LOL: Let me touch your steel

"It's me who wants to talk to you."

Zhang Xu nodded frankly and went straight to the point: "I would like to invite you to go to Shurima with me."

“To Shurima?”

Hearing this, Sheng raised his eyes and showed an interested look on his face: "So, Wukong, have you decided to go to Shurima?"

"In that case...it will be boring for me to be alone in the fighting arena. In that case, I will go with you."

"what?"

Zhang Xu was confused by Sheng's answer. At first, he thought this guy would decisively reject him. Lobbying this guy is not like persuading Seti. At least Seti has a reference, and he can persuade him according to the symptoms.

But he knew nothing about Sheng.

He didn't know how he should seduce this guy, but -

The development of the matter was completely beyond his expectations.

As if seeing Zhang Xu's confusion, Sheng pointed at Seti and explained with a smile: "I've long been tired of the work in the fighting arena. I stayed there all this time because I wanted to fight him."

"I really want to see what a half-blood boy can do. Unfortunately, you intercepted him. If he goes back to Shurima with you, there is no need for me to stay in the fighting field. It doesn't matter to me where he goes."

Oh!

This damn feeling of relaxation.

Hearing this, Seti gradually showed a smile on his face: "Half-blood boy... If you want to fight me, just ask me anytime. I am also looking forward to fighting with you."

"Excuse me...is this Sheng's home?"

A soft but firm voice sounded from the door. Looking back, it was Irelia and Akali who were dressed in casual clothes.

"I am."

Sheng walked out. After being in the fighting arena for so long, he was not so surprised that he could not recognize Irelia, the leader of Ionia. But it was because he recognized Irelia that he was surprised.

Aren’t there too many people coming to see you tonight?

"Mr. Sheng, I would like to invite you to join us. Ionia is no longer what it used to be. The New Land is torn apart and hostile to each other. I hope you can join us and change the status quo. You should not be buried in that fighting field."

Although she was full of doubts about the people around Sheng, Irelia remained calm and sincerely invited Sheng.

Unfortunately...

Zhang Xu has already taken the lead.

"I'm sorry, before you... I already promised someone else."

Sheng spread his hands and clearly refused: "Since I have already promised others, there is no reason to regret it."

Promised someone else?

Irelia was stunned at first, then her eyes fell on Zhang Xu standing beside her.

After coming here, it was the first time that Irelia looked at this guy seriously.

Not native to Ionia.

Although Zhang Xu and Sarah were both wearing Ionian costumes, Irelia still made a judgment at the first moment.

This temperament is a bit like... Mrs. Piltover?

"Ms. Irelia, he has promised me that he will return to Shurima with me."

Zhang Xu took a step forward and communicated with Irelia for the first time.

Shurima?

This guy is from Shurima?

Irelia's heart trembled slightly. Now that she had shouldered the burden of Ionia, she naturally understood the current situation in Runeterra.

The thousand-year-old ancient country of Shurima has seen the light of day again.

only...

A guy from Shurima actually traveled thousands of miles to Ionia just to invite one person to join Shurima?

Irelia instinctively sensed that something was wrong. Zhang Xu's appearance made her feel strangely uneasy.

Ionia is in turmoil right now...

Could it be that Shurima wants to gain something from this?

Chapter 276: Not having a sword in hand and not using it are two different things

"Shurima? Are you from Shurima?"

Akali looked at Zhang Xu with some curiosity. She didn't think as much as Irelia did. She was just simply curious about Zhang Xu's identity.

After the Shurima Empire reappeared, Akali made up for a lot of Shurima's deeds, especially the deeds of the Ascended. Although there are not many records about Shurima in Ionia, this does not prevent Akali from being full of curiosity about the Ascended.

Akali raised her eyes to look at Zhang Xu and asked without disguising, "I know about the Ascended Ones in Shurima. Are you also an Ascended One?"

Hearing this, Irelia subconsciously moved closer to Akali and looked at Zhang Xu warily.

"Who knows?"

Zhang Xu shrugged and did not answer the question.

Seeing the vigilance and hostility in Irelia's eyes, Zhang Xu did not speak to her again.

In this "confrontational" situation, I believe Irelia is not in the mood to communicate with him.

"let's go."

Zhang Xu gestured to Seti and Sheng beside him, but when these two guys walked behind him and Sarah, Zhang Xu always had an inexplicable illusion.

These two guys...tall and strong, walking behind him and Sarah, a bit like bodyguards.

And he's a very capable bodyguard.

When he was about to leave at the door, Zhang Xu turned around and looked at Irelia meaningfully: "I have something to say to Miss Irelia."

