V2: Chapter 51: The Nightmare of the Villainous Heiress

"You're wrong."

Liang Di suddenly released Eli's hand and took a step back. Without her noticing, her dress had transformed into a pure white gauze gown.

Wearing the pure white gauze gown, Liang Di stood quietly in the morning light, like a budding lily. Her gown was light and flowing, as if carefully tailored from the clouds of the sky, pure white and flawless, radiating a faint, holy light.

Her figure was slender, like a jade sculpture sculpted by time, with elegant and soft curves. Her skin was as delicate as snow, with a faint blush, like pink petals under the rising sun. Her long, silvery-white hair flowed smoothly over her shoulders, gently swaying in the wind, adding to her ethereal and graceful appearance.

Liang Di's eyes were clear and bright, like a mountain spring, radiating a pure and flawless light.

She looked up, gazing into the distance, her deep eyes seeming to pierce through the dust of the world, reaching the deepest recesses of the heart. A faint smile played on her lips, a smile pure and warm, like the rising sun, bringing comfort to the heart.

“What?”

Little Eli looked confused.

Liang Di chuckled and shook her head. “The current Sister Liang Lin won’t take my hand, won’t say she wants to marry me, and won’t mention those promises from our childhood.”

“I’m sorry, but I found a flaw in the proof that she doesn’t love me. It’s heartbreaking. I’d rather not find any flaws and die in this sweet illusion.”

After speaking, tentacles extended from behind Liang Di, tearing Eli to shreds.

The world before them gradually shattered, like a beautiful piece of porcelain breaking instantly under a violent impact. Each fragment shimmered with its former brilliance, yet was filled with sharp edges.

The once clear scene began to blur, the colors constantly fading, leaving only a hazy gray.bThe surrounding wheat fields and flowing water seemed to be torn apart by an invisible force, turning into countless tiny fragments that drifted in the air.

An eerie atmosphere permeated the air, a mixture of dust, broken branches and leaves, and unknown fear. Each breath seemed to inhale these fragments, creating an indescribable sense of oppression and suffocation.

A series of sharp cracking sounds rang in her ears, accompanied by terrified screams and cries from afar. These sounds echoed in the shattered space, sounding even more mournful and desperate.

The ground beneath her feet began to tremble, as if the entire world was shaking. Every step became difficult, as if she were traversing countless cracks and traps.

Liang Di knew she had successfully escaped the illusion. Once she crossed this seemingly dangerous path, her mind would return to reality.

Meanwhile, Doris's forehead was covered in countless beads of sweat, her eyes were swirling with holes like frog eggs, and she looked completely disoriented. She stared intently into Liang Di's eyes, still lost in the illusion.

The monster in the sea beckoned to her, whispering incomprehensible words, yet irresistibly drawing her closer. Doris couldn't control her steps; each step was heavy, yet she had no choice but to move forward. The icy seawater had already reached her ankles; she felt cold all over, struggling to pull herself away.

While she was still immersed in the illusion, Liang Di had completely broken free. Her eyes gradually regained their senses, becoming clearer.

"Sister Liang Lin."

Unexpectedly, this time, Liang Lin obediently lay against her chest, completely still, not even changing her position from the beginning.

She softly called out to the person in her arms.

But there was no response.

Instantly, a bad premonition rose in Liang Di's heart. She immediately grabbed the shoulders of the person in her arms and abruptly pulled away. Only then did she realize that Liang Lin's eyes were fixed, filled with countless tiny holes.

Damn it, it seemed she had also entered the illusion.

Sweat instantly beaded on Liang Di's forehead. She must have failed to pull her out quickly enough, allowing Liang Lin to see Doris's eyes.

Yes, just one glance was enough to immerse someone in an illusion; that was the terrifying aspect of these monsters.

What should I do? How can I pull Liang Lin out of the illusion? 

Liang Di mimicked how she had shaken herself earlier, frantically shaking Liang Lin's shoulders while softly calling her name. She dared not shout, afraid of attracting the attention of the surrounding guards; Liang Lin and Doris's current state could not be seen by anyone else.

Within Liang Lin's illusion.

Thousands upon thousands of soldiers, clad in iron armor and wielding spears and swords, engaged in a fierce battle on the battlefield. The armor gleamed coldly in the sunlight, while the soldiers' eyes burned with the fierce flames of war.

As the war drums thundered, both armies surged towards each other like a tidal wave. Soldiers shouted, brandishing their weapons, charging forward with fierce ferocity. In an instant, the battlefield was ablaze with the glint of swords and the spray of blood. The air was thick with the suffocating stench of blood.

