Bai Xi's understated remark struck Bai Han like lightning, leaving him stunned and unable to recover for a long time. "You... you know?"
Bai Xi looked at the man before her, her gaze icy.
This was the person she considered her closest, most cherished family member in this life, yet in the previous life, he had deceived her, lied to her, and caused the annihilation of their entire Bai family.
Bai Han felt a chill surge from his feet to his head, his entire mind buzzing, his chest burning with a tearing pain.
After regaining his memories, he had envisioned that one day Xiaoxi would learn these truths and wondered how he would face her. Now that she truly knew, standing right in front of him, he couldn't utter a single word of explanation.
What should he say?
Should he say he was helpless at the time?
Should he say he was forced into it?
Should he say that although he abandoned the entire Bai family, he actually intended to lull the Han family and that person into complacency, to sneak her out and ensure her safety?
But... what was the point of an explanation?
Ultimately, he was the one who caused the death of the Bai family, and even her death.
Thinking of this, the trembling and stinging in his heart transformed into a faint, dismissive smile on his face. "Since you've discovered it, there's nothing more to be said. Do as you wish; after all, you are far more capable than I am in this life."
He then smiled even more brightly, "No, in fact, you were much stronger than me in the previous life too."
In the previous life, Bai Xi's combat power was also unmatched.
The only reason they could capture her was because the Han family exploited her vulnerabilities and poisoned her. The Bai family appeared to have been defeated by the Han family, but in reality, the entire clan perished due to poison.
Bai Han walked towards her step by step, his face still wearing a gentle smile.
He slightly raised his hand, attempting to touch Bai Xi's nose again.
However, Bai Xi took a step back, her clear, bright eyes fixed coldly on the person before her, remaining silent.
Bai Han felt a dull ache in his chest.
He would have preferred it if she were to shout at him, to question why he had done what he did. Or even if she had attacked him, beaten him severely, or even dealt a fatal blow.
But now, her silent presence opposite him, so indifferent and devoid of any emotional fluctuation, made him heartbroken.
He wasn't sure if it was the heartache of losing his eligibility to stay by her side forever, or the pain of remembering her countless agonizing nights, facing her enemy yet unable to act.
Bai Han took a deep breath and stepped forward again, his smile unchanged. "So, Xiaoxi, what do you want to do now? Kill me, or make me wish I were dead? Don't worry, in this life, I won't be able to escape even if I wanted to. You can deal with me however you please."
Bai Xi looked at Bai Han before her, her fingers gently clenching.
at the bottom of the mountain lake, she had obtained Han Mo's memories.
In those memories, Han Luo had consistently struggled to maintain his position within the Han family, meticulously maneuvering to gain the favor of the Han family patriarch. At that time, Han Luo appeared to wield power within the Han family, but in reality, his actual authority was even less than Han Mo's.
He was, at best, a puppet of the Han family.
Back then, Han Luo had seized the opportunity to marry her, seeing it as a chance to unite the Han and Bai families and gain power. Yet, he ultimately launched his poisonous attack on the Bai family on their wedding night.
For someone as intelligent as him, this was far from a wise choice.
In her previous life, she had thought too little, her mind consumed by the scenes of her family's demise, by hatred, and by her regret for having trusted Han Luo too easily. In this life, with these emotions suppressed due to the loss of memories, standing as an observer, she could see things more clearly.
"Han Luo, I will never forgive you for what you did three hundred years ago."
A simple, understated sentence, yet it struck Bai Han's heart like a heavy hammer.
It was both expected and logical.
How could she ever forgive him? With so much bloodshed and hatred, why should he even dare to hope for her forgiveness?
"Is that so? It's alright, I am willing to atone. However, I know my sins are too grave, and a swift death would likely not suffice to repay this lifetime of wrongdoing. What does Xiaoxi plan to do? Do you wish to dismember me, or tear me apart by five horses? I will accept any of it."
Bai Xi frowned slightly as she watched him smile and jest about his own death. "Han Luo, I admit that after learning your identity from the previous life, our relationship can never return to the intimate brother-sister days we once shared. However, what happened in the previous life, since it belongs to the previous life, and you also died in that life, I have no intention of seeking revenge."
She would not forgive him, but she also had no intention of retaliating.
After all, what would killing him now achieve? Her family, who died over three hundred years ago, would not be resurrected, nor could she return to three hundred years ago. Three hundred years ago, she had died, the Bai family was annihilated, and Han Luo himself had already died once.
They both possessed new identities now.
Even with her resentment and inability to forgive, she couldn't bring herself to kill the brother who had doted on her since childhood, who had carefully protected her even when she was ill. She also couldn't bear to imagine her mother's feelings if she were to ever kill him.
She had once chosen to forget her memories from the previous life, only to unexpectedly gain Han Mo's memories at the bottom of that lake.
Those memories contained the events of her past life, his lonely hundred-year wait for her return, and the joy and happiness of their present life together. Within those memories, Han Luo occupied a very, very small portion; all that remained was his painful, grief-stricken roar upon seeing her die in Han Mo's arms.
Never mind.
Bai Han's slightly furrowed brow lifted as he heard Bai Xi state she had no intention of seeking revenge, and he looked at her.
Han Mo had said something similar to him before.
He had said she chose to forget rather than dwelling on the past.
But she had also said she would not forgive him.
Yes, with such a deep-seated hatred, how could he possibly expect forgiveness?
He hesitated for a moment and said lightly, "Whatever Xiaoxi wishes, it's fine."
He didn't know what else to say, yet he felt he should say something.
He didn't expect to be forgiven, but he hoped to protect her well in this life, even if it was just from afar.
Bai Xi looked at Bai Han before her, observing his despondent expression, a surge of indescribable emotions welling within her.
If the person before her were merely Han Luo, seeing him sad, she might have laughed with delight.
If the person before her were merely Bai Han, seeing him sorrowful, she might have rushed forward to comfort him, to coax him, to make him happy.
But the person before her was both Bai Han and Han Luo.
She could only stand there, watching quietly, not wanting to do anything, nor able to do anything. "I came to find you not to discuss the old matters of three hundred years ago. I only want to know, where is Han Mo?"