104: Chapter 104 I'm Back

Fragmented images began to surface in her mind——

Some familiar faces, yet she couldn't recall who they were.

Some people watched her, mocked her, and wanted to kill her.

Her head felt like it was splitting.

Then, there was the long darkness.

She slept in the darkness and woke up in the darkness. Every time she woke, she had to complete a "task" — killing, endless killing.

She forgot why she had to kill.

She forgot why she was trapped.

Over the long years, the pain was too heavy, so she chose to seal away that part of her memories. She just mechanically repeated: wake up, kill, sleep.

Wake up again, kill again, sleep again.

Exactly how many years had passed?

She couldn't remember.

Until this moment.

Until this pale blue light appeared before her eyes again.

Li trembled as she reached out her hand.

Her fingertips gently touched the "Accept" button.

【Ding! Member invitation has been accepted!】

【Welcome new member: Li to 01 Tribe!】

The moment she pressed it——

"Boom——!!!"

Memories surged forth like a tidal wave.

She saw that she was once a player too, leading her companions to dominate the Land of Beginning.

She saw herself betrayed by her own companions, sold out by them.

She saw that rabbit, saying to her: "Want to survive? Then be its person. But you can only stay on the island. If I'm in a good mood one day, maybe I'll let you go."

She saw herself turn into a "Calamity," wandering the island alone, watching wave after wave of players arrive and then die. But that promise of departure would never be fulfilled.

She saw herself go from initial weeping, to numbness, and in the end... complete oblivion.

Tears fell without warning.

One drop.

Two drops.

Falling onto the back of her hand, searing hot.

Time seemed to stand still.

Li stood in place, eyes open, tears streaming continuously from the corners of her eyes.

Qi Yun didn't urge her, just watched her quietly.

A long while later.

Li slowly opened her eyes.

Those eyes that were once indifferent, looking at everyone like an ant, were now filled with complex emotions—sadness, relief, nostalgia, and... gratitude.

She looked at Qi Yun, for a long time.

Then, she spoke softly:

"Thank you... Qi Yun."

After saying that, before Qi Yun could fully react, she suddenly stepped forward, reached out her arms, and gently wrapped them around his neck.

Then, under the gaze of Qi Yun's suddenly widened eyes, and the shocked gazes of countless people outside the domain who instantly held their breath and nearly popped their eyeballs out,

Li slightly tiptoed and pressed her soft lips against Qi Yun's lips.

Outside the domain, thunderous, unbelievable gasps and commotion erupted!

Qi Yun stiffened for a moment, then slowly relaxed, raised his hand, and gently hugged her back.

"Holy sh*t!!!"

"They, they kissed?! The Calamity took the initiative to kiss Tribe Leader Qi Yun?!"

"What did I just see?! I'm not dreaming, right?!"

"Won! We really won! And he actually managed to snag the female BOSS?! Tribe Leader Qi Yun, my god!!"

"This is f*cking... I can die without regrets! This plot, even novels wouldn't dare to write it like this!"

Outside the domain, the people of the Orderly Alliance were all stunned.

They couldn't hear the sounds inside, but the scene inside was clearly visible.

That arrogant woman who could summon storms with a wave of her hand actually took the initiative to kiss him!

Bai Yu pushed up her glasses and said expressionlessly:

"Based on behavioral analysis, this might be a way of expressing gratitude or approval."

Xia Jin's mouth was open, unable to close it for a long time.

Sophia raised an eyebrow, a meaningful smile curling the corners of her lips.

Lin Le and Lin Wan exchanged a glance, seeing the surprise in each other's eyes.

And at this moment, inside the domain.

Li slowly released Qi Yun, her cheeks slightly flushed, but her eyes were clear.

She looked at Qi Yun and said seriously, "From now on, I am yours, Qi Yun."

Qi Yun smiled.

"Welcome to the 01 Tribe."

He said.

Above their heads, a pale blue system prompt appeared:

【Member "Li" has joined the Tribe】

【Member Level: lv.99】

Holy crap?!

Did I read that right? Level 99?

He directly recruited a Level 99 person to his Tribe?

Land of Beginning, just wait for my Tribe to descend!!!!

An hour later, the domain began to slowly dissipate.

The barrier rippled like the surface of water, then turned into points of light and vanished into the air.

Li felt the power surging back into her body and took a deep breath.

Then, she turned around and looked at the dense crowd outside the domain.

Everyone subconsciously took a step back.

But Li smiled.

It was a completely different smile from before—no longer indifferent, no longer playful, but a real smile with warmth.

She spoke, her voice carrying across the entire field.

"I am also a member of the 01 Tribe now."

She paused and added: "So, you don't have to die."

The whole place was silent.

Then, thunderous cheers erupted.

"Won!!! We won!!!"

"Long live Tribe Leader Qi Yun!!!"

"01 Tribe is awesome!!!"

Amidst the cheers, Qi Yun walked to Li's side and asked in a low voice: "How are you feeling now?"

Li looked up at the sky.

The sunlight was dazzling, but she didn't look away.

"Very good."

She said, with a smile on her lips.

"Never felt better."

...

Land of Beginning

A fortress that could be called luxurious.

In the center of the hall sat seven or eight people.

They were men and women of various attire.

Some were holding crystal wine glasses, some were leaning back in their chairs, eyes closed in rest.

Until——

"Clang!"

A woman sitting on the side suddenly stood up, knocking over the high-backed chair behind her.

Her face was deathly pale, her voice twisted and shrill from extreme terror: "Li... Li seems to still be alive?!!"

In an instant, all sounds in the hall disappeared.

Wine glasses hung in mid-air.

Those who had their eyes closed suddenly opened them.

Even though so much time had passed.

They had never forgotten this name.

"What kind of joke is this?!"

A burly man with a full beard was the first to react.

"If she were still alive, she would have come looking for us years ago!"

"That's right, Lin Wei, you must be too tired and hallucinating, right?" another man with an effeminate temperament pushed up his glasses.

The woman called Lin Wei, who was the one who screamed initially, shook her head violently, her face devoid of any color.

"No... it's not a hallucination. Aren't you guys in that group with Li? Look at her avatar!"

Her voice trembling, her gaze swept over everyone present.

"That group? I f*cking quit that long ago! Who would stay in a group led by a dead person? Bad luck!"

The bearded man laughed scornfully, as if he had heard a joke.

"Exactly, dead is dead. Lin Wei, don't scare yourself."

A woman in red leather, with a hot figure, brushed her long hair, pretending to be relaxed, but her eyes were flickering.

Suddenly, a red dot appeared on Li's avatar.

A private message.

Sent time: three minutes ago.

Lin Wei's breathing almost stopped.

"Li sent me a private message. She said, 'Tell them, wait for me.'"

"'I have returned.'"

"..."

Dead silence.

Everyone crowded around Lin Wei to look, and after confirming it was real.

Everyone present.

All seemed to have their souls instantly drained, frozen in place, all color drained from their faces.

"No... impossible..." someone muttered to themselves, trying to convince themselves.

"Someone must have used some kind of trick, go check! Who is messing around. Li cannot still be alive!!"