The Taiwan Server System

"Vixen... This Concubine is a fox, so what of it!" Ahri hated it when others used her heritage to attack her. Anger flared in her heart, and she bared her ten sharp claws along with her twin magical gemstones.

The battle was on the verge of breaking out.

Chen Ce felt a headache coming on...

Half an hour later, it wasn't just his head that hurt.

His face had been scratched by Ahri's claws, his arms and waist were pinched black and blue by Irelia, and his hair was a tangled mess.

As expected... the idea that watching women fight is fun is just a lie told to children...

In reality, trying to stop women from fighting only earns you a double-teaming beatdown...

Intervening in a fight is risky; one must be cautious when playing the spectator...

"So, can you two calm down now?" Chen Ce sighed.

All the injuries he had sustained over the past half-hour were the result of trying to explain the situation.

"I'm sorry..." Realizing her recklessness and assumptions, Irelia immediately lowered her head in shame.

How could she have doubted Chen Ce? How could she? How could she have judged a gentleman by the measure of a petty person...

As the leader of the Resistance Army, how could she be so impulsive? This was truly too childish... Sigh...

The path of cultivation still requires much tempering...

"Well, as long as you realize your mistake, Boss, just forgive her." Ahri, standing to the side, didn't seem to realize her own fault.

"...Don't speak. I haven't even settled the score with you for trying to steal my potions." Chen Ce irritably tossed the two fox tails that were draped over his legs to the side.

He then exchanged intelligence with Irelia.

After catching up on recent events, Chen Ce suddenly thought of a question: "By coming here yourself, aren't you afraid that the Placidium will be attacked by the Noxus legions?"

"Karma is far stronger than I am," Irelia replied. "Even when Karma wasn't around, the Noxus legions didn't have the courage to attack; do you think they would dare now? Besides..."

As she spoke, she looked at him with a slightly reproachful gaze.

"Guess what the second reason for my coming here was?"

"Um... sorry, I made you worry."

"You're good at everything, but you're always too reckless—sometimes you need to think more about yourself, you know?"

"Okay." Chen Ce took her outstretched hand.

Ahri watched, dumbfounded.

A moment later, Irelia added, "Actually, there is a third reason—to express my respect for the Way of the Wanderer. By leading the troops here myself, I can show how much our Placidium Resistance Army values him, and on the other hand, I can prevent him from being assassinated by Noxus shadow units on his way to the Placidium."

"Understood." Chen Ce nodded in acknowledgment—Yasuo's Way of the Wanderer was the trump card against Noxus alchemical weapons; there could be no mistakes.

"By the way, where are Yasuo and the others now?" he asked.

"They are still conducting the trial regarding Riven's killing of Elder Souma," Irelia replied. "It should be about finished; we can go over and take a look."

"Mm."

Having made up their minds, the two walked out of the house, with Ahri, not knowing what else to do, following behind.

After last night's battle, many houses in the village had been burned down. The streets were filled with villagers packing up their belongings, a truly tragic sight.

Fortunately, they would have a better place to live in the future—Irelia would take them all back to the Placidium, and after the war ended, she would send them back and help them rebuild their homes.

The two and the fox walked toward the hall in the center of the village.

Before they could even get close, two familiar figures walked out from that direction.

Naturally, it was the brothers, Yasuo and Yone.

The trial for Riven had already concluded.

"Good morning, Mr. Chen Ce," Yasuo said, enthusiastically extending his hand. "It is truly good to see you are unharmed... To be honest, last night I thought you were going to meet the Spirit of Ionia."

"Brother..." Yone expressed his helplessness at his brother's lack of social grace.

"I did almost die there," Chen Ce laughed heartily and shook his hand. "Is the trial over? What was the result?"

"It is over. As for the result..." Yasuo's expression suddenly became somewhat... complicated.

There was no thrill of having avenged a great grievance, but it wasn't exactly the frustration of being unable to seek revenge either.

It was more like a sense of conflict.

Chen Ce knew what he was struggling with, so he immediately changed the subject: "By the way, have you decided on what I asked you before?"

He was, of course, referring to his request for him to join the Placidium Resistance Army and assist in the fight against the Noxus legions.

"Naturally, I agree," Yasuo said without hesitation. "Protecting this land is an oath I once took, and besides... Mr. Chen Ce, I will never forget the kindness you have shown me."

"I only did what I had to do," Chen Ce replied with a polite smile.

The next moment, the long-absent system notification sounded in his mind:

[Hero [Yasuo] Gratitude +60, current Interaction Level 60]

[Hero [Yasuo] Interaction Level has exceeded 50, first-stage Interaction Level reward obtained.]

[Reward Received: [Blue Chest] * 1]

Is this... the accumulated interaction points being settled all at once?

A chest from the server!

Open!

[Chest opened.]

[Skill [Steel Tempest] acquired.]

[Skill [Wind Wall] acquired.]

[Skill [Sweeping Blade] acquired.]

[Skill [Last Breath] acquired.]

As the rapid-fire notifications ceased, Chen Ce was momentarily stunned.

This is...

The Way of the Wanderer!

The entire set of the Way of the Wanderer, excluding the passive!

Chapter 39: Stocking-Wearing Sovereign, Syndra

There was now one more person in the world who had mastered the Way of the Wanderer.

The moment the notifications ended, Chen Ce felt a new set of "muscle memory" imprinted in his mind—now, as long as he was given a sword, he could execute the Way of the Wanderer perfectly.

Moreover, it was highly likely that his mastery was more proficient and refined than Yasuo's.

Because the Way of the Wanderer he had mastered was at max level, while Yasuo at this point in time was still somewhat green.

