Douluo: Intercepting Xiao Wu at the Start to Become Cao Thief

Irelia

"Let's hope that kid Darius doesn't disappoint me..."

Watching the lively arena in the distance, Swain turned and headed toward the castle.

He had no interest in what was happening outside. All he wanted was for Noxus to grow better and stronger.

Meanwhile, Wen Xuan had no idea that Swain had already watched him. He was still holding Yuumi as he slowly walked forward.

Gatekeeper's Grimoire had sensed that someone was watching them, but since the other party held no ill intent, it did not tell Wen Xuan.

Not long after, Wen Xuan heard the sounds of fighting.

Blades clashed, and blood flew through the air.

Holding Yuumi, Wen Xuan crouched down and watched the two groups fighting ahead.

Among them was a slender woman dressed in something like a bodysuit, with several blades floating around her body.

She was attacking a large number of Noxians.

With every swing, the blades followed her movements, slicing the enemies' necks, arms, and other body parts.

"I didn't expect to run into Blade Woman the moment I got here..." Wen Xuan recognized the woman at once.

Her characteristics were simply too obvious.

However, the Ionians were just a group of impoverished villagers, and their weapons were rather primitive.

At the very least, the Noxian army used swords and other iron weapons.

Aside from a few Ionians wielding sickles or hoes, most of them were desperately fighting with wooden clubs and stones.

Not only were they at a disadvantage in weaponry, they were also vastly outnumbered.

Watching this scene, Wen Xuan made no move. He merely watched as though he were watching a movie.

Going out now was clearly not a wise choice. He might end up being ganged up on by the Noxians.

"Ionia shall never fall... The people of Ionia... must never let these Noxians enter our homeland!"

As she continuously cut down Noxians, Irelia did not forget to encourage the villagers around her.

Ionia had enjoyed peace for many years and had never been tempered by war, so it had no real army. The people who had followed Irelia into battle had all answered her call.

Watching the villagers fall one after another, Irelia could only turn all her helplessness into killing intent and direct it at the invading Noxians.

She also knew that they would not be able to hold out for long. The Noxian army was simply too large. Without reinforcements, before long, she would be the only one left.

On the other side, after taking care of an ignorant villager, Noxian Hand shifted his attention to Irelia.

Irelia's nimble movements and ability to control objects made her the most conspicuous among this group of mud-legged peasants. On top of that, she was shouting without fear for her life.

"You deal with those fools. Leave this blade-dancing woman to me."

Killing a single Irelia was far more useful than killing countless villagers. After all, she was surrounded by Noxians.

Hearing Noxian Hand's order, several soldiers who had been preparing to continue surrounding Blade Woman dispersed and left the area to him.

Seeing this, Noxian Hand raised his hand axe and leaped toward Blade Woman.

Blade Woman noticed Noxian Hand as well. Seeing him chop down at her, she knew she was no match for him and chose to avoid his edge.

The battle here did not affect Wen Xuan behind them.

Yuumi lay on Wen Xuan's arm, quietly watching the bloody scenes unfold.

Yuumi was very puzzled. Didn't Wen Xuan think this place was dangerous? Why was he still staying here?

As she thought about it, Yuumi used the jewel on her head to tickle Wen Xuan's chin.

"Hehe..."

An untimely laugh escaped Yuumi's lips.

Even as Yuumi teased him, Wen Xuan did not take his eyes off the battle. Yuumi increased the strength of her tickling.

As Yuumi's feminine voice carried over, the soldiers in the rear who had not had a chance to join the battle noticed Wen Xuan.

"Look... there's an Ionian child over there."

With one sharp-eyed soldier speaking up, Wen Xuan was exposed.

Wen Xuan shot an annoyed glance at the mischievous Yuumi in his arms.

"I'll deal with you later."

Hearing her master's rebuke, Yuumi knew she had made a mistake.

She immediately lowered her cat head and did not dare meet Wen Xuan's gaze.

"Get inside me and buff me."

Hearing her master's command, Yuumi stepped on the Grimoire and entered Wen Xuan's body.

On the other side, after noticing Wen Xuan, the child dressed in strange clothes, a captain signaled several soldiers to capture him alive.

Seeing several soldiers approach him with spears raised, Wen Xuan did not rush to act. Instead, he ran toward Blade Woman, who was fighting Noxian Hand.

Although he had been exposed and had no choice but to act, Wen Xuan was not stupid. Acting from behind would not attract Blade Woman's attention. Wouldn't that waste this chance to pick up a girl?

Seeing Wen Xuan take off running, several soldiers quickly chased after him.

However, with Yuumi's buff, ordinary people could not catch him at all.

Because Noxian Hand wanted to defeat Blade Woman alone and claim the credit, this area had been cleared out, making it easy for Wen Xuan to approach.

Seeing a little boy arrive, Irelia assumed he wanted to help. Yet even she could only defend while retreating, much less a child.

