"What happened, Shiyin? Are you okay? Why are you crying?" Li Tian's voice softened as he noticed her trembling form, the tear tracks staining her pale cheeks. His gaze lingered on her quivering lips, concern etching into his expression as he instinctively reached a hand forward, hesitant yet gentle, as if afraid she might break under the weight of her own emotions.
"What happened, Shiyin? Are you okay? Why are you crying?" Li Tian's voice softened as he noticed her trembling form, the tear tracks staining her pale cheeks. His gaze lingered on her quivering lips, concern etching into his expression as he instinctively reached a hand forward, hesitant yet gentle, as if afraid she might break under the weight of her own emotions.Shiyin didn't respond to Li Tian's words, her expression distant and lost as she struggled to make sense of the fragmented memories replaying in her mind. The images felt vivid yet elusive, like reflections on the surface of a rippling lake. Her brows furrowed, lips parted slightly as if she wanted to speak but couldn't find the words.
Noticing her silence, Li Tian slowly rose from the ground, his movements careful, respectful of the delicate state she seemed to be in. His voice, now gentler, broke the quiet. "It's okay, Shiyin. Take your time—try to remember. I will do anything for you, no matter what it takes. If you ever need me... just send a message through this."
He extended his hand and with a soft pulse of energy, a jade-green Information Path Gu worm materialized in his palm. Its translucent wings shimmered faintly as he tossed it toward her. Shiyin caught it instinctively, her fingers trembling as she refined it with a trace of her essence.
Yet, even as the Gu merged into her control, she remained silent, her gaze fixed on the ground, unmoving as though the storm within her mind had consumed her entirely.
Just then, a fragmented memory surged through her mind, vivid and overwhelming.
She remembered the cold, oppressive halls of the Demoness Sect, where shadows danced against walls marked with ancient runes. After she had been taken in by the Sect Leader, her mind had felt clouded, dulled—memories of Levi erased, leaving only emptiness where warmth once resided. She had become a tool, molded by the Sect Leader's influence, stripped of identity and molded into a vessel for obedience.
But the Sect Leader had known. Known about her past—about Levi. Beneath the veil of amnesia, the truth had lingered, buried but not erased. And so, with cruel intent, the Demoness Sect Leader had whispered a twisted command into her ears: Kill him.
Her mind had been shackled, twisted against her will. The memory burned as clearly as if it were happening again, the image of herself standing over Levi, weapon drawn, but the pain in his eyes piercing through the fog of control. She trembled, the weight of the revelation pressing heavily on her chest as the memory blurred back into the present moment.
"Mira... Why? Why are you doing this? We promised each other—remember? We spoke of a future together, of marriage, of growing old side by side. So why... why are you ending it like this?""I don't know who you are talking about. My name is Mira, but I have no memory of you." Her voice was cold, her gaze sharp and unwavering, though a faint tremor lingered beneath the surface of her words. "I was indeed born in your city, but not long after my birth, I was taken away by my mother—the Heavenly Demoness of the Demoness Sect." The words echoed with finality, yet a shadow of confusion lingered in her eyes, betraying the cracks forming beneath her icy façade.
"Oh, it seems something has been done to you by the Demoness. It's okay... At least I will die by your hands. That much, I'm happy with," he said, his voice trembling with a bitter laugh, the sound echoing hollowly in the tense air. His eyes, however, betrayed a deep sadness as he stared at her, almost as if savoring his final moments.
Seeing his laughter, a sharp pang of something unfamiliar twisted in her chest, but her mind remained clouded by the Sect Leader's influence. Without hesitation, she raised her hand, her magic surging. A violent arc of destructive energy gathered at her fingertips, crackling with violet and black flames before erupting in a devastating blast.
The force shattered his body instantly—fragments of ash and energy dissolving into the wind, the remnants of his form scattered like dust. And yet, even as his body disintegrated, the echo of his voice seemed to linger, whispering softly into the void.
Seeing this memory felt as though the floodgates of her past had burst open. A torrent of emotions surged through Shiyin, overwhelming her as the weight of lost memories collided with her present. Tears spilled from her eyes, cascading down her cheeks without restraint, her shoulders trembling with quiet sobs.Her breathing hitched, the ache in her chest deepening with each remembered fragment—the warmth once shared, the pain of betrayal, and the unbearable guilt now resurfacing. She clutched her chest, the ache almost unbearable as her knees weakened beneath her.
Noticing her anguish, Levi moved closer, his expression softening despite his own turmoil. He knelt beside her, hesitating for a heartbeat before gently placing a hand on her shoulder. His touch was light, reassuring, a silent promise that he was there.
"Don't cry, Shiyin," he whispered, his voice tender yet steady. His other hand brushed a stray tear from her cheek as his gaze met hers, filled with both pain and unwavering sincerity. "It's okay. I'm here. You're not alone anymore."