Chapter 112
So, Chi Lin hadn’t been playing from the beginning.
Xiao V stared at the screen, stunned.
She had considered every possibility, but not this, not Nine Heavens’ audacity.
In this crucial match against Gamer, they dared to not use their strongest lineup?
Last night, A Bao had said, “They’ll be prepared. But I have no doubt you’ll find a way to win. Your abilities are our greatest asset. You’re all I have left, you’ll protect me, won’t you?”
A Bao had never been so dependent on her. Xiao V knew this was her chance to prove her worth.
This was her best opportunity.
She knew Lou Mi was a formidable opponent; she had been meticulously planning.
She hadn’t slept properly in days.
***
Xiao V had been the first to sense Chi Lin’s arrival.
The Soul-Catching Orb, passed down through generations, had alerted her to a soul’s transmigration.
Intrigued, she had spent time confirming that the soul was with Lou Mi.
It was a godsend. She shared her plan with A Bao, who agreed.
“She rejected me publicly, now I’ll make her suffer the same pain.”
Although A Bao said this, she didn’t seem as enthusiastic as Xiao V expected.
The failed plan, the missing drone, the police investigation… A Bao had been unhappy.
And then, Chi Lin joined Nine Heavens, her relationship with Lou Mi blossoming, gaining public support… A Bao grew even more withdrawn.
She grew thinner and paler, her heart darkening.
She had been so cheerful before meeting Lou Mi.
It was all Lou Mi’s fault.
If she couldn’t give her whole heart, why be so kind to A Bao in the beginning?
Just because she was her apprentice?
Xiao V found it ridiculous. Lou Mi was deceiving herself.
There was no such thing as selfless giving; every action had an expected return.
Unconditional love only existed in fairy tales.
Even her unwavering devotion to A Bao was a form of seeking reciprocation.
A simple smile, a brief hug, was enough for her.
She cherished everything about A Bao.
So how could Lou Mi’s actions not be motivated by love?
A Bao had wanted a relationship, and Lou Mi had rejected her, claiming she hadn’t considered it?
Xiao V couldn’t understand, didn’t want to understand.
She wanted to see Lou Mi ruined, to see her loved ones suffer.
But fate seemed to favor Lou Mi.
Even after they left Nine Heavens, Lou Mi continued to lead the team to victory.
At 26, she was still at her peak.
And that time traveler had integrated seamlessly into the professional scene, helping Lou Mi.
It was laughable. Xiao V tried so hard, and yet fate ignored her.
Lou Mi effortlessly had everything she wanted.
She had never said it aloud, but Xiao V had thought it many times:
If A Bao loved her, she would cherish her forever.
While searching for the drone, Xiao V noticed the Soul-Catching Orb vibrating again.
Stronger than when Chi Lin arrived.
She told A Bao, who had someone monitor them.
These two time travelers were different from Chi Lin, reckless and foolish, strong but unable to adapt to this era.
After two months, they were penniless, having alienated their families, resorting to petty crimes.
A Bao found them and offered them a deal: loyalty.
Being able to switch bodies was convenient. After each crime, they simply discarded the body, even if caught by the police, they could just separate their souls.
Xiao V, controlling them with the Soul-Catching Orb, felt a sense of power, a god-like power.
Her grandmother had warned her: “The orb is a tool of darkness, use it for good, or it will consume you.”
But after controlling Chi Lin’s soul without any consequences, Xiao V grew bolder.
Today was her chance to kill two birds with one stone.
But why…
The match continued, Lin fighting fiercely.
Xiao V felt uneasy. She put away her phone and headed towards Gamer’s lounge, followed by a tiny, fly-sized drone with night vision.
Lin, controlled by Huhu, killed Gamer’s tank, then was killed by another attacker.
Two players remained on each team.
The lights suddenly came back on.
Lou Mi sat calmly in her chair, arms crossed, eyes closed, still focused on the game.
But Chi Lin was gone.
The chair beside her was empty.
And where were the two rogue officers?
There was only one entrance, and the emergency exit seemed locked. With so many people, they would have noticed if someone tried to leave.
But no one had.
Where were they?!
Someone noticed the water tank in the corner, overflowing.
The tank was large enough for two people, but it was an ordinary tank, the bottom clearly visible.
No one paid attention to it. An officer checked the emergency exit; it was unlocked.
He exchanged glances with his colleague and they ran towards the exit.
The referee, the organizing committee, and the director rushed in, asking what had happened, should they stop the match?
Zhuo Jinglan, seeing that Lou Mi and Fu Tu were winning, signaled to continue.
If they lost due to this interruption, they could appeal.
She didn’t want to distract Lou Mi.
Before the match, Lou Mi had instructed Zhuo Jinglan to bring the water tank into the room, her tone serious.
“When Little Lin logs out, immediately move the tank to the lounge!”
Lou Mi’s request had seemed strange.
Now, with Chi Lin gone, Zhuo Jinglan was puzzled, but she remembered her promise.
She pointed at the tank and hissed: “Who put this here?!”
A staff member said: “Didn’t Nine Heavens request it? For feng shui, to ward off bad luck.”
