Mei Yinxue was somewhat surprised to see Zhu Yeqing, and couldn't help but sneer when she heard her mockery, saying, "If you few had shown any sisterly affection for me back then, would I have needed to drive you all away? And now you blame me for it?"
Zhu Yeqing, upon hearing Mei Yinxue's taunt, also fell silent.
Indeed, it was her ambition that had blinded her back then, leading her to join forces with Huang Qiuhua and Gu Youlan against Mei Yinxue.
After all, she believed that even if she hadn't gotten involved, Mei Yinxue would have inevitably been killed by the combined efforts of Huang Qiuhua and Gu Youlan.
By involving herself, she could at least prevent their power from growing too great.
It was as if Mei Yinxue was paving a way for her before she died.
In the end, who could know that the three of them would fail to take down Mei Yinxue and would instead be driven out of River City by her?
In the first month after being expelled, Zhu Yeqing was full of resentment towards Mei Yingxue, yearning to tear her to pieces and scatter her ashes!
But later, after joining an assassin organization and gradually becoming the president of the world's third top-ranked Assassins Guild, her perspectives broadened significantly, and her resentment from the past began to fade.
She felt only a slight grievance now.
Xiang Mantang, listening to the argument and mockery between Mei Yinxue and Zhu Yeqing, furrowed her brows and turned to Mu Hongchen beside her to ask, "What is exactly going on between them?"
Mu Hongchen knew something of Mei Yinxue's past and began to explain to Xiang Mantang.
After the explanation, Xiang Mantang suddenly realized and looked at Zhu Yeqing with indecisive eyes, uncertain whether to kill this potentially valuable subordinate for Mei Yinxue's sake.
After all, according to Mu Hongchen, Mei Yinxue's three sisters, Huang Qiuhua, and Gu Youlan had never given up on taking revenge after being expelled from River City.
Thus, keeping Zhu Yeqing by her side, if she, too, harbored thoughts of revenge against Mei Yinxue and succeeded, how would he explain it to Mu Jinyu once she awoke?
After arguing a bit with Mei Yinxue, Zhu Yeqing took a deep breath and said, "Forget it, I was indeed wrong about what happened back then, but you've already driven me out of River City. Nowadays, I no longer care for the underground influences of that place. Can't we call it even and let bygones be bygones?"
Zhu Yeqing still had some conscience, remembering how she and the other three were raised together by their adoptive father and how Mei Yinxue had taken great care of them.
Thus, as an assassin, her resentment towards Mei Yinxue gradually disappeared, and with widened horizons, she began to regret her past choices that destroyed the sisterly bond between them.
As a result, after becoming an assassin, she had no close sisters or friends left.
She could only be an emotionless killing tool that knew nothing but slaughter!
If it hadn't been so, she would have sought revenge against Mei Yinxue the moment she became a top-grade assassin, but since she always felt some grievance and guilt towards Mei Yinxue, she never went to her.
Today, as they encountered each other by chance, although Zhu Yeqing was confident she could kill Mei Yinxue in one move after a few arguments, instead of seeking revenge, she preferred to reconcile with Mei Yinxue and eventually gave in.
Mei Yinxue was slightly surprised to see Zhu Yeqing not opposing her and even suggesting they bury the hatchet.
She wondered if it was because Xiang Mantang and others were nearby that Zhu Yeqing chose to keep up appearances with her?
After all, even after many years, Huang Qiuhua and Gu Youlan had not forgotten their vow of vengeance.
However, Mei Yinxue could sense Zhu Yeqing's terrifying strength and knew that if Zhu Yeqing truly wanted revenge like Huang Qiuhua and others, she could have come back to kill her long ago.
So then...
Did she truly not want them to dredge up the past?
"Okay," Mei Yinxue wasn't interested in revisiting past grievances either. She had only two thoughts at the moment: to save Mu Jinyu and to seek revenge for Mu Jinyu!
And Zhu Yeqing was clearly an ally found by Xiang Mantang, an ally for avenging Mu Jinyu, so Mei Yinxue chose to let go of her animosity towards Zhu Yeqing.
Back then, she spared them out of sisterly affection. Now, since Zhu Yeqing had let go, she, for the sake of helping Mu Jinyu's vengeance, could let go again and not pursue Zhu Yeqing to the bitter end!
Zhu Yeqing was stunned when Mei Yinxue agreed.
Originally, she thought that Mei Yinxue had spared them back then due to her young age, merely driving them out of River City instead of exterminating them. Now that Mei Yinxue had been a major figure in the Jianghu of River City for many years, and since they had encountered each other again, she might opt for total annihilation.
After all, the deaths of Huang Qiuhua and Gu Youlan were still vivid memories.
So when Zhu Yeqing said she was letting go of the grudge, she was actually signaling to Xiang Mantang to not mess with her.
But she did not expect Mei Yinxue to truly agree.
Suddenly, Zhu Yeqing's gaze towards Mei Yinxue became somewhat complicated.
This big sister, indeed, has not changed a bit from back then!
What happened in the past, it was indeed I who wronged her!
Zhu Yeqing's icy heart also began to feel a tinge of remorse.
Xiang Mantang was still undecided on the sidelines and, seeing their spat turning into a reconciliation, furrowed his brows and asked Mu Hongchen, "Are they... truly reconciling?"
He was somewhat worried that Zhu Yeqing was pretending to reconcile with Mei Yinxue because of his presence.
But since he didn't understand the unfathomable thoughts of women, he had to ask Mu Hongchen.
Why not ask Jian Ruyan?
Does she seem like she would understand these things?
Upon hearing Xiang Mantang's question, Mu Hongchen hesitated for a moment, then shook her head and said, "I'm not sure either."
She wouldn't speak carelessly; if she guessed wrong and something happened to Mei Yinxue later, she wouldn't be able to shake off the blame!
Seeing that Mu Hongchen was unwilling to answer, Xiang Mantang didn't want to force her to respond. Thinking it over, although Zhu Yeqing was a good talent, Mei Yinxue's safety was more important in comparison.
Thus, a flash of murderous intent crossed Xiang Mantang's eyes, and he was about to make a move against Zhu Yeqing.
"Stop!"
Mei Yinxue saw Xiang Mantang's action and quickly shouted at him in a soft but firm voice, stopping him from attacking Zhu Yeqing.
When Xiang Mantang saw Mei Yinxue block him, he had no choice but to stop.
He then frowned and said, "Her presence is a threat to you, sister-in-law."
"It's okay, I believe she truly wishes to reconcile with me," Mei Yinxue shook her head and said.
She wasn't entirely sure about Zhu Yeqing's thoughts, but she was willing to take a chance for the sake of avenging Mu Jinyu.
"Alright," Xiang Mantang said, seeing Mei Yinxue so determined, he could only wait and see how things unfolded.
Of course, he would definitely keep a closer watch on Zhu Yeqing, otherwise, if something happened to Mei Yinxue, he would find it even harder to face Mu Jinyu and Gu Xiyan.
"I will go back to my room to get the Blood-Drinking Sword."
Mei Yinxue still remembered that they were supposed to set off for Kunlun Ruins to seek the true culprit for revenge; she didn't linger to chat more with Zhu Yeqing and hastily ran to her dwelling in Dragon King Hall.
Soon, Mei Yinxue returned, holding the Blood-Drinking Sword that Mu Jinyu had helped her bid for at the auction, and ran back to the group.
Seeing the Blood-Drinking Sword, Zhu Yeqing also had a complex expression on her face.