In this bloody battle, some soldiers were pierced by spears and fell into pools of blood; others were cleaved in two by sharp swords, their heads severed. The battlefield was littered with corpses, rivers of blood flowing—a gruesome sight. Those who survived were also covered in wounds and utterly exhausted.

Accompanied by the neighing and clattering of warhorses, they galloped across the battlefield, knocking down or trampling enemies to death. Beneath their iron hooves lay the blood of countless innocent lives.

Liang Lin gazed at this familiar scene, and she saw countless familiar faces—her former subordinates who had fought and died alongside her. But those subordinates had long since perished on the battlefield

Why had they reappeared before me?

Just as Liang Lin was still filled with doubt and heartache, the scene shifted, revealing a desolate landscape before her eyes.

It was a horrific and desolate scene. The once-fierce battlefield was now nothing but ruins and remains, seemingly telling the story of war's cruelty and ruthlessness.

The smoke of battle had not yet dissipated, and the air was thick with the pungent stench of gunpowder and blood, making one want to vomit. Limbs and remains were scattered everywhere on the battlefield, some soldiers still in their life positions, as if still fighting desperately. Broken weapons, armor, and banners lay strewn about, silently recounting the battles that had taken place.

Liang Lin couldn't control her steps, walking forward step by step, looking around at the familiar faces, those who had fought alongside her through thick and thin—now, they all lay dead on the battlefield, protecting this absurd empire that had never shown them any mercy.

No, no, how can I say that? They were protecting the people of this empire! Yes, that's right.

Liang Lin's mind was a mess. Strange thoughts were creeping into her head, frantically eroding her brain, controlling her thoughts, controlling her body.

Liang Lin was in pain. She pressed her temples hard, her body trembling, trying to stay calm.

The surrounding buildings were also severely damaged. City walls had collapsed, houses were destroyed, a scene of utter devastation. Once bustling cities and villages were now ruined, residents displaced, their lives filled with hardship.

The post-war sky was exceptionally gloomy, thick with dark clouds, as if mourning this land. The occasional cawing of crows added to the desolation and bleakness of the battlefield.

This was… the border.

When Liang Lin opened her eyes again, she saw countless unfamiliar faces. Judging from their clothes, they were all civilians.

On this ravaged land, survivors were either exhaustedly searching for their families or silently cleaning up the mess left by the war. Their faces were etched with sorrow and despair, their hearts filled with confusion and fear about the future.

Why…?

They had clearly won, they had clearly defeated those people, so why were they causing trouble for these innocent people? Why were they packing their bags, heading to other cities, even other empires?

Why?

Liang Lin followed behind them, walking forward with them, wanting an answer. Although she already knew the answer, she still refused to believe it.

It was a scene filled with panic, chaos, and despair.

The smoke of war filled the sky, flames soared, illuminating the once peaceful night. With the beating of war drums and the thunder of horses' hooves, people realized that danger was imminent. In the villages, every household began frantically packing their belongings, preparing to flee this land that was about to become a battlefield.

On the road to escape, people hurried along, their faces filled with terror and unease. They dared not stop, fearing the enemy would catch up. The fields and villages along the way were deserted, only ruins destroyed by war and charred trees remained.

The air was thick with the suffocating smell of gunpowder and burning. The night wind howled, seemingly telling the story of war's cruelty. People huddled together, using their body heat to ward off the cold and fear.

Only the children wore innocent smiles, thinking it was a novel game, even chasing and playing on empty stomachs.

Liang Lin's nose stung with tears; she wanted to reach out and pat their heads.

"Don't go!"

Suddenly, a voice echoed in her mind. Liang Lin froze for a second, looking around, but saw no one.

"Who?"

Who was speaking?

"Who was speaking?"

The voice vanished, as if it had never been there, merely Liang Lin's hallucination. When Liang Lin looked at the scene before her again, she realized that the children had vanished.

During their escape, the commoners faced numerous hardships and challenges. Food and water became increasingly scarce, and disease and exhaustion began to ravage their bodies. Yet, they persevered, driven by a single belief: to escape the war and find a safe haven.

The answer was already in Liang Lin's heart, wasn't it?

It was human desire, the desire of the high-ranking officials, the desire of the royal family. They were the ones with desires, while the persecuted were the common people; the sacrifices were the soldiers who fought bravely on the battlefield.

Meanwhile, the royal family and nobles lay on luxurious velvet beds, surrounded by beautiful women, their mouths swelled with greasy food, living lives of extravagance. But even this was not enough for them; they craved more power, more land, more money, and even more beautiful women.

Liang Lin had long realized this, but as a member of the nobility herself, she refused to accept it, refused to believe it.

Now, the facts were laid bare, the answer already surfaced in her heart, and she had no choice but to accept it.

