The Taiwan Server System

"Now, all we have to do is wait for reinforcements." Chen Ce stepped out of the house, his spear spinning in his grip. "And while we're at it... wipe out these damn Noxus invaders."

Hearing this, Yasuo still harbored doubts, but he said nothing more, throwing himself heart and soul into the fray.

Nearby, Yone swung his twin blades in a relentless rhythm. He did not blame Yasuo or Chen Ce for drawing the enemy to the village and plunging everyone into a life-or-death crisis, for this was inevitable.

If these Noxus soldiers were intent on extinguishing the Way of the Wanderer, they would have attacked the village regardless of whether Yasuo returned. As long as the village stood, there was a chance another swordsman might master the Way of the Wanderer, a prospect they could never tolerate.

Yasuo's return, if anything, helped the village repel these damned invaders.

Even in the worst-case scenario, he could at least help the other villagers "draw fire."

Perhaps this was the first step toward reclaiming his honor.

"We fight side by side once more, brother." With steel in hand, Yone wore a satisfied smile.

"Indeed, brother." Yasuo's expression was equally brimming with battle intent.

"Shall we use that technique?" Yone asked.

"Let's do it. It's been a long time," Yasuo replied.

The brothers exchanged a smile.

The next moment, Yone crossed his blades before his chest and lunged forward with a sudden burst of speed.

Sharp steel met extreme velocity; the fierce power not only severed the wind but summoned it.

"Twin Blade... Cleave!"

In an instant, he seemed to teleport dozens of meters away, the violent gale trailing his blades lifting no fewer than twenty Noxus soldiers high into the air.

"Catch them, Yasuo!"

"Coming—!" As the Noxus soldiers were sent airborne, Yasuo leaped high, unleashing the supreme secret of the Way of the Wanderer—Last Breath.

"Sorye-ge-ton!"

Accompanied by a crisp cry in the Ionian tongue, the twenty-odd Noxus soldiers suspended in mid-air met their end—some pierced through the heart, others struck by a blade across the throat.

Watching this magnificent, seamless coordination from nearby, Chen Ce couldn't help but marvel.

Even though Yone had not yet died, entered the Spirit Realm, been possessed by an Azakana, or mastered the true "Sealed Fate," his swordsmanship was already top-tier. The "Twin Blade Cleave" performed in his human form was no less effective.

As for Yasuo, his Way of the Wanderer was peerless, and his synergy with his brother Yone was exceptional—perhaps this was what they meant by "1+1 > 2."

Seeing a scene that usually belonged only to the Rift left Chen Ce feeling a touch of nostalgia.

"These Noxus soldiers are pathetic!" Having tasted victory, Yasuo couldn't help but cheer.

"Don't get too careless, Yasuo... though, I suppose you're right." Even the composed Yone found it hard to disagree with his brother.

"These people want my head. Are they afraid I'll ruin some new weapon of theirs?" Yasuo turned to look at Chen Ce. "Just as you said earlier. Is that why you helped me find the true killer of the Elder? To get me to help you fight these Noxus scumbags?"

"Yes." Chen Ce nodded candidly. "I clear your name, you help me fight the invaders."

Hearing this, Yasuo burst into laughter.

"It is only right! It is only right!!"

"I once swore to protect this land. I will head to the front lines and slay the enemy with valor!"

"Mr. Chen Ce! Thank you for giving me this chance to prove myself!"

"Your kindness to me goes beyond merely clearing my name!"

"You aren't just making a deal with me; you have bestowed upon me two great favors!"

"Hasagi—!"

Yasuo wove through the crowd, his agile footwork paired with a razor-sharp blade. Crimson blood soon stained the sodden fields.

Yone's twin blades were no different.

Chen Ce nodded in satisfaction, then turned to look at Ahri, who was watching the spectacle from the sidelines.

"Ahri, I won't be paying you for today or tomorrow."

"Eh~~~? Why?" The fox-girl looked aggrieved and confused.

"Because there is better food for you now."

Chen Ce pointed his spear toward the distance, a slightly cruel arc forming at the corner of his mouth.

"The life essence of those Noxus soldiers... you may feast on it as you please."

As soon as he finished speaking, Ahri narrowed her amber eyes.

She licked her lips greedily, and long, sharp, terrifying claws suddenly sprouted from her slender, fair fingers.

"In that case... This Concubine shall not stand on ceremony..."

The sounds of battle raged outside, but Riven remained indifferent.

She was now resigned to death, feeling not a shred of affection left for her homeland, Noxus. She had risked her life for the Empire for years, only for them to deceive her and send her to her death just to test a new weapon.

That betrayal was etched into her bones.

That scene was something she would never forget.

She had seen through Noxus, and she had seen through its cruel and lawless militarism.

Now, she felt only guilt toward those she had harmed, wishing only to use her own death to make some meager amends... even though she knew it could never outweigh the sins she had committed.

The swordsmen and the Ionian Resistance Army were fighting outside; in truth, she could have fled at any moment, but she would not.

Likewise, she could tell that the man named Chen Ce knew she would not run—perhaps out of some unique form of trust.

She did not know.

She only wanted to die.

After one last glance at the scene outside, she closed her eyes again, and that endless sense of exhaustion washed over her once more.

Until a hurried voice roused her:

"Child, why are you still here?" It was the voice of a woman, somewhat aged. "Run! The Noxians are attacking!"

