The distrust is fair. Xingchen had it as well. Even once he decided to give Xue Yang a chance, it was under the condition that if he fell back into his old habits, Xingchen would be forced to handle the man himself. Part of it is selfish; while under the guise of someone else, Xue Yang grew closer to Xingchen in that little city with a population of three. Part of it is that Zichen gave his word that the former murderer really did change. If people can become someone else, a better version of themselves, shouldn't they be given the chance? While he would strike down those who'd do others harm, redemption seems like the better solution. How can anyone change if never allowed a chance?

But, there are a lot of things Wuxian can't possibly know. For one, the Xingchen who stands before him isn't the same Xingchen who was here with the original Wuxian. Both have left and both have come back, only months apart. Whatever conversations the two had are lost to both of them.

The second thing Wuxian can't possibly know is that Xingchen hasn't yet experienced that horrible fate, and both Xue Yang and Zichen had decided to spare him the knowledge. It's why the speech he would have delivered gets lost as a mask of confusion covers Xingchen's face.

"I don't understand. Are there people who are saying that's happened? I wouldn't hurt Zichen."