Deep Hatred

When it came to hurling insults, Shen, a man of the old world, was no match for Li Ke, who had survived the internet age.

To put it mildly, the number of insults Li Ke could conjure up far exceeded the number of poems and songs he could recall.

This wasn't because Li Ke's head was filled with trash, but rather because while he rarely saw or used poetry in his daily life, insults were ubiquitous—whether on forums, in games, or across various message boards.

Sarcasm, veiled accusations, "Zaun-tier" keyboard warring, and so on—the high pressure of modern life led people to use the internet as a dumpster for their negative emotions, and naturally, endless streams of trash talk followed.

So, although it wasn't exactly a point of pride, Li Ke could guarantee that in this world, there was no one.

Absolutely no one.

Who understood how to insult and provoke people better than he did.

"Forget it, you..."

Shen took a deep breath, forcing his surging emotions to settle. Li Ke's words seemed to possess a strange magic, making him unable to help but take them seriously, as if he had dealt with this guy many times before.

Shen scoffed at the thought, for before Li Ke had appeared before him, he was merely a swordsman seen everywhere, nothing particularly remarkable.

However, having had his mental state toyed with by Li Ke, he no longer intended to show himself to him.

No one likes being followed, not even by the Kinkou Order, so he knew full well that if he stayed with Li Ke, he would inevitably be subjected to all sorts of mockery and provocation.

"But since you didn't mess up the formula for the elixir, I won't bother you any further."

Having said that, Shen prepared to leave. Li Ke had no intention of keeping him either, as his presence would only introduce variables into his simulation.

But just as Shen was about to leap out the window, a sudden inspiration struck Li Ke, and he grabbed the back of Shen's pants.

Shen's leaping form jerked to a sudden halt. Instead of landing on the opposite roof, he plummeted downward. Had he not reacted with lightning speed to brace himself with his hands, his handsome face would have surely slammed hard into the wall.

But the biggest problem was that his pants had fallen off.

A shriek erupted from the street below, and Li Ke let out a sheepish laugh.

Back inside the room, pulling up his pants, Shen drew the steel sword from his back. Looking at the somewhat embarrassed Li Ke, he asked his question.

"What kind of offerings do you like?"

Li Ke scratched his head. This had been an accident; he hadn't meant for it to happen. Who would have thought the renowned Shen wore such shoddy belts? It snapped with the slightest tug!

And what he hadn't expected even more was...

Shen's backside was firmer than most women's—truly the Ionian booty of the century.

"You like clear water? I understand."

Shen walked toward Li Ke, his face expressionless, the killing intent in his heart reaching its peak.

He had lived this long, and even his father had never treated him like this. Today, Li Ke had truly opened his eyes and made him lose face; it would be hard to settle this without someone dying.

Besides, he couldn't stay in Ionia anymore. He'd have to find a way to Demacia, find a place where no one knew him, and spend the rest of his days there.

"No, no, no! I'm a man who loves the good life—preferably with a beautiful wife and concubines, surrounded by beauties!"

Li Ke backed away, explaining himself. He loved fine silks, good food, and great wine, along with a beautiful wife who loved him back, a sense of purpose, and a grand estate.

This was the one thing he couldn't let be desecrated; he had to refute Shen.

He could only dream of such things before he transmigrated, and if he could still only dream of them after, wouldn't his journey have been in vain?

"I know."

Shen nodded expressionlessly. He now held a deep, irreconcilable grudge against Li Ke; he had to kill him!

"But I will only give you clear water, so you had better learn to like it!"

"..."

"Any last wishes?"

"I want to live to a ripe old age, preferably twenty times that of Nobunaga."

"Who is Nobunaga?"

"A guy in his fifties who really liked barbecue."

"..."

"How about it?"

"Do you have any last words?"

"Hey! What about the last wish?!"

"There is no such thing!"

After a chase, Li Ke finally let Shen land two punches on his back, and the matter was considered settled. Both of them felt hungry afterward, so Li Ke suggested they go grab a meal. Shen had intended to refuse, but looking at the restaurant Li Ke pointed to, then at the dry rations in his own pocket, he shamefully betrayed his father's teachings.

It couldn't be helped; he was, after all, still a young man.

Staring at the hotpot in front of him, Shen placed some lamb into his bowl, downed the fruit wine he had previously sworn he wouldn't touch, and began to speak to Li Ke.

"As expected, the lamb at this place is still as delicious as ever. Let me tell you, the sheep here are something special. They are fed high-quality forage every day, and what's more..."

He spoke with great authority, like a true Ionian food critic, clearly knowledgeable about the breeding and raising of the sheep. It was obvious he had been here many times.

But Li Ke preferred the fruit wine.

This fruit-flavored "wine," after being chilled in a deep well, tasted much like modern iced beer. Moreover, thanks to the exceptionally high quality of the raw ingredients, the flavor was superb—leaving a lingering sweetness on the palate without ever going to one's head.

Though, in truth, fruit wine didn't contain much alcohol to begin with.

Li Ke felt that for a ninja like Shen, even if he had already broken his vows, it was better not to lead him further astray.

Yet, no sooner had he thought this than a slightly unsatisfied Shen spoke up.

"The wine you ordered just doesn't cut it. If it were up to me, I would have ordered Moon Dew Wine; otherwise, it's just not satisfying..."

Li Ke's hand trembled. Moon Dew Wine was one of the strongest spirits in all of Ionia, on par with vodka, erguotou, or lao bai gan.

Compared to such things, the fruit wine before him was indeed bland and tasteless.

"I thought... ninjas were supposed to be ascetic."

After taking a sip of his fruit wine, Li Ke muttered this silent jab. Shen, who had been in high spirits, immediately began to stutter. Blushing, he toyed with his wine cup, struggling to defend himself.

"How can one abstain from alcohol without understanding its dangers? It is precisely because one must understand its harm that one learns why it must be avoided. Therefore, drinking is a form of cultivation. Can matters of cultivation truly be called 'drinking'?"

Heh.

Li Ke chuckled and dropped the subject. Shen, eager to change the topic as well, brought up the real reason for their meeting.

"You have some issues, you know. You seem to attract spirits and monsters, which is not a good thing. That is why I have been tailing you... Originally, my father told me to remain covert. I was to see if you were in any danger; if it were related to demons or spirits, I would intervene. If not, I was to leave you to your own fate. But you acted so strangely after taking that medicine..."

Shen still felt a bit embarrassed, though not about tailing Li Ke, but rather because he had assumed Li Ke had taken the wrong medicine without being one hundred percent sure.

This served as a reminder to Li Ke: while Shen was following him, if Li Ke were to court death by provoking powerful enemies that weren't demons, Shen would not lift a finger.

Li Ke didn't mind. He was actually quite afraid of ghosts, so he didn't mind being followed. He would even welcome Kusho to tail him as well—he wouldn't mind if they watched him even while he used the restroom.

They were all men, after all; what was there to be afraid of?

However...

Raising his glass with interest, he asked a question that had long piqued his curiosity, his tone carrying a deeper meaning.

"I don't mind that. After all, that is what the Kinkou Order does; you do not interfere in mortal affairs. But I am curious: if Noxus were to invade Ionia, would you still not intervene?"

Shen's expression darkened instantly, but he still gave his reply.

"That is correct. We would not."