"Fox spirit... I am a fox, so what?" Ahri hated it when people used her origins to attack her. Anger flared in her heart, and she bared her ten sharp claws and the Twin Gemstone, which pulsed with magical energy.
A fight was about to break out.
Chen Ce felt a headache coming on...
Half an hour later, it wasn't just his head that hurt.
Ahri had scratched up his face, Irelia had pinched his arms and waist until they were bruised, and his hair was a complete mess.
So much for the idea that watching women fight was fun. That was just something people told kids...
In reality, trying to stop women from fighting only got you a beating from both of them...
Mediating a fight is risky; watching from the sidelines calls for caution...
"So, can you two calm down now?" Chen Ce sighed.
He'd taken all those injuries during the past half hour just to explain the situation.
"Sorry..." Irelia realized how reckless she'd been and how much she'd assumed. She lowered her head in shame.
How could she not trust Chen Ce? How could she... How could she judge a gentleman by her own petty standards?
As the Resistance Army's leader, how could she have been so unreasonable? It had been so childish... Sigh...
Her path of cultivation still needed work...
"Well, at least you realized you were wrong. Boss, just forgive her," Ahri said. She, on the other hand, didn't seem to realize she'd done anything wrong.
"...Don't say another word. I haven't dealt with you trying to steal my potion yet." Chen Ce tossed the two fox tails draped over his legs aside, exasperated.
Then he exchanged information with Irelia.
After hearing about what had happened recently, Chen Ce suddenly thought of something. "You came here in person. Aren't you worried Noxus might attack Placidium while you're away?"
"Karma is much stronger than I am," Irelia replied. "The Noxian Legion didn't dare attack when Karma was away. Do you think they'll dare now? Besides..."
As she spoke, she gave him a slightly reproachful look.
"Can you guess my second reason for coming here?"
"Um... sorry for worrying you."
"You're good in every way, but you always push yourself too hard. Sometimes you need to think about yourself, okay?"
"Okay." Chen Ce took the little hand she held out to him.
Ahri stared at them, dumbfounded.
A moment later, Irelia continued, "There's actually a third reason—to show my respect for the Windrider. By bringing troops here myself, I can show how much the Placidium Resistance Army values him. I can also make sure he won't be ambushed by Noxian assassins on his way to Placidium."
"Understood." Chen Ce nodded. Yasuo's Way of the Wanderer was their trump card against Noxian alchemical weapons. He couldn't let anything happen to him.
"By the way, where are Yasuo and the others now?" he asked.
"They're still holding Riven's trial for the murder of Elder Souma," Irelia replied. "It should be nearly over. We can go see."
"Okay."
Once they'd made up their minds, they headed outside. Ahri, who didn't know what else to do, followed them.
After last night's battle, many of the village's houses had burned down. The streets were full of villagers clearing away the wreckage, and the scene was a little grim.
Fortunately, they would have a better home in the future. Irelia would take them all back to Placidium, then bring them home and help rebuild their village once the war was over.
The two of them and the fox headed toward the hall in the village center.
But before they reached it, two familiar figures came walking toward them.
They were the brothers Yasuo and Yone.
Riven's trial had ended.
"Good morning, Mr. Chen Ce." Yasuo warmly held out his hand. "It's great to see you're all right... To be honest, last night I thought you were going to meet the Spirit of Ionia."
"Little brother..." Yone could only sigh at his brother's tactless remark.
"I almost died, that's true." Chen Ce laughed heartily and shook his hand. "Is the trial over? What was the verdict?"
"It's over. As for the verdict..." Yasuo's expression suddenly turned... complicated.
He didn't feel the satisfaction of having avenged his great wrong, but he wasn't frustrated at being unable to take revenge, either.
He felt conflicted.
Chen Ce knew what he was struggling with, so he changed the subject. "By the way, have you decided what to do about what I asked you earlier?"
He was, of course, asking Yasuo to join the Placidium Resistance Army and help fight the Noxian Legion.
"Of course I'll join," Yasuo replied without hesitation. "Protecting this land is an oath I once swore. Besides... Mr. Chen Ce, I haven't forgotten what you did for me for a single moment."
"I only did what I ought to," Chen Ce said with a polite smile.
The familiar system notification sounded in his mind once again:
[Hero [Yasuo] gratitude +60; current interaction level: 60] [Hero [Yasuo] interaction level has exceeded 50. Received first-stage interaction-level reward.] [Reward acquired: [Blue Chest] *1]
So all the interaction points he'd accumulated before had been tallied at once?
A Taiwan Server chest!
Open it!
[Chest opened.] [Skill acquired: [Steel Tempest]] [Skill acquired: [Wind Wall]] [Skill acquired: [Sweeping Blade]] [Skill acquired: [Last Breath]]
As the rapid succession of notifications faded, Chen Ce froze.
This was...
The Way of the Wanderer!
The complete Way of the Wanderer, except for its passive!
Chapter 39: The Stirrup-Tights Overlord, Syndra
There was now one more person in the world who had mastered the Way of the Wanderer.
The moment the notification sounded, Chen Ce felt another stretch of "muscle memory" appear in his mind. Now, all he needed was a sword, and he could perform the Way of the Wanderer perfectly.
And he could probably use it with greater skill and finesse than Yasuo.
The Way of the Wanderer he'd mastered was at its maximum level, while Yasuo was still a little inexperienced at this point in time.
