February 13, 989 (Twin Cities Calendar)
After taking over from Noxus, the Twin Cities built Hextech base in Bel'zhun and planned to construct a sea route from the southern mountains of Piltover to connect the two continents, linking Valoran Continent with Shurima.
Swain wholeheartedly agreed, stating in his letter that Li Ke could freely use the Noxians in Bel'zhun if needed—a gesture that, given Swain's character, was akin to giving away a favor.
But Li Ke could understand Swain's thinking. It wasn't surprising that he would do this; Aatrox had regained his senses in Li Ke's hands, and he was an Ascended Celestial of Ancient Shurima.
Once the corrupted Darkin regain their former glory, it's hard to guarantee they won't do something insane for the honor of Ancient Shurima.
For example, killing and expelling all the intruders?
Noxus achieved great success in Shurima, a land almost entirely conquered by Swain, and Shurima, though seemingly barren, was actually richer than Noxus.
Indeed, Shurima possesses abundant mineral resources, along with wool and knitwear. Swain certainly wouldn't let go of this land. And now that Li Ke is willing to take it over, binding Bel'zhun and the Twin Cities together, Swain naturally wholeheartedly agrees.
After all, who knows when the Ascended will return, like their emperor?
Although history books and popular accounts say that the Eagle Father has been gone for a thousand years, Swain, who wields demonic power, knows very well that even if Azir is truly dead, his will and power will remain as a legacy. If a successor were to emerge and rally support in Shurima, leading the Ascended and Darkin who survived the Void Wars to fight their way into Noxus, Swain truly doesn't know what he would be able to use to stop him.
Now, the Twin Cities can help them hold Shurima.
Li Ke understood Swain's thoughts, but he didn't think there would be any problem, because he and Swain were partners bound by interests, not Intimate Friends.
Swain's long journey to help during the Battle of Freljord was a significant contribution, and Li Ke should certainly repay him in kind.
Under the scorching sun, large chunks of sand were visible to the naked eye as they were swept up and blown by the wind.
The feeling of those pebbles getting into your collar and cuffs is really unpleasant. When you raise your arms or take a step, the pebbles inside your clothes will rub against your skin, but the locals have naturally gotten used to it.
However, when outsiders arrive in Shurima and face such a harsh environment, the first thing they must endure is the pain of having their skin scratched and bleeding. It is no wonder that the Shurima has rough skin; in such weather, it is impossible for one's skin to be healthy.
Right now, in Bel'zhun, a large ship is docked at the town's pier, its hull engraved with the symbols of the Twin Cities: a gear symbolizing Piltover and a gray-black medicine bottle symbolizing Zaun, which complements the gear.
The residents of Bel'zhun were already used to this. As a port city, how could they not know Twin Cities? What was strange was that in the past month, Twin Cities' ships would only come three or four times at most, but in the last half month, this was the seventh time Twin Cities' ships had come.
Every now and then, planks would fall from the side of the boat, and a group of people would disembark.
The leader was a young man with black hair. His appearance could only be described as handsome, with soft but not outstanding Shurima. His features were nothing like those of the local Shurima people, whose features were extremely prominent, especially their noses. Even the women mostly had strong and straight noses.
Therefore, this person's appearance did not Shurima's aesthetic standards, but strangely enough, when people looked at him, they felt an involuntary urge to approach him, to befriend him, and to get to know him.
I just inexplicably developed feelings for him?
Following the young man were two women and one man.
Following closely to his left, with her arm around his, was a girl with beautiful blue hair, a small oval face, bright eyes and white teeth, and outstanding features. She wore a black hat covered in pudding, with a tuft of bangs peeking out from the hat and reaching her profile, making her look neat and dashing. Two long blue braids fell down her shoulders in front of her.
He wore a bright yellow leather jacket with black stripes on the shoulders and chest, reaching down to his thighs. Underneath, he wore a blue button-down T-shirt.
She wore black khaki pants and black boots covered in blue graffiti, with metal plates that jingled as she walked. The boots had double laces.
To be honest, the local people present thought that this girl would obediently wear the local sand-protective clothing within two days, because the fabric and loose-fitting clothes were simply not suitable for Shurima.
The other girl following behind him, judging from her appearance and demeanor, was clearly a native Shurima person.
The other man, wearing a cloak and carrying something on his back, had purplish skin and was incredibly strong.
This group consisted of Li Ke, Jinx, Taliyah, and Jax.
"I'm back," Jax exclaimed instinctively as he stepped off the ship and breathed in the air of Shurima.
Hearing this, Taliyah glanced at Jax curiously a few times. It wasn't that she was being rude; she genuinely couldn't tell that Jax was a Shurima.
She had always assumed that the guy accompanying her, who looked like a bodyguard, was a cyborg from Zaun.
How could a normal person possibly have muscles like that?
That's absolutely outrageous!
"Li Ke, where do we go next?" Jinx asked, but after only a couple of sentences, she started spitting out sand.