She clutched her head, crouching on the ground in anguish.

"Brother."

A pair of small feet in tattered cloth shoes appeared before Liang Lin. Liang Lin looked up, her eyes brimming with tears. She saw a little girl, a little girl she desperately wanted to forget.

The child's face was filthy, like a flower ravaged by a storm, its former vibrancy and radiance gone. Her clothes were tattered, stained with mud and blood, their original colors obscured by the dust of war.

The little girl's face was covered in dust and tear stains; her once clear eyes were now filled with fear and helplessness. Her hair clung haphazardly to her forehead, strands still adorned with bits of grass and dirt. Her hands were thin and rough, her fingertips stained with black mud and undried blood, as if bearing witness to the hardships and suffering she had endured on the battlefield. 

Her body trembled, as if trying to escape the surrounding noise and danger. Every time the sounds of fighting rang out, her body would involuntarily tremble, her eyes flashing with terror. She clutched a tattered rag doll tightly; it was her only comfort and support, her only warmth on this cruel battlefield.

“Big brother…”

A childish voice exploded in Liang Lin's ears. In an instant, Liang Lin went from crouching to kneeling. She slowly raised her trembling arm, grasped the child's arm, tears streaming down her face, her lips quivering, unable to utter a complete sentence.

“You.”

“You.”

“You…”

The little girl gave an innocent smile, then her face was filled with fear again. She seemed to see something terrifying, and cried out loudly:

“Big brother! Save me! Save me! Waaah… It hurts! It hurts so much…”

“Brother! Save me! It hurts so much…”

But on the other side, another person was calling for help. Liang Lin turned her head abruptly and saw a familiar face—it was one of her subordinates.

His face was pale, his brows were furrowed in pain, and his eyes were tightly closed, as if he were enduring unspeakable agony. His arms and legs were wounded by arrows or swords, and blood kept gushing from the wounds, staining the surrounding ground red.

Around him were other soldiers, some with severe abdominal wounds, their intestines spilling out. They pressed their hands tightly against their wounds, but blood still seeped from between their fingers.

“General Eli… no, don’t choose me. No, don’t save me.”

The subordinate’s voice was hoarse as he said “don’t save me,”  but his hand reaching out towards Liang Lin, seemingly begging her to save him.

“But, but… I want to live too…” the subordinate cried, a tall, imposing man, tears streaming down his face, “My wife, my mother, are waiting for me at home…”

“But, General Eli, don’t choose me, please…”

“No, no, I want to live too.”

Liang Lin stared blankly at everything before her. The cries for help echoed in her ears, but she could do nothing. She felt powerless. She thought again of the war from years ago, the nightmare she had struggled to shake off, barely managing to prevent her body from remembering it.

The child was in the enemy’s hands, a knife pressed against his neck. The enemy’s arrogant laughter echoed across every corner of the battlefield.

“Eli! Tell me, do you want this child to live, or your subordinate to live?”

Indeed, on the other side, a soldier was supporting her former subordinate, blood still streaming from his forehead, clearly unconscious. This was a prisoner of war they had captured.

As for why they were so arrogant, it was naturally because they outnumbered Liang Lin's side. They had just captured a prisoner of war and a little girl, forgetting the age-old adage that villains die from talking too much, and began to swagger around.

“Damn it.”

At that time, the distance was too great for Liang Lin to go directly. Behind her, archers had already drawn their bows, ready to fire at her command. However, their opponents were still holding their man and an innocent little girl in their hands. If they dared to fire an arrow, the next second, their necks would be slashed.

"General Eli, have you made up your mind?"

About ten seconds passed, and Liang Lin remained silent. He was pondering a perfect solution, trying to rescue both of them safely from the enemy. Charging forward on horseback now was simply unrealistic; at this distance, even a few steps forward would be spotted by the enemy. Before he could even get close, his men and the little girl would likely be dead.

"Hurry up and choose, General Eli! I've heard you're very concerned about the world, right? You should choose the little girl, shouldn't you? As for your men, kill them or die with them, it's up to you, isn't it?"

With that, he waved to the soldiers.

"Wait!"

Liang Lin shouted, gritting her teeth, "Don't go too far! If we're going to fight, let's have a fair fight! If you don't want your soldiers involved, I'll throw away my weapons and fight you bare-handed! If that's not enough, then find ten more men and come at me all at once!"

"Hahahaha~"

That arrogant laughter rang out again, making Liang Lin's teeth itch with hatred.

"Eli, you're in my hands now, and you're trying to negotiate with me? I'm asking you to make a choice, not to negotiate with me." The enemy general said smugly.

"Which one will you choose, Eli?"