Bai Yang was still puzzling over the meaning of Song Wanning’s words when a flash of sword light came slashing straight at him.

In that instant, his mind went blank. He wanted to run, but his legs felt as if they had taken root, completely unable to move.

He watched helplessly as the sword light struck, but the pain he anticipated never came.

He suddenly found himself in a place that was both strange and familiar.

’The Song Family estate?’

Bai Yang froze.

When he was very young, his Master had once brought him back to the Song Family estate, where he was warmly received by her parents.

The Clan Leader was also very kind to him, stuffing him with all sorts of delicious food and taking him everywhere to play.

After he grew up, however, he never went back to the Song Family estate.

’How did I suddenly end up at the Song Family estate?’

Bai Yang’s mind was filled with confusion. In the next instant, he suddenly sensed a powerful fluctuation.

He turned his head, and the sight left him completely stunned.

Because he seemed to be looking at himself.

And Ye Chuxue, Gu Qingyuan, An Ze, Lu Nanfeng...

And the disciples of the Heavenly Inquiry Sect.

So many familiar faces.

He stood to the side, not understanding what was happening, and saw members of the Song Family rush out.

"Song Qingyun, hand over Song Wanning at once!"

He heard "himself" shout this at Song Qingyun with his own ears.

Bai Yang’s eyes widened in disbelief as a terrible premonition surfaced in his heart.

He resisted watching what came next, because he felt he was beginning to understand why his Master’s attitude had changed so drastically.

But reality forced him to watch, bit by bit.

He watched "himself" spew venomous words at the Song Family, and watched as Song Wanning was forced to appear.

Only, this version of his Master was in a wretched state, wreathed in Demonic Qi and looking utterly hopeless.

But she was still as stubborn as he remembered, fearless even if the entire world was against her.

It wasn’t until they attacked the Song Family disciples that his Master finally lowered her proud head.

"Bai Yang, I raised you with my own hands. Even if I earned no merit, I still put in the effort. I’m not asking you to help me, but please, save the members of the Song Family!"

"They are innocent! The one who fell to the demonic path was me! It was me! It has nothing to do with them!"

"If you want to kill someone, kill me! Kill me!"

A single tear rolled from the corner of his Master’s eye, which was filled with despair and pain.

This was the first time Bai Yang had ever seen his Master cry.

He opened his mouth, wanting to tell his Master not to cry, but then he saw "himself" give a cold smirk.

"Don’t talk to me about our past relationship. Even without you, some other True Monarch would have taken me as their disciple. I never owed you anything, so don’t even think of using your past kindness against me!"

"The biggest regret of my life is becoming the disciple of a Demon like you."

"What can you do besides get jealous and go crazy? Because of you, all of us brothers are being mocked everywhere."

"Do you have any idea how much we’ve had to endure?"

"Today, we will righteously eliminate our own kin and execute a Demon like you, a scourge upon this world, right here and now."

"Neither you nor the Song Family will escape."

The moment the words fell, Bai Yang saw "himself" attack Song Wanning along with Gu Qingyuan and the others.

With the Song Family disciples used as leverage, Song Wanning was quickly captured and forced to her knees.

Kneeling before "himself."

Bai Yang was speechless, his body trembling uncontrollably.

But he was still powerless to stop the actions of that "other self."

He watched as "he" kicked Song Wanning to the ground. Listening to her grief-stricken and hateful curses, a smile actually spread across "his" face.

"Bai Yang, you’ve betrayed your Master and forsaken your ancestors! One day, you will face retribution!"

Song Wanning cursed despairingly, her voice hoarse.

"Hah—retribution?"

"Bai Yang" scoffed, as if he had just heard the world’s greatest joke.

"Then I’ll just have to wait and see if I ever face that retribution."

"But you won’t be alive to see that day."

"Song Wanning, die!!!"

A white light flared, completely enveloping Song Wanning.

The sword light slashed down in the next instant, striking Song Wanning and injuring her on the ground.

"He" walked forward, step by step, until "he" stood before Song Wanning. As she glared at "him" with pure hatred, "he" raised the Longsword and swung, severing her neck.

Her head was separated from her body, and blood splattered all over him.

Yet he didn’t seem to mind in the least.

Seeing Song Wanning’s Nascent Soul fly out, he gave another cold smirk and slashed at it with his sword.

"No—"

With a desperate cry, Song Wanning’s Divine Soul completely dissipated between heaven and earth.

But he merely gave it a cold glance before striking out with his palm toward Song Wanning’s corpse.

In the next moment, Song Wanning’s body turned to ash and scattered on the wind, leaving not a single trace behind.

His face was filled with satisfaction, without a hint of sorrow.

He even curled his lips into a cruel smile and said to the others, "The demon lord Song Wanning has been executed, but the Song Family were her accomplices. Not a single one can be left alive."

At his command, everyone present attacked the Song Family.

The entire Song Family estate was swiftly filled with endless screams and cries.

Severed limbs flew through the air, and countless sprays of blood rose up, landing before Bai Yang and staining his vision red.

His whole body turned ice-cold. He felt a stinging pain in his eyes and even lost the strength to breathe.

He couldn’t believe that this was something "he" was capable of doing.

He stared blankly at his "other self," only to see "him" lovingly holding and comforting Ye Chuxue. They looked like a sweet, affectionate couple, as if the people "he" had just slaughtered were nothing more than a pile of trash.

There wasn’t the slightest bit of remorse.

Bai Yang closed his eyes. In that moment, he finally and completely understood his Master’s change in attitude.

If he were in her shoes, he wouldn’t be able to forgive either.

’There’s no way.’

Before him was a sea of blood. He was drowning in endless cries, his heart filled with nothing but waves of terror and regret.

He didn’t understand how he could have become so terrifying.

That wasn’t the future he wanted.

When the dust finally settled, Bai Yang’s vision returned to normal.

There was no Song Family estate, no junior brothers, no bloodbath or endless slaughter.

His Master wasn’t dead, and Ye Chuxue wasn’t in his arms.

He raised his head in a daze and stared blankly at Song Wanning.

The word "Master" had barely left his lips when tears began to stream down his face.

He didn’t know why he would treat his Master so cruelly.

But he was heartbroken, tormented, and full of regret.

So it turned out that all the suffering his Master had experienced was caused by his own hand.

It was his fault.

"I’m sorry..."

He repented sincerely, dropping the Longsword in his hand and letting go of all his strength.

He was wrong. So terribly wrong.

The debt he owed his Master in this life could never be repaid.

A wan smile appeared on Bai Yang’s face.

"Master, Nan Feng... and An Ze..."

He didn’t finish his question, but both of them understood what he meant.

Song Wanning watched him coldly, offering no answer.

In that moment, Bai Yang understood everything. An even more forced smile tugged at the corners of his mouth.

He smiled through his tears, but he no longer blamed Song Wanning.

They were the ones who were wrong. To end up like this... they had brought it all upon themselves.

They couldn’t blame anyone, and least of all could they blame their Master.