Noxus Glory

Chapter 33 The Gear of Fate and the Legend of the Shadow Bear

In the following days.

Because Gregory had to take care of Amorline, who was plagued by nightmares, he couldn't spend much time teaching Hojira, so he advised him to go out more.

The village is surrounded by mountains and dense forests, and as you venture deeper into the village, you'll encounter many powerful wild beasts.

Huo Jixing was more than happy to oblige, as it would allow him to hone his skills while also venturing into the mountains to hunt wild animals and improve Amoline's diet.

This tranquil and leisurely time almost made Huo Jixing forget the cruel war in the North, and he felt as if he had returned to his rural village in his previous life.

Unfortunately, they were caught in the gears of fate.

After all the twists and turns, everything will eventually get back on track.

On this day, during a leisurely afternoon.

The swirling snowflakes rarely stop.

Warm sunlight pierced through the clouds and, carried by the cold wind, fell upon the village houses.

Having just returned from the snow-capped mountains, Huo Jixing pushed open the door to return to the wooden house, took off his fur cloak, and went to the backyard dressed lightly.

Before even starting her workout, she spotted Amoryn basking in the sun and rocking back and forth in an armchair not far away.

Oh dear! Oh dear!

The armchair wobbled, making a slight, sharp sound.

Perhaps she hadn't fallen asleep yet, Amoryn turned her head upon hearing footsteps, and a smile immediately appeared on her cool face when she saw Huo Jixing.

"It's still early. Why are you back so soon? Did you hunt something good?"

Compared to a few days ago, the Gregorys' attitude towards him has changed significantly.

From initial friendliness to later familiarity, and now to equal status and reverence.

It all began with his revealed, terrifying talent involving Protoss powers.

"I came back empty-handed after wandering around for a bit." Huo Jixing shrugged, adopting an indifferent attitude.

He was a scout, not a professional hunter.

It's impossible to hunt wild animals every time you go out.

"Where is Mr. Gregory? Is he still doing research in his study?" Huo Jixing walked up to Amoline, held onto the back of the chair, and gently rocked it.

Regardless of how others' attitudes changed, Hojising remained humble towards the Gregorys.

Treat others with sincerity, and they will treat you with sincerity in return!

"He's in the study on the second floor," Amoryn said softly, her expression much better than before the nightmare, as she wrapped herself tightly in the blanket.

"Now it should be his meditation time!"

"He skipped a lot of his regular homework to take care of me a few days ago."

Huo Jixing nodded slightly, his tall and straight body standing in front of Amolin, blocking some of the cold wind from getting in.

The gaze passes over the low, gray-white stone wall.

He saw the villagers walking away through the snow, forming small groups of two or three, each carrying some food or supplies.

That was the wages Amoryn gave them.

The living room and fireplace, which had been damaged in the battle, have been repaired by the villagers. Their hard work during this period has allowed them to stock up on supplies for the winter.

Amoryn, seeing the villagers leaving, said, "After dusk, some dry firewood will be brought over, and the fireplace will be lit again."

Although the courtyard and rooms are inscribed with runes to maintain a certain temperature.

But in the dead of winter, it's still more comfortable to be by the fire.

Huo Jixing stood there, looking at the sallow-faced and emaciated villagers, a strange feeling rising in his heart.

Fragments of memories from the past, along with the scene before my eyes, slowly merged and surfaced in my mind.

Just over two months ago, his life was even worse than that of the villagers before him.

They had no fixed abode and wandered throughout the empire.

Furthermore, due to some unexpected events, the original was forcibly conscripted into becoming a glorious Noxian soldier and brought to the northern border.

Although his physical abilities were decent and his skills were passable, he was ultimately no match for the clan warriors of Winter's Claw and nearly perished in Freljord.

Then I took the data panel and usurped the position.

After that, it's all about fighting and risking your life.

Ultimately, he unlocked the [Talent: Star Spirit: Vermilion Bird] and became a transcendent being.

Upon returning to camp, they gained the attention and favor of the Noxian Legion advisors and were introduced to the village.

He learns extraordinary knowledge from Gregory and lives a life completely different from his predecessor.

The art of craftsmanship, the secret to extraordinary skill.

Huo Jixing is no longer the ignorant and clueless person he was when he first transmigrated. He has now embarked on the path of the extraordinary and even possesses terrifying talents related to the Star Spirits.

If you calculate it carefully...

He had been in the village for about half a month, and most of his study time had passed. He had six days left before returning to the Noxian camp.

To be honest, such tranquil moments are indeed appealing and perfect for lying down.

If it were in his previous life, he would have liked it very much.

"Unfortunately, this is no longer the life I want!" Huo Jixing suddenly felt nostalgic for the days of living a life of constant danger in Freljord.