It would be good enough if he did not hold her back.

"Leave quickly. This isn't the place for—" Before Blade Woman could finish, her eyes saw a scene that left her horrified.

"Thunder Seal, Rage Strike."

Wen Xuan's voice rang out, followed by a thick arc of lightning.

It was headed straight for Noxian Hand.

Noxian Hand had initially thought Blade Woman was stupid for getting distracted while fighting him.

Clearly, he was wrong. The next second, an electric arc as thick as a bowl flashed before his eyes.

Saving the Beauty

Noxian Hand immediately came to his senses and swung his axe with all his strength, forcing Blade Woman back.

Then he swiftly raised the axe over his head.

The next moment.

"Ahhh—ahhh!"

The axe was made of refined iron, and Noxian Hand's body was almost entirely covered in armor. Lightning coursed across his entire body.

It fried Noxian Hand inside and out.

A few seconds later, Noxian Hand was blackened from head to toe and collapsed to the ground.

Blade Woman, who was closest to him, was badly startled by what this unfamiliar human child had done.

"Magic... Are you a mage?"

Irelia had heard her grandmother tell many stories about Runeterra.

For example, this world possessed magic, runes, primordial demons, and more.

Hearing Blade Woman question him and seeing the disbelief on her face, Wen Xuan merely responded with a smile.

Seeing their officer struck by lightning, the soldiers on the other side retreated in fright.

With no Noxian Hand to command them, many soldiers began to think of retreating.

Everyone thought Noxian Hand was dead, but the next second, a weak voice rang out.

"No one is to take even half a step back... Anyone who speaks of retreat... will be executed. I will never tolerate cowardice."

After saying that, the charred Noxian Hand barely forced himself upright. He stared viciously at the soldiers who were thinking of retreating, deeply memorizing their faces.

Once they returned, they would certainly get a taste of the Noxian Guillotine.

He would not allow cowards in his army.

The soldiers whom Noxian Hand had looked at all shuddered.

However, Noxian Hand did not pursue the matter, since this was a time when he needed men.

His gaze then fell on Wen Xuan.

"Cough, cough..." Noxian Hand coughed violently several times. Though he was not dead, his injuries were severe.

"Go capture that child for me... Dead or alive, you'll be rewarded with a thousand gold and promoted two ranks."

After speaking, Noxian Hand tossed aside his axe and clutched his heart with a frown.

Hearing Noxian Hand's orders, the soldiers were tempted by the reward.

Ignoring the fact that Wen Xuan could use magic, they killed the villagers around them and charged toward Wen Xuan.

"Kill that human boy..."

"Everyone, attack together and avenge our officer!"

A crowd immediately surged forward.

Seeing this, Wen Xuan did not dare linger. Yuumi had little combat power, and his Soul Power could only sustain a few more uses before he was completely drained.

He immediately grabbed the wrist of Blade Woman, who was about to resist the soldiers again.

The next moment, he dragged Blade Woman and ran deeper into Ionia.

"Run! Why are you still fighting? There are so many of them, and they aren't afraid to die. What can you use to stop them?"

Wen Xuan knew that there were no fewer than a thousand soldiers behind Noxian Hand.

There might even be more. Other officers' troops were nearby as well, and they might already be closing in.

Just as Wen Xuan expected.

Several Noxian units had already cleared out the native inhabitants who had stubbornly resisted nearby and were now gathering toward Noxian Hand.

Among one of those units was a white-haired girl with side-swept bangs.

The woman's face was covered in blood, and she held a rune greatsword taller than herself.

She was Riven, though at present, she was merely an inconspicuous soldier in the Noxian army.

She had not yet become utterly disappointed in the Noxian army's cruelty.

Wiping the blood from her face, Riven looked toward the distant battlefield.

She was now extremely eager to earn merit. Her ambitions did not end with being an ordinary soldier.

Meanwhile, outside an Ionian village, Wen Xuan released Blade Woman's hand.

"Alright, we finally got rid of those suicidal lunatics."

Even with Yuumi's assistance, Wen Xuan was exhausted.

After shaking off the soldiers, he dropped to the ground and looked at the sparsely populated village ahead.

Because of the war, there were few men left in Ionia. Most had been taken to resist the Noxian army.

At a glance, Wen Xuan saw only elderly people and children around his age. However, those children were nowhere near as fair or good-looking as him. Their little faces were full of hardship, making them look like adults several decades older.

"Who exactly are you, and why did you help me?"

Blade Woman was exhausted as well, but she had always been strong-willed and did not show it.

Moreover, her mind was filled with questions.

The child before her had not only helped her, but also saved her. She had already been prepared to die in battle.

Hearing this, Wen Xuan's gaze fell on Blade Woman's chest, where her breasts bounced like little rabbits after their long run.

Blade Woman wore something like a bodysuit, making the pink tips of those little rabbits beneath her clothes clearly visible.