After leaving the Shadow Order, Li Lin wasted no time traveling to Shon Xan Province, separated from northeastern Navori Province by only a snow-capped mountain range. Since Zed attacked the Kinkou Order, the surviving members, led by the Kinkou triumvirate—Shen, the Eye of Twilight; Mayym Jhomen Tethi, the Fist of Shadow; and Kennen, the Heart of the Tempest—had been hiding in the highlands of Shon Xan.
Thanks to his enhanced mental faculties, Li Lin could recall vague details of their hideout. With the aid of a scaled-down Runeterra mapping system, he soon pinpointed an abandoned temple located east of Saenjo Village, near Xuan Nayin Village. The southern valleys of the snow mountains were vast, dotted with diverse vegetation, scattered boulders, and remnants of crumbling walls. The treacherous terrain was prone to landslides, making it unsuitable for long-term habitation—an ideal refuge for those seeking to evade detection. The area was even rumored to be haunted.
Crossing the basalt ridges, Li Lin quickly reached his destination. As he landed, the crisp, melodic chirping of birds resonated through the surrounding trees. However, no matter how lifelike the imitation, his AI system easily discerned the sound as ninja signaling. Ignoring the hidden traps strewn along the path, he made his way to an emerald lake—a lagoon covered in violet lantern lilies, a common sight in Ionian lakes.
Before he could delve deeper into the area to locate the temple, a sharp, feminine voice stopped him in his tracks.
"Stop right there, outsider!"
Li Lin turned to see a young woman perched on a nearby tree branch, her single ponytail swaying in the breeze. Dressed in a dark green ninja uniform, armed with a kama and kunai, the girl glared at him with an intensity that belied her age.
"Akali Jhomen Tethi," he called her by name, surprising her.
"Huh? You know who I am?" she asked, curiosity evident.
Before she could interrogate him further, a voice filled with authority and anger interrupted them.
"Akali!"
Startled, Akali turned to see a graceful figure speeding toward her in a blur. Following close behind was a spherical object radiating pale lightning.
"Did you not hear the warning whistle from the sentries just now?!"
The woman's words lashed out as sharply as her gaze.
"And as a ninja, the successor to the Fist of Shadow, how could you reveal yourself so recklessly to a stranger? Have you forgotten Shen's teachings?"
Before Akali could respond, Mayym continued her scolding, her tone cold and unforgiving, as though speaking to someone far removed from familial ties.
"You... you've let me down, Akali."
Akali's lips trembled, tears welling in her eyes. Though Mayym always carried herself with an air of elegance and kindness, her demeanor shifted whenever she addressed her daughter, becoming harsh and unrelenting.
This had been the case ever since the calamity that befell the Kinkou Order five years ago. And after the incident four years ago, when a visit from the Navori Brotherhood cost Mayym's private apprentice—also the daughter of a deceased friend—her right leg, Mayym's attitude toward Akali had only worsened.
Nearby, the previously approaching sphere resolved into the form of a diminutive yordle clad in purple ninja garb, his face obscured by a mask—it was none other than Kennen, the Heart of the Tempest.
"Mayym, don't be so hard on Akali. This isn't her fault," he said, casting a sympathetic glance at Akali before turning his attention toward Li Lin. His gaze hardened, and the four-bladed shuriken in his hand sparked with electric energy.
"But as for this unexpected 'guest'... even if Shen, you, and I joined forces, we wouldn't stand a chance against him."
Hearing this, Li Lin raised an eyebrow in protest. "Wait, what do you mean by 'unexpected guest'? Didn't I send a machine with a letter to you all a week ago?"
Mayym and Kennen exchanged a look, recalling the humanoid automaton of pure steel that had delivered a letter devoid of any spiritual essence.
"Shen did receive a letter," Kennen whispered to Mayym and Akali, ensuring his words were out of Li Lin's earshot—though it was ultimately unnecessary. "But he never mentioned what was written in it."
"I made it clear I'd be visiting today," Li Lin interjected, catching on to their exchange. "Don't tell me Shen isn't here?"
Li Lin scratched a tuft of hair beneath his turban, feeling a little awkward. "Shen has gone out to fulfill his duties in maintaining balance."
