lol: After being blessed by the Happy Demon, I became the harem king

After glancing around, Zomag approached Faen and whispered, "Although some villagers, clansmen, and elders feel there's still room for maneuver, according to those who fled from the coastal areas, the Noxians might not be so easy to deal with. For your safety, please take Irelia with you. We'll hold a grand welcoming ceremony after the war ends and the Noxians leave their ancestral lands."

"Then I should apologize."

Upon hearing the man's words, Fane shook his head and said, "My destination this time is Pelor Island, the front line of the war. I came here because I happened to be traveling with Irelia. However, judging from the current situation, we may have to wait a while."

After glancing around at his surroundings, Farn said, "War is not far from here."

Upon hearing this, Zomag's expression changed slightly, and after a moment of silence, he said, "In that case, please come to the Zan family for a chat."

"Ah."

Nodding, the group followed Zomag into the Zan family compound. After Zomag relayed the news of Irelia's return and Fain's arrival, many of the Zan family elders and seniors quickly arrived.

A moment later, seated at the head of the table, a gentle and kind-looking old man, after observing Shen, Jie, and the others for a while, refocused his attention on Fane and exclaimed in surprise:

"I've long heard that Master Sonia's disciple, Fan, has forged his own path in the art of dance. Now that I see him, he is indeed extraordinary. His blood and energy are perfectly integrated, his body is well-proportioned, and every part of his blood and energy resonates in harmony with his spirit, full of power... I think, if it weren't for the fact that your own beliefs clash with the Temple of Eternity, you might already be a master by now?"

Although she was Irelia's grandmother, and respectfully addressed as Lady Zan by the villagers and those knowledgeable in dance, she didn't appear as aged as one might expect. Instead, she possessed an indescribable kindness and gentleness. Despite her advanced age, one could still sense the beauty of her youth through her eyes.

"You flatter me." Thinking this, upon hearing Madam Zan's words, Farn shook his head, then looked at the old man in front of him with a hint of surprise and said, "Compared to me, your temperament is actually more...sharp."

Upon hearing Fain's words, the people present reacted in different ways. Irelia's father and siblings looked puzzled, while Irelia's mother looked astonished after hearing Fain's assessment.

You know, after her mother could no longer sense the Blade Dance, she switched to the Silk Dance. Now, decades have passed, and not only others, but even her own daughter, cannot sense it at all. So why is it that Irelia's senior brother... is it because Irelia told him?

Thinking this, she glanced at Irelia, and then Irelia's mother shook her head. No one knows a daughter better than her mother; just from the bewildered look in her daughter's eyes, she knew that even Irelia was hearing about this for the first time.

265·Clear

Upon hearing Fan's words, Lady Zan fell into a brief silence before gently saying, "Actually, when Irelia returned last time, I sensed something unusual in her dance."

As she said this, Madam Zan fell into a brief silence, and then said, "The essence of silk dance is to integrate the 'form' and 'spirit' of all things into the ribbons through harmonious rhythms. Accompanied by the dancer's movements, this resonance of all things is presented through the ribbons. This way of entrusting the spirit to the material so that it can be presented in the material realm is also in line with the ancient techniques passed down from generation to generation in the Zan family."

“That’s one of the reasons I had Irelia train in silk dance from a young age… but last time,” Lady Zan said, looking at Fain, “you did it on purpose, didn’t you?”

"In what way?" Farn asked.

“Blade Dance,” Lady Zan said succinctly. “The melody of Blade Dance appeared within Irelia’s melody. Although there was no killing intent, it possessed a hardness and sharpness that the ribbon could not convey.”

Upon hearing Madam Zan's words, not only the others, but even Madam Zan's own daughter looked puzzled, having never heard of such a name before. Later, the confusion deepened—what hardness and sharpness? Wasn't silk dance known for its gentle and beautiful melodies?

In contrast, Fain nodded and said, "At first, I did have similar thoughts, but after interacting with Irelia, I discovered that she doesn't seem to have any related training." He paused, then added:

"As for the hardness and sharpness you mentioned, perhaps it's because some of my thoughts influenced Irelia?"

Farn didn't seem bothered by this, remaining still as he quietly gazed at Mrs. Zan before him. Mrs. Zan also fell into a brief silence, then sighed, "I suppose so..."

"No, Grandma, what are you talking about?" Irelia's brother, Zomag, couldn't help but ask as he listened to Mrs. Zan and Farn speaking in riddles. "What do you mean by 'hard and sharp' and Mr. Farn's thoughts? We don't understand."

