Dean and Riven walked quickly, returning to Equilibrium Temple before dawn, just in time for the Kinkou Order's breakfast.
Riven, having been up all night, had little appetite and only drank a few sips of white porridge before finishing.
But Dean, as if possessed by a glutton, not only drank three large bowls of porridge but also sampled all of the Kinkou Order's dry rations—even the soldier's rations, which were usually criticized by everyone for being filling but extremely unpalatable, he didn't miss.
After eating and drinking his fill, Riven returned to her room to rest, while Dean, with Aimi Sitan's head, performed a memorial for Chengze.
Such blood-for-blood acts were not encouraged in the Kinkou Order, but due to Dean's status as a guest, the Equilibrium Guards chose to tacitly allow his actions, only arriving to stop him "late" when everything was about to end.
Dean, in turn, gracefully ended the memorial and packed everything away.
Next, he planned to return to his guest room to rest, awaiting nightfall to attend Chengze's seventh-day soul-summoning ritual.
Then, just as Dean left the courtyard, a girl in green clothing blocked his path.
"Last night, the Shadow Order ambushed Aimi Sitan's camp, but her head ended up in your hands." She raised her eyebrows at Dean impolitely, "What is your relationship with the Shadow Order?"
"Who are you?" Dean blinked, "And how is that relevant to you?"
"I am the future Fist of Shadows of the Kinkou Order, Akali." The young girl's tone was full of confidence, "I suspect you are colluding with the Shadow Order!"
Akali did not wear a mask like the other Equilibrium Guards; from her face, figure, and voice, Dean could tell that this person named Akali was at most fifteen years old.
Dean had also heard Chengze mention the Fist of Shadows she referred to, which seemed to be a powerful enforcer within the Kinkou Order, responsible for resolving conflicts between the two realms with force.
"Is the Fist of Shadows also responsible for apprehending the Shadow Order?" Dean showed a gentle smile, "Unfortunately, Miss future Fist of Shadows, I have no relationship with the Shadow Order, at most we share the same goal—as you can see, I was the one who dealt with her in the end."
"Bastard, don't treat me like a child, boo hoo hoo hoo—"
Akali seemed to want to say more, but at that moment, several Kinkou Order guards rushed over, covered her mouth, and led her away. One of them, looking quite helpless, stopped in front of Dean: "I apologize, Mr. Dean, Akali's father... went missing during the Shadow Order's betrayal before. She follows news of the Shadow Order more closely than anyone, so sometimes she can be a bit overzealous."
"No one would harshly criticize a young girl who has lost her father." Dean waved his hand, "It's just that what happened with the Shadow Order last night... has it spread so quickly?"
"Zedd—no, it's Zed, he has fallen into madness." Hearing Dean's question, the Equilibrium Guard sighed helplessly, "He piled the Noxus corpses into a mountain and even caused considerable pollution to the Spirit Realm. If Mr. Dean encounters him, it's best to avoid him; he is very dangerous and will stop at nothing."
"Understood." Dean nodded, "Thank you for the warning."
....................
Under the moonlight, beside the Spirit Willow, a well-rested Dean participated in Chengze's seventh-day soul-summoning.
The current Eye of Twilight, Shen, made his first appearance, presiding over the ritual and publicly reciting a long and tedious eulogy.
After the soul-summoning ritual ended, Dean and Riven discussed for a few moments and unanimously decided to leave Equilibrium Temple that very night—the temple here was simply too solemn, and both felt overly suppressed and suffocated.
Since everything was over, it was better to leave; neither of them minded sleeping outdoors, and they had slept well during the day.
However, not long after the two bid farewell to Equilibrium Temple, before they even reached the foot of the mountain, a small figure blocked the center of the road, standing in front of them.
Seeing someone blocking their way, Riven instinctively drew her sword-embryo, while Dean waved his hand, signaling her to relax.
"Little girl Akali." Although the other party wore a mask, Dean recognized her identity at a glance, "It should be bedtime now; children who sleep too late won't grow tall."