Mayym had already stepped down as the Fist of Shadow and was now fully dedicated to training the next generation of disciples for the Kinkou Order. Most major matters of the order had fallen under Kennen's responsibilities. Knowing Shen's rigid personality, Li Lin wasn't particularly eager to interact with him anyway. No matter what arguments he could muster, Shen's unwavering adherence to the principles of "balance" left little room for flexibility.
"Fine," Li Lin said with a nod, pulling down his face covering. "I'll explain the reason for my visit in detail, but…" He raised an eyebrow and cast a pointed glance at Kennen and Mayym. "For an order whose name once resounded across all of Ionia, surely your hospitality isn't to leave a guest standing at the gates?"
Compared to the majestic and spacious monastery that once stood on the mountainside, the current state of the Kinkou Order was pitiful. The group now resided in a dilapidated temple. Too small to house everyone, the temple had forced the order's members to build makeshift thatched huts around it to shield themselves from the elements.
In the shadows of these crude dwellings, several pairs of cautious, curious eyes peeked out, belonging to the children of the Kinkou Order—its future hope. Many of these children had lost their parents during the internal conflicts of the order. Li Lin wasn't sure how to process the complicated emotions swirling in his heart.
Compared to the children he'd once seen in Zaun's orphanages, these kids were fortunate. At least they didn't have to grow up surrounded by the smog and deadly alchemical waste of Zaun. Yet they were also tragically unfortunate, their childhoods stolen by selfish, ruthless schemes. These children should have been given a chance at a happy childhood, growing into the guardians of balance between Ionia's spiritual and physical realms.
Although it had been Zed's hand that caused these tragedies, he was not the true villain. Without Kusho's orders, Zed would never have committed such atrocities against his brothers-in-arms.
Li Lin sighed softly, shaking off the distracting thoughts.
Akali, who had been scolded by her mother, had disappeared somewhere. For now, only Kennen and Mayym led the way. They guided Li Lin into the temple, whose broken roof was covered by the interwoven branches of ancient trees. From the ceiling, clusters of moonlit flowers—plants that glowed faintly at night—hung down like an elder's beard.
The three entered a side chamber devoid of bedrolls. Kennen fetched a grass mat woven from dried straw and bamboo for Li Lin to sit on, while Mayym poured him a cup of hot tea.
Over the next ten minutes, Li Lin explained his vision of the League of Legends and the calamities that threatened the world's future. Initially skeptical, Kennen and Mayym were finally convinced when Li Lin displayed a projection—mistakenly assumed to be a memory crystal—depicting his battle with Bel'Veth.
Compared to the impending disaster that loomed over Runeterra, the fragile balance of Ionia seemed trivial.
"It seems I was right all along," Mayym said, casting a glance at Kennen before adding bitterly, "We shouldn't have practiced nepotism. Hoping that Shen would live up to his father's greatness was a mistake. How could he not tell us about something so crucial?"
Kennen fell into a moment of awkward silence, struggling to find the right words. Finally, he muttered weakly, "The Eye of Twilight's duty is to observe the stars and remain wholly rational. Perhaps he has his own reasons."
"In any case," Li Lin interjected, "if Shen cannot attend the League of Legends meeting three weeks from now, I hope you'll send another representative capable of standing for the Kinkou Order."
His gaze landed on Kennen. "From what I know, the Heart of the Tempest's role is to follow the sun and mediate disputes between the 'Eye' and the 'Fist.' Your position within the Kinkou Order is critical. If possible, I would like you to represent your people."
Kennen hesitated for a moment before replying in a low voice, "I'll… try."
"Alright, since I've delivered my message, I won't overstay my welcome." Li Lin stood up and gave a polite Ionian bow. "May the spirits guide you through these trials."
Before Kennen and Mayym could say anything, the Infinite Armor engulfed Li Lin's body, glowing with blue-white magical light. In mere seconds, his figure vanished from the spot.
However, this time, he didn't leave the Kinkou Order entirely. Instead, he teleported to a secluded spot by a lagoon.
There, a petite figure was sitting by the water's edge, knees hugged to her chest, quietly sobbing. It was Akali, who had slipped away earlier.
Hearing movement behind her, she quickly turned, hastily wiping the tears from her delicate face. Her slightly swollen eyes were filled with panic. Yet, upon recognizing the familiar but peculiar armor she had just seen, her expression shifted, mixing confusion with surprise.
"It's… you?"
(End of Chapter)