Yasuo couldn't calm down.
When he learned that "two Noxians were in the dojo," his heart almost stopped on the spot—in fact, Yasuo should have been there a few hours earlier when Dean arrived at the dojo.
Although as the war grew in scale, more and more disciples from this dojo were dispatched to fight against the invaders, Yasuo was an exception; as a master of the Wind Style, he was specifically left behind to protect the dojo as Elder Souma's bodyguard.
However, young people often lack patience. At dusk, the wind carried the sound of Noxian war drums, and seeing that the dojo was safe, he finally couldn't suppress his desire to step onto the battlefield. He temporarily left the dojo and headed towards the valley.
Yet, in that valley, what awaited Yasuo was not a battle, but a living hell.
Hundreds, even thousands, of corpses lay silently on the ground, including both Ionians and Noxians.
A terrible stench permeated the land, and under the effect of the poisonous gas, it seemed even the wind had come to a standstill.
Yasuo had never seen such a sight; he stood frozen, and only after a long while did he remember to look for possible survivors—but regrettably, there were no living souls.
A distraught Yasuo finally returned to the dojo quietly in the dead of night, only to find the dojo's gate wide open. His heart sank, and he quickly entered to search for Elder Souma.
Just as cold sweat was about to soak through his clothes, he finally found Elder Souma enjoying the moon in the courtyard. Before he could even open his mouth to ask, the sound of a struggle came from inside the Meditate room behind him. He then quickly rushed to the scene, protecting Elder Souma.
He immediately questioned them, while Elder Souma calmly responded and introduced the two uninvited guests of the night.
"This is Dean, a poor child being hunted by Noxians," Elder Souma said, pointing to Dean. "He possesses some special abilities coveted by the Noxians, and he fled all the way here."
Hearing Elder Souma say this, Yasuo's brow relaxed slightly—Ionia was currently facing a Noxian invasion, so since Dean was also persecuted by Noxus, his presence here and the dojo taking him in was only natural.
"And this is Riven," Elder Souma said, pointing to Riven. "As you can see, she is someone who is unwilling to continue fighting for Noxus... a person who has seen the error of her ways."
Elder Souma did not elaborate on Riven's identity.
But this vague language was an expression in itself.
So, Yasuo's gaze swiftly skipped over Dean and meticulously scrutinized Riven before him, from head to toe.
The more closely he observed her, the tighter his brow furrowed.
Yasuo realized that the style of this woman's armor was almost identical to that of the Noxians he had seen in the valley!
Realizing this, he immediately placed his hand on his sword hilt: "You were a Noxian soldier before!"
Seeing this, Riven also instinctively gripped her sword hilt.
"She doesn't understand ionian," Dean stepped forward to block Riven, preventing the atmosphere from becoming awkward. "She used to be, but she isn't anymore."
"It was the Shadow Order that attacked her just now, wasn't it?" Yasuo continued to ask, "Those targeted by the Shadow Order are all important Noxian figures."
"The Shadow Order's target was me," Dean said, pointing to the bloodstains on his fist. "Besides important Noxian figures, targets useful to Noxus—even if they are Ionians—will become the Shadow Order's prey."
Yasuo wanted to say more, but remembering some rumors circulating among his fellow disciples, he ultimately just narrowed his eyes and said nothing further.
He was not a conventional person, but he had his own sense of justice and conviction. Knowing the Shadow Order's reputation, he naturally disdained to argue.
"Moreover, we won't be staying here for too long," Dean said, seeing his expression, and continued with a smile, "I came here just for a place to stay; and Ms. Riven is here to make a clean break with her past. Elder Souma has already approved these, so you don't need to be too nervous."
"That's for the best."
Yasuo was noncommittal, but finally took a step back and stood behind his master.
"So you are leaving?" Elder Souma looked puzzled. "If it truly was the Shadow Order trying to assassinate you, then if you leave the dojo, it might be even more dangerous."
"Elder has already helped me a lot," Dean shook his head. "As for danger... honestly, I'm used to danger. Believe me, compared to the Black Rose, the Shadow Order isn't too dangerous."
