Watchpost of the Dead

Heading north, the number of people dwindled, and the snow froze into ice. 💋🏆 💥💲

The world is becoming cleaner and cleaner; apart from a pristine white landscape, there is no longer any bare earth to be seen, though plants can still be occasionally spotted.

Whether in rock crevices or ice layers, there are always resilient plants that take root, sprout, and grow tenaciously.

Although there are fewer people, the far north is not peaceful; the wind howls almost all day long, seemingly driving away outsiders.

The two Dragon Tooth were now playing their respective roles: the Ice Dragon's Tooth absorbed the cold air and formed a protective layer on our bodies, while the Fire Dragon's Fang continuously transferred heat.

Fortunately, they don't restrain each other.

One major advantage of coming here is that we're cut off from outside news. No matter how Noxus and Freljord fight, it's none of our business.

Our first destination was a place called "The Watchpost of the Dead." The map caption said that in ancient times, northern creatures invaded humans, and this was the first outpost established by humankind.

No one who came here ever returned alive. They remained here for their entire lives, ensuring that any enemy invasion could be detected and the message relayed immediately. Therefore, it was known as the "Watchpost of the Dead."

"What a tragic group of people. I wonder if anyone is still holding out there."

We'll be there soon, we'll see.

The outpost was built on a high hillside, but the terrain was flat, and the Ironhorn Bull could easily climb up. It wasn't very fast, so the journey was about the same whether it was on high ground or flat ground.

When we saw the simple huts known as the Watchpost of the Dead, we stopped the car and walked over.

"Wait, bring some wine and dried meat," Riven reminded me.

As soon as I got close, I felt someone's gaze lock onto us. Perhaps they saw that we were human, so they didn't show themselves.

As we approached the outpost, an elderly man came out to greet us. Judging from his frame, he must have been a Great Han in his youth, but now he was skin and bones.

"Are you the successors?" The old man's voice was as aged as his appearance.

"We are adventurers from the mainland."

"What are you adventurers doing in a place like this? Hurry up and leave, we don't have any extra food to share with you."

"We're not here to ask for help. We've even brought some wine and meat; we just want to take a look around."

I believe that food is everything in a place like this, and sure enough. "Oh, is that so? Then please come in."

Once inside the outpost, I discovered it wasn't as small as it appeared from the outside, because the space was oriented downwards, which provided better insulation.

There were four people in the room, of varying ages from oldest to youngest.

The elderly man who greeted us said he was over a hundred years old, the oldest person here, and could die at any time, waiting for a successor.

It turns out that every twenty or thirty years, someone comes to take over the position here. Sometimes several people come at once, and sometimes only one.

There were at most a dozen people here, but now there are only five, including those on guard duty outside.

We brought a bag of dried meat, which was more than enough. We didn't need any alcohol, as the locals all brew their own. The wine made from the natural spring water and polar plants in the north is sweet and delicious.

I asked them if there was anything worth exploring here, and they all shook their heads: there's no human civilization further north than here.

I was a little disappointed, but they said the view from the outpost was still worth seeing.

As we climbed up, our view broadened, and our hearts were stirred. The wonders of nature were truly astonishing.

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"Should we continue north?" Riven asked me.

"The map shows there are still many places worth visiting in the north, but the locals say there's no more human civilization north of here. I don't know why."

I looked ahead at the vast expanse of white, which certainly didn't seem like a civilized place, but the map had been accurate the whole way, so we chose to trust it.

"Let's walk a bit further. We still have plenty of food. If it gets too much, we can always turn back."

"Alright, don't be fooled by the fact that it looks like a vast expanse of white from here; there might be a hidden paradise inside!"

Riven and I made up our minds to leave, but the old man invited us to stay the night; the wine was already warmed.

I've already drunk quite a bit, but thankfully the alcohol here doesn't give me a headache. No matter how much I drink, the cold wind will sober me up.

We agreed. It was getting late, and staying here was more comfortable than in a tent.

When I picked up my glass this time, I smelled a different aroma, one I couldn't quite place, but Riven recognized it immediately. "Did you put Ice Orchid in this drink?"

Speaking of Ice Orchid, it reminds me of when Fiora was ambushed with Ice Orchid in Demacia, leaving her unconscious.

However, the Ice Orchid back then had been tampered with using magic, but this place wouldn't have done that, because the Ice Orchid is beneficial to people living in cold regions.

"You two are truly knowledgeable. This wine does indeed contain Ice Orchid; it warms the body and feels very comfortable after drinking it."

"I see." Riven's expression turned a little cold. "Then please switch with us. I don't like the taste of Ice Orchid."

I don't know why Riven suddenly did this, but she must have her reasons, so I put down my glass.

The people refused to change it. "The Ice Orchid from the North are extremely precious; we can't bear to drink them. Let's give them to our two distinguished guests."

"What if we fall asleep after drinking?"

"A good night's sleep will help you recover from fatigue; it's good for both of you!"

"But I'm afraid someone might have ulterior motives!"

After saying that, Riven slammed her glass on the floor with a "bang": "Don't think I don't know, Ice Orchid liquor has to be cooled down before you can drink it, otherwise it's like a sleeping pill!"

Upon hearing this, the group looked somewhat flustered, clearly having been right about Riven. They hadn't expected this outsider to know so much detail!

With their scheme exposed, there was nothing more to say. The men immediately grabbed their weapons and turned hostile. "It's all your fault for being too rich! You weren't here to take over, yet you brought so much jerky, and there's even more in the car!"

Hearing this, I was both amused and exasperated. All for the jerky? Why didn't you just say so earlier? I would have given you more!

"Why bother with all this trouble? I'll share some with you as a consolation for your hard work on this post."

"No, leave all the meat and we'll let you go!" a young man said pretentiously.

"Okay." Hearing my words, they relaxed, thinking I was scared, but I simply raised my hand and knocked one of them over. "Now I've changed my mind, you'll be eating dirt! Oh no, you probably won't even be able to eat dirt here."

"You dare to attack us! Don't you even know where the Watchpost of the Dead is?!"

"I'm sorry, I really didn't know that before I came!"

Having learned about the origins of the Watchpost of the Dead, I had a good impression of them, but I never expected them to be a bunch of bandits.

No wonder, it's easy to lose oneself living in a place like this, or perhaps they weren't good people to begin with and were sent here!

Even so, I didn't kill them, but Riven swung her blade and killed two people.