He's not going to answer that question posed, because of course that hatred still exists, bitterly so now that he's seen the man alive again and walking around to threaten Jin Guangyao's own existence instead of as a peaceably sealed head on a shelf: present, but unable to dispute with him.

In that same rare moment of self-reflection, he can only curse his past self once more for taking such decisive action against when he was run through with this exact sword, death at his heels. Perhaps Lan Xichen could say that kind of thing, but for him there was no point in asking where the unconditional kindness that he'd known from the other man had gone. Because he was the one who broke him with hasty, if deliberate, intent in that furious retaliation, not imagining that he'd see another day to regret it.

He doesn't exactly let go, but he stops fighting, his grip loosening enough that Lan Xichen can pull the sword away from him without issue.

What if that A-Yao only existed for you, brother? Because for all that he felt he'd had no choice in so many of his crimes, even he could hardly call himself a kind person towards most others. Yet he can hardly bring himself to refute Lan Xichen's words either, when that kind of belief is what he really wanted, appreciated. Jin Guangyao fell silent for once, gaze averted.