"Although I don't know what that Black Rose you speak of is," Elder Souma sighed, "your path is yours to decide. As for Ms. Riven?"
"The same, hers to decide."
With that, Dean relayed Yasuo's earlier questions to Riven.
Riven didn't ponder for too long and decisively chose to act with him—since she had already made up her mind not to serve the empire anymore, acting with this unlucky fellow, who was also hunted by the empire, wasn't a big problem.
Moreover, Dean had not yet dispelled the magic of his greatsword. Although their current state of being able to hear each other's thoughts was a bit awkward, it could help her quickly learn ionian, and she should make good use of it.
As for whether acting with Dean would encounter any danger...
To be honest, Riven had never worried about encountering danger—whether on or off the battlefield.
....................
The night passed without incident.
When Riven woke up in the guest room the next morning and dressed, Dean was already preparing for their departure.
After she had changed and left her room, Dean was at the table, carefully examining a map.
"So, where's the destination?" Seeing this, Riven couldn't help but lean over to look. "Where are you planning to go?"
"Here," Dean said without lifting his head, drawing a zigzag line on the map. "First to the Equilibrium Temple, then to Puboe."
"Equilibrium Temple... Puboe..." Riven tried to pronounce the ionian names of the two places. "What for?"
"Going to the Equilibrium Temple is to resolve the issue of the Shadow Order's pursuit," Dean glanced at the map again, then nodded firmly as if having made up his mind. "And Puboe is the largest Vastaya settlement in Navori—I need to go there to inquire about the Garden of Forgetting."
"Garden of Forgetting?"
"A legendary memory palace," Dean looked up, first smiling and nodding at Riven, then carefully began to roll up the map. "You should remember I said I sealed part of my memories. Now that I've escaped the Black Rose's pursuit, it's time to unseal them."
"You didn't leave yourself a key to the seal?" Riven was a little curious. "Messing with your own memories, that sounds quite... unbelievable."
"No key, only clues," Dean rolled up the map and put it into a leather tube at his waist. "All for safety reasons."
Riven nodded, half-understanding.
"I've cooked porridge," Dean put away the map and motioned for Riven to sit down. "You woke up just in time—have some. Once we've eaten, we'll set off."
As he spoke, a bowl of porridge was already handed to Riven. Riven didn't recognize the specific type of grain in the bowl, but the fragrant aroma made her appetite stir.
"Although I have a bit of pica," Dean said, seeing Riven hesitate a little, and sat down opposite her with a smile, "but trust me, when my magic addiction is satisfied, I'm a genuine gourmet!"
"Gourmet?" Riven looked puzzled. "Didn't you say you were the Black Rose's..."
"Being a test subject is already bitter enough," Dean served himself a bowl of porridge. "So if there's a chance, you always have to give yourself a little sweetness, right?"
Hearing this, Riven picked up the wooden spoon skeptically, scooped a spoonful of porridge into her mouth—the porridge was rich in aroma and sweet in aftertaste, making her unable to stop, eagerly scooping a second and third spoonful.
This was a taste she had never experienced. In her memory, the only thing that could rival this bowl of porridge was the harvest feast she used to eat as a child at the Triviel state farm after the autumn harvest.
A faint taste of hope.
In a trance, Riven devoured the clear porridge in the bowl like a whirlwind. Only when the wooden spoon hit the bottom of the bowl did she come back to her senses.
Slightly embarrassed, Riven tried to force a smile to cover it up, but could only stiffly twitch her facial muscles—having not smiled for too long, she no longer knew how to smile.
Fortunately, Dean had already finished his bowl of porridge and had stood up to pack the last of their belongings, not seeing this scene. Feeling a little calmer, Riven then stood up, picked up the porcelain bowl and wooden spoon, and quickly followed behind Dean.
After hearing her footsteps, Dean urged softly:
"It's best to reach Yun Gu Tan (Cloud Valley Pool) today; there's still a long way to go!"
"Mhm," Riven nodded. "No problem."