Riven opened her eyes to see an elderly woman rushing toward her.

"Are you injured? Let me help you up... we must hurry and escape!"

"I..." Riven pursed her lips. "You don't need to worry about me... I am Noxian..."

"Ah?" Hearing this, the old woman was startled.

But before she could react, several others burst into the room.

This time, it was Noxian soldiers.

The lead soldier issued a command decisively: "Kill them both, leave no one ali—"

But he stopped mid-sentence.

He had seen the broken blade beside Riven. He recognized the inscriptions upon it.

"Chief Swordswoman Riven? You are here!" His face lit up with joy, and he promptly revised his order: "Kill the old woman, then take Chief Swordswoman Riven to be treated! With Chief Swordswoman Riven's help, this mission will surely succeed!"

"Yes!" Seeing the empire's valiant warrior, the other Noxian soldiers were equally overjoyed.

Riven merely remained silent, gripping the broken blade beside her.

Her expression was cold.

And... a little conflicted.

The soldiers, assuming she was preparing to take up her weapon to fight, rushed forward even more eagerly, intent on killing the troublesome old woman.

But just as their blades were about to touch the old woman, Riven's battered body blocked their path.

"Get away... I don't want to kill you..."

Chapter 35: Green, the Color of Forgiveness

The attacking Noxian soldiers grew more numerous by the moment.

Their goal was clear and singular—to take Yasuo's head.

In just over ten minutes, the once-quiet village had erupted into chaos. Every swordsman had swarmed out to fight alongside the brothers Yasuo and Yone.

During the fray, some questioned why the "traitor Yasuo" dared to return to the village, and a few hot-headed swordsmen even wanted to bring him to justice on the spot, but fortunately, Yone held them back.

Although Yone found it difficult to explain everything clearly in the heat of the moment, he staked his life on the guarantee that Yasuo was not the murderer of Elder Souma. With a greater enemy at the gates, the others temporarily ceased their hostility toward Yasuo.

For now, repelling the hundreds of Noxian soldiers was the top priority.

This was an entire battalion—numerous, well-trained, and equipped with a squad of Black Mages—making them no easy foe.

Fortunately, they had a powerful external aid: Chen Ce from the Placidium Resistance Army.

Wielding a crimson spear, he charged directly into the fray. His masterful spearwork, combined with agile footwork, allowed him to fight a hundred men as if walking through an empty field.

This was all thanks to his Counter Strike.

The blades, spears, swords, and axes in the crowd could not harm him in the slightest, and the Black Mages capable of hurting him dared not unleash offensive magic for fear of hitting their own men.

The only attacks that could have reached him were forced to "fail," rendering him effectively invincible.

With a fully stacked Tear of the Goddess in hand, he had no need to worry about exhausting his mana and being unable to use his skills.

It had to be said, this Counter Strike was truly a god-tier skill for dealing with common soldiers.

"Hmph, not a single one of you is worth the effort!" Chen Ce moved like a wolf among sheep, tossing countless Noxian soldiers into the air with his spear.

At the same time, he kept a watchful eye on that small hut.

It was the final chance for Riven.

Whether she would choose to escape everything, burdened by guilt and pain, seeking a so-called release through death, or whether she would choose to live as a sinner on this land she had harmed—saving others and herself to eventually find true peace—was entirely up to her.

True serenity and redemption are often hidden within the seemingly painful thickets of thorns.

To die in the agony of betrayal and guilt, or to live in the peace of redemption and forgiveness... it all rested on a single thought.

"Chief Swordswoman Riven, what are you doing?"

Inside the hut, the Noxian squad leader frowned, his tone turning grim.

"Do you intend to... betray Noxus?"

"It was Noxus that betrayed me first..." Riven took a deep breath, her weary, weakened body swaying as her countless wounds began to itch and sting. "I don't want to see anyone else die... leave, all of you..."

"Leave no survivors—that is the Captain's order." The squad leader gestured to his soldiers, who immediately surrounded Riven. "I don't know what you've been through, but I believe your wishes have come into conflict with the Captain's orders."

"The Captain... who is that..."

"Captain Emystan, naturally."

"Then let them conflict... Regardless, I do not wish to see Noxians making Ionians bleed anymore..."

"It seems you truly have betrayed Noxus, Riven." The squad leader hesitated no longer, issuing the command to his men: "Kill them!"

At the order, the soldiers, who had been ready, launched their attack.

Riven sighed inwardly, finally deciding to raise her hand against her former comrades.

With a single step forward, she unleashed a surge of energy from her broken blade, driving them back.

Their weapons were knocked from their hands, and she could have easily slaughtered them all, yet she chose not to. Instead, she raised her sword, the blade beginning to glow with an eerie green light. The magic within the steel erupted, blasting one of the soldiers away.

The others scrambled to retrieve their weapons, rushing once more toward the traitor of the empire.

They were overestimating themselves.

Riven sighed again—she had hoped to injure only one to scare the rest away.

But now, she had no choice but to tighten her grip on her broken blade.

Holding the shattered sword, she lunged forward with her battered body, the magic within the blade manifesting a green magical shield around her, sturdy enough to deflect steel.

The soldiers struck at her shield, only to feel the stinging shock travel up to their own palms. Just as she was about to collide with them, Riven pulled back half a step and swung her blade through the air; a sudden gust of wind slammed all the Noxian soldiers out of the room, leaving them all unconscious.

It was a victory without bloodshed.