Noticing Riven tensing up, Faen waved his hand, signaling her not to be nervous.
"Don't be in a hurry. Let's see what they have to say first."
Hearing Faen's words, Riven nodded silently.
Though Faen's command was simple, she keenly realized he must know these two, even if he wasn't certain of their purpose.
Otherwise, he wouldn't have said, "Let's see what they have to say."
As she mused, the boat docked.
Seeing Faen disembark, Shen and Usan showed no surprise and walked straight toward him.
Once they were close, Shen inquired, "You must be Master Xynia's disciple, Mr. Faen, correct?"
"That's me. And you must be Great Master Kusho's disciples, Shen and Usan?" Faen reached out a hand.
Faen harbored no ill will toward Shen and Usan.
Hearing Faen easily speak their names, a flash of surprise crossed their eyes.
They instinctively exchanged a glance, and after a brief silent communication of their shock, Shen nodded.
He reached out to shake Faen's hand, saying, "It seems Mr. Faen is quite well-informed about us. We won't waste time on excessive pleasantries, then."
Shen spoke plainly: "We are here to carry out the decree of the Enlightened One, Karma, to bring you to the Placidium.
Though the specific reason is unclear to us, according to her description, it seems to be related to the influence you've exerted within the spirit realm."
"No problem. I was planning to visit the Placidium anyway."
Seeing Faen cooperate so readily, Shen and Usan let out a silent sigh of relief.
Though Faen felt gentle, as a spirit realm practitioner—especially Shen—he could clearly sense the massive, intangible pressure radiating from Faen in the spiritual plane.
This indicated that Faen's achievements in the spirit realm had left them far behind.
In Shen's memory, the last time he saw Faen, he hadn't felt this way—had Faen gained some new enlightenment during his time away?
Shen didn't know, but he didn't dwell on it.
"Speaking of which, this is...?"
Having settled Faen's business, Shen turned his gaze toward Riven.
Though Faen had provided Riven with traditional Ionian attire for her arrival, her aura and the exaggerated size of the blackstone runic blade on her back made it clear she wasn't from these lands.
Since they were to travel together to the Placidium, it was better to confirm her identity to avoid unnecessary misunderstandings.
"Riven. A Noxian," Faen said.
"A Noxian?" A flash of surprise crossed Shen's eyes.
It wasn't that he was discriminating against her; Noxus had not yet declared war on Ionia.
To the Ionians currently living in the "calm before the storm," showing hostility based solely on nationality would be extremely rude.
In fact, in Ionian tradition, scholars from afar were usually treated with great hospitality.
The problem was that in Shen's memory, Faen's hostility toward Noxus had never once faded...
Aware of his reputation in Ionia—or at least within the scholarly circles of the Placidium—Faen wasn't surprised by Shen's reaction.
He shrugged. "It's true that I believe Noxus will eventually launch a war against Ionia, but that doesn't mean I hate or reject every Noxian.
Riven is indeed a Noxian, and a soldier at that, but she is different."
Faen felt a slight sense of irony. He never expected the phrase "she's different" to come out of his own mouth.
But thinking about it, it was true.
He wasn't some pure-hearted youth whose head was full of hormonal fantasies about love.
It was because he knew that in the years following the war, Riven would spend over a decade as a humble farmer, seeking no reward, helping Ionian peasants with their harvest as an