Shifting Tides in Ionia

The first time he "crossed over," he wanted to grow stronger, which was why he trained in swordsmanship and qi in that dreamlike world.

The second time he "crossed over," he wanted to play it safe and live peacefully, so he received a peaceful life.

"Will things change because of my choices? How interesting. But what exactly is that river? Did the qi and spiritual energy I sent out go to another world?"

Thinking this, Li Ke lightly tapped his head. The memories that had appeared out of nowhere felt like something from a dream, yet they would inadvertently affect his actions.

It was a strange feeling, truly like a dream—except the dream could still affect his body.

But qi was real, and so was the vitality it fed back to him. With a slight exertion, he could feel that he was roughly one-tenth stronger than before. Though he had yet to surpass the limits of humanity, the qi he had gained allowed him to perform feats beyond human capability.

"Although spiritual power cannot be fed back, as long as I continue refining it and my body continues to be nourished by vitality, my spiritual power will naturally grow stronger."

Lying down on his bed, all gloom had completely vanished from Li Ke's heart. For him, the extraordinary path that had once seemed impossible to walk had now opened before him. It was truly an exciting thing.

Unfortunately, his spiritual power was not enough to support another "crossing over," so he fell asleep in bed with excitement in his heart.

But while he slept and recovered his spiritual power, the turmoil in Ionia began as well.

In Elder Souma's hall, an elder from another village watched Yone pour him tea. As he enjoyed the fragrance of the tea leaves, he looked solemnly at Elder Souma before him.

"It is said that the Noxian legions are about to land on Ionian soil. Some of the elders of Placidium wish to ask you to lead the others in resisting the Noxians."

Elder Souma raised an eyebrow slightly. The Noxians had coveted Ionia for far more than a day or two, but this was still their first operation on such a large scale.

"However, before a guest shows hostility, preparing blades and swords may provoke a battle. To be honest, I am concerned about that."

"I am worried about that too, but Noxus's wolfish ambitions are already obvious! Even a three-year-old child can see what they are planning!"

The guest seemed somewhat agitated. He did not even intend to drink the calming tea before him.

"Yes. They have come to invade."

Elder Souma sighed softly. Of course he knew that these Noxians harbored ill intent, but he had still vaguely refused before, using the "peace" that Ionians could never reject to dissuade the man before him.

Because he understood one thing clearly.

Once he joined the fighting, his disciples would die in battle against the Noxians.

He was old. He was no longer the Wind Swordsman who had once traveled the world alone, driven by nothing but burning passion. He was an elder now, watching over his dojo and training the children of his birthplace so that they could survive in Ionia's dangerous world.

But unfortunately, the Wind Technique had never had any particularly promising successors. The only one who could inherit his legacy was Yasuo...

Elder Souma looked at Yasuo in the courtyard, his ears perked up as he waited to hear Souma permit the disciples to fight and kill enemies, and could not help sighing softly.

What the young disciples saw was the glory and passion that came after killing enemies. To them, this was a chance to prove themselves.

But to an old man like him, it meant personally sending his children onto the battlefield.

If Yasuo died on the battlefield, the Wind Technique would be completely lost. If Yone died on the battlefield, there would be no one left to restrain the reckless, arrogant Yasuo who always acted rashly.

His wind had reached the time to stop, but these children's winds had not yet reached the time to soar. So even though keeping them from the battlefield would leave them dissatisfied and unable to display their martial skills...

Elder Souma still did not wish to be the one to start the conflict.

Especially when it meant personally sending his children onto the battlefield.

"But Elder Souma, what if we lose the initiative?"

The visitor pressed him step by step. Elder Souma did not know how to answer. If he had been younger, even just ten years younger, he would certainly have agreed and led his disciples to the coast without another word to intercept the Noxians.

But he was old.

"No. Starting a fight without cause is not the style of the Wind Technique, so forgive me, but I cannot comply."

His words made the visitor's expression turn ugly, but both of them knew this dispute would not end so easily. The Noxians had not arrived yet, so the visitor believed he had plenty of time to persuade Elder Souma to rise up. Elder Souma, meanwhile, had absolute confidence that the visitor would leave empty-handed.

Because he lived among his children.

Even so, Elder Souma could not help looking toward Li Ke's room. He could rest easy about the other disciples, but Li Ke and Yasuo alone were different.

Yasuo had a problem with his temperament, while Li Ke had a problem with his body. Sometimes, Souma often thought about how wonderful it would be if Li Ke possessed Yasuo's talent, or if Yasuo had Li Ke's calm temperament.

Now that war was imminent, Li Ke was not strong enough to protect himself in battle. As for Yasuo, his temper could still be corrected through Souma's guidance.

So it was time to send Li Ke away, to a place that would not be affected by the war.

As he listened to the words of his childhood friend, now a lobbyist, Elder Souma's thoughts remained on Li Ke. He intended to use the excuse of delivering a letter to send Li Ke to live in another village and avoid the battles that might come later.

And just in case...

Souma glanced again at the indifferent Yasuo nearby and sighed softly.

"It would be better to entrust the secret scrolls of the Wind Technique to Li Ke for safekeeping."

Having made his decision, Souma smiled and continued speaking with the lobbyist. But the conversation was destined to yield no result. In the end, the lobbyist angrily left Elder Souma's dojo at dusk without even eating dinner.

When Li Ke awoke, news of the matter was already spreading wildly among the disciples. Even the disciple who brought him food could not help mentioning it, causing the initially cheerful Li Ke to instantly think of a tragedy that would happen in the future.

"Noxus is going to invade? Then that means... Elder Souma is about to die?"

Looking toward Elder Souma's room, Li Ke silently clenched his fist.