There was no stopping her. Even with Belica’s desperate resistance, Liang Lin shoved her hard to the ground.

Belica staggered upright, her pristine maid uniform now smeared with mud. “Miss Liang Lin… I will never let you stop Miss Liang Di from doing what matters!”

*Shing.*

Liang Lin’s pupils dimmed, lifeless. She drew her longsword from her waist. “If you wish to die… go ahead and try.”

Belica flicked two daggers from her sleeves in a flash, crossed her arms into a guard stance—her expression sharp as honed steel.

Weapons raised, eyes locked. Tension thickened the air.

Liang Lin struck first. Her blade slashed down with brutal speed. Belica sidestepped, daggers flashing up to block. *Clang!* Steel met steel in a sharp, ringing clash.

Such immense strength!

Belica’s arms numbed from the impact, trembling uncontrollably. No chance to counter—only retreat, desperately parrying each relentless strike. The sword fell like rain. Her vision blurred into white static; she could barely track the blade anymore.

From afar, Laura murmured, “Miss Liang Lin… she’s keeping one hand behind her back… Incredible.”

*Rip!*

Fabric tore. Skin split. Belica collapsed again, a gash—half a centimeter deep, several long—bleeding on her arm.

“Overestimating yourself.”

Liang Lin strode straight toward the cave mouth, no hesitation. Even as the dark opening radiated dread, she acted as if she felt nothing.

“Miss Liang Lin…!”

“Ugh!”

Liang Lin glanced down. Belica clung to her leg with iron grip, face twisted in pain, hands locked like clamps.

“Hmph.”

Expressionless, Liang Lin slowly raised her sword.

“Then… die.”

“Liang Lin!”

A tentacle lashed her wrist. The sword flew free, embedding in the mud.

At the cave entrance, Liang Di stood encircled by writhing tentacles, cradling the unconscious Gratice—blood trickling from her lips, body twitching violently from deep trauma.

“Belica, release Liang Lin. Take the unconscious nun outside. Stand guard. Let no one near.” Liang Di nodded toward Laura, slumped on the ground.

Moments earlier, Laura had glimpsed the tentacles sprouting from Liang Di’s back, gasped “Oh, my God!”, rolled her eyes, and fainted.

Belica finally let go, clutching her bleeding arm, limping as she dragged Laura away.

“Liang Di… I know you’ve hidden things from me. So many things.” Liang Lin held up Siralili’s note, voice trembling between grief and fury. “You know Siralili… don’t you?”

Liang Di fell silent. She stepped slowly from the cave’s shadow into the sunlight, leaving Gratice behind.

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

“My memories are gone. You know my real name… don’t you? Tell me!” Liang Lin clutched her head, swaying closer. “What is my name?! Where is Siralili?!”

“…No. She said… not yet.”

“Who?”

“Someone you know.”

“Circling words! Lies! Treating me like a fool! Playing with me again and again! Enough! Then die, Liang Di!”

Liang Lin swung her sword—*slice!*—a tentacle severed. The piece flew, writhed on the dirt, then stilled. Liang Di flinched, body shuddering. Pain shot through her; it was part of her.

But—

The severed tentacle thrashed wildly. Mucus oozed from the stump. Tiny tendrils squirmed toward the wound. Pinkish fluid stretched like threads, flesh knitting together. In under five seconds—it reattached.

Liang Lin had expected it… yet seeing it stole her breath.

“Liang Lin, your mind is frayed. Rest. Forget today.” Liang Di’s voice softened—uncharacteristically gentle. The once-fierce tentacles now crept slowly toward her, aiming to wrap her whole body in quiet embrace.

Liang Lin slashed again.

Tears spilled—unbidden, physiological. She hated them. Hated showing this fragility.

Gentleness vanished. After another slash, seven tentacles coiled around her. One tightened on her wrist. She gripped her sword, refusing to yield—

*Crack!*

Her face contorted. Lips bitten bloody. A choked groan escaped. Her wrist bone had snapped.

Tentacles sealed her completely. Struggle was useless.

The corn-silk tendril reappeared before her eyes. Memories surged.

“Liang Di… you used this to erase my memories. Now? Which part next? Siralili’s? All this time… I’ve lived helplessly, blindly… not even knowing how much was stolen.”

Despair flooded her gaze. A single tear traced her cheek, landing on a tentacle.

Liang Di jolted. Her composure cracked.

Liang Lin’s lips parted slowly, hatred burning in her eyes. Each word carved with pain:

“Liang Di… I hate you.”

But.

*But!*

Liang Di’s eyes widened, head tilting. Confusion. Resentment. Sorrow. As if her world had shattered—leaving her alone in ruins, staring into endless dark.

She stepped closer. Voice tore raw:

“But! You *said* you loved me! You said I was the one you loved most!”

“*** (garbled static)! How could you not recognize me?! How could you forget?!”