"Take you as a disciple? I don't have time for that; I'm busy traveling across Runeterra again."
Jax's tone was very firm.
Chen asked back, puzzled:
"Why? Zilean told you about me, so you should know I'm a variable in time! Helping me get stronger will increase the chances of victory!"
Jax shook his head:
"I'm traveling the world to find more powerful individuals to fight the Void together. One person's strength is ultimately too small."
Jax and Zilean were both former residents of Icathia. Icathia was invaded by the Void, and they are the last survivors of Icathia.
The previous Void invasion was in ancient times, hundreds of years ago.
Zilean can traverse time and is omnipresent.
As for Jax, it's because of the lamppost in his hand, which was made from a torch burning with the Eternal Flame. The Eternal Flame extended his life, allowing him to live until now.
Jax lives for only one purpose: to stop the next Void invasion!
It was Zilean who told Chen that soon, the Void would invade Runeterra again, and if they couldn't resist the Void's invasion, all of Runeterra would be doomed!
He had fought across all of Runeterra, not just for his own training, but also to find strong individuals to resist the Void's invasion.
"That's easy then!"
After Chen understood Jax's purpose, he said with confidence:
"I can give you a list. I'll write down everyone in Runeterra who is qualified to fight the Void, and you can go find them directly."
Jax's brow furrowed under his mask; he didn't quite understand Chen's meaning:
"A list?"
Chen continued to explain:
"Zilean should have told you that I'm not from this world."
Jax nodded; he knew about this. Chen continued:
"So I know all the strong individuals in Runeterra who can help. You don't need to search aimlessly; just follow my list and find them one by one. This will definitely save countless hours."
Chen's meaning was to directly copy a list of Runeterra's champions for Jax, so he could go find these people without wasting time.
Jax touched his chin with three fingers simultaneously, looking thoughtful.
Chen pushed the idea:
"You don't believe me? I'll help you find all the masters in Demacia first. Go fight them, and you'll know if what I'm saying is true or false. My request isn't much; just guide me."
Jax finally nodded:
"You tell me about Demacia's 'masters' first. I'll go find them, and if it's true, I'll come back to you."
When Jax said the word 'masters,' there was a hint of disdain in his tone.
"Alright."
Chen immediately recalled Demacia's champions:
"Go to Demacia and find Garen, the Might of Demacia, his sister Lux, the Prince Jarvan IV, and the old steward Xin Zhao. Then go to Erwindale and find Poppy, a Yordle with a hammer, and Quinn, the Ranger."
"Oh, right, and the Lady Fiora, who you just tested with her sword."
These were the only ones available in Demacia at the moment. The Angel sisters were definitely not there.
Lucian, he's probably on the Shadow Isles looking for his wife. Sona's whereabouts are unknown, and Vayne is somewhere hunting those in the darkness. Jarvan might not have subdued Shyvana yet, and Galio is still a stone statue.
After he finished speaking, Jax nodded, then started running towards Demacia. His running speed was extraordinary, faster than two Usain Bolts, and even horses couldn't catch him.
Fiora sheathed her sword and walked up to Chen, scrutinizing him:
"You know him? And what do you mean by the Void?"
Chen also put away his lamppost:
"Oh, Lady Fiora, it's a long story. We're also heading to Demacia, so let's travel together, and I'll tell you slowly along the way."
Chen, carrying Powder on his back, walked with Fiora on the road back to Demacia.
...
Powder was cracking sunflower seeds. It was her first time hearing Chen talk about this. She said to Chen excitedly:
"Fighting the Void! That sounds like fun!"
But Fiora was deep in thought, and she slowly said:
"If what you say is true, for the honor of Demacia, I will definitely participate in fighting the Void."
Fiora had honor and conviction. If the Void invasion was real, she would never stand idly by.
However, she still had some questions:
"You know the strong individuals of Runeterra. I actually have no problem with the strong individuals you mentioned in Demacia—Garen, Jarvan, Xin Zhao, Poppy, Quinn—I know them all, and their strength indeed makes them top-tier in Demacia. But what about Garen's sister, Lux?"
"She's always been busy managing the family's business and can't be considered a warrior at all."
Chen really wanted to say:
"Because she's a mage..."
But Demacia is an anti-magic nation, a country that prohibits any magic. Chen decided not to implicate Lux, as she is Riot's favorite daughter—oh, and Powder is too.
Moreover, in the future, Lux would also need to release Sylas and spark Demacia's revolution.
Chen vaguely said:
"I forgot. Just remember she's on the list. Perhaps she can become a warrior later?"
Fiora actually nodded:
"I've heard that Lux doesn't want to take over the family business. Actually, she and I are not that different; we are both resisting an unfair Destiny..."
Even though Fiora disliked Lux's family and didn't want to marry into it, she still sympathized with Lux, whose Destiny was also constrained by her family, just like her own.
Powder raised her hand:
"I want to explore the world too! I think she and I would get along great!"
Just then, a group of people suddenly ran over. Their clothes all bore the same family crest as Fiora's—the Laurent Family crest.
This group rushed over and surrounded Chen, Powder, and Fiora.
A middle-aged man with a face full of anger walked up to Fiora.
"Slap!"
The crisp sound of a slap was extremely harsh. The middle-aged man suddenly slapped Fiora across the face:
"Fiora! You snuck out again! You're getting married soon, yet you're always running off. What exactly do you want to do?!"
Fiora's eyes were filled with resentment, and she glared furiously at the man in front of her:
"Father! How many times have I told you, I don't want to marry into that family! I don't want to marry into the Crownguard family! I want to have my own life!"
But another slap greeted her. Fiora's father, Sebastian, showed no mercy, slapping Fiora until both sides of her face were red and swollen:
"Do you think you have a choice? As a member of the Laurent Family, you must dedicate everything you have for the future of the Laurent Family!"
With Fiora's ability, she could have dodged, but she didn't. She lowered her proud head.
Chen had seen this storyline before. Fiora's father, Sebastian, for the sake of the Laurent Family, chose to form a political marriage with Garen's Crownguard family, marrying Fiora to a collateral relative of the Crownguard family.
Chen, being from another world, couldn't stand this kind of feudal marriage. So he tried to speak up for Fiora:
"Uh, I think there's still room for discussion. The Laurent Family can still... without a marriage alliance..."
"Who are you? What right do you have to interfere in my Laurent Family's affairs?"
Fiora's father, Sebastian, glared angrily at Chen, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword.
Chen and Fiora were mere acquaintances; he truly had no right to meddle in this matter. Yet, he still wanted to speak up for Fiora:
"I'm his friend."
Sebastian turned back to Fiora, asking with a serious tone:
"Who is he? You're about to get married, you know, and you're still associating with other men? Are you secretly meeting him?"
"Huh?" Chen was stunned, and so was Powder next to him. What kind of bizarre plot was this?
Fiora knew her father had misunderstood. She shook her head:
"I don't know him. We just happened to be going the same way."