In terms of pure proficiency, aside from the late Elder Souma, there was likely no one more skilled than him.

Regrettably, before he could find someone to borrow a sword from to test his newly learned skills, news arrived from the village magistrate regarding the latest progress on Riven's trial, and everyone headed over to get the details.

The final verdict could be summarized in eight words: death sentence spared, but life sentence inescapable.

Riven's participation in the Noxian invasion and the murder of Elder Souma were proven with solid evidence, but given her sincere repentance and her life-risking efforts to fight off the Noxian invaders and protect the village women and children during last night's attack, the death penalty was waived.

It is worth mentioning that during the trial, not only Shava Konde but several other villagers also affirmed Riven's remorse and voluntarily requested leniency. The magistrate adopted their opinions to a certain extent.

Of course, just as the verdict stated, while the death sentence was spared, she could not escape punishment.

Riven was required to swear before the remains of Elder Souma that she would never again assist the Noxian invaders in harming others in any form, and she had to make amends for the mistakes she had committed—there were various forms of restitution available, such as farming, road repair, or providing unconditional service to the families of the victims.

Riven accepted these terms and expressed her sincere gratitude.

After the magistrate's trial concluded, it was time for the trial by the leader of the Resistance Army, Blade Dancer Irelia.

As a victim who had once nearly been killed by Riven, and as the leader of all the fallen Resistance members, she held the same right.

And her verdict was... to uphold the magistrate's ruling, with only one additional condition: until the war ended, Riven had to serve the Resistance logistics corps unconditionally—she did not have to participate in frontline combat or kill Noxian invaders, but she had to compensate those she had killed or harmed through manual labor.

Chen Ce had no objections to this and did not participate in the trial—in fact, he could have judged Riven alongside Irelia as a victim, but he trusted Irelia's judgment.

It wasn't that he had grasped the true meaning of "forgiveness" like Grandma Shava; he simply felt...

A free combat asset is not something to turn down.

Executing Riven had no practical value, but keeping her meant gaining another Tier 1 combatant for the Resistance—at the very least, in a war fought mostly by mortals, Riven, who came from an elite unit and had been commended by the Noxian Emperor Braum Darkwill, definitely counted as a Tier 1 asset.

After the trial of Riven concluded, Irelia and the others prepared to take the entire village back to the Placidium.

"The carriages are for the women, children, and the elderly who have trouble walking; we'll just walk back on foot. That's fine, right?"

Before leaving, Irelia playfully patted Chen Ce on the back.

"Of course. I'm also mindful that you just went through a brutal battle yesterday. If you're truly exhausted, it wouldn't be impossible for me to carry you."

"It would be my honor to lean on the back of our great Resistance leader," Chen Ce replied jokingly. "Just thinking about that smooth sensation makes me excited."

"What are you suddenly saying..." A simple counter-attack instantly made the young girl blush—as someone so serious, she rarely joked with others, and such suggestive banter was entirely new to her.

"Things like that... you should only say to me in private at night..."

"At night? That might take a long time."

"Hmm... actually, you could do it the day we get back... I'll be free that night..."

"Yes, that's what I meant—the day I get back might be a long time from now."

"Eh?"

"My journey isn't over yet." Chen Ce reached out and ruffled the girl's hair, messing up her soft locks as if teasing a younger sister. "I still need to find more companions who can help us deal with the Noxian invaders."

"Oh?" Irelia let out another sound of confusion, her tone tinged with reluctance and grievance. "Didn't you say you were only looking for the wind-wielding swordsman..."

"Because I want to end this senseless war as soon as possible... I'm sorry, I've broken my word this time." Chen Ce gently patted her head again, as if comforting her.

A flash of disappointment crossed her eyes, but she didn't say anything else, nor did she try to make him stay—in the face of war, romantic feelings indeed seemed too naive.

"Alright then, tell me, where do you plan to go?"

"My final destination... should be Fae'lor Island," Chen Ce replied. "There might be a few stops along the way, and the route probably won't be a straight line."

"In that case... if you run into any trouble, remember to send me a letter whenever you need."

"I will."

"Then we..." Irelia stood at the village entrance, watching the Resistance Army soldiers pass by in waves, her tone heavy with reluctance. "Goodbye?"

"Mm, see you later." Chen Ce smiled, his hand drifting downward to gently brush against her right cheek.

The passing Resistance Army soldiers had grown somewhat accustomed to such sights by now.

Irelia no longer felt shy or coy; she returned his warm embrace before preparing to leave. "I hope that when I see you next, you will be safe and sound."

"Same to you." Chen Ce waved goodbye.

The rainy season had finally cleared, and the midday sun was warm and bright, yet the atmosphere remained tinged with sorrow.

However... a certain Vastaya fox-girl didn't quite understand this strange, sentimental mood.

She only wanted to sneak a drink of Corrupting Potion.

"Why is it empty again? Boss, you haven't refilled the potion in two days!" Ahri complained, holding the stolen empty bottle.

"Who says? I refill it every day; I've just been the one drinking it these past two days," Chen Ce shrugged. "And if you dare steal my bottle again, I'm going to grab your tail."

"This Concubine just wanted to take a look, it's not like I was going to drink it..." Ahri fearfully returned the bottle.

"Also, aren't you going with Irelia and the others?"

"Why would This Concubine go with her? She doesn't have any potion."

"It's actually quite dangerous to stay with me."

"It doesn't matter, I'll be the first to run if something happens... ah, no, This Concubine will definitely help you overcome any crisis, Boss!"

"...Fine." Chen Ce shrugged, deciding not to say anything more.