Long Yuanchong stood calmly not far from Qin Chuan. Qin Chuan looked at him; after all, the other was no longer the junior brother he once knew.
The person was still the same, but people grow up and change. Qin Chuan could no longer reconcile the person before him with the junior brother he remembered.
"You're completely different from the one I remember. I can't find a single resemblance," Qin Chuan sighed.
"People always change. This is the Divine Realm. Don't talk about me; do you think you're the same as you used to be? In my eyes, aren't you the same? Completely unfamiliar, not a trace of familiarity."
Qin Chuan nodded. Long Yuanchong was right. The Xuan Realm was nothing compared to the Divine Realm they were in now.
Environment changes people, desires change hearts. But now, Qin Chuan couldn't be sure if he truly loved his junior sister or if there were other reasons.
"I admit I wronged you back then, and I don't expect your forgiveness. But to be honest, seeing you makes me happy," Long Yuanchong said, smiling at Qin Chuan.
Qin Chuan's hatred for Long Yuanchong stemmed more from what he had done to his junior sister. As for what Long Yuanchong had done, he could choose not to forgive him, but he could also choose not to pursue it.
It's not that every grudge must be avenged; time changes everything, and many hatreds can be resolved, but some cannot, like the hatred stemming from a woman.
"You treated me like that back then, and then you treated my junior sister like that. Can you give me a reason?"
"A reason? I just wanted to become stronger. Over the years, I've progressed step by step. You have no idea how difficult it has been for me, how many dangers I've faced..."
"Everyone has their difficulties, not just you. That's not a reason. Don't you feel guilty for hurting the person closest to you?" Qin Chuan felt uncomfortable.
"Guilt? Yes, I do. But what good is guilt? It's better to become stronger so I can make amends. Actually, when I first saw you, I was very happy. I thought more about making amends than anything else. But now it seems your fortuitous encounters are greater than mine. I can't make amends anymore."
Long Yuanchong smiled bitterly, looking older than when they last met. Qin Chuan's appearance these past few days had indeed dealt him a huge blow.
"Junior Sister is all better now!" Qin Chuan looked at Long Yuanchong.
"I know!"
"What are your plans?"
"She won't forgive me, but I truly love her. I don't have any lofty ideals, nor am I that noble. I love her, and I want to give her happiness, at least I believe I can."
"Is she happy?" Qin Chuan frowned.
"If you hadn't come, she would be happy, because I would have restored everything for her. You know her personality; she has a son, a family, she would definitely forgive me. But now, with your appearance, I don't know if she will still forgive me."
Qin Chuan didn't know if Long Yuanchong was telling the truth, but he knew his junior sister's personality, and what Long Yuanchong said wasn't without reason.
"The reason I'm telling you all this isn't to ask you anything. Today we've come to the Divine Sword Secret Realm, so how can we put aside our grudges and talk about it after we get out?" Long Yuanchong said.
Qin Chuan nodded: "Okay!"
Between him and Long Yuanchong, Qin Chuan didn't actually know if he would kill him last time, but he managed to escape using a special treasure.
The last time could be considered a settlement of grudges. Although the outcome wasn't entirely clear, Long Yuanchong escaped with his life through his own abilities.
Qin Chuan, on the other hand, escaped with luck. Strictly speaking, the conflict between Qin Chuan and Long Yuanchong could be considered resolved.
"Want to come together?" Long Yuanchong hesitated for a moment.
It was Qin Chuan who had obtained a fortuitous opportunity, and Long Yuanchong, following him, ambushed him when he was off guard. So now, he was seeking another opportunity, and even asking this question made him a little unsure of himself.
Qin Chuan nodded: "Sure!"
Long Yuanchong was slightly taken aback, then smiled and nodded. The two found a direction and moved forward. Only then did they truly calm down and get along.
"Memories are really good. I miss those times. Time can't be turned back, and besides, people's hearts can't be returned either. Now, all that's left are memories," Long Yuanchong said with emotion.
"Memories are the greatest treasure, but some memories aren't so pleasant."
"Sometimes choices aren't about right or wrong, but about what's suitable or unsuitable. Sometimes you know it's wrong, but you still choose to do it. If it's not wrong, you'll definitely regret it even more in the future." Long Yuanchong said, somewhat lost.
Qin Chuan knew what he was talking about, even the possibility of being stabbed in the back. Human nature is incredibly complex.
People are often selfish, and betrayal is easy when faced with immense temptation.
If the stakes for betrayal are high enough, no one will remain steadfast. Once you touch someone's heart, they might say, "I'm not moved by money or beauty, nor by cultivation techniques, treasures, or elixirs."
Besides interests, aristocratic families have other things, like kinship. They might threaten you with your family's lives, or with your woman…
Qin Chuan was actually a little confused now. For example, with Young Master Long, his junior sister felt indebted to him; after all, Young Master Long was Long Yuanchong's son.
His junior sister was a traditional person, and his junior brother liked her. Over the years, although his methods were despicable, there was still a chance for a change.
"Do you think we'll end up fighting to the death in the future?" Long Yuanchong said softly.
Qin Chuan really couldn't say for sure. Their camps were completely opposed. Before, Qin Chuan felt that opposing sides didn't matter.
But now he felt things weren't so simple.
He even doubted whether the Demon Lord and Canglan would one day truly stand against him.
He didn't want to think about these things. The roots of their demonic lineage, those that had led people astray, had been purified by Qin Chuan.
But the human heart is complex. The human heart, plus time, can change everything. How many vows of eternal love, how many brotherhoods, have become worthless and fragile with time and the changing hearts of men?
Qin Chuan shook his head: "To be honest, I don't know. Sometimes, many things are beyond our control."
"Yes, beyond our control. Human power is still insignificant. In this world, many times, things don't go as you wish."
"What do you plan to do about Junior Sister's matter?" Qin Chuan asked.
"To be honest, I don't know right now, but I will definitely ask her for forgiveness." Long Yuanchong looked ahead bitterly.
Qin Chuan didn't speak; he didn't know what to say either.
He thought about his junior sister's background. He could go and see her when he reached the Immortal Emperor realm. He wondered if Long Yuanchong knew about it.
In principle, he shouldn't know, but after living here for so many years, he might have discovered something, though the possibility was very small.