Chapter 171

So...

It should be a sure thing.

"I'm so sorry to have wronged Brother Tuo..."

Chen Ce stood up from the Bridge of Sorrows. Sitting cross-legged for several days had made his legs severely numb, and he almost fell.

It was Ashe happened to be walking by and helped him up.

"Be careful... Are you alright, Mr. Chen Ce?"

"It's nothing... thank you." Chen Ce held the girl's hand; its cool touch was smooth and soft, and it felt very comfortable to touch—like touching a comfortable waterbed.

"Is it ready already?" Ashe glanced down into the Howling Abyss, but unfortunately couldn't see anything. "It's been several days."

"It's okay now," Chen Ce said, shaking his numb legs. "There shouldn't be any more problems after this."

"Let's go back then, they're all waiting for you."

"Good."

Chen Ce looked up at the magnificent ice castle.

The haughty Lissandra stood on the outer edge of the castle, her blind eyes, covered, seemed to be staring at him.

Everything seems to have settled down.

Like...

Chapter 46 Miss Ashe's Proposal is a Success!

It must be said that Lissandra's Frost Castle is indeed magnificent.

This castle, half of which is made of True Ice, is nearly a hundred meters tall. Various luxurious decorations are displayed inside, and even a passageway in a corner is decorated in a magnificent manner.

It is even more magnificent than Mordekaiser's Immortal Bastion.

Chen Ce followed Ashe into the main hall of the castle, and the first thing that caught his eye was Lissandra's "Frost Throne"—made of pure True Ice, with ice spikes protruding outwards on both sides of the armrests like sharp swords, making it exceptionally luxurious.

Behind the throne, there are several lifelike ice sculptures.

Those ice sculptures were also made by True Ice.

The two most prominent ones are...

Sculptures of Avarosa and Serylda.

Lissandra was sitting on her throne, the two ice sculptures less than half a meter away from her, and the faint chill could even reach her fingertips.

She has been like this for millions of years.

She uses these two ice sculptures to constantly remind herself.

"You've arrived, Chen Ce."

Blinded by the True Ice light, Lissandra could see nothing, but she could sense the young man entering the hall in another way.

Did your observations confirm your hypothesis?

"More or less." Chen Ce instinctively wanted to sit down to answer, but after looking around, he realized that the vast main castle only had one throne. "There shouldn't be any problems for the time being."

"Should?"

"Should."

"This word makes me feel uneasy."

"I think the same way, but there's nothing we can do." Chen Ce shrugged. "Having Aatrox restrain the Watchers is the best solution right now... The latter might still break free, but it will definitely be later than any other solution."

"Hmm..." Lissandra nodded slightly, a long, slender, fair finger touching her delicate chin.

A moment later, she leaned back wearily on the throne. "So, for now, it's over, isn't it?"

"Barring any unforeseen circumstances," Chen Ce dared not and could not give a definite answer even at this moment.

No one can guarantee what might happen beneath the abyss.

Lissandra was well aware of this, and after a moment of silence, she changed the subject. "Now, I want to talk to you about something else."

"About matters between tribes?" Chen Ce anticipated what the other party was thinking.

And that's exactly what Lissandra wanted to say, "Yes."

What are your thoughts?

"Thoughts..." Lissandra didn't immediately answer this complex question, but instead suddenly asked, "Chen Ce, where did you come from?"

"Ionia," Chen Ce replied without hesitation, "A beautiful and magical Eastern Continent. I think you know about it."

"Hmm." Lissandra nodded, then asked, "Although I know everything about your time in Freljord, I still want to ask... why did you come here?"

"To keep a promise with an old friend." Chen Ce's answer was swift and completely truthful.

"That's all?"

"That's how it was at first."

"So later... it was to form the Freljord Alliance?" Lissandra tilted her head to one side, a strange cuteness hidden beneath her noble queenly demeanor. "You and Ashe... it seems you wanted to build your own power."

Upon hearing this, Chen Ce fell silent for a moment.

It must be said that the Lissandra in front of us has a very accurate intuition... or rather, she has a very strong insight.

No wonder it's for an old woman who's tens of thousands of years old... He really sees through all these convoluted things...

"If that's what you think," Chen Ce, neither confirming nor denying.

Ashe and Sejuani pondered for a moment, but did not offer any opinions.

"I don't know why you're doing this, but I have to admit... you've succeeded. Very successfully," Lissandra continued. "Now, your Freljord Alliance has the momentum to overtake the Frostguard."

"Perhaps there's still a gap in combat strength." Chen Ce's smile was equally intriguing.

"It's only a matter of time."

"Then perhaps we won't become enemies?"

"But it's probably difficult for us to become allies," Lissandra said softly. "You know my past... I am rife with sins, and you have slaughtered my Frostguard."

"Unity and solidarity are the future of Freljord," Chen Ce insisted briefly.

Lissandra did not rush to refute, but instead stood up from her throne.

She slowly walked down the long steps and reached the center of the main hall.

Then, her True Ice robe gradually disappeared, revealing a magnificent robe underneath—predominantly white with blue patterns that accentuated her figure, making her appear both beautiful and dignified.

She was no longer the Lissandra wrapped up tightly, but a beautiful woman with skin as white as fresh snow.

She extended a slender, fair finger and lifted Chen Ce's chin.

"..." Chen Ce was somewhat puzzled by the other party's behavior.

