V1: Chapter 78: The Tentacle Girl's Past

The tentacles clung to Liang Lin's body again, wriggling and transmitting toxins. Her skin felt numb and tingling, as if cold liquid was flowing into her body through her pores.

Liang Lin shuddered violently; she knew what awaited her next.

So humiliating…

She had never suffered such humiliation before, the humiliation of wanting to die but being unable to, only to be tortured.

Liang Di was indeed much gentler this time than before, but she still used her sharp teeth to bite Liang Lin's neck and shoulders, leaving many teeth marks and red marks.

Liang Lin's eyes became hazy again.

Why? Why did such humiliation feel so pleasurable, why did she succumb to it, why did she want more? She was being bullied, so why did she still expect more of this to happen?

Am I… sick? Am I a masochist? No, no, it's definitely because of that damned toxin, wreaking havoc inside me, making me restless.

Definitely…

But, it feels so good…

Her mouth opened involuntarily, and the sound, seemingly not coming from her throat, was so charming, so alluring.

Liang Di wrapped her arms around Liang Lin's waist.

Liang Lin kept rhythmically clapping along with Liang Di.

The tentacles weren't idle either, busy with their own tasks, coiling up above and below. The suckers were so powerful, clinging tightly.

And the tendrils were also winding and twisting, either wrapped around her arms or her neck, warm and cozy.

"Sister Liang Lin's voice is so beautiful, I especially love it."

This was always Liang Di's happiest and most blissful time. Because only at this time would Liang Lin hug her tightly. It was a feeling… of wanting to meld into her very bones.

So good.

Time passed by, second by second.

"Sister Liang Lin is really amazing~"

Being in the water is different from being in bed; it feels like the water is flowing into your body.

Liang Di patted Liang Lin's head.

"This time, Sister Liang Lin was much more cooperative~"

Isn't this a sign of slowly accepting me?

We will definitely become more and more loving, Liang Lin will gradually adapt to this kind of life, and the two of us will definitely be together forever and ever…

Splash~

Liang Di lifted Liang Lin out of the water.

Liang Lin was once again like a rag doll, completely at her mercy, her eyes lifeless.

Liang Di actually liked seeing Liang Lin like this.

She's a pervert, that's undeniable.

Liang Di took a clean, white towel and carefully and gently wiped the water droplets off the girl in her arms.

Liang Lin was placed on the bed.

Liang Di, like a satisfied cat, lay on top of Liang Lin, breathing heavily.

Liang Lin smelled wonderful, especially after her rose bath; she smelled amazing, and Liang Di greedily licked her lips.

"I can sleep in Liang Lin's arms tonight too..."

So blissful.

I really hope I can always be this happy...

–Liang Lin's Twentieth Day of Imprisonment–

Liang Lin simply lowered her eyes, staring blankly at the ground, like a soulless shell, only flesh remaining, her soul gone.

"Sister Liang Lin, look, you look so cool with ponytail~"

Liang Di held an antique-looking, gold-plated mirror in her hand, waving it in front of Liang Lin. The mirror reflected Liang Lin's beautiful, but lifeless face.

"Sister Liang Lin, why don't you smile? You look so beautiful when you smile."

Liang Di rubbed Liang Lin's cheek, reaching out to touch her lips, wanting to see a smile.

But when Liang Di lifted Liang Lin's lips and released them, Liang Lin's lips immediately drooped. Liang Lin's eyes were dull and lifeless, like a living dead.

Why…

Why, with me right beside her, was she not happy?

There was a feeling of something missing in her heart, something that nothing could fill. Only when Liang Lin smiled could she feel reborn.

Liang Di held Liang Lin's hand, silent, and the two lay side by side on the bed.

Inside the Magic Tower.

"In one more month, I can see Liang Lin." Hilary was overjoyed, wrapping her arms around Octaville's neck and giving her a kiss.

Octaville was also happy, eagerly returning her lover's kiss.

"I've been watching from the magic crystal sphere lately, and Liang Di doesn't seem to be making things difficult for Liang Lin. They should be able to get along peacefully now, right?"

Hilary seemed quite relieved.

"Yes, that's it. Our lives are getting better step by step, Liang Lin and Liang Di are growing step by step, and our plans can proceed smoothly."

"That's wonderful."

Octaville also let out a heartfelt sigh.

“Once Liang Lin has suffered enough blows, she should realize that the Soteland Empire is not her strong support, and she shouldn't be loyal to such a corrupt empire.”

The reason Hilary hadn't told Liang Lin the truth, besides using forbidden magic, was also because of Liang Lin's loyalty.

“My sister's mind has been severely assimilated by the family. Even though she understands the many unwritten rules of the Soteland Empire, she has never thought of rebelling; she only wants to try to change the status quo.” Hilary sighed. “It can't be changed unless a new king comes to the throne—the Third Prince, whose thinking aligns with ours, and he is exceptionally clear-headed.”

Oktaville nodded.

“Darling, but I know you can't bear to see your sister suffer. You chose to hide it last time, didn't you?”

Hilary was silent for a moment.

“There won’t be a next time. I was too emotional last time, I’m sorry.”

Octaville patted the other’s head, comforting her. “It’s okay, Liang Di has already handled it. Next time something like this happens, discuss it with me. Don’t let emotions ruin our original plan.”

“Okay…”

After a moment of intimacy, Octaville suddenly spoke: “After all these years, I feel that Liang Di still harbors resentment towards me.”

“Why?”

“You should know what kind of torment Liang Di suffered during the time I was away.”

