V2: Chapter 2: Sister, I Want to Atone for My Sins

Liang Di stumbled back to her room. Having run barefoot, the cold floor had made her feet numb. She lost her balance and tripped by the bed.

Ignoring the pain in her knees, her hands trembled as she grabbed the pink envelope and saw the little bear stamp on it.

Ah….

Liang Di carefully peeled off the bear stamp and pulled out the white paper from the pink envelope. Her hands trembled uncontrollably, and she unconsciously swallowed, terrified of seeing something she couldn't accept.

The white paper slowly unfolded, revealing its contents to Liang Di.

Upon seeing the first sentence, Liang Di's pupils dilated in shock.

"Liang Di, I'm leaving."

Liang Di's pupils were somewhat unfocused, but she still tried her best to continue reading.

“Liang Di, I admit, I once had feelings for you, a tiny bit of affection, otherwise I wouldn't have been able to not hate you. But, I don't want to see you again.”

“I know I've made mistakes too, like the things I said that hurt you.”

“But the hurt you suffered in the Magic Tower wasn't caused by me, it was caused by others. You shouldn't project other people's mistakes onto me, causing me pain. You treated me like light, yet you hurt me again and again. I think I can't bear your love, and I don't dare to be your light.”

“The hurt you suffered is no excuse for hurting others, especially since you keep saying you love me.”

“Liang Di, I won't give birth to your child.”

“I'm leaving. I don't think I'll ever come back.”

“Goodbye, Liang Di.”

“Maybe we'll never meet again.”

Clatter~

The paper fell to the ground. Liang Di stared blankly ahead, her mind a complete blank.

What should I do now? What should I say?

I really want to cry, I really want to cry… but why can't I shed a single tear?

It turns out, when people are truly heartbroken, they really can't cry. Tears welled up in her eyes, and Liang Di fell silent.

Hilary and Octaville stood behind her, looking at each other in bewilderment, saying nothing. Liang Lin's departure had indeed been a huge blow to Liang Di.

Liang Di didn't know how long she remained silent. Hilary and Octaville sat on the sofa beside her, quietly waiting for her to come to her senses.

Light streamed in, falling on the pristine white sheets and on Liang Di's dazed face. The sunlight was a little blinding. Liang Di's body took over her mind; she slowly raised her hand, holding it to her face to shield her eyes from the sun.

Sunlight filtered through her fingers, shining into Liang Di's eyes.

Liang Di awoke as if from a dream.

 She swayed as she stood up, muttering, "I...I need to find Sister Liang Lin."

She looked at Hilary and Octaville, "You... you definitely know where she is, right? Tell me, okay?"

Octaville didn't know what to say, her heart heavy. She hugged her shoulders and sat silently on the sofa.

Hilary lied; she shook her head.

"I don't know where she went. She said she didn't want to stay at Langwendi's anymore. It only brought back painful memories. She wanted to go somewhere else, to clear her head."

She couldn't tell Liang Di her exact location, otherwise, this woman, in a fit of madness, would really run off and chase after Liang Lin.

Thump~

Liang Di lost all strength and collapsed to her knees, slumping to the ground. Her eyes were wide open, and she began to act erratically.

"No, Sister Liang Lin, she won't leave, she absolutely won't leave! She clearly held me tight then, why would she leave me? No, she absolutely won't!"

"Clearly... my light shone on me..."

Tears finally streamed down her face, one by one, falling onto the cold floor.

"No..."

She suddenly raised her head, her eyes filled with fierceness, panic, and immense sorrow.

"She would never leave me! Because she promised me she would live with me! The three of us would live together, happily! She would never abort the child! Sister Liang Lin, she, she must still be waiting for me somewhere!"

Liang Di suddenly laughed, rolled over, and lay on the floor, staring blankly at the ceiling. She just laughed eerily, without making a sound, her eyes empty, like a soulless shell.

She lay there for an unknown amount of time.

"Liang Di... go lie down on the bed, the floor is too cold."

Octaville couldn't help herself, stood up, went to Liang Di, squatted down, and gently patted her shoulder. "Liang Di, go lie down on the bed, be careful not to catch a cold."