Upon hearing this, Lady Zan nodded and then said, "Simply put, it is because Fain believed a long time ago that Noxus would launch an attack on Ionia, and has been preparing and training for this purpose."

Upon hearing Mrs. Zan's words, the surrounding crowd turned their surprised gazes toward Fain.

If this had happened a month or so earlier, people would have been puzzled and tried to persuade Faen to return to the right path, to make him understand that war is not the only option in this world, and that even the warlike Noxians would understand the profound wisdom of Ionia's long-standing traditional culture, and be persuaded to lay down their weapons and study diligently, and so on...

However, opinions always change with the times. Just like now, after witnessing many fishermen fleeing from the western coast towards Prehiden inland, even the Zan family members who have always lived in this ancient village are tense and on edge amidst the increasingly thick atmosphere of tension.

Before the war, Fain's problem was that he was too belligerent. Now, with the war truly underway, and after learning that the Noxians have no intention of making any compromises but rather to completely conquer this land, destroy all its culture, and make it a part of Noxus, both materially and spiritually... well, let's just say that the young and middle-aged men of Ionia can no longer tolerate it.

Upon hearing Lady Zan's words, Zomag also said, "Doesn't that mean Faen is actually right? These damned Noxians, we must make them pay!"

Mrs. Zan did not answer this question. After a moment of silence, she looked at Farn and said:

"If you, Fan, are immersed in this sorrow for the future and vigilance against war, then I think that as Master Sonia's most outstanding disciple, and having reached the pinnacle of war dance skills, you should also know that in Ionia today, all paths related to conflict have been severed."

“I know that my purpose this time is also to bring back the positive aspects that negative emotions such as war and conflict also represent to Ionia,” Farn said bluntly.

Upon hearing this, Lady Zan narrowed her eyes—to see a similar attraction reappear in Ionia, which had been peaceful for thousands of years…

“This is no simple matter,” Lady Zan said. “If this is your goal, then compared to the Noxian invasion, the inertia of Ionia’s thousands of years of tradition may be your greatest enemy and obstacle.”

Upon hearing Lady Zan's words, Farn remained silent, only raising his right hand. As the energy of the spiritual realm gradually activated, the intertwined ring of twin dragons came into view.

In fact, not many people can recognize the Twin Dragon Seals at a glance—Shen was able to recognize them because his father, Master Kushner, cultivated his abilities and knowledge in various aspects from a young age, and the Order of the Balance itself had a very deep connection with the Temple of Eternity, so Shen and others could recognize them at a glance. However, for the vast majority of ordinary people in Ionia, it was just a very common mark.

Karma's name has been associated with Ionia for thousands of years, so it's perfectly normal for people to worship her, imitate her, and leave related markings and tattoos.

However, being at the level of a master, Lady Zan was certainly not a short-sighted youth. Almost instantly, she sensed the unique aura emanating from Karma. Thinking this, Lady Zan bowed slightly—not to Fan, but to the Venerable One represented by the mark.

Then, as she looked up, a strange light appeared in Mrs. Zan's eyes.

"So, this is also the will of the Venerable One?"

Sensing the expectation and happiness hidden in his wife's words, Fain raised an eyebrow.

Clearly, this renowned Madame Zan was not someone accustomed to silk dances… Thinking this, Farn simply shook his head and said, “Yes and no.”

"...I understand." After a brief silence, Madam Zan nodded in understanding upon hearing this explanation.

Thinking about it, Lady Zan glanced at Irelia, then asked with a light laugh, "Speaking of which, Fain, what do you think of Irelia?"

----------

At the beginning of the month, you're treated like a monster; at the end, you're treated like a dog. Today and tomorrow, you'll be up before dawn.

266·Good Times

“Very good.” Upon hearing Mrs. Zan’s words, Farn’s face did not show much expression. The sign quietly said, “Gentle, kind, and with outstanding talent in dance, she will surely become a respected master in the future.”

Upon hearing Fain's words, Irelia looked embarrassed. In contrast, Lady Zan nodded thoughtfully and said, "Is that so...then are you willing to become engaged to Irelia?"

"Huh?! Mom!" Upon hearing Mrs. Zan's words, Irelia's mother also looked surprised. Irelia exclaimed in disbelief, "Grandma!"

In response, Madam Zan gestured for everyone to calm down, then looked at Farn seriously and asked, "What are your thoughts, Your Excellency?"

