"I knew that. We'd talked about it before and I knew how your sect ended, Mingjue." His fingers lace with Mingjue's, his expression twisting for a moment before it smooths back out.

"We both had responsibilities and other focuses, Mingjue-xiong. As for what I deserve, that means nothing because I would have traded anything for more time. For you to have more time with Huaisang, with your sect, with..." Xichen pauses for a moment, his grip tightening.

"And with me, as selfish as it sounds."