Noxus Glory

Chapter 25 Good and Bad News: Leaving the Camp

"Who is it?"

In the quiet bedroom, Huo Jixing, who was sitting cross-legged on the bed, opened his eyes, his face filled with doubt.

Noxus camps have explicit prohibitions against moving around at night, and violators will be severely punished.

Who would dare to disregard the camp's rules and seek him out so late at night?

Looking out at the dark night, Huo Jixing hesitated slightly, wondering whether to open the door.

Then, as if remembering something, his eyes brightened, and he quickly got up and went downstairs.

Squeak!

The door was wide open, and in the hazy night, Huo Jixing saw a middle-aged man wearing a long robe with red and gray stripes.

Wilson!

Huo Jixing suppressed the excitement in his heart, turned his body to the side, and gestured for Wilson to come in.

Inside the living room, an oil lamp was lit.

Under the dim yellow light, Huo Jixing and Wilson sat facing each other.

A slightly somber atmosphere hung between the two. Huo Jixing looked at Wilson's gentle face, his bright eyes losing some of their luster, unable to hide his weariness.

It seems that I've been quite busy with work lately.

Moreover, given Wilson's special status as an advisor to the army, he seemed to be able to disregard the camp's prohibitions to some extent.

So what was his purpose in coming here? Was it knowledge about runes and magic? Huo Jixing secretly wondered.

"Don't overthink it, I have military orders to follow." Wilson spoke up, seemingly knowing what Huo Jixing was thinking.

"No one can disobey the camp's rules as long as General Darius is present."

Huo Jixing raised an eyebrow, noticing the change in Wilson's tone.

His words were fine until he spoke of General Darius, when his tone became more animated, the weariness in his bright eyes vanished, replaced by fervor and awe.

Is it Darius's charm?

Huo Jixing suppressed his curiosity and looked at Wilson, waiting for him to continue.

"Good news or bad news, which do you want to hear first?"

Noticing the silence, Wilson tapped the table and said jokingly.

"Uh..." Huo Jixing, who had been waiting intently, raised his face, a look of surprise on his face. He seemed not to have expected that Wilson, whom he remembered as gentle and serious, would have such a wicked hobby.

"Alright, no joke." Wilson hesitated for a moment, then said apologetically, "I'm sorry, but there's no way to teach you fire magic or other extraordinary skills at the camp for the time being."

"Most of the superhumans in the camp with free time are currently researching dark magic or runes, so..."

Huo Jixing nodded slightly, indicating his understanding. He had a premonition that there had been no reply for so long.

"Good news?"

"The good news is..." Wilson straightened his posture, gazed at Huo Jixing in front of him, and spoke.

"I have an old friend from the capital who, due to some unexpected circumstances, settled in a village near the Ironthorn Mountains. He has extraordinary knowledge of fire."

"I sent you a letter a while ago and just got a reply. The letter said that he can help the Empire and teach you about the supernatural and fire."

"One of the two?" Huo Jixing crossed his arms and unconsciously began to move them.

"Yes!" Wilson replied in a deep voice, "You can choose to stay at the camp, but the camp can only temporarily teach you about extraordinary knowledge; it cannot help with your fire abilities."

"What you might learn from my old friend concerns your fire abilities."

Huo Jixing lowered his head, a hint of hesitation flashing in his dark pupils. By choosing to stay at the camp, he could use the excuse of awakening in the wild to perfectly cover up the existence of the Southern Flame.

But recently, he discovered that the Noxian Empire seemed completely unconcerned about how he acquired his extraordinary abilities.

What the Empire needs is to learn how to use extraordinary abilities to serve the Empire more efficiently.

"Flame, the fire of the South, the Vermilion Bird," Huo Jixing murmured to himself, finally looking up to meet Wilson's gaze.

How far is it?

Upon hearing this, Wilson smiled, already knowing in his heart that Huo Jixing had made a choice.

"It's not far, it's also within the Iron Thorn Mountain Range. With your abilities, you can get there in about two days."

"This is my letter of recommendation. You can give it to my old friend later." Wilson took out a letter with sealing wax and a tattered map from his pocket and placed them in front of Huo Jixing.

"As for the map, the detailed locations are marked on it, so don't get lost."

Just before leaving, Wilson remembered something, stopped, turned back, looked at Huo Jixing in the room, and spoke.

"My old friend's name."

"Gregory!"

The starlight was faint and lonely, seeping through the dark clouds like a cold drizzle falling into the bedroom.

Huo Jixing sat cross-legged by the bedside, gently wiping the slender long knife in his hand. With each wipe, his slightly restless heart gradually calmed down.

