Noxians

To keep Irelia from feeling bored, Li Ke told her stories incessantly while the carriage sped along.

Irelia was captivated by the Journey to the West stories he told, while Shen remained completely uninterested.

Li Ke didn't know what to make of this, as the Journey to the West he was telling Irelia was the authentic version, not that Saitama-style Journey to the West.

As it turned out, Shen was completely unimpressed.

"What a boring story! Stories that deliberately test the human heart are the most tedious of all."

That was Shen's assessment.

Irelia, however, didn't mind at all; right now, even if Li Ke just said the clouds were beautiful, she would find it interesting.

To ensure he wouldn't miss the battle like in his other simulations, Li Ke even painfully fed each of the two carriage horses a Kinkou Secret Medicine, giving them boundless energy to run for an entire day.

This gesture left Shen at a loss for words.

Although the ingredients for these pills were common, with only a few being expensive, he was well aware of Li Ke's financial situation.

In one word: Poor.

In two words: Destitute.

In three words: Penniless.

In four words: Bare walls.

He couldn't help but be surprised by Li Ke's extravagance; he knew that once these pills were gone, if Li Ke wanted more, he would either have to work to earn money for ingredients or go out and forage for them himself.

As for the money Meimu had promised?

It hadn't arrived yet, had it!

Because of this, he became increasingly convinced of Li Ke's claim that there were Noxians in the town ahead.

As for food for Irelia and Shen, Li Ke had prepared well before setting out: osmanthus cakes, high-quality cooked beef, and pancakes.

Irelia wasn't a picky eater, and Shen was the type who could continue a mission even while eating dirt and drinking water, so enduring a little was no problem.

However, this made things miserable for Lito, who was trailing behind.

When he rode over, he only had half a fried dough stick in his mouth. Although his horse was a fine one, he didn't have the luxury of feeding it secret medicine—or rather, he hadn't brought any in his haste.

Consequently, he could only chase and stop along the way. Every time he finally caught up, his horse would be exhausted, and he could only listen to his daughter's laughter while helplessly letting his horse rest.

He wasn't actually in such a rush anymore, because if his daughter could laugh, it proved she hadn't been harmed. It was likely just some other matter, so he could set his mind at ease...

Like hell he could!

Lito's blood pressure was rising higher and higher.

His daughter had been abducted by some wild man, and he didn't even know who!

Furthermore, the girl didn't show the slightest intention of resisting; she even looked a little happy?

If he hadn't been limited to the one horse he brought, and if he hadn't forgotten his money, he would have definitely made that guy in front—who had no idea how to care for a horse—understand the meaning of a father's fury!

You (Ionian profanity) dare lay a hand on my daughter?!

I'll (Ionian profanity)!

Do you hear me? I'll (Ionian profanity)!!

If I don't (Ionian profanity) you today, I'll (Ionian profanity)!!!

Lito's desire for slaughter was surging!

The journey passed in silence. Li Ke and Irelia marched at top speed for an entire day. Aside from stopping to handle personal needs and replenish food, Li Ke pushed forward as quickly as possible to ensure they arrived in time.

To his relief, he made it.

In a cold, desolate village, smoke curled from chimneys, yet there were no children playing in the streets, nor the sound of elders chatting.

There was only a deathly silence and a sensation that made one's skin crawl.

A young man draped in a burlap cloak carried a bowl of meat broth into the largest and most luxurious house in the village. He saw an Ionian woman—the village chief's daughter—trembling as she served his commanding officer.

As for the village chief?

The young man glanced at the corpse on the floor and couldn't help but reveal a ferocious grin.

They had done quite well, using themselves as bait, hoping to poison them all.

But unfortunately, because they didn't want to see their grandson poisoned, they had exposed themselves.

He placed the broth on the table, gave a military salute to the scarred captain, and reported with a smile.

"Sir, I watched them cook this bowl of broth myself, and I even had their children taste it first."

The captain nodded, picked up a bowl, and ladled himself some broth, enjoying the woman's service as he drank.

Perhaps satisfied by the delicious broth, or perhaps by the woman's service, he closed his eyes in contentment and let out a long sigh.

"It's truly wonderful. Ionia—the people here are so much easier to conquer than those in Shurima. With just a little bit of force, you can make them obey just like dogs."

Gently stroking the woman's hair, the scarred captain burst into laughter as she couldn't help but tremble.

He had killed her husband and her father, yet for the sake of her son, she still had to kneel on the ground and serve him like a bitch.

This feeling was exactly the motivation that drove him to keep climbing the ranks in Noxus.

The sensation of dominating the fates of others was simply marvelous.

"That's right, Captain. Compared to those unruly but scattered Shurimans, these Ionians are born to be disciplined by us. They aren't even qualified to become Noxians."

He pandered to his captain, but in his heart, he admitted it was true.

If it were Shurimans, once you killed their men and fathers, their women would stand up and fight you to the death.

If you killed one of her children, she would come for your head herself, or give birth to ten more just to kill you.

Compared to those desert dwellers, the Ionians were as docile as sheep.

"You're wrong. They are sheep, not people."

Stroking the woman's hair, feeling her hatred, trembling, and fear, he grew even more satisfied.

It was a psychological satisfaction that nothing else could provide.

"Is the meat in this village enough for our return trip?"

He opened his eyes and looked at his subordinates. They had come to steal a relic, gather intelligence, and map the area. Now that the mission was complete, it was naturally time to return.

Of course, on the way back, they would act as gentle and kind Noxians, so things like this could no longer be done.

"Not quite enough. This is a village known for its farming, so..."

The lieutenant wore a troubled expression, but the captain just sneered.

"Then do as we did in Shurima! Didn't I tell you?"

The captain grabbed the woman by her hair, looked at her terrified expression, and spoke with satisfaction.

"They aren't people; they are sheep."