Jinx frowned, having gained a basic understanding of Shurima's environment. She was actually dressed quite lightly, in a yellow jacket and a short-sleeved shirt, but she still felt incredibly hot!
Keep in mind it's only February!
In Zaun, you'd need to wear thermal underwear and a fleece jacket, but in Shurima, even that outfit feels hot.
Therefore, Jinx felt that she was not quite used to the Shurima, but just as she was starting to feel uncomfortable, she noticed that the temperature suddenly dropped and the air became more refreshing.
The dry, abrasive discomfort had completely vanished. Jinx blinked and looked at Li Ke.
Having been in constant contact with Hextech Gem and having a close relationship with Janna, Jinx already had some magical energy flowing within her. Therefore, she was able to detect that this sudden change was caused by Li Ke.
With a grin, Jinx went from putting her arm around Li Ke's shoulder to holding Li Ke hand, and her Big Eyes turned into crescent moons.
Of course, Li Ke wouldn't let Jinx suffer, and using this much magic was nothing to Li Ke. Maintaining Jinx's health for 24 hours a day was more draining than Li Ke could recover.
"Head south, traveling through the night," Li Ke said after a moment's thought.
Jax chuckled. This was exactly what he wanted. Returning to his homeland, especially to fight the Void, naturally excited Jax.
Jinx, of course, had no objections. She was used to sleeping outdoors with Li Ke, both in Ionia and Freljord.
It's just a matter of setting up a tent. As for food, Li Ke is a great cook, okay?
But Taliyah thought differently from Jax and Jinx. After hearing Rick's words, she anxiously said, "No, we can't travel at night."
The three of them looked at Taliyah at the same time, and Taliyah began to explain:
"Shurima's weather varies greatly between day and night. It is very hot during the day, but the most dangerous time in Shurima is at night."
Over the years, all the people of Shurima have come to know that while the days are hot enough to kill you from the heat, it's more of a joke than a reality. The nights, however, are freezing cold enough to kill you from the cold. The biggest reason foreign tourists die in Shurima isn't bandits or robbers, but rather their neglect of the nighttime chill.
Taliyah's face showed worry. She was really afraid that Li Ke was planning to travel at night. Traveling under the stars sounded romantic, but it was really, really a dangerous thing!
Jax smiled. He knew Taliyah was right, but the problem was that she was pointing out the wrong person.
With Li Ke's immense magical power, he could easily raise the temperature within several miles. Add to that the amazing scientific inventions of the Twin Cities —that tiny stove, no bigger than Jax's palm, what was it called again? Oh, the Hextech Heater.
Although it's only the size of his palm, its effect is amazing. Once turned on, it can quickly raise the temperature of the room. It's stable and easy to use, so even if Li Ke doesn't use magic, he doesn't have to worry about the cold by just using that thing.
As for Jax himself, his physical constitution made him completely immune to the cold. Not to mention the nights in Shurima, even if he went naked to Rell, Jax wouldn't feel cold.
The Eternal Flame transformed his body; he was no longer a mortal.
"Don't worry about that." Li Ke released a little more magic, and a gentle breeze enveloped Taliyah. She was stunned for a moment, then immediately realized what was happening.
Yes
Teacher Li Ke is no ordinary person. He knows magic and can use it to transform the earth, turning stubborn rocks into quicksand. So it's not surprising that Teacher Li Ke can use magic to change the surrounding temperature and so on.
Thinking of this, Taliyah said, "Then we first need a map of Shurima to find the place we want to go on the map."
Li Ke took out the watch Ekko had made and opened it for Taliyah. "Will this work?"
"No." Taliyah shook her head. She knew what it was, but it was useless against Shurima.
"This is called a compass, right?" Taliyah asked. She continued, "Shurima's magnetic field is different. You see, Zaun's direction is north, but on this compass, there's already some deviation. Once we're inside Shurima, the deviation will become even greater."
"Then how do we find our way?" Li Ke asked curiously.
Li Ke wasn't surprised that the compass was affected, because compasses are only usable on the Valoran Continent. On Freljord, Ionia, Shurima, three continents with abundant magic, the surging magic interferes with the magnetic field, so the compass becomes unusable.
"Leave it to me," Taliyah said confidently, patting her chest. "I will do this job well."
After all, she was a Shurima person who had grown up here, and she had her own ways of finding her way.
Li Ke nodded, then looked at the officer in red who was watching him from not far away.
The other person had a terrifying scar on his face and fierce eyes like an eagle, but when he saw Li Ke looking at him and met Li Ke's gaze, he suddenly lowered his head slightly and placed his hand on his chest.
Li Ke was delighted; Swain's actions were indeed swift, and the officers on Bel'zhun's side had already received his instructions.
As Li Ke stepped forward, he said to the officer, "Do you recognize me?"
"Yes, I understand. Commander Swain has already given the instructions. Here, everything is up to you," the officer replied.