Liang Di seemed not to hear her, her mouth opening and closing without making a sound, it was unclear what she was saying.

“Liang Di…”

Octaville was at her wits' end. She rubbed her temples, unsure what to do. She reached out and touched Liang Di's arm. The child's arm was frighteningly cold.

“Sigh.”

Fine, I'll just carry her to the bed.

Octaville put her arm around Liang Di's shoulder, wanting to hold the child in her arms.

But Liang Di pushed her away.

“Octaville, leave me alone.”

“Just like you left me alone before, just leave me alone now.”

“....."

Octaville stared blankly, looking at Liang Di, then at her empty hands, and smiled bitterly as she stood up.

"I knew you were still blaming me. You're right, it's all my fault."

Liang Di didn't respond. Her long, silvery-white hair lay scattered on the ground, her face serene and beautiful. Sunlight bathed her entire body; at that moment, she seemed like an angel from a fairy tale, about to sprout white wings and fly into the sky.

"But don't hurt yourself, Liang Di," Octaville finally said. "Liang Lin is gone, and we really don't know where she went. That's the fact, and you should face it."

"No!"

"She didn't leave!"

Liang Di refused to accept this fact. All the beauty and tranquility vanished. Her face contorted, her pupils turning green, she roared, "She didn't leave! You lied to me! You've all lied to me!"

"You're all liars!"

"You just don't want me to be with her!"

"Bastards!"

"Assholes!"

At this moment, Liang Di really resembled a child in the throes of puberty. No, logically speaking, she was indeed a child in the throes of puberty.

"Give me back my Sister Liang Lin!"

Bang!

Crack!

Crash!

Shards of glass scattered everywhere.

The window was shattered, revealing a large hole, like Liang Di's unfillable heart. And Liang Di? Her tentacles stretched out, spreading to every corner of the room.

She had lost control.

At this moment, the silent Hilary stood up, walked to Liang Di, and, under the other's angry gaze, raised her hand high.

Slap!

A slap landed on Liang Di's face.

The tentacles in the room suddenly retracted, and Liang Di froze.

Octaville stood by, at a loss.

Hilary said coldly, "Liang Di, you need to calm down. You need to wake up. Think about it carefully. What right do you have to be angry? The pregnant woman is Liang Lin, the one who was forced is Liang Lin, the one whose dignity was insulted is Liang Lin."

"Tell me, is this how you show your love for her? I'm telling you, she left, she wanted to leave you because you hurt her, understand?"

Hilary's eyes were sharp, like a poisoned dagger.

"The fact is, she left because you hurt her, so she left. Remember! This is the key point, because you hurt her, because you loved her the wrong way, because you don't know how to love, and you're unwilling to learn how to truly love!" Hilary placed her hand on Liang Di's shoulder.

"Is what I've said enough to calm you down?"

Rustle...

The tentacles in the room slowly withdrew, and Liang Di collapsed to the ground again, covering her face and weeping bitterly.

She knew it all, better than anyone. From the moment she lay on the ground like a corpse, she had figured it out. It was her own mistakes that led to the departure of the person she loved.

"I'm sorry..." Liang Di said, sobbing.

Hilary sighed and knelt down beside her. Octaville followed suit.

After Liang Dii had cried for a while, Hilary grabbed her wrist and forcefully pried her hand off. "Liang Di, I'm sorry too, so..."

Slap!

Hilary slapped herself as well. She smiled at Liangdi, "I'm sorry, consider this slap my way of repaying you."

“But you shouldn’t say sorry to me; you should say it to Liang Lin yourself.”

Liang Di stopped crying.

“But she’s gone…”

“She’s gone. What’s the point of my life?”

Hilary gently wiped away her tears.

“Liang Di, life isn’t just about love; there’s friendship, family, dreams, all sorts of important things. I know you love Liang Lin, but you have to love her the right way. The prerequisite for loving others is learning to love yourself first.”

Hilary grabbed Liang Di’s arm and rolled up her sleeve.

What appeared was an arm covered in dense scars. The bright red marks and scabbed brown knife wounds were shocking, displayed before the three of them.