“Of course I would be willing,” Fane said frankly after hearing Lady Zan’s words. “Irelia is exceptionally well-off in every way. In comparison, I’m more worried about whether it will affect Irelia’s future development…”

"No way!" Irelia, standing nearby, was delighted when she heard Fane's lack of denial, but then a hint of nervousness appeared in her eyes when she heard Fane's concern about its impact on her future: "What my senior brother said—"

Irelia wanted to say something, but then she realized that her reaction might have been a little too much. And... a little too excited.

Feeling the gazes of her parents, other siblings, and villagers, Irelia blushed and then lowered her head, humming incoherently without being able to utter a single word.

But things have progressed to this point, and whether or not some things are said is no longer important. Especially given Ionia's strong tradition of respecting elders—as is the case in some families, regardless of gender, major life events are still decided by a single word from an elder. Of course, the Zan family is relatively more open-minded, and elders rarely interfere in the romantic relationships between family members. But now, looking at Irelia's hesitant manner, is there even a hint of denial?

Thinking this, a complex expression appeared on Irelia's parents' faces. After all, this was their first meeting with Fain. Although Fain appeared handsome, dashing, exceptionally talented, from a prestigious lineage, and even recognized by Venerable Karma, bestowed with the Twin Dragon Seals representing the Venerable, and successfully predicted the Noxian war, and even knew something about the family's 'Blade Dance' technique that they themselves were unaware of, but, but… but…

It seems like there's nothing to worry about?

Having roughly assessed Faen's abilities, it's clear that previously, Faen had a significant flaw: a bittersweet outlook on the future and excessive hostility towards Noxians. However, now that Noxus has truly begun its invasion of Ionia, forcing many Ionians to flee their homes and become displaced, this former flaw has transformed into foresight.

While it's foreseeable that some elders in the Hall of Eternity won't approve of Fain's unconventional behavior... even Venerable Karma has secretly benefited from it, so those elders can only offer verbal condemnations. After all, in Ionia right now, especially along the western coast and in the central inland regions, hostility towards Noxians has become a consensus. Under these circumstances, while it's not like a mother-in-law is finding her son-in-law increasingly pleasing, Fain's merits are certainly becoming more and more apparent...

But at that moment, Irelia's brother, Zomag, seemed to have noticed something and said hesitantly, "Wait a minute... this woman, she looks like she's from Noxus?"

Upon hearing Zomag's words, everyone turned their gaze to Riven, who was standing to the side. This made Riven raise her eyelids slightly, feeling uneasy. However, out of trust in Fain and a lack of self-acceptance, Riven didn't say anything more. She simply glanced at everyone in silence without offering any explanation.

In response, Fahn simply stated calmly, "Her name is Riven, one of Noxus's past champion swordsmen, but she was deceived by Noxus's ideology. This is her first time in Ionia, and she is searching for the meaning of her existence."

Upon hearing Fain's explanation, Riven's expression remained unchanged. Instead, the people around her couldn't help but look surprised, seemingly astonished that such a beautiful girl as Riven was actually a powerful warrior—although they didn't quite understand what it meant, the title of champion swordsman alone was enough to impress anyone who heard it.

If there was some hostility at the beginning, the expressions of the villagers softened considerably when they heard that this was actually Riven's first time setting foot on Ionia, and that she had come to find the meaning of her existence.

Despite being at war, Ionia's traditions continue to influence everyone on this land. For example, most Ionians still hold a special respect for those who are willing to travel great distances to Ionia, like that for travelers and ascetics.

Especially for someone like Riven, who had once been deeply lost—the story of a prodigal son returning home is highly popular in Ionia. Although some still had slight doubts because of Riven's past, most chose to be forgiving. Upon hearing that Fain was willing to vouch for Riven, Lady Zan nodded and said to Riven, "May you find your true self, and may the spirits of Ionia be with you."

Upon hearing Mrs. Zan's words, Riven was somewhat surprised and flustered, but still bowed slightly in return.

Just as Madam Zan was about to invite Farn and the others to rest, she suddenly seemed to sense something and abruptly turned her gaze to the western sky. It was midday, and the sun was high in the sky. But Madam Zan gazed at it for a while before finally turning her attention to Farn.

Fan nodded in agreement, then praised, "Although Blade Dance has been sealed away for a long time, it seems that your blade is still sharp and fierce, Madam Zan."

Hearing Fain's praise, Madam Zan's lips curled into a smile—although Madam Zan was also renowned for her silk dance and held the title of master, in truth, blade dance was the Zan family's ultimate skill, and Madam Zan's unwavering passion. Unfortunately, due to the limitations of the era, she had to conceal her blades, replacing them with silk ribbons. And now, however, a sudden change in the times had arrived…

"It's a pity I'm aging too quickly," Lady Zan said with a mixture of joy and regret. "I'm too late for the good old days of Blade Dance..."