The thrill of fighting to the death, the passion of extraordinary clashes.

A deep-seated curiosity also compels him to explore the mysteries of the continent of Valoran.

When they came to their senses again, the villagers had already disappeared at the end of the muddy road.

Huo Jixing gently shook his head, suppressing his thoughts, and looked down at Amoline, who was basking in the sun on the armchair.

Suddenly, he paused, and some fragmented images flashed through his mind.

Pregnancy. The identity of a fire wizard apprentice, the inexplicable sense of familiarity lingering in her heart, is losing its veil, and the truth is becoming increasingly apparent.

"Oh, I've been sleeping too much lately, and I forgot to tell you something." Amoryn seemed to be sewing something, with a ball of yarn wrapped around her sweater.

"When hunting in the mountains, don't go too deep. There are rumors about the Shadow Bear in the village. It likes to protect the weak, but hates it when others enter its territory."

"Shadow Bear, is it a supernatural creature?"

Huo Jixing answered casually, but the next moment, a look of surprise and astonishment appeared on his face.

Before he could react, he saw Amoryn take out a half-finished teddy bear from the armchair, press it against her cool face, and gently shake it.

Its body is a mix of brown and white fur, with clumps of sewn thread hanging down its arms, thighs, and abdomen. Its face, lacking two eyes, sways from side to side as Amoline moves, as if it is laughing at something.

The moment I saw the doll.

No matter how much Huo Jixing didn't believe it, he had to admit the truth.

"You motherfucker, Shadow Bear!?!"

Then, under the effect of [photographic memory], the hazy veil in Huo Jixing's mind was completely shattered.

Numerous memories flooded back.

In the final years of Brown Darkwell's reign, many people with magical abilities left the capital and settled in relatively peaceful, remote provinces.

The Ironthorn Mountains, on the northern border of the Noxian Empire.

The traveler leaving the capital, the mysterious sorcerer Gregory in grey, encounters Amoryn, who is hiding her identity, in the dense forests of the mountains.

At the time, Amoryn had just escaped from the academy and was in a weakened state in order to avoid being pursued along the way.

Under the gears of fate, the two met and embarked on a journey together.

In the villages of the Iron Thorn Mountains, he built his own dwelling and educated the villagers.

There are also legends circulating in the land that once roamed the land as giant shadow bears, protecting the weaker animals.

And Tiberium, the demon who accompanied Amoryn as she left the sealed land, seeking to regain her freedom.

Finally

Annie, the Dark Child!

"Xingxing? What's wrong?"

Amoryn, who was holding up the teddy bear, looked at Huo Jixing, who was standing in front of her in a daze, with a puzzled expression.

They were chatting and laughing just a moment ago, but their expression changed drastically when they saw the teddy bear.

Is it that they dislike dolls, or that they don't believe the rumors about Shadow Bear?

Hearing Amoline's call in his ear, Huo Jixing came back to his senses, lowered his gaze, looked at the brown teddy bear and Amoline with her pregnant belly, and felt a strange emotion rising in his heart.

"Am I witnessing the birth of Anne?"

The Gregory couple had calculated the due date, and Amoline was expected to give birth in about a month. Arrangements for the delivery had already been made.

"It's nothing, I just didn't expect you to be able to sew dolls!" Huo Jixing shook his head and joked.

"This is a gift I prepared in advance for the baby. I hope she will like it." Amoryn stroked her soft belly, a gentle and loving expression appearing on her usually cool face.

"Gregory and I will protect her forever, just like the legendary Shadow Bear, and we will never let her get hurt."

Looking at the scene before him, Huo Jixing couldn't help but recall Amoline's nightmare and the fiery shadow in the dream.

Whether it was related memories from his past life or what he saw and heard in his dreams, everything was telling him.

The nightmares that haunt Amoline were not unfounded, but rather premeditated.

Perhaps Amoline herself knew, but it was her secret.

Huo Jixing wouldn't curiously inquire, just as Amoline and Gregory never asked him in depth about the Southern Flame.

He and Amoryn sunbathed in the courtyard for a while longer, then pushed her back into the house in an armchair.

By dinner time, the fireplace in the living room was already lit.

As Amoryn and Gregory talked about dolls and children, Hojixing listened intently while eating his dinner, finding it quite enjoyable.

This is different from discussing the situation in the Noxian Empire.

He is currently experiencing the birth of Anne, the Dark Child, and her parents, Gregory and Amoryn, are making all sorts of jokes without any restraint.

Perhaps in the future, Annie will call herself brother, or even uncle?

In a daze, Huo Jixing felt a sense of temporal displacement, as if the illusory story of his past life was intertwined and fused with the real scene of the present.

And he was one of the people who experienced it firsthand!

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(End of this chapter)