These were self-inflicted wounds Liang Di had inflicted with a sharp knife during countless sleepless nights, recalling the pain of her childhood.

“Liang Di, you haven’t learned to love yourself yet, have you?”

Tears rolled down her cheeks again.

“No one taught me. Where can I learn?”

“Yes, that’s why I said, Octaville and I are both sorry to you.”

Octaville touched the scar on Liang Di’s arm.

Her heart was bleeding, and she cried too.

She hadn’t cried in a long time. She cried so hard, and hugged Liang Di tightly. Liang Di’s body stiffened, but this time, she didn’t push Octaville away.

“What can I do now to bring Liang Lin back?”

“Be yourself,” Hilary said. “I believe she will come back, but before you reunite with her, you should learn to love yourself first.”

Hilary paused, then pushed aside the heartbroken Octaville, and said solemnly to Liang Di, “Liang Di, there’s one thing I can’t forgive you for: you got my sister pregnant. It was coercion, wasn’t it? She didn’t agree, and she didn’t want to be a mother.”

“How do you plan to atone for this? I want to hear your opinion.”

Liang Di lowered her head.

She was processing what she had just heard.

If she behaved well, if she acted like a normal person, wouldn’t Liang Lin come back?

Yes… she seemed to have never considered Liang Lin’s feelings. She said she wanted to see Liang Lin smile, but she always ended up making the other person angry and sad. She really wasn’t a good lover. She was so shameful for forcing someone.

She had always known this, but she had never dared to think about it deeply, fearing that if she did, the guilt would be too heavy, and she wouldn't be able to bear continuing to imprison Liang Lin. In this respect, she chose a brief period of happiness.

She had wronged Liang Lin.

She wanted to atone, to let Liang Lin see it.

A child could be replaced, but if Liang Lin was gone, then it's truly gone.

Liang Di hesitated for a moment, then slowly raised her hand.

"Octaville, I request to stay in the Seaside Magic Tower for a month."

The Seaside Magic Tower was an extremely dangerous and extremely harsh place. The seaside was a walled-off area where people lived inside, so everyone called the area outside the sea "the world outside the wall."

Everyone said that the world outside the wall was dangerous and unknown. The Soteland Empire forbade its residents to go out, saying that there was a severe plague and virus outside; even a breath of it would kill them.

Of course, this was false.

The Seaside Magic Tower lies outside the walls, closest to the sea. Sometimes, the high tide even reaches its base. Beyond the sea dwell in unspeakable monsters.

Liang Di had seen them before. They looked very similar to her when she was in her tentacle form—no, they were even uglier, more disgusting, and more terrifying. And there were many kinds, some as tall as the Magic Tower itself.

She had also witnessed these monsters, the larger ones swallowing people whole, the smaller ones tearing human bodies apart and stuffing the pieces into their mouths.

Among them, the giant tentacles most resembled her, but she wasn't as big, though of course, she was more agile.

The most terrifying of them all was a tall, thin monster with a face covered by a thin, transparent membrane. Blood-red eyes grew within the membrane, and it appeared to have no mouth.

However, once they spot a human, they raise their long, withered arms and plunge their sharp fingers into the human's skull. Then, a vertical slit appears in the transparent membrane, and their blood-red eyes transform into sharp teeth, crushing the human's skull.

When Liang Di first witnessed them feeding, she felt a wave of nausea.

"Liang Di, you're going to that place..." Octaville couldn't bear to see her adopted daughter go to such a dangerous place. "You know you've never dealt with them alone before, and I can't go with you. You... can you really manage alone?"

Liang Di resolutely stood up. "This is the sin I must atone for. Within a month, I must kill thirty monsters. At the same time, I won't neglect the management of the Langwendi family's shop."

One a day—that's no small number.

On average, about three magicians per month die inside the Seaside Magic Tower. Those who go to the Seaside Magic Tower are usually magicians with extremely rich monster-killing experience.

“I can do it, and besides, Sister Liang Lin is fighting too, isn’t she?” Liang Di smiled knowingly, picking up a leather tie to tie up her long hair. “I should also raise the sword in my heart and fight. Whether for her or for myself.”

She was so clever, how could she not guess where Liang Lin had gone?

