84: Chapter 84 Ye tide's Mother

"I am Yu Jie from the Tribe 03 Orderly Alliance. I apologize for this unannounced visit. May I ask... are you Mr. Qi Yun, the Chieftain of the 01 Tribe?"

On the hillside, Qi Yun's calm gaze slowly fell, lingering on Yu Jie for a moment. Then, he nodded gently, his movements unhurried and natural, without a hint of pretense.

"It is I."

It really is him!

The last shred of hope in Wang Chong and Yu Jie's hearts was shattered, leaving only boundless shock.

Yu Jie dared not delay, quickly stepping aside and pointing to the open boxes behind him, respectfully saying:

"Chieftain Qi Yun, this is our humble token of appreciation to the 01 Tribe and to you, on our first visit."

Qi Yun's gaze swept over the boxes, and he waved his hand lightly.

Xia Jin understood and signaled to a few girls nearby.

The girls immediately stepped forward to move the boxes.

Qi Yun didn't have much aversion to Yu Jie; after all, he was genuinely uniting several Tribes and striving to improve everyone's survival rate.

He genuinely protected some weak people.

"Orderly Alliance, Yu Jie, what brings you to us?"

Qi Yun's gaze returned to Yu Jie.

Yu Jie's spirit was roused, knowing the main topic had arrived. He said with a solemn expression, "It's mainly about the upcoming third wave of zombies."

"Our Tribe has received some information about the third zombie tide. If possible, perhaps our two sides could have some room for communication and cooperation."

"Of course, everything will be subject to your and the 01 Tribe's wishes."

He spoke tactfully and politely, lowering his stance considerably.

"Oh, you've obtained some information about the third zombie tide. If the information is truly useful, I might consider it."

Qi Yun was clearly very interested in the information; intelligence is extremely important in any world.

Seeing that Qi Yun didn't refuse, Yu Jie breathed a sigh of relief.

Qi Yun's gaze then turned to Wang Chong, who was still somewhat pale, on the other side.

"Then, Leader Wang Chong of the Prosperous Alliance, what about you?"

"You came with your people, full of aggression. Is it to make me regret those few words I said on the island channel a few days ago?"

Qi Yun's voice remained calm, but to Wang Chong's ears, it made his heart suddenly clench, and cold sweat instantly drenched his back.

"No! I wouldn't dare! I was arrogant and ignorant before, and I offended you greatly! I have come specifically to apologize today! These... these are a small token of my sincerity, I humbly ask Chieftain to accept them! All past grievances were my, Wang Chong's, fault! Please, Chieftain Qi Yun, forgive me!"

Wang Chong's voice was distorted by nervousness. He quickly stepped forward, bowed deeply like Yu Jie, his tone urgent and fearful.

His attitude was as humble as dust, completely different from his previous arrogant and overbearing demeanor.

Qi Yun smiled. This Wang Chong certainly knows when to yield and when to stand firm.

But such a person is also more dangerous; in the apocalypse, those who can cast aside their dignity often live longer.

Just then—

"Xi... Xi Xi? Is... is that you? Xi Xi?!"

A trembling, hesitant, disbelieving female voice suddenly rang out from among the Orderly Alliance crowd who were helping to move and count the gifts.

The voice wasn't loud, but it instantly broke the somewhat stagnant atmosphere on the hillside.

Everyone was startled and looked over.

They saw a mature woman, appearing to be in her thirties with a beautiful face, staring intently at Ye Xi, who was counting supplies.

And Campus Belle Ye Xi, at the sound of the voice, trembled violently!

She slowly, incredulously, turned her head, her trembling gaze meeting that of the woman.

Ye Xi's eyes were instantly overwhelmed by immense shock.

Her lips quivered, she opened and closed her mouth, but no sound came out, and tears rolled down her cheeks.

"Mom...?"

"Is that you, Mom...?"

Hearing that "Mom," the woman could no longer control herself and let out a cry mixed with ecstasy and sorrow:

"Xi Xi! My daughter! It really is you! You're still alive!!!"

She violently pushed away the people in front of her, rushing towards Ye Xi recklessly, pulling Ye Xi into a tight embrace.

"Mom—!!!"

The two embraced tightly.

Su Mu, Ye Xi's mother, held her daughter tightly.

Qi Yun withdrew his gaze, looking back at Wang Chong and Yu Jie, whose expressions varied.

"Wang Chong." He spoke, his voice returning to its former calm.

Wang Chong's body tensed, and he quickly composed himself, responding, "Chieftain Qi Yun."

"Since you've already made amends, you... have nothing else, right?" Qi Yun's gaze swept over the supplies piled to one side, which were clearly much more substantial than Yu Jie's.

Wang Chong's heart tightened, but he also breathed a sigh of relief. At least, the other party didn't pursue the matter further or turn hostile on the spot.

His voice carried a hint of imperceptible trembling and lingering fear: "Yes. Then... the past grievances..."

"May I ask Chieftain... to be magnanimous and let bygones be bygones?"

Qi Yun's lips curved ever so slightly, a faint smile.

"You may." He said slowly, his voice clear, "But, don't let me be displeased again."

Wang Chong had not caused any harm or loss to the 01 Tribe, so Qi Yun didn't want to be ruthless, especially in this scene of mother and daughter reuniting.

"Yes! Absolutely! Thank you, Chieftain! Thank you, Chieftain!" Wang Chong dared not linger. He waved to his remaining elites, quickly turned, and swiftly departed along the way he came.

Qi Yun turned his gaze to Yu Jie, who had been waiting quietly by the side.

"Yu Jie, regarding the third zombie tide, I will personally visit your Tribe tomorrow to discuss it." He spoke.

Yu Jie's heart tightened, and he listened with bated breath.

The act of personally visiting was itself a great show of goodwill and consideration.

Yu Jie was overjoyed, but dared not show excessive emotion on his face: "Thank you, Chieftain! The entire Orderly Alliance awaits your esteemed presence!"

"As for this mother," Qi Yun's gaze fell upon Su Mu, who was still embracing her daughter and weeping, "now that she has found her daughter, whether to stay or leave is for them to decide. If she wishes to return to the Orderly Alliance, we will send someone to escort her safely back."

Yu Jie quickly waved his hand: "No need, no need! It's a great joy for Ms. Su to find her daughter! She should naturally reunite with Miss Ye Xi! My Orderly Alliance has no objections! I won't trouble the Chieftain and everyone any longer."

He was very perceptive, immediately withdrawing with his people, leaving the space to the 01 Tribe and the reunited mother and daughter.

In a blink of an eye, only the 01 Tribe members remained, along with the mother and daughter still immersed in their immense emotional upheaval.

Qi Yun nodded to the girls, signaling that everyone could relax.

Xia Jin, Chen Xiaolin, Sophia, Bai Yu, and the others also dispersed, attending to their own matters, but everyone had a hint of ease and a smile on their faces.

...

Ye Xi led her mother to a room.

For Su Mu, this was the most luxurious dwelling she had seen since arriving on this terrifying island.

"Mom, please sit down first and have some water." Ye Xi carefully helped Su Mu to sit on the bed.

Su Mu took the bowl with trembling hands, drinking the pure water in small sips. The water tasted so good.

She greedily scrutinized her daughter, her gaze tracing every inch of Ye Xi's clean, rosy cheeks.

"Xi Xi... you... you're doing so well..." Su Mu's voice was still choked with sobs, but filled with relief, "I thought I'd never see you again..."

"Mom, don't say that, it's all in the past. How did they treat you in the Orderly Alliance? Did anyone bully you?" Ye Xi held Su Mu's hand.

Su Mu shook her head, then nodded, narrating intermittently:

"Besides... often not having enough to eat, sometimes being assigned very heavy work, living in cold and damp places, and having to guard against some malicious gazes... nothing else major happened."

"I'm not foolish, I knew my looks would be dangerous here, so I deliberately made myself very dirty and ugly."

"And Tribe 03 is quite orderly; openly, they wouldn't let people bully women."

She looked up, scrutinizing her daughter again: "Now that I see you're doing so well, I can rest assured."

"Mom..." Ye Xi's tears welled up again.

She could imagine how difficult her mother's days must have been, disheveled, hungry, and constantly anxious, just to survive and avoid harm.

"Oh, right," Su Mu seemed to recall something, pointing outside, "Is this the legendary 01 Tribe? Is your Chieftain the somewhat young handsome guy from just now? Do you all... live in stone houses like these?"

Her tone was filled with disbelief.

In the Orderly Alliance, only high-status individuals could live in crude stone houses or relatively sturdy wooden houses.

"Yes, this is the 01 Tribe." Ye Xi nodded vigorously, her voice full of pride and gratitude, "We are able to survive and live like proper people, all because of the Chieftain, because of Qi Yun."

"Then Mom really needs to thank this Chieftain Qi Yun properly."

"Haha, she could even offer herself. Even if she's over 30, A8 is still A8, otherwise she wouldn't have given birth to such a beautiful daughter." To lighten the mood, Su Mu joked.

"Don't joke, Mom."

"From now on, you'll stay here, with me, in the 01 Tribe, okay?"

Ye Xi's tone was firm.

Su Mu was stunned. She opened her mouth, somewhat disbelieving: "I... I can stay here? Stay in the 01 Tribe?"

She knew the reputation of the 01 Tribe, knew it was a place where even Wang Chong and Yu Jie had to bow their heads and yield, knew it was powerful, and its resources seemed abundant.

"Yes!" Ye Xi answered affirmatively, her eyes incredibly serious, "Mom, you're my mom, so you're one of us! I'll go talk to him, and he'll definitely agree!"

Su Mu nodded.