267. My Advantage

As you hear the news, you can die in the evening.

For anyone dedicated to uncovering the truth of this world, to learn it in the morning and die that evening would be without regret. Now, with the arrival of war, Lady Zan, a true master, knows full well that this will signify an unprecedented upheaval for Ionia. Thousands of years of tradition may also undergo a complete transformation in this war.

Meanwhile, Lady Zan knew very well that she was old and frail, her strength could no longer increase, and the blade dance she had long since abandoned had been completely replaced by the techniques of the silk dance. Even if she could regain it, she could not possess the limitless potential of Irelia, nor could she display the mythical glory of the ancient times, where she was still unstoppable against the giants…

Thinking this, Lady Zan also looked around at the crowd, then coldly shouted, "War is imminent! Sons of the Zan family, prepare for battle!"

Upon hearing Lady Zan's words, the villagers did not hesitate and immediately began preparations related to the war. Although the event was sudden, their hasty yet orderly reaction showed that they had clearly made all the necessary preparations well in advance.

After that, Lady Zan turned to Irelia and said, "Irelia, come with me. There are some things that you should know."

Hearing her grandmother's words, Irelia didn't suspect anything and quickly nodded before walking towards her grandmother. However, she couldn't help but turn back to steal a glance at Faen after only taking two steps. When she saw that her senior brother didn't show any dissatisfaction on his face, and even smiled at her, Irelia visibly breathed a sigh of relief, and then walked towards her grandmother with even more joy.

Lady Zan observed and remembered all of this without saying much. After all, if Faen was previously a prime example of a master's disciple who had gone astray, then now, with the outbreak of the Ionian War, Faen's reputation had undergone a complete reversal. The more misguided he was before, the more farsighted and prescient he was now.

In particular, they are all practitioners of the Way of the Dancer, and their dance is a war dance derived from hand-to-hand combat. Compared to ribbon dance, it focuses more on the presentation of power and can, to some extent, make up for Irelia's lack of understanding of fighting and familiarity with power since childhood.

Looking at the situation around him, Fain nodded, then turned to Akali and the others and said, "I know the principles of the Kinkou Order, so I won't force you, but you can join the battle if you'd like."

Upon hearing this, a complex and solemn look flashed in Shen's eyes.

Standing in the center of the crowd, surrounded by the Zan family men who were running tirelessly in preparation for battle—no, not just the men, but even the strong women were all wearing armor that looked very old and even covered in dust.

And what about the elderly, the weak, women, and children? They were helped whenever they could. Even the displaced refugees were infected by this atmosphere, their eyes burning with anger, almost burning away their fear and extinguishing their reason.

Shen seemed to understand somewhat why the elders of the Order of Balance and the elders of the Temple of Eternity were so vigilant about any changes in the spiritual realm...

Just as Shen was still thinking, Akali snorted and looked at Fain, saying, "Are you going to go?"

“Of course.” Upon hearing this, Farn shrugged. “The reason I chose to practice the way of war dance instead of following Teacher Sonia to practice the silk dance that she was better at was because war dance evolved from combat. I’ve practiced for so long, and I didn’t do it just for the sake of looking good.”

“I’ll go with you.” Akali said succinctly, while glancing at Shen, who was trying to dissuade her, before stepping back to Faen’s side and adding, “My mission is to support Faen, who has received the Mark of the Venerable. Teacher, although I respect you, you are, after all, the Eye of Twilight who watches the stars, while our mission as the Fist of Shadows is to ‘prune’.”

Upon hearing this, Shen frowned, then subconsciously glanced at Kennen beside him. Kennen, standing on high, only frowned slightly after gazing for a moment before landing with a light leap, saying, "These Noxians' pursuit of honor and slaughter far exceeds imagination. Even during their march, they've already been causing continuous disruptions to the balance of Ionia. I must now proceed to the headquarters of the Cult of Shanzan and the Temple of Eternity to deliver this message and prevent the situation from escalating further!"

Accompanied by a series of long, complex, and rapid incantations, Kennen transformed into a white streak and vanished from sight. This astonishing speed was far more than just simple acceleration; at least in Fain's observation, Kennen's figure constantly traversed between the mental and physical realms. Such frequent domain switching, especially in the current state of severe imbalance, would make even Fain feel dizzy and nauseous, but Kennen remained completely unaffected—truly befitting a Yordle who has been a part of Runeterra's history.