"That makes things easier. I need a map of Shurima."
The officer nodded, then beckoned a soldier to his side. He said something to the soldier, then returned to Li Ke's side and said, "Please wait a moment, the map will be brought over shortly."
While waiting for the map, Li Ke started chatting with the officer.
How long have you been in Shurima?
"Seven years," the officer replied.
"Have you encountered any unusual people in Shurima over the years? Or are there any interesting rumors?"
The officer thought for a moment and then said, "There really are a few."
He began, "Some time ago, a group of desert people came to Bel'zhun. They spread rumors that the depths of the desert were very dangerous. They saw a humanoid monster with Renekton head. The monster was normally indistinguishable from ordinary people and was always crying. But when a group of bandits attacked him, he cried out a name, then his body grew larger and he killed all the bandits."
After hearing this, Li Ke glanced at Jax and saw that Jax's eyes were piercing.
He knew who the Renekton- headed monster was; he had even almost fought it.
Seeing that Li Ke remained silent, the officer continued, "Of course, I think this is just the nonsense those desert dwellers are spouting because their brains have been fried by the heat deep in the desert."
Li Ke smiled and continued, "Anything else?"
"Pilgrims in Shurima say that there is a powerful Deity in western Shurima who will protect and bless you if you worship him sincerely. Many traveling merchants have confirmed this, saying that they were protected by that Deity after being attacked by desert wasp."
Is there a description of his appearance?
"It's said to be... a turtle?"
Jax was both amused and exasperated.
Li Ke also found it interesting. Freljord was comparable to Shurima, one cold and one hot. The two places had different environments, but what they had in common was that both places had more Demigod than could be counted on two hands.
After speaking with the officer for a while, Li Ke obtained the map and handed it to Taliyah.
The little sparrow took it with both hands, opened it, looked at it carefully for a while, and then nodded and said, "No problem."
"Then let's set off now," Li Ke said.
Then, the group walked out of Bel'zhun.
Shurima has extremely long hours of sunshine, but Taliyah doesn't feel hot at all. The blazing sun overhead seems like an ornament, and all she can feel right now is comfort.
A cool breeze enveloped her body, blocking out the sand and heat, which made Taliyah feel very comfortable.
Yes, even though she's a Shurima, she has to say the weather in Shurima is absolutely terrible!
But there was another problem, namely physical strength. The sandy road was difficult to walk on, with a small deep pit with every step. But then, Taliyah received a signal from Li Ke and began to use her magic.
At first, Taliyah was hesitant to use it, but Li Ke said that with him there, there was nothing to worry about, so Taliyah mustered up the courage to cast the spell.
Then, the sand beneath their feet coalesced, and a magical, horizontal elevator, large enough for four people to stand on, appeared.
Without needing to lift a foot, the gravel board slid forward automatically. Seeing Jinx, Jinx simply plopped down on the ground. The only thing that required this was Taliyah's stamina.
As evening approached, the group paused briefly. Li Ke prepared some food, though it was very simple due to limited resources. However, Taliyah ate with great relish, finishing several bowls.
It was like a magical force to make up for the afternoon's deficit.
Then, it got late at night.
Only then did Li Ke understand why Taliyah had said that one could not go out at night in Shurima.
Under the starlight, all that could be seen was an endless desert; the temperature plummeted, and visibility decreased accordingly.
"What do we do now?" Li Ke asked, looking at Taliyah.
Taliyah's magic had almost fully recovered, and she used magic again, practicing her spells while continuing her journey.
She stepped onto the gravel slabs she had created, looked up at the starry sky, and began to gaze intently.
As Li Ke looked at her, he saw starlight shining on her face, highlighting a few prominent freckles. Taliyah's eyes were incredibly bright, her pupils filled with the starry sky, the stars seemingly converging into lines.
"Destiny is like a woven tapestry, yet one should remain steadfast as a rock."
With a soft murmur, Taliyah raised her hand, pointed to a star, and said with certainty:
"Master Li Ke, let's go this way, this is south." This time, Taliyah didn't ask, but made a judgment.
She's a tour guide; she has to show you the way.
"Rek River is to the south. If we keep heading this way, we should be able to see the river in a few days."
Taliyah small face to Li Ke and said earnestly.
Li Ke nodded, while Jinx yawned. She didn't care much for the starry sky and didn't like looking at stars.
"I'll do whatever you say, Taliyah."
Taliyah nodded, looked up at the night sky, and waved her hands.
Hands emerged from long sleeves, fingers swaying and flowing, and magic seemed to flow, making the gravel and pebbles slide as if riding the waves in the desert.
A night breeze blows, and the starry sky shines.
In a daze, a smile appeared on Taliyah's lips. The feeling of freely using magic was wonderful, and for the first time, she had received recognition and encouragement from an outsider. It was as if she had finally learned what courage was.
Magic doesn't seem so difficult to control.
When the stars light up
Shurima have gained courage.