Before he could even ask a question, Ashe gripped her Frost Crystal Longbow tightly. "What do you want to do, Lissandra!"

Sejuani stepped forward, her sharp silver spear and perfectly toned abs giving her an air of confidence. "Hey, witch, let's settle the old scores before adding new ones?"

Seeing the two girls' reaction, Chen Ce immediately understood.

Lissandra, the person involved, let out a soft laugh. "Now you should understand that unity is a beautiful vision, but it can only be a vision."

Her meaning was very clear.

Over the past tens of thousands of years, she has done far too many things that have "harmed" Freljord, especially to Ashe of the Avarosan Tribe and Sejuani of the Winter's Claw Tribe... The conflicts and sworn enemies between them cannot be resolved overnight.

After all, she had personally killed their ancestor.

Even... the death of Ashe's mother, Grena, was inextricably linked to the Frostguard.

"You may return." Lissandra withdrew her hand from Chen Ce's playful gesture and walked towards her Frost Throne. "From now on, I will no longer allow the Frostguard to cause trouble for other tribes. Your Freljord Alliance can develop at its own pace—and if needed, you can even request my assistance."

"No need, witch." Ashe stood in front of Chen Ce, not drawing her bow, but keeping one finger on the bowstring.

Sejuani also stared cautiously at the haughty Frost Queen. "We'll pass on the help. We just hope you won't go back on your word or resort to underhanded tactics."

"Of course," Lissandra said casually. "You have each inherited the legacy of Avarosa and Serylda, and I believe you are capable enough to guide Freljord —for centuries, I have not sought to rule this frozen land; I simply do not wish for incompetent people to destroy everything—especially the secrets beneath the abyss."

Then she steered the conversation back to Chen Ce: "Those two probably won't come here again, but you—a stranger—if you need anything, you can come to the castle to find me anytime."

"Looks like I've become a guest of honor at the infamous Lissandra's place?" Chen Ce chuckled.

"Of course." Lissandra didn't deny it coyly.

With that, this brief but not very friendly "meeting" came to an end.

Although there are still many unresolved issues regarding the Freljord Alliance, the Watchers, and Aatrox, these are matters that cannot be rushed.

For now... let's leave it at that.

Freljord at night is not a good time to travel, so Chen Ce decided to stay in this ancient castle for one last night before leaving—partly to make sure the situation below the abyss was right.

The room Lissandra had prepared for him was also within the Frost Castle, but not in the main castle, and quite far away—even though "Dream Thief" Lissandra didn't sleep in her main castle, she would never let anyone approach her casually—or rather, she had many secrets buried within this castle.

That dark history, her despicable betrayal... but none of that mattered to Chen Ce anymore.

He no longer needs to care about those things.

He's currently only concerned with the development of the Freljord Alliance, Aatrox's control over the Watchers, and...

The question is whether I slept well tonight.

Half of this room was also made of True Ice. Every inch of the walls and every part of the floor emanated a terrifying chill, like being inside a super-powerful refrigerator, constantly enduring the biting cold.

This was a normal and very nice living environment for Lissandra, but it was a bit uncomfortable for Chen Ce.

That woman is always very thorough in considering important matters, but in such trivial things... should we say she's "careless about details"?

But this "giant refrigerator room" isn't the most outrageous part; the most outrageous thing is...

"Mr. Chen Ce...?"

Ashe, who had just finished a hot shower, stood by the door, her eyes filled with confusion and surprise.

She was naked, with only a bath towel that barely covered her private parts; a few water droplets clung to her fair skin, slowly trickling down her smooth body and graceful curves...

What are you doing here? Is there something you want to discuss with me?

Ashe was surprised and confused, but surprisingly, she didn't feel much shyness.

Firstly, she had already had quite a bit of physical contact with Chen Ce; secondly...

She's a grown woman; as long as she covers her private parts, what's wrong with letting Chen Ce see the rest of her body?

Shouldn't Mr. Chen Ce be the one feeling shy now?

"Ah, this..." Chen Ce subconsciously looked away, but didn't move his feet. "It's nothing... it's just... Lissandra said this is my room...?"

"Huh? Really?" Ashe tilted her head. "But she also said this is my lounge?"

"And what about Miss Sejuani...?"

Sejuani is in another room.

"Um..."

"Hmm... Oh, I get it." Ashe clapped her hands as if suddenly enlightened, the movement so loud that her breasts, while not particularly full, were firm enough to bounce twice. "Lissandra has tacitly agreed that we're sharing a room, right? Looks like she's quite wise in some ways."

"..." Chen Ce hesitated for a moment, then strode into the room. "If that's the case... you should put your clothes on first."

"Yes, of course." Ashe was a very ladylike person, so naturally she wouldn't keep exposing her body to Chen Ce like an exhibitionist—this was the first time she had ever been so naked in front of someone.

Besides... she lacks confidence in her figure.

She was neither tall nor muscular, and often felt inferior in front of other tall and strong women in her tribe.

Her figure was a weakness, so she couldn't keep showing it to Chen Ce —that would only lower his favorability towards her.

"Come in and sit down... I'm all dressed." The girl put on the sleeveless shirt, the loose side revealing a bit of her ample bosom.

To be honest, very little was exposed, but the arousing sensation was even more intense than being completely naked.

Chen Ce sat on the only bed in the entire large room, wondering what Lissandra was thinking... Oh, and it was an ice bed.

"Aren't you cold?" The atmosphere was a little awkward, and he didn't know what to talk about.