The loyal Miss Liang Lin, the blindly loyal and humble Marquis, of course, would return to the place she wanted to protect.

“I bet she doesn’t want to see me at all right now, so I’ll prove her wrong. If I go to kill monsters, it’s also a way of protecting the Soteland Empire she loves, isn’t it?”

Liang Di clutched the two wooden bears in her pocket. “Even if the Seaside is dangerous, if I die there, it can only be said that I wasn’t capable enough, and I deserve to die.”

“If I can’t even protect myself, how can I protect Liang Lin?”

Hilary was surprised; she hadn’t expected Liang Di to change so quickly.

“Liang Di, your…your thoughts surprise me.”

“Don’t be surprised, because some of what I’m saying is against my will. I haven’t fully understood. No one changes that quickly. I can only try my best to become the person Liang Lin hopes I will be.” Liang Di spoke the truth.

Hilary nodded, indicating her understanding.

Octaville looked at her adopted daughter, then at her lover, then back to Liang Di.

“Alright, I’ll send you to the Seaside Magic Tower tomorrow, but you can’t neglect the management of the Langwendi family’s shops. Manage both, understand?”

“Yes, that suits me perfectly.”

Liang Di was actually putting on a brave face when she said these words.

“Alright, that’s all. You can go now. I’ll pack my things. We don’t need to leave tomorrow; we’ll leave tonight. Maybe I’ll even exceed expectations.”

Before leaving, Octaville reached out and ruffled Liang Di’s hair.

“Don’t worry, Liang Lin will definitely come back. I believe your connection hasn’t disappeared.”

Liang Di didn’t speak; she hoped so too.

After Hilary and Octaville left, Liang Di quietly sat back on the bed, not packing her things, and continued to stare blankly. She hugged the teddy bear beside her tightly; it was the one Liang Lin had once held in her arms.

“Sister…”

She murmured softly.

“I really… I still can’t help but cry, can’t help but think of you…”

Liang Di’s heart was breaking. She would rather have a blade cut open her heart, torturing her body, than face a world without Liang Lin.

"I'll become the person you like..."

Liang Di lay back down on the bed, curled up into a small ball, hugging her teddy bear, breathing deeply, trying to inhale all of Liang Lin's scent clung to the plushie.

Meanwhile, on Liang Lin's side...

The group traveled a long way, stopping frequently.

They walked very slowly because Liang Lin was often unwell, suffering from morning sickness, irritability, and depression, and was constantly on the verge of tears. Liang Lin felt like she wasn't herself anymore.

"How awful...!"

They had been traveling for over half a month, and were still very, very far from the border, not even a sixth of the way there.

Should I just abort the baby?

Every night, Liang Lin tossed and turned, unable to sleep because of this.

The next day, finally someone noticed.

"Boss, why is your belly so bulging? What delicious food are hidden inside?"

Mandel was tall and strong, looking like a macho man, but he was skilled in cooking and needlework, and his mind was only on food. He was still unmarried.

"Eat, eat, eat! All you ever think is about eating! Your mind is full of food! Can't you focus on something else, Mandel!" Liang Lin jumped up and smacked Mandel on the head.

Mandel chuckled twice, touched the spot where he'd been hit, and blurted out, "It doesn't hurt!"

"..."

Fine, he looks so stupid, I'll let him have his way.

This guy is tough as nails; even with Liang Lin's strength, it didn't hurt him.

"Nonsense!" Blaze glared at Mandel from the side, then approached Liang Lin with a fawning expression. "Boss, don't listen to his nonsense. That guy's only thought about food."

Hmm...

Liang Lin put her hands on her hips and nodded in satisfaction.

See? Every group has a few smart ones, and here comes one, right?

The result.

“I'm telling you, Mandel, the boss hasn't hidden anything in her belly yet. It's… just fat!”

“.....”

Liang Lin covered her face, her expression darkening.

She believed in her group's fighting prowess, but not their intelligence. She had a feeling that even combined, they wouldn't be as smart as a pig.

“Alright, if you can't speak properly, then don't.”

Liang Lin took a deep breath, trying to push her stomach back down, but it was all in vain.