“During those dark days…”

“Fu, you didn’t tell me these things. You only said that Liang Di went through very painful things, um… tell me.” Hilary released her arms from the other’s neck, sat up straight, and her expression was solemn.

“During the time I was away… I sent Liang Di back to the border magic tower, but I went to the seaside magic tower instead. That's where the heirs go. I'm the last heir, and the weakest among them, so I have to work twice as hard.”

Octaville's face was filled with disappointment. She lowered her head, fiddling with her fingers.

“During the time I was away, Liang Di suffered torment that someone her age shouldn't have to endure.”

On the third day after Liang Di returned to the magic tower, the second day after Octavian left, Liang Di was locked in a dog cage. There was an indescribable, foul odor, the smell of a large dog.

Liang Di was still just a child. She couldn't bear it. She was scared, she was helpless. She kept calling out:

“Octaville, where are you?”

“Octaville, save me!”

“Mommy… where are you?”

“Mommy, I'm so scared being here all alone…”

But no one answered her, and no one came to rescue her.

“Brother (referring to Liang Lin), didn’t you say you’d jump in to protect me when I’m in danger?”

“Why haven’t you appeared yet…”

“It’s so uncomfortable here. I’m so hungry, and the smell here is awful…”

“Mommy, where are you?”

“Sister (referring to Hilary), do you know where Octaville went? Why isn’t anyone here?”

At that time, Liang Di was only seven years old.

She was still chubby, with baby fat. Although half of her face was twisted and indescribable due to the curse, the other half was cute and sunny.

But no one cared about her good side; everyone only cared about her ugly face.

"Why are you so disgusting?"

"What happened to half of her face? It's so disgusting, like worms have eaten it."

"Seriously, after seeing that half of her face, I don't think I can eat lunch today."

Liang Di had heard similar comments when she was five years old, but after that, Octaville sent her to the border, to be with Hilary and Liang Lin.

Liang Lin said she was beautiful, that the "scar" on her face was a symbol of bravery, and that she should be proud, not ashamed. Liang Di believed her, and she gradually developed her own confidence.

Those were the happiest times of her life.

However, Octaville was urgently recalled by the Tower Master. Before the recall, the Tower Master wrote her a letter, in which Octaville was to bring back the cursed "little monster."

"She has some blood from the people across the sea. If we try our best to study that little monster, we should be able to find a way to deal with them."

That's what the Tower Master said.

Having raised Liang Di for five years, Octaville had long since treated her like her own daughter. Hearing that the Tower Master and the other magicians wanted to study Liang Di, she couldn't bear it. So, she stubbornly delayed for three months.

Finally, the Tower Master issued an ultimatum.

"Octaville, if you don't come back, you'll never come back. The right to inherit will be given to someone else. You will be banished from the Magic Tower."

Octaville was also an unfortunate child.

When she was fifteen, because of her exceptional magical talent, she was taken in by the Tower Master, and she had already confirmed her dream.

To change the corrupt empire of Soteland, to overthrow the corrupt empire of Soteland.

So, that night, in the pouring rain, Octaville, wearing a raincoat, wrapped Liang Di tightly, held her, and returned to the Magic Tower.

That day, she unusually slept in the same bed as Liang Di.

"I'm sorry... Liang Di."

After the adorable child fell into a deep sleep, Octaville shed tears of guilt. She gently kissed Liang Di's chubby little face, unable to bear looking at the poor child any longer. She put on her black robe and turned to leave.

"I'm sorry, Liang Di. I was selfish. I abandoned you for my own dreams."

"I..."

"I don't deserve to be your mother."

The next day, Liang Di woke up, opened her little hands, and touched the edge of the bed. The blankets were already cold.

Liang Di was only seven years old, looking curiously at everything around her, both strange and familiar. She remembered coming here before she was five, and had many, many bad memories.

However, she was only a few years old then, and with Liang Lin's encouragement, she had long since forgotten those bad memories.

But she shouldn't have forgotten.

Click~

Someone opened the door to Octaville's room. A woman with delicate features, a pointed chin, and fox-like eyes held a quill pen in her hand.

The moment she saw Liang Di, she smiled.

"Your half-cursed face is getting more and more terrifying. But that's perfect, we're really curious about what caused you to become like this."

She picked up Liang Di and carried her to the very center of the magic tower.

There, at an exceptionally long wooden table, about fifty magicians sat in rows. The moment the fox-eyed woman, carrying Liang Di, pushed open the door, all eyes fell on her.

"Oh, long time no see, little monster."

A magician laughed.

"With her, will we finally know how to completely defeat Doris and those demons?"

"Don't be so sure. We still don't know where to begin with our research on her."

The fox-eyed woman carried Liang Di to the very top and sat down.

"The Tower Master and his successors have all gone to the magic tower by the sea. The important task of studying the little monsters falls to us ordinary magicians. Don't let the Tower Master down!"

The magicians echoed, patting their chests and boasting about their abilities.

Liang Di simply stared wide-eyed, sucking her fingers with her rosy lips, curiously observing everything around her. She thought the people here were still as friendly as the warriors on the border, the Kronin family, and the commoners.

This was her first lesson—don't trust anyone easily.

"She's truly hideous...she looks exactly like that guy from across the sea."

A flamboyantly beautiful magician, holding a folding fan to her mouth, looked Liang Di up and down with disgust, clicking her tongue.

"Just looking at her makes me want to vomit."

"Don't let her play with my child. A child with such a curse must be a monster devoid of humanity."

"Why would a man mate with a monster from across the sea? I'd rather mate with a gorilla than with a monster... disgusting."

The fox-eyed woman smiled, but the smile didn't reach her eyes.

"So, what's everyone's opinion...?"