Perhaps the only creatures that can be compared to the Poro, which are relatively common in Freljord, are those that are treated kindly by the world itself.

“I’ll go too.” Just as Shen was feeling a headache coming on, Jie stepped forward. Under Shen’s puzzled gaze, Jie took a deep breath and looked at his good brother, saying, “I simply cannot ignore this. If the Path of Balance is to witness the people of Ionia suffer and face slaughter, then there must be something seriously wrong with the Path of Balance.”

As they spoke, Jie swiftly and decisively appeared behind Fain.

A moment later, nearly two-fifths of the members of the Order of the Balance emerged from the group, most of them disciples of the Shadow Fist style. Their eyes gleamed with indignation; clearly, they had already developed a deep resentment towards the Noxians' arrival based on the descriptions given by the refugees on the way.

Many of the remaining people still looked hesitant. However, Fane no longer waited. He nodded, turned around, and said, "If you're ready, then come with me."

On the other side, atop a mountain peak, looking down at the village below, Dukur, who in the original timeline caused the destruction of the Zan family and the death of Irelia's family, also wore a cold, disdainful expression.

"Another village? The advantage is with me! Slaughter them all and let them know the might of Noxus!!"

268·Resistance

In Dukur's view, the fall of Ionia was only a matter of time—the people of this land had almost forgotten how to fight, and even those who held swords in their hands, having been chilled by the warm winds, had no idea how to wield them.

Look at those young and middle-aged people who have left the land that nurtured them with their families and are fleeing inland. Are they just handing over the land that their ancestors lived on?

Thinking this to himself, Dukur, as Swain's confidant, wasn't blinded by this confidence and do anything irrational. On the contrary, Dukur remained highly vigilant. After all, if even Swain, the strategist-commander, treated him with such seriousness, what right did he, whose abilities and command were far inferior to General Swain's, have to be arrogant?

Thinking to himself, Dukur placed his iron gauntlet on the center of the military map, staring coldly at the emblem of the Zan family mansion drawn with the assistance of the Vastaya.

“Run them over.” Dukur’s voice was like a rusty gear turning. “I will weave their embroidery thread into a noose, leaving none alive.”

With Duguel's command, the Noxian legions surged across the hills like a tide of steel. Heavy shield bearers clad in black plate armor formed a mobile wall, and ballistae crackled as they rolled over rice paddies. Duguel had envisioned this unassuming village descending into chaos the moment it sensed the approaching war—its inhabitants, like those on the coastline, surrendering their ancestral lands without a fight.

But to Dukur's surprise, as he stood atop the dragon-bone chariot and squinted at the village where smoke still rose from chimneys and a towering tree grew in the center, he noticed an unsettling silence.

However, the series of victories eventually made Dukur a little careless. Although he noticed the silence, Dukur's face didn't show much emotion. He simply waved his hand, and then a group of strong crossbowmen launched a powerful attack, raising their ballistae. With the sound of arrows slicing through the air, the sky above the entire village darkened for a moment.

Iron arrows pierced the wooden wall, penetrated the water vat, and overturned the drying medicine rack. But to Dukur's surprise, the expected wailing did not occur; instead, pairs of eyes emerged from behind the wall, their gazes filled with anger.

Dukur was slightly taken aback when he saw the villagers wearing simple armor and even holding farm tools as weapons. Finally, a ferocious smile tore through his lips.

"Haha, looks like there are still some brave souls in Ionia—which saves me the trouble of explaining to the commander why we're implementing a scorched-earth policy!" With that, Dukur didn't treat these villagers like ordinary people, but instead shouted, "Slaughter every single one of these resistance fighters!!"

Upon hearing Dukur's words, a hint of ferocity appeared in the eyes of the Noxian soldiers—it should be noted that in the Noxian army, the military merit represented by killing a farmer or a mob is completely different from that represented by killing a rebel!

Driven by a sense of honor, the soldiers swiftly launched their charge. The sheer force of their attack echoed across the battlefield, causing fear to creep onto the faces of those who had never experienced true legionary warfare. But just then, with a loud 'whoosh!', a dense cloud of dark white smoke exploded on the right flank of the Noxian army. The spreading mist was only slightly pungent, but contained no overly dangerous poison.

But within it, the Noxians seemed to witness the very embodiment of death. A sharp, cross-shaped chain scythe spun an eerie green arc in the smoke, and a tiny figure soared left and right, appearing and disappearing intermittently. With each flash, a helmet and head flew off, accompanied by spurting blood.