Chương 100: Some things cannot be forsaken
(Teacher? Are you referring to... that man?)
It was evident that the demon harbored a profoundly hostile attitude towards the inheritor of the Infinite Sword Dao.
"...Ah, indeed." Xiaomu Yu nodded coldly.
(How did you know that this girl named Lux is that man's disciple?)
"My teacher informed me while imparting the Infinite Sword Dao," Xiaomu Yu replied with indifference.
(So, you were already aware that the girl was your junior sister when you first met in the Winter's Embrace Forest?)
The demon's voice faltered momentarily.
"Ah, yes, I recognized her at that time," Xiaomu Yu acknowledged with a cold nod. "My teacher had previously shown me the appearances of his two disciples through a mental projection, so when I saw her for the first time, I immediately identified her... the highest-ranking officer of the Demacian intelligence agency, an eighth-tier Light Mage."
(Then I fail to understand. If you care so much for that girl, why did you treat her like a stranger when you first encountered her in the Winter's Embrace Forest?)
"Transaction," Xiaomu Yu stated, his pace unbroken and his tone frigid. "To maximize the chances of the transaction's success, I must maintain a sufficient level of mystery. In this world, the unknown is the most terrifying force; only by preserving an aura of enigma and intimidation can I optimize the likelihood of completing that deal with Debon."
(Alright, I concede that you have a point, but... Human boy, are you really willing to confront a goddess for the sake of a junior sister you barely know? Human boy! Have you lost your mind?)
"…" Pausing for a moment, the indifferent man halted his advance.
His gray and white hair fell slightly as he bowed his head, partially veiling his cold expression, obscuring his features from view. "The Goddess of Youth... is currently very weak... very weak... I am not in danger."
(Very weak? Human boy, are you... jesting?)
Within the realm of consciousness, the demon's voice was low and oppressive, exuding an air of simmering fury, as if a volcano were on the brink of eruption.
(Do you realize you are courting death? Huh? Do you think a pitiful ant, no matter how strong, could ever bring down a feeble elephant? Human boy, we must flee! The Goddess of Youth has no interest in you; we should escape! The farther, the better! As for that Lux, let her fend for herself!)
(You have but one life! If you perish, who will save your beloved wife? Human boy! You must think this through! Your current actions are utterly foolish! Ridiculously foolish! That girl has no ties to you; you owe her nothing! Why should you concern yourself with her fate?)
"...What is mine, I will not evade," he said coldly, allowing his cascading gray and white hair to obscure his icy gaze. "What I owe, I shall never repay!"
(What you owe? Never repay? If you refuse to repay anyone else, then why do you feel compelled to return that man's favor? Why do you wish to save that man's disciple?)
"Because... in this world, there are certain things that cannot be abandoned, some... precious things. If I forsake them, I would no longer be myself."
With a voice as cold and indifferent as ice, the cloaked figure of the man gradually faded into the depths of the corridor...
...
As they turned the corner of the passageway, Jarvan and Shyvana abruptly halted in their tracks.
Before them lay a junction.
At this moment, the peculiar assembly standing at the crossroads was undeniably... strange.
A silver-haired woman, wielding a massive two-handed sword, and a Yordle resembling an adorable raccoon were engaged in a spirited debate over which path to take, while a red-haired little girl, cradling a fist-sized silver fox, giggled as she playfully teased the small creature.
However, Jarvan believed that if it were not for the magical web emanating from the girl's hands binding the seemingly terrified little fox, it would have likely fled long ago.
The commander of the Noxian Third Legion, Riven.
Jarvan was no stranger to this name; although the Third Legion was stationed in the coastal province of Tiris in eastern Noxus, with little contact with Debon's forces, Riven's other identity made her a frequent subject in intelligence reports, nearly on par with the current rulers of Noxus, the Darius brothers, and Swain—leader of the opposition.
Since the disappearance of several prominent generals, led by Darkwill, years ago, the situation in Noxus had descended into chaos.
Old aristocratic factions sought to reclaim their power from the military, while the Noxian military itself had fractured into two factions. One faction, led by the Darius brothers and strategist Swain, aimed to seek external support to stabilize the situation, while internally advocating for a ruthless crackdown on the rebellious nobles.
The other faction, under the leadership of Riven, the commander of the Noxian Third Legion, believed that the Darius brothers' bloody repression of their own kin, while seeking assistance from dubious factions like those from Zaun, was a betrayal of the true "Noxian Way" and warranted punishment.
Unfortunately, the combined might of Swain's unparalleled intellect and the Darius brothers' ironfisted military was too formidable; to preserve the integrity of Noxus and prevent their arch-enemy Demacia from exploiting the chaos, the opposing military factions could only feign agreement with the Darius brothers' political agenda.
In reality, the opposition had been engaging in covert maneuvers, convinced that the generals led by Darkwill would one day return, heralding the complete restoration of Noxian spirit.
As the de facto leader of such a significant faction, Riven, commander of the Third Legion, could not help but attract the attention of Demacian intelligence.
However, as Jarvan understood, this commander's temperament seemed somewhat... uncharacteristic of a politician?
If the intelligence was accurate, the reason this commander had become the leader of the opposing military faction was not only due to her formidable strength but primarily due to her charismatic personality that inspired her soldiers to follow her to their deaths. As for political acumen, the intelligence department's analysis concluded it was "ordinary, unremarkable."
Nevertheless, upon witnessing this peculiar assembly before him, Jarvan suddenly conceived an idea.
An alliance.
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