"I'm not a child!" Dean's words clearly touched Akali's sensitive spot. She decisively revealed her Kunai and chained sickle, "You can fool those guards, but you can't fool me. I am the future Fist of Shadows, and I saw the traces of the Shadow left on you!"
"Traces of the Shadow?"
"You met Zed, you dealt with the Shadow Order!" Akali swung the chained sickle in her hand with fierce force, "Tell me, everything!"
"Are you talking about this?" Dean blinked, and when he opened his palm, a drop of dark, turbid liquid floated in the center of it, "Did it tell you?"
"You really are colluding with the Shadow Order!" Akali formed a hand seal with one hand, and with the other, she flung out her chained sickle, blades outward, intending to completely entangle Dean. "That's Tear's of the Shadow!"
"That's right, Tear's of the Shadow." Dean nodded, easily grabbing the rope of the chained sickle. "Tell me, little girl, what gave you the confidence to naively believe you could face someone who has mastered the power of Tear's of the Shadow?"
Akali tried to say something, but before she could react, Dean had already pulled the chained sickle, dragging her in front of him.
Sensing danger, Akali directly threw a Kunai, but Dean skillfully parried it; then, as she finally realized the seriousness of the situation and reached for the smoke bomb on her waist, Dean's hand was already around her neck.
"Tell me, Akali." His violet eyes stared directly into Akali's, "Where does your confidence come from?"
Her neck constricted, her breathing forcibly interrupted, Akali struggled to twist her body, but no matter how much she struggled, Dean's arm remained motionless—at this moment, she seemed to hear the call of Death in her ears.
Yes, why was she so confident?
Akali, you should have known that real combat and daily practice are not the same thing!
Damn it, the future Fist of Shadows actually left the Order by herself late at night to seek death... I hope the name Akali Teshie won't become a ridiculous joke, recorded in the Kinkou Order's archives.
The various events of her short life began to flash before Akali's eyes like a revolving lantern. Just as she was about to embrace Death's call, Dean finally released his hand and set her down.
"If I really had anything to do with the Shadow Order, you'd be finished."
Akali, now free, gasped for fresh air, even breaking into a series of rapid coughs from inhaling too quickly. After her coughing subsided, she came to her senses, realizing everything that had just happened, and instinctively reached for her chained sickle and Kunai—then, upon seeing Dean's eyes, froze in place.
"Now tell me, Miss Akali." Dean's face finally showed a smile again, "Am I colluding with the Shadow Order?"
Akali didn't answer; the expression on her small face changed several times, finally deflating as if defeated, and she respectfully bowed to Dean: "Mr. Dean, I know I was wrong."
Such a serious response actually caught Dean off guard—then, as Dean was pondering how to deal with this little girl, Akali suddenly straightened up.
"Since Mr. Dean is not involved with the Shadow Order, as compensation, I can be your guide!" Akali took off her mask, her pretty eyes curved into crescents, and a brilliant smile appeared on her face, "Both of you must be outsiders, unfamiliar with the First Land."
Dean blinked and turned to look at Riven.
Riven, who had witnessed the entire process from start to finish, now finally seemed to understand: "Is she also on your list of trusts?"
"How did you know?"
Riven didn't answer but looked at Dean before taking Akali's hand: "As long as you can keep up with us."
Wait, something seemed a bit off!
Seeing Riven and Akali become familiar with each other in just a few words, Dean was somewhat bewildered: "Wait, this girl's status in the Kinkou Order is not ordinary!"
"Our journey isn't exactly R-rated." Riven waved at him, "Come on, trust yourself!"
"I do trust myself very much." Dean murmured, "But if I abduct the future Fist of Shadows, I don't know if the Kinkou Order will trust me."
"Of course they will." A silver light shone down, and an arm rested on his shoulder, "Sun-gazing, star-gazing, branch-trimming... Mr. Dean, please guide that child's path carefully."
Dean turned his head, his eyes wide with surprise:
"Shen?!"