Zhuo Jinglan: “Are you serious? A tank of water with the AC blasting? Are you trying to make them sick? Get it out of here!”
She gestured to Huhu and the trainees, who started moving the tank.
“Wait,” a security officer stopped them. “Where are those two men? And your teammate? Where did she go?”
Lou Mi, hearing this, was momentarily distracted.
A Bao seized the opportunity and attacked, almost stunning Lou Mi, but Fu Tu shielded her, pulling her to safety.
“Focus!” Fu Tu said. She was in the live stream room too, hearing the commotion.
But the match was their priority.
At this point, it wasn’t about skill, but focus.
Lou Mi knew Chi Lin had dragged Cheng Xuan and Liang Zheng into the water tank, to send them back to Dayuan.
But if the tank wasn’t moved, would Chi Lin emerge in front of everyone?
Lou Mi was getting anxious.
Sister Lan, do something!
The security officers continued their search. The referee, annoyed, said:
“Please leave, you’re disturbing the players.”
They left, and Zhuo Jinglan immediately had the trainees move the water tank.
Finally, it was gone…
Zhuo Jinglan, sweating, wondered what was going on with that tank.
Some viewers were engrossed in the match, others noticed the missing player cams.
[What’s happening?! Is Sister Lou in danger?!]
[She’s still playing, she must be okay.]
[She just made a mistake, she must be distracted.]
[Stop the match! Someone attacked her!]
[Anyone at the venue? Give us some news!]
***
The online discussions intensified. Fu Tu and another Gamer player killed each other, leaving only Lou Mi and A Bao.
[1v1! This is fate!]
[Almost three hours, will it be a draw?]
[No, they’ll play overtime for another hour, then it’s decided by damage output.]
[That’s brutal!]
[They’re still playing after that incident?! Unfair!]
[Nine Heavens must have their reasons. Lou Mi is the attacker, A Bao the support, Lou Mi has the advantage.]
The room was finally quiet. Xie Buyu and Fu Tu joined Zhuo Jinglan and Huhu in the viewing area, watching nervously.
In the abyss, Chi Lin, having dragged Cheng Xuan and Liang Zheng in, dodged their attacks, killed Liang Zheng, and took his gun.
Liang Zheng’s soul, released from his body, dissipated into the abyss.
Cheng Xuan, momentarily distracted, gave Chi Lin an opening.
Chi Lin, fascinated by guns since learning about modern history, was a skilled marksman, even in the game.
But the abyss slowed the bullet’s speed.
Cheng Xuan dodged, but the bullet grazed his wrist, and he dropped his gun.
He tried to retrieve it, but Chi Lin was about to fire again when she realized she was out of bullets.
Cheng Xuan pulled out a dagger and lunged at her.
Chi Lin dodged, grabbing his arm, trying to disarm him.
As they struggled, Chi Lin pressed a pressure point on his arm.
Cheng Xuan’s arm went numb, and he panicked. He knew Chi Lin’s skill in pressure point combat.
He struggled to escape, swimming back towards the light.
Chi Lin, seeing his intention to return to the modern era, grabbed his ankle.
He slashed her hand with his dagger.
They were both floating, their movements difficult to control, or Chi Lin would have subdued him already.
Close combat was ideal, but his dagger made it dangerous.
But he was desperate to escape, and if he returned to the modern world, finding him again would be difficult.
She couldn’t let him go!
Chi Lin lunged forward, grabbing his throat.
Cheng Xuan, a seasoned warrior, was surprised by her boldness. Did she really want to fight him hand-to-hand?
He stabbed her repeatedly, but Chi Lin dodged, his blade slicing her arm.
***
The three-hour mark arrived. A Bao had survived, barely, with a sliver of health remaining.
HighTowerMiyuki hadn’t been able to kill her.
Zhuo Jinglan almost jumped out of her chair.
“What happened? She had the chance!”
Fifteen-minute break before overtime.
Lou Mi removed her access crystal, frowning, and glanced at Zhuo Jinglan, who rushed to her side.
“Are you okay?” Zhuo Jinglan whispered.
Lou Mi’s face was pale: “Back in the lounge.”
Back in the lounge, Lou Mi almost collapsed onto the sofa.
Fu Tu: “Sister Mi, what’s wrong?!”
Zhuo Jinglan, seeing Lou Mi rubbing her temples, knew: “Another headache.”
Xie Buyu: “Holographic gaming syndrome?”
“Probably.”
Lou Mi looked at the water tank: “Is Little Lin back?”
Zhuo Jinglan: “I was wondering where she went!”
So she wasn’t back yet.
Lou Mi, reaching for her bag, said, “Grab those golf clubs, if it’s not Little Lin coming out of that tank, hit them.”
“Hit them?”
“Where would we get weapons?”
“Golf clubs, there.” Lou Mi pointed to the bag she had brought.
As she was about to take her medication, Zhuo Jinglan stopped her:
“What are you taking?”
Lou Mi didn’t answer.
“Neural stimulants?”
“It’s not banned yet.”