In terms of proficiency alone, perhaps no one but the late Elder Souma could surpass him.
Unfortunately, before he could borrow a sword and try out his new skills, word came from the village magistrate about the latest developments in Riven's trial. Everyone went over to hear what had happened.
The final verdict could be summed up in eight words: death sentence commuted, punishment still required.
There was conclusive proof that Riven had taken part in Noxus's invasion and murdered Elder Souma. But because she sincerely regretted her actions and had risked her life fighting the Noxian invaders during last night's attack, protecting the village's women and children, she was spared the death penalty.
It was worth mentioning that during the trial, not only Shava Konde but also several villagers had vouched for Riven's remorse and voluntarily asked for a lighter sentence. The magistrate took their opinions into account to some extent.
Of course, as the verdict said, she was spared the death penalty, but not the punishment.
Riven had to swear before Elder Souma's remains that she would never again help the Noxian invaders harm anyone in any way. She also had to make amends for her past crimes. There were several ways she could do so, such as farming, repairing roads, or serving the victims' families without condition.
Riven accepted the verdict and expressed her sincere gratitude.
After the magistrate's trial came the trial by the Resistance Army's leader, Blade Dancer Irelia.
As someone Riven had once nearly killed, and as the leader of all the Resistance Army members who had died, she had the right to judge Riven as well.
Her verdict was... to uphold the magistrate's judgment, with one additional condition: until the war ended, Riven had to serve the Resistance Army's logistics division without condition. She didn't have to fight on the front lines or kill Noxian invaders, but she had to make amends through hard labor to the Resistance Army members she had killed or injured.
Chen Ce had no objections and didn't take part in the trial. He could have judged Riven alongside Irelia as one of her victims, but he trusted Irelia's judgment.
It wasn't that he'd grasped the truth of "forgiveness" like Granny Shava. He just thought...
A free fighter was a free fighter.
There was no practical point in sentencing Riven to death, but keeping her alive would give the Resistance Army another T1-level fighter. At least in a war where everyone else was an ordinary person, Riven—who had come from an elite unit and been commended by the Noxian emperor, Braum Darkwill—certainly counted as a T1-level fighter.
After Riven's trial ended, Irelia and the others prepared to take everyone in the village back to Placidium.
"The carriages are for the women and children and the elderly who have trouble walking. The rest of us can walk back, right?"
As they were leaving, Irelia playfully patted Chen Ce on the back.
"Of course. I know you went through a fierce battle yesterday, so if you're too tired, I don't mind carrying you."
"It would be an honor to ride on the back of our great Resistance Army leader," Chen Ce replied playfully. "Just thinking about how smooth it would feel is enough to get me excited."
"Why would you suddenly say something like that..." His simple counterattack made the girl blush. She was so serious that she hardly ever joked with anyone, and she'd never made a risqué joke before.
"If you want to say something like that... you can whisper it to me in private tonight..."
"Tonight? Then it might be a long time before I can."
"Mm... Actually, I'm free the day we get back..."
"Yes, that's what I mean. It might be a long time before I get back."
"Huh?"
"My journey isn't over yet." Chen Ce reached out and ruffled the girl's hair, messing up her smooth locks like he was teasing the little girl next door. "I still need to find some more people who can help us fight the Noxian invaders."
"Huh?" Irelia sounded puzzled again, her voice carrying a note of reluctance and hurt. "Didn't you say before that you were only going to find the Windrider...?"
"Because I want to end this pointless war as soon as possible... Sorry, I'll have to go back on my word this time." Chen Ce gently patted the girl's head again, as if to comfort her.
A trace of disappointment flickered in her eyes, but she didn't say anything more or try to stop him. In the face of war, love between a man and a woman really did seem childish.
"Then tell me where you're planning to go first."
"My eventual destination is probably Fae'lor Island," Chen Ce replied. "I might make a few stops along the way, and I probably won't take a straight route."
"I see... Then if you run into any trouble, remember to write to me anytime."
"I will."
"So, we..." Irelia stood at the village entrance, watching the Resistance Army soldiers pass by in groups. The reluctance in her voice grew stronger. "We'll see each other again?"
"Yeah. See you." Chen Ce smiled and lowered his hand, gently brushing it over her right cheek.
The Resistance Army soldiers passing by had seen the scene often enough that they were more or less used to it.
Irelia didn't shy away or blush this time. She returned his warm embrace, then prepared to leave. "I hope you'll be safe and sound when I see you next."
"Likewise." Chen Ce waved goodbye.
The rain that usually fell during the wet season had finally let up, and the midday sunlight was warm and bright, but the mood was a little sad.
However... one Vastaya fox girl didn't really understand this strange atmosphere.
She only wanted to steal a swig of Corrupting Potion.
"Why is it empty again? Boss, you haven't refilled your potion in two days!" Ahri complained, holding up the empty bottle she'd stolen.
"Who said I didn't? I refill it every day. I just drank all of it these past two days." Chen Ce shrugged. "And if you steal my bottle again, I'm grabbing your tail."
"I only wanted to take a look. I wasn't going to steal a drink..." Ahri fearfully handed the bottle back.
"Besides, aren't you going with Irelia and the others?"
"Why would I go with her? She doesn't have any potions."
"If you stick with me, it'll be pretty dangerous."
"That's fine. If anything happens, I'll be the first to run... Ah, no, I mean, I'll definitely help you get through it, Boss!"
"...All right." Chen Ce shrugged and said no more.
Before you continue