Before yesterday, there was news about extraordinary knowledge that was still out of reach.

This rekindled his hope, which he had already given up on. After all, it concerned the existence of the data panel, and he wanted to use it to cover it up and avoid being targeted by others.

Memories from his past life told Huo Jixing.

The continent of Valoran is home to many gods and powerful creatures comparable to them. Within the Noxian Empire alone, there is more than one such being.

As dawn breaks, the sky gradually brightens.

Huo Jixing gazed at the sky ablaze with rosy clouds, sheathed his long sword, and rose to wash himself.

Whoosh!

The sound of running water filled the air. Huo Jixing buried his face in the basin, letting the cold water assault him. After a moment, he stood up, wiping his face as he looked at himself in the glass mirror.

He had a fair and handsome face, bright and piercing eyes, a tall and straight figure, and well-defined muscles in his arms and abdomen.

Coupled with his sharp and assertive demeanor, he resembles a battle-hardened soldier even more.

"My hair's gotten a bit long!"

Huo Jixing brushed the black hair that almost covered his eyes from his forehead, muttered softly, and then fiddled with scissors, cutting off the fine strands of long hair.

"Hmm, messy hair still looks better." He looked at himself in the glass mirror, his expression satisfied.

I've had breakfast.

Huo Jixing then went to see Eric and DeWitt, and briefly explained the reason for his departure.

Then, amidst their envious glances, they left the rest area.

He had carefully calculated the time he would be away this time. The rest time he originally had for his mission, plus the study time Wilson helped him apply for, would amount to exactly twenty days.

With ample time, he can properly study the extraordinary knowledge about the continent of Valoran.

Walking along the familiar bluestone mountain path, Huo Jixing could see the magnificent steel gate standing in the distance, and in front of the gate, a crowd of people that looked like a crimson dragon.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

Stepping out of the massive steel gate, Huo Jixing stood on a snow-covered hill, the biting wind whipping across his face.

He looked back at the bustling camp and thought to himself.

This is his second time leaving the Noxian camp. Hopefully, good luck will be on his side, and he will have a safe and successful journey.

With his feet firmly planted on the snowy path, Huo Jixing, following the map given to him by Wilson, embarked on this journey toward extraordinary knowledge along the Iron Thorn Mountains.

Huff! Huff!

On the snow-covered mountain road, a figure covered in snowflakes walked slowly through the desolate white snow, each step leaving a snow pit several feet deep.

This was the second day after Huo Jixing left the camp.

He had expected to witness the customs and scenery of Noxus along the way, but what he saw instead greatly disappointed him.

Most of the area consists of snow-capped mountains, and the roads are rugged mountain paths.

Most importantly, after leaving the camp, there was almost no one in sight.

Exhaling a breath of frost, Huo Jixing wiped the ice shards from his face, surveying the unchanging snow and ice landscape, his expression growing increasingly helpless.

The continuous snow-capped peaks and the vast expanse of ice and snow forests.

It was indeed a magnificent sight, but what he wanted was someone to ask for directions.

"Sigh!" Huo Jixing took out a map from his pocket, pointed along the marked road, and compared it with the route in his memory. It should be correct, right?

He glanced at the distant mountain peaks, shook his head, suppressed his emotions, and began to move forward again.

With his survival skills, he wasn't worried about starving to death, and he didn't mind sleeping outdoors. What he was worried about wasting time was the worst thing that happened to him.

I should have mentioned it to Wilson and sent someone familiar with the route to guide me.

Leave this place of right and wrong beneath your feet?

Huo Jixing had long since given up on such thoughts.

The Noxian Empire offered such excellent conditions: status, power, good food and drink, instruction in skills, and opportunities to learn extraordinary knowledge.

So why leave alone and gamble on an uncertain future?

The warmth brought by the midday sun dissipated.

Huo Jixing paused as he crossed the somewhat steep mountain path in front of him, then hurriedly took out a map and unfolded it.

"Mountains, forests, villages."

Comparing the different elements adorning the map, Huo Jixing murmured softly, finally placing his finger on the house representing the village.

"This is it, that's right!"

Putting away the map, Huo Jixing stood on the mountainside, looking down at the snow-covered village not far away, and finally witnessed the grandeur and wonder of the Iron Thorn Mountains.

Snow, ice, and clouds surround the peaks, connecting heaven and earth.

Nestled among the peaks and snow-covered forests, a village with human habitation is depicted in the landscape painting.

Upon seeing this beautiful scene, Huo Jixing opened his mouth, intending to compose a poem or lyric, but he was speechless for a moment.

Finally, with her head down and face flushed, she hurriedly walked down the mountain path.

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(End of this chapter)