The question made He Yuting freeze.
Ningyan noticed immediately.
Slowly, he nodded. "Exactly." His voice was calm now.,"Whatever happened, Shi Zekai acted without my orders. But that doesn't make Zhenting guilty."
He moved toward the door. "I'll hear the truth directly from Zekai himself."
His expression darkened. "I'll return to the Hidden Phoenix Clan in the Heavenly Realm."
He took a step forward.
But He Yuting's voice stopped him. "Your memories are returning, aren't they?"
Ningyan froze. The room suddenly felt much smaller.
Slowly, he turned back.
He Yuting's eyes were fixed on him. "They've started coming back."
It wasn't a question.
"You've been seeing things. Fragments. Places. Beasts."
Her voice softened. "And they're beginning to contradict what Xie Zhenting told you."
For the first time since entering the room, Ningyan looked genuinely unsettled.
"I..." His throat tightened.
He stepped closer. "Do you know something?"
