weak,” was suddenly praised by Xiang Haikui for being “kind” and was stunned for quite a while.

When he came to his senses, he inexplicably asked: “Do you like… ‘kindness’?”

Xiang Haikui was startled by the question and asked in return: “Should I prefer… ‘malice’?”

“No,” Yin Changli said with a hint of a smile. “But you chose my side based solely on your conjecture?”

“This isn’t conjecture.”

Yin Changli’s character was something she had observed through their interactions.

Previously, she hadn’t bothered with their disputes, but now, to save her master and eliminate Jing Ran, she had to cooperate with Yin Changli, so she needed to examine her partner more carefully.

Xiang Haikui took out a short arrow from her storage ring: “This is the arrow you gave me before your hibernation.”

Having used two arrows, one remained.

The destinations of the two arrows had been two very unreliable Mountain Sea Clan bigwigs.

The third arrow was likely similar.

“At that time, I was truly amazed at the oddities of your Mountain Sea Clan. But Senior Wu Xiang said something—he advised me not to judge the Mountain Sea Clan based on him and Ba Ying. These three arrows were just three controllable ones you selected…”

Yin Changli looked at the arrow and nodded: “I knew they were unreliable, but as for the others, you couldn’t control them.”

Xiang Haikui asked: “For your clansmen, you have an estimate in your heart. Those who can’t be controlled—you won’t release them, right?”

Yin Changli pinched his earlobe, hesitating before speaking, then nodded.

Xiang Haikui sighed in relief.

Yin Changli hesitated, then transmitted a message: “And you guessed correctly. That divine artifact indeed isn’t meant to exterminate the Heavenly Race. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be in such a wretched state… That artifact is a…”

“Stop!” Xiang Haikui raised her palm, urging him to cease.

This secret was known only to him in the world. How much effort had Di Jun and Han Qi expended trying to discover it?

She didn’t want to know at all.

Rescuing her master, killing Di Jun—their goals aligned, their views matched. That was enough.

She made a hand-slapping gesture: “Senior Yin, I look forward to our cooperation.”

After a slight pause, Yin Changli also extended his hand and slapped hers, smiling: “Miss Xiang, I look forward to our cooperation.”

With that settled, Xiang Haikui began to meditate seriously.

After the Heaven’s Madness sword intent diminished, her wounds hurt, hurt badly.

Her master’s battle with Dugu He wouldn’t stop for at least ten days, giving her time to heal.

Yin Changli could sense her viciousness disappearing, her mood continuously improving, with light even shining in her eyes.

She had once again become that sunflower who could quickly adjust her mindset, recover her state, and strive to be happy.

It must be because of Qi Yin’s fearless defense of her.

Yin Changli couldn’t help thinking about earlier, when he had been calculating whether to take her away immediately or wait a few days.

Qi Yin had said that charging in to rescue her directly, even if she might be in danger, would make her happy because that’s the sense of security women want.

That kind of meticulously planned, foolproof security provides little sense of security.

Yin Changli hadn’t quite understood at the time, thinking that between “pleasing her” and “her safety,” safety was certainly more important.

Now, he seemed to have gained some insight.

Perhaps for a girl like Little Kui, inner security was far more important than environmental security.

Yin Changli turned his head to look at her profile, becoming entranced.

Xiang Haikui hadn’t fully entered a meditative state when she suddenly realized she was hungry. She quickly took out a food box from her storage ring, retrieved a flatbread, and planned to eat her fill before healing.

Feeling her cheek burning, she turned her face and met his gaze directly.

After their eyes met briefly, Yin Changli came to his senses and hastily withdrew his gaze: “I’m sorry.”

Xiang Haikui took a bite of the bread: “Your look just now was very much like his.”

Hearing this, Yin Changli’s brows furrowed: “You still don’t understand that we are the same person?”

Xiang Haikui shook her head very honestly: “It’s not that I don’t understand, it’s just hard to distinguish. Sometimes you’re similar, sometimes not. In any case, I’ve never been able to overlap you into the same person.”

A strange fire rose in Yin Changli’s heart.

Watching her and Di Jun bite each other like two mad dogs had only made him feel bitter.

But when it came to his ten-year self, he could easily become irritated.

Being outmatched by others was one thing, but to be defeated by ‘himself’?

“Look into my eyes.” Yin Changli adjusted his posture, gripping her shoulders to force her to face him.

Xiang Haikui continued eating while looking directly into his eyes.

Yin Changli: “Remember my greatest skill?”

Xiang Haikui: “Hmm?”

“Instant tears.” As soon as Yin Changli finished speaking, tears immediately fell from his eyes, running down his cheeks to rest at the graceful curve of his chin.

From reddening eyes to forming teardrops to rolling tears—all in one smooth motion.

Xiang Haikui paused mid-bite.

“Have you seen clearly?” After demonstrating his special skill, Yin Changli took out his beloved double-embroidered handkerchief, elegantly wiping the corners of his eyes and the tears on his chin, saying very seriously, “I’ve possessed this skill since childhood. Well? Do you find it familiar now? Can you overlap ‘me’ and me now?”

Expressionless for a long while, Xiang Haikui finally couldn’t help but laugh. Fortunately, she covered her mouth with her hand; otherwise, bread crumbs might have sprayed all over his face.

“Ouch.” The laugh pulled at the wound in her chest, immediately causing her to break out in a sweat from the pain.

Yin Changli quickly placed his hand on her upper back to channel true energy to her.

“It is.” Xiang Haikui indeed found some familiarity, though his serious instant tears looked comical from any angle.

Yin Changli also felt embarrassed, now feigning calm, momentarily at a loss for words.

“That’s enough, I’ll do it myself.”

Xiang Haikui indicated for him to stop, wanting to use her sword energy to regulate her breath. “By the way, Senior, among your thousand methods, is there one that can be used now?”

Yin Changli was about to withdraw his hand, but paused slightly.

Xiang Haikui considered: “For instance, letting me absorb the two streams of essence, which would be perfect for healing my wounds?”

Yin Changli withdrew his hand, resuming his cross-legged position, looking at the “fireworks” of the Other Shore City in the distance: “Little Kui, I should first express my stance.”

Xiang Haikui: “Yes?”

Yin Changli: “When I proposed those thousand methods, it wasn’t because a successful merger of this child would be a major blow to me…”

Xiang Haikui nodded hastily: “I understand. Back then, you were completely concerned for my well-being.”

Yin Changli: “So, whether it merges or not, you don’t need to consider me at all. Just consider yourself.”

“What is there to consider?” Xiang Haikui’s expression was somewhat wooden. It was merely an unfused energy, not even a fertilized egg. Stopping the fusion now was like taking an emergency contraceptive after a one-night stand—was there even anything to consider?