Irelia nodded slightly and looked over with confusion and caution.

"Not having a sword in your hand is different from having a sword but not using it. I think this sentence should be helpful to you and to Ionia today."

Having said that, Zhang Xu turned around and left with a few people, leaving behind Irelia who looked thoughtful and Akali who looked a little confused.

"Not having a sword in hand is different from having a sword but not using it? What does he mean by that?"

Akali turned to look at Irelia, a confused look on her face.

"He's talking about Ionia as it is now."

Irelia shook her head, feeling a little touched.

I don't have a sword in my hand, but I won't use it even if I have one.

A very vivid metaphor.

"He's right. Even though the Noxian invaders are gone, it doesn't mean they won't come back. Ionia is now in a situation of confrontation between the two factions. This sentence really enlightened me... Gathering all forces together does not mean breaking the existing peace. We are just trying to protect ourselves. If we really do nothing, Ionia will only repeat the same mistakes."

"This person... He knows the current situation in Ionia very well. He definitely has other purposes for coming to Ionia."

Irelia frowned for a moment, and her eyes suddenly became sharp: "Akali, help me keep a close eye on him! If he tries to do anything to harm Ionia, kill him without hesitation!"

"At this critical moment, I will not allow anyone to harm Ionia!"

......

----

"It seems that Miss Irelia's attitude towards you is not very good."

Sarah's eyebrows curved, and her eyes were filled with an unconcealable smile. It was obvious that she was very happy to see Zhang Xu being humiliated in front of Irelia.

"Whether she treats me well or not has nothing to do with me."

Zhang Xu shrugged and decisively changed the subject: "Seti, I see people on the street seem to be preparing all kinds of things. Is there any special festival in the city recently?"

"It's the Soul Blossoming Festival."

Sett looked around and smiled. "It's a traditional festival in Ionia, which is designed to allow Ionians to communicate with their deceased relatives and friends. Speaking of which, Sheng should know more about the Soul Blossom Festival."

“The origin of the Blossom of the Soul is closely tied to Ionia’s culture and beliefs. When the spirit tree blooms, the Ionians drink spirit tea and are able to see the dead, a process that symbolizes communication and exchange with their deceased loved ones. This festival is not only a commemoration of the deceased, but also an important moment for the Ionians to let go of old pain and find peace. During the festival, people hold ceremonies for their deceased relatives to ensure that they will find peace in the afterlife, or mourn for those who cannot rest in peace.”

"This year's Blossoming Spirit Festival may be more grand than the previous ones. Because the Blossoming Spirit Festival is not held every year, but only on certain days. Many people are worried that there will be no more Blossoming Spirits in Ionia. Almost a generation has grown up without seeing Blossoming Spirits or experiencing the Blossoming Spirit Festival.

The last Spirit Blossom Festival was probably more than ten years ago...several decades ago.

And this year's Blossom of the Soul will be even more special. This year is a rare peaceful time for Ionia after the War of the Stand. Even if it is to commemorate those who died in the Noxian invasion, this year's Blossom of the Soul will be large-scale. "

Sheng pointed to a few petals on the street and continued, "Whenever the spirit tree sprouts new buds, the blooming spirits of Ionia come. These petals on the street are the petals from the spirit tree, which floated here with the wind."

"If nothing goes wrong, the Blossom Spirit will arrive in a few days. By then, you will see beautiful petals floating around the entire city, and all the streets will be filled with an indescribable fragrance."

"That sounds... like it might be fun."

Sarah couldn't help but sigh. Ionia was indeed the most magical place in the entire Runeterra besides Bandle City.

Here, I can actually communicate with my deceased relatives... It's incredible.

The corner of Zhang Xu's mouth couldn't help but twitch, and he couldn't help but think of that guy Viego again.

If this guy had left the Shadow Isles and wandered around, come to Ionia to see the Spirit Blossoms, and communicate with Isolde, he wouldn't have ended up in this situation.

Oh, of course, it is also possible that after communicating with Isolde, he became more determined to resurrect Isolde and became even more crazy.

"If you want, I can take you to the spirit tree to have a look."

"Spiritual tree?"

"Correct."

Sheng nodded and said seriously, "The spirit tree grows in the dense forest outside of Navoli, which was once half of my homeland. Usually, few humans go to that forest - most of the people living there are Vastaya."

"But now that the Ionian Spirit Blossom is approaching, we can see quite a few people there."

Listening to Sheng's story, Zhang Xu gradually became interested.

It would be a pity if we couldn't see something like this that could connect the soul and reality.