Beside her, Robin, who hadn't spoken until now, stroked his chin. He hadn't shaved in a long time, and his chin felt prickly. He stared at Liang Lin's stomach for a long time.

“Miss Liang Lin, why do I keep feeling… you're pregnant?”

The playful group froze instantly.

“Huh?”

"Huh?"

They stared at Robin like idiots, their eyes wide and beady. A few seconds of silence followed, then bursts of loud laughter erupted.

"Hahahaha!"

"Boss! He said you're pregnant! Hahahaha!"

"Bullshit! Our boss is someone we've watched grow up, a good boy! What do you mean pregnant?!"

"Yeah, yeah, that's hilarious, hahaha!"

"Boss, pregnant? Where did you hear that joke?"

Only Liang Lin didn't laugh a word. Her thoughts had been hit, and her face turned ashen.

Amidst the laughter, Liang Lin weakly whispered, "If, if I really am pregnant, what will you do?"

"Hahaha—Gah?"

One of the soldiers almost choked on laughter. Hearing this, the laughter stopped abruptly, and their gazes returned to Liang Lin.

"Uh…"

Those familiar beady eyes again.

Then…

"Hahahahahaha!"

"Damn, it's been over six months, and our boss has become so funny!"

"Hahaha, look at the joke you're making, Boss, I almost believed it! Your eyes were so serious, your acting was amazing!"

"..."

They really deserve to die!

Liang Lin was on the verge of tears, repeating again, "Um, what if I said I was serious? Not joking?"

"..."

"Hahahahaha~"

"Boss, stop it, if you keep laughing, my stomach is going to cramp up."

"Seriously, so what if you're a little chubby? Everyone has a little belly!"

"Yeah, it's okay, boss, we won't mind!"

"Ouch, ouch, my back, my back!"

One soldier was laughing so hard he was doubled over, his head shaking so much that he twisted his back and was now clutching it, howling in pain. And so, the group of people, some doubled over with laughter, others clutching their backs and howling, created a chaotic scene.

Liang Lin sighed.

Fine, as long as they're having fun. That's enough. It would be impolite to say anything more.

"Yeah, I was just kidding. Let's keep going, stop laughing."

Liang Lin kicked Blaze's butt. "Hurry up and keep going, don't delay our journey."

"Boss, since you turned into a girl, our marching speed has slowed down."

Liang Lin didn't bother to explain that it was because she was pregnant and uncomfortable. She gave a curt "hmm" and walked in the middle of the group.

Robin kept his eyes on her, his brow furrowed. Of all these people, only he believed Liang Lin wasn't joking. The girl's expression was far too serious; it didn't seem like she was joking.

So, that evening, Robin, with his daughter Sylvia, knocked on Liang Lin's door.

Liang Lin had just finished washing up, drying her hair with a towel as she walked towards the door, asking, "Who is it?"

"It's me, Miss Liang Lin, Robin, and Sylvia."

"Oh."

Liang Lin opened the door, but didn't let them in. She blocked the doorway, asking, "What's wrong? What happened?"

"Miss Liang Lin, you're definitely pregnant, aren't you?" Robin didn't mince words, asking directly.

"Uh?"

Startled by the sudden question, Liang Lin hesitated, feeling awkward. After a long pause, she finally nodded. "Yes, I'm definitely pregnant, but!"

Liang Lin didn't dare breathe, explaining, "I haven't had sex with any men. I've had sex with women, and I'm carrying that woman's child."

"Huh?"

Robin and Sylvia's simultaneous, knowing voices clearly indicated they didn't understand how women could have children together.

"Ah... well, the situation is really complicated... I can't explain it to you guys anyway, but I'm pregnant, and I don't know what to do."

Robin looked at the woman's round belly, his face showing concern. "Then... Miss, you're pregnant, can you go to the battlefield?"

"..."

"Actually, I'm planning to abort this child, but I'm still a little reluctant, so I've been hesitating until now."

"How many months along?"

"Not many months, only two months. I can take the abortion pill in two months. Um... anyway, I'm just very hesitant."

But what Liang Lin didn't know was that the baby in her belly was already basically formed. In another two months, she would be born.