Chapter 26: Without You, I…

The sealed space was utterly silent, with Lin Shu and Liya separated by a stretch of distance.

Neither spoke a word.

As her body slowly regained feeling, Lin Shu braced herself against the wall, pressing her palm against it, carefully feeling the texture of the prison crafted by the Scarlet Bloom.

She couldn’t just stay trapped here and await death.

She had to think of a way out.

The wall woven from branches was extremely sturdy—she didn’t know if a weapon could cleave it open.

Lin Shu tried to unleash a skill, wanting to see if she could break through this barrier.

But after a series of battles, and having just inhaled poisonous gas, her energy was almost depleted. Just as she tried to focus, an overwhelming drowsiness and hunger assailed her.

Looks like her methods wouldn’t work.

Lin Shu raised her head, gazing at the enclosed space that was several meters high.

Would Sefina and the others be able to find this place?

*****

Time passed, second by second.

Liya quietly clenched her fingertips, digging into the surface of her arm.

Her thoughts were tearing back and forth in her mind…

Maybe, since she and Lin Shu were both trapped in this sealed space, she could finally clear things up between them.

Here, there was no Sefina, and no one else—maybe… maybe she could put aside her pride for a moment and speak her mind.

She firmly believed that no matter how disappointed or heartless Lin Shu seemed, she still held a place for her in her heart.

Years of guarding and companionship—how could those feelings just vanish?

Her coldness was perhaps only a mask for her utter disappointment.

Thinking of this, Liya took a deep breath and spoke softly:

“…Lin Shu.”

There was no response.

Liya didn’t turn around—so long as she didn’t face Lin Shu directly, she had the courage to speak her heart.

She also didn’t want the other to see her expression as she laid her feelings bare.

But at that moment, Lin Shu’s entire focus was on the “wall” created by the Scarlet Bloom.

She noticed a slight looseness in the barrier—a faint disturbance.

Hm? Was there some outside force interfering?

Lin Shu blinked and pressed her palm against it, feeling carefully.

Just then, the tightly sealed branches suddenly began to squirm, slowly opening to both sides, revealing a slender gap in the middle…

At the same time, Liya’s voice sounded again from behind:

“No matter why you came here… The Drago Family is not the place for you. Among the Blood Clan, my family is the strongest; we can give you better conditions and protection.”

“You say I used to neglect you and cast you aside—that was only because I focused all my energy on the family business.”

Liya’s voice grew more resolute: “As long as the family is strong enough, I’ll have the power to control everything—and give you, by my side, even greater glory.”

Lin Shu paused in surprise—she had heard Liya’s confessions.

But she did not answer, nor did she look back.

Because before her, the gap in the branches was growing ever wider.

On the other side of the gap stood Sefina, battered and bruised.

Her long purple curls were a bit disheveled, and her once-fair face, now streaked with dust, looked rather haggard.

Her white stockings had several holes in them, likely torn as she forced her way through rock layers.

Clearly, she had overcome countless obstacles to get here.

At the very instant she saw Lin Shu, the emptiness in Sefina’s eyes suddenly filled with light.

When the Scarlet Bloom had swallowed Lin Shu moments before, Sefina had been plunged into utter despair.

She had risked collapsing the entire cave, launching her fiercest attacks against the Scarlet Bloom.

Unfortunately, a boulder had shielded most of the attack for the Scarlet Bloom, allowing it to slip away underground.

With her teammates, Sefina had dug relentlessly, determined to find Lin Shu.

At last, she had found this strange, sealed chamber.

Seeing Lin Shu safe and sound before her, joy filled her heart to bursting.

At that moment, Liya was still immersed in her emotions, oblivious to what was happening behind her.

Her back to Lin Shu, she continued pouring out her heart:

“Ever since entering the underground jungle, my team has suffered repeated setbacks and heavy losses. That’s never happened before.”

Scenes of recent defeats and the destruction of her team flashed through Liya’s mind, making her bite her lower lip unconsciously.

She opened her mouth again, continuing:

“I know—it’s because you weren’t in the team.”

As soon as she finished speaking, Liya felt the tension in her nerves suddenly relax.

Admitting it brought her a sense of relief.

“In the past, it was all thanks to your preparations that our team could explore so smoothly…”

At that moment, Sefina took a gentle step forward and cupped Lin Shu’s face in both hands.

With the surprise fading, only pure joy remained in her eyes.

The crushing terror of losing her turned in an instant to an overwhelming impulse.

As Lin Shu was still bewildered, Sefina closed her eyes and leaned in.

In the next instant, their lips met.

!!!

Lin Shu felt as if struck by lightning—her mind went completely blank.

There was only the soft sensation on her lips, yet in her ears, Liya’s voice still droned on:

“Sorry, I was too self-absorbed before…”

“I was blind to everything you did for me.”

Liya’s voice trembled slightly at the end, regret thick within it.

Lin Shu stood rooted to the spot, her mind still stalled—giving Sefina the perfect chance to deepen their kiss.

She kept rubbing Lin Shu’s lips, her movements gentle, lovingly monopolizing that softness.

Though the touch was tender, with Liya present, it carried a hint of challenge.

Lin Shu’s mind simply could not process the situation.

On one side was Sefina’s kiss; on the other, Liya’s remorseful words.

“Without you, I…” At last, Liya managed to voice her final words, mustering all her courage as she suddenly turned around.

At that same moment, Lin Shu pushed Sefina away, breaking off the kiss.

She panted slightly, trying to calm the racing of her heart stirred by that intense kiss.

Th-this isn’t right?!

Liya’s still here! Shouldn’t they be retreating as quickly as possible? Why did a kiss suddenly happen?!

Seeing Lin Shu’s flustered movements, Sefina’s eyes flashed briefly with hurt and disappointment.

Did her little darling push her away because of Liya?

Was it because she heard Liya’s words and softened? Or did she simply not want to be so intimate with Sefina in front of Liya?

But as Sefina saw Lin Shu’s faint blush and panicked gaze, an even greater sense of satisfaction flooded her heart.

At least, while Liya was saying all those things, her little darling belonged to her.

She had kissed her.

Sefina’s scarlet eyes grew hazy, tinged with the color of desire, her lips curving in satisfaction.

She licked her lips, savoring the lingering sensation—a look of utter contentment on her face.

Ah~ truly delicious ❤

“Sefina! Wh-when did you get here?!”

Liya shrieked.

Just as she turned around, the sudden appearance of another person in her field of view startled her.

Seeing Sefina and Lin Shu standing face-to-face, Liya’s expression froze on her face.

Why was she here?!

Just now, like a fool, she’d been pouring her heart out, lost in her emotions, completely oblivious to anything happening behind her.