Chapter 55: Past Events

"My dear Bai, have you forgotten all about the past?" Song Wanqing's expression was full of regret.

"Hahaha," Junior Brother Bai Ming laughed wantonly.

Dried blood was matted on his face, and his messy hair fluttered in the wind. He laughed wildly, appearing somewhat maniacal.

Junior Brother Bai Ming's expression was complex, his smile tinged with bitterness. "How could I possibly forget? In those countless days and nights, I don't know how many times I begged you, yet did you ever let me catch even a breath?"

"Do you think that by erasing my memories and making me experience fake feelings, you could smooth over the wounds on my body?"

Junior Brother Bai Ming's face was pained. "If you really wanted that, you shouldn't have let me recover my memories; you should have let me remain lost in them forever."

Song Wanqing froze, her beautiful eyes widening slightly as she quietly watched the young man before her.

"Ever since I recovered my memories, there is one thing I haven't been able to understand," Junior Brother Bai Ming continued. "Why was that place left behind? It was never an important place to begin with."

"If you truly didn't want me to have the chance to recover my memories, why didn't you completely destroy it?"

Junior Brother Bai Ming questioned, "This wouldn't have been difficult for you, would it? Even if others didn't know the impact that place had on me, you, Song Wanqing, couldn't possibly not know!"

Junior Brother Bai Ming's tone grew heavier and heavier, and a dark glint flashed in Song Wanqing's eyes.

"Now I understand. Were you waiting for me to recover my memories all along? Waiting for this scene to unfold?" Junior Brother Bai Ming stared at the woman before him, carefully observing her expression.

Song Wanqing remained silent, offering no response.

Junior Brother Bai Ming gave a bitter smile, complex emotions surging in his chest. "So that's it. If you truly wanted to keep me, you shouldn't have let me recover my memories."

Sensing the hesitation in Junior Brother Bai Ming's heart, Song Wanqing quickly spoke up, "It's not too late. Let's start over."

The woman's eyes were filled with a desire to make him stay, as if a deep pool were contained within them.

The warm sun hung overhead, and a cool breeze brushed against their faces.

Looking at Song Wanqing's melancholy gaze, Junior Brother Bai Ming felt dazed, but the words slipped out of his mouth: "Let me go."

Song Wanqing hesitated for a moment. "Why? My dear Bai, you clearly still love me, don't you?"

Junior Brother Bai Ming clutched his left arm and laughed, as if he had heard the funniest thing in the world. "Love you? Where do you see that I love you? You tortured me, imprisoned me, and even erased my memories."

"And now you still say that I love you? Song Wanqing, aren't you being a bit too arrogant? What reason do I have to love you?"

Junior Brother Bai Ming's eyes were sharp. "From the moment I recovered my memories, I understood: I have never felt love for you, only hatred."

The colors of the young man's emotions shifted constantly, but they did not turn into an abyssal black; instead, they were a mixture of various colors with black as the base.

With glowing eyes, Song Wanqing could clearly see every shift in Junior Brother Bai Ming's emotions; even those buried deep in his heart, she could see through clearly.

When she formed her Golden Core, she had already anticipated that this scene would occur.

Back then, she didn't know why she hadn't destroyed that secret room and completely erased the traces of the past.

After questioning her heart and overcoming her inner demon, she understood clearly that she had actually wanted Junior Brother Bai Ming to recover his memories at the time, which was why she had kept that secret room.

She had intended to use tenderness to smooth over the young man's pain, to be fully prepared for this moment.

But his memories had returned too quickly.

She was also caught off guard.

Looking at the wounds covering Junior Brother Bai Ming's body, Song Wanqing felt a pang in her heart, and his heartless words stirred strange emotions deep within her.

Song Wanqing's eyes were brimming with tears. "Must it be like this? Why can't we start over?"

Flames erupted from Junior Brother Bai Ming's body. "Don't stop me."

Song Wanqing said softly, "If not for what happened before, would the outcome have been different? Would we have become…"

Junior Brother Bai Ming interrupted, "It has already happened, hasn't it? If you have no intention of stopping me, then please move aside."

Song Wanqing lowered her eyes. "Is that so?"

Such a scenario had long played out in her mind, once forming the inner demon she faced when forming her Golden Core.

She had already provided her answer for today's scene back then.

Song Wanqing's gaze was profound. "Junior Brother Bai Ming."

"I cannot let you leave."

The might of a Golden Core erupted, and a powerful force bore down upon him.

A monstrous pressure descended upon him, and Junior Brother Bai Ming instantly collapsed to the ground, supporting himself with his hands.

Watching Song Wanqing walk slowly toward him, he was greatly alarmed. "What are you doing?"

Her white boots stepped lightly on the muddy ground as Song Wanqing paced toward Junior Brother Bai Ming, a somewhat eerie smile on her face, her star-like eyes filled with a paranoid madness.

A smile played on her lips. "My dear Bai, so you are willing to stay? Then come back with me."

"You're crazy! Song Wanqing, have you gone mad?!" Junior Brother Bai Ming roared.

As if she hadn't heard the young man's roar, Song Wanqing arrived before him, leaned down, and stroked his head.

No matter what.

Keep him.

This was her choice back then.

"Young Master Bai, don't even think about leaving me." Song Wanqing smiled and looked into the young man's eyes.

The two faces were very close, less than a foot apart.

The woman's beautiful face occupied Junior Brother Bai Ming's entire field of vision; at this moment, he could see nothing else in his eyes but her face.

Junior Brother Bai Ming supported himself on the ground with his hands, half-kneeling on his knees.

At this moment, Song Wanqing's movements were like petting a docile puppy.

Feeling the touch on his head, Junior Brother Bai Ming let out a laugh, his hands gripping the ground tightly, a clump of yellow mud clutched in his palm.

The laughter stopped, and he looked at the woman before him, smiling. "Thank you, Song Wanqing."

Song Wanqing gazed at Junior Brother Bai Ming's smile, her hand movements becoming a bit more delicate.

A cool breeze blew by, and a sparse rustling sound came from the forest.

The aura around Junior Brother Bai Ming changed abruptly. "Song Wanqing, it's truly wonderful that you are such a scoundrel."

The spiritual root in his lower abdomen burned violently, and a scorching heat spread throughout his entire body.

It felt as if a raging fire were searing his heart and lungs, and even his breath carried a hint of flames.

His thighs tensed, and he slowly stood up.

He actually broke through the pressure on his body bit by bit.

Song Wanqing narrowed her eyes slightly. "This time, I will not make the same mistake as last time."

An even more surging pressure struck, and Junior Brother Bai Ming held on for a few breaths before his entire body was crushed down again, his legs kneeling straight onto the ground.

"It seems that keeping Young Master Bai's cultivation is always a hidden danger. It would be better to cripple it; besides, with me here, there is no need for such high cultivation." Song Wanqing gently pinched her chin.

Junior Brother Bai Ming snorted coldly. "You really are overbearing; you have always been like this."

Song Wanqing leaned against Junior Brother Bai Ming's cheek, her eyes smiling. "My dear Bai, why is it that after you recovered your memories, every word you speak is laced with thorns? This makes me sad."

Her fair arms wrapped around Junior Brother Bai Ming's neck. "But don't worry, my dear Bai; it is only to seal your cultivation so you cannot use it, that is all."

Song Wanqing's petite nose brushed against Junior Brother Bai Ming's cheek. "And I will use another way to increase your cultivation."

Her eyes were filled with smiles. "This way, we can be together properly."