V1: Chapter 39: You Said You Loved Me, Why Did You Forget Me?

It was impossible to stop her.

Even with Bellica's desperate attempts to stop her, Liang Lin still managed to push her to the ground.

Bellica staggered to her feet, her pristine white maid outfit stained with mud. "Miss Liang Lin... I will absolutely not let you stop Miss Liang Di from doing something important!"

Swish

Liang Lin's pupils were dull and lifeless as she drew a longsword from her waist.

"If you want to die, you can try."

Bellica swiftly drew two daggers from her sleeves, crossing her arms in a blocking stance, her expression as sharp as a blade.

The two women, weapons in hand, stared at each other, the atmosphere growing increasingly tense.

Liang Lin struck first, her sword flashing, slashing fiercely at Bellica. Bellica reacted quickly, dodging to the side while simultaneously swinging her daggers to block. The sword energy shot out, producing a crisp metallic clang.

Such strength!

Bellica's arm went numb from the shock, and she trembled uncontrollably. Unable to retaliate, she could only retreat, parrying Liang Lin's every attack. Swords rained down, and Bellica's vision blurred, gradually losing sight of the swords' trajectory.

Meanwhile, in the distance, Laura, watching all this, muttered to herself, "Miss Liang Lin has one hand behind her back...so impressive."

Rip!

Clothes tore, skin ripped open. Bellica collapsed to the ground again, a half-centimeter deep, several-centimeter-long gash on her arm.

"You're overestimating yourself."

Liang Lin walked straight towards the cave entrance. This time, she didn't hesitate, completely ignoring the terrifying aura emanating from the black hole.

“Miss Liang Lin…”

“Uh!”

Liang Lin lowered her head, her legs held tightly by Bellica. Even though Bellica's face was contorted in pain, her hands were like vises, gripping Liang Lin's legs and restricting her movements.

“Oh?”

Liang Lin remained expressionless, slowly raising her sword.

“Then, you can die.”

“Liang Lin!”

A tentacle struck Liang Lin's wrist, knocking her sword from her hand and embedding it in the mud.

At the cave entrance, countless tentacles surrounded Liang Di. In her hands, she dragged the unconscious Gladys, who was vomiting blood. Gladys's body trembled, as if she had suffered severe injuries.

“Bellica, release Liang Lin, then take that unconscious nun away and keep watch outside. Don't let anyone near.” Liang Di pointed to Laura lying on the ground.

Just moments ago, after seeing the tentacles extending from Liang Di's back, Laura was so terrified that she cried out, "Oh my God!" before her eyes rolled back and she collapsed to the ground.

Bellica finally released Liang Lin's leg, clutching the wound on her arm, and limped away, dragging Laura away.

"Liang Di, I know you've been hiding so much from me," Liang Lin said, holding up the piece of paper written by Hilary, her expression a mixture of grief and resentment. "You know Hilary, don't you?"

Liang Di remained silent, not speaking, but slowly emerging from the shadows of the cave entrance into the sunlight, leaving Gladys behind.

“Liang Lin, many things aren’t as simple as you think.”

“My memory is missing. You know my name, right? You know it, Liang Di.” Liang Lin clutched her head in pain, staggering towards Liang Di. “Tell me, what’s my name! And where is Hilary?”

“…No, she said it’s not the right time yet.”

“Who?”

“Someone you know.”

“Always going round and round! Not a single word of the truth! Treating me like a fool! Playing too much games with me! Enough! Then just die, Liang Di!”

Liang Lin suddenly swung her longsword, severing one of Liang Di’s tentacles. A small section of the tentacle flew off, wriggled a few times on the ground, and then remained still. Liang Di frowned, her body trembling. She could feel the pain of the severed tentacle; it was part of her body.

But, the next second, something miraculous happened.

The severed tentacle on the ground began to writhe wildly, like a vibrant life. At the severed point, a large amount of mucus oozed out. Small tentacles wriggled to the break, the pinkish liquid sticking together in a stringy pattern, seemingly growing new flesh.

In less than five seconds, they fused together. This tentacle segment had reconnected.

Although she had anticipated this outcome, witnessing it firsthand still shocked Liang Lin.

"Liang Lin, you're not feeling well. Rest for a bit, forget about today."

Liang Di's voice was unexpectedly gentle; she had never been so patient before. The tentacles, usually so aggressive, now slowly crawled towards Liang Lin, trying to gently envelop her entire body.

But Liang Lin severed the tentacle again.

Tears welled in her eyes, an uncontrollable physiological reaction. She didn't want to shed tears, nor did she want others to see the vulnerability deep within her heart.

Liang Di was no longer gentle.

After Liang Lin severed another tentacle, the remaining seven tentacles simultaneously coiled around her. One tentacle wrapped around Liang Lin's wrist, but she gripped her sword tightly, refusing to let go. A sharp crack was heard, and Liang Lin's face contorted in agony. She bit her lower lip, drawing blood, yet still managed a painful groan.

The bone in her wrist had broken.

Liang Di's tentacles enveloped Liang Lin's entire body, and no matter how much she struggled, she couldn't break free.

The corn-silk-like tentacle reappeared before Liang Lin, and memories from weeks ago suddenly flooded back.

"Liang Di, you used this to erase my memories, didn't you? And now? Which part of my memories will you erase this time? Is it about Hilary? So, I've always lived so helplessly, so confused, not even knowing how many memories have been erased."

Despair filled Liang Lin's eyes, and a tear slowly rolled down her cheek, landing on Liang Di's tentacle.

Liang Di's body jolted, her expression softening.

Liang Lin's mouth slowly opened, her eyes filled with intense hatred, and she uttered, word by word:

"Liang Di, I hate you."

But...

But!

Liang Di's eyes widened, her head tilting, her gaze filled with incomprehension, resentment, and sorrow, as if her entire world had collapsed. She stood alone amidst the ruins, helplessly gazing into the endless darkness.

She walked step by step to Liang Lin's side, suddenly her voice hoarse and strained.

"But! You clearly said you loved me! You clearly said I was the one you loved most!"

"***** (a series of garbled, static-like sounds)! ​​How could you not recognize me! How could you forget me!"