“It’ll damage your brain! Do you want to die?!” Zhuo Jinglan tried to snatch the pills, but Lou Mi pulled her hand back.
“It’s my body, my responsibility. I won’t lose, not to her.”
Silence.
Fu Tu nudged Xie Buyu, who, usually quick-witted, was speechless.
This match was more than just a game for Lou Mi.
She was determined.
Zhuo Jinglan left the room without a word.
Xie Buyu sighed and sat down.
Huhu and the trainees picked up the golf clubs. At least they could do something.
Only Fu Tu dared to approach Lou Mi, pouring her a glass of water:
“Sister Mi, if you’ve made up your mind, I’ll support you. But please be careful, don’t be reckless!”
Lou Mi nodded and swallowed the pills.
No matter how many times Cheng Xuan slashed her arm, Chi Lin didn’t loosen her grip on his throat.
His movements slowed, his knife slipping from his hand.
Chi Lin saw his soul leave his body and dissipate into the abyss. She felt her strength drain, her body battered and bruised, as she began her return journey.
When Chi Lin emerged from the water tank, Huhu and the trainees almost attacked her with the golf clubs before Xie Buyu stopped them:
“It’s Little Sister!”
Chi Lin, exhausted, crawled out of the tank. Xie Buyu and Fu Tu helped her up.
Huhu and the trainees looked at the tank, confused, reaching inside, feeling the solid bottom. How…?
“You’re badly injured!” Fu Tu saw the deep cuts on her arm, blood still dripping.
“I’m fine… where’s, where’s my sister?” Chi Lin, still weak, looked around the room.
“Sister Mi is still playing.”
Chi Lin glanced at the screen: “The match isn’t over yet?”
“Overtime.”
Chi Lin took out her first aid kit, cleaned and bandaged her wounds, drank some water, changed her clothes, and then looked at the screen, seeing Lou Mi struggling against A Bao in a 1v1 battle.
“What’s wrong with Sister?” Chi Lin noticed Lou Mi’s sluggish movements.
“Her headache is back,” Zhuo Jinglan entered the room. “I just came from the monitoring center, guess what her PT index is now?”
“How high…?”
“Almost 7!” Zhuo Jinglan’s outburst startled everyone.
“Almost 7! Is she trying to kill herself?! The committee said they’ll stop the match if it reaches 7! It’ll damage her brain! The match doesn’t matter, her life does, why doesn’t she understand?!”
Chi Lin’s heart ached.
Her Majesty understood, better than anyone.
Life was precious, of course.
But some things were worth more than life itself.
In her past life, it was Dayuan. In this life, it was Return to Jianghu.
It was Lou Mi’s world, her glory, something she would fight for, even with her life.
Chi Lin knew Lou Mi wouldn’t back down, not against anyone, not even herself.
Chi Lin’s vision blurred.
This was the person she loved, in both lifetimes.
On the third level of the Snowy Peak Dungeon, A Bao felt uneasy.
She had thought she would never return to this place, but fate had brought her here again.
And now, she and Lou Mi were back, facing each other before the entire world.
Lou Mi’s performance had clearly declined; otherwise, the match would have been over half an hour ago.
But her fighting spirit was undimmed, relentlessly pursuing A Bao, her attacks fierce and determined.
At this moment, Lou Mi was more focused, more powerful than ever.
As Lou Mi finally caught up, pinning A Bao down, raising her flame spear for the final blow, A Bao looked at her, unresisting.
The world held its breath.
[She got her!]
[Finish her, Sister Lou!]
[I have a bad feeling…]
“Shifu.”
A Bao looked at Lou Mi, her eyes smiling.
“Shifu, I was wrong,” she said. “Please don’t be angry. I won’t do it again.”
She had said this to Lou Mi countless times, whenever she skipped training or messed up a match.
She knew Lou Mi’s weakness; behind that fierce exterior was a soft heart.
No matter how big the mistake, a simple apology was enough.
[What the hell?! Is she trying a guilt trip now?]
[It’s a trap! Trying to make Sister Lou go easy on her!]
[I’m so disappointed in A Bao. Why is she doing this… ]
[Don’t fall for it, Sister Lou!]
[Stay strong!]
Chi Lin’s wounds were bleeding again, her bandages a temporary fix. Zhuo Jinglan urged her to go to the hospital, but she couldn’t leave.
She had to be here for Lou Mi.
Her focus on the screen made her forget the pain.
She heard A Bao’s words.
Lou Mi’s eyes narrowed, a smile playing on her lips.
A Bao’s heart leaped with hope.
“Get lost.”
Lou Mi’s gaze turned icy, shattering A Bao’s hopes.
With all her strength, she unleashed her final attack, the flame spear arcing through the air, striking A Bao.
The entire dungeon exploded, flames engulfing the sky!
The eternally frozen Snowy Peak was now ablaze!
A chasm opened in the ground, and A Bao vanished.
Lou Mi stood at the peak, the words “Winner: Nine Heavens” appearing behind her.
[Ahhh, Sister Lou is amazing!]
[Nine Heavens is the best!]
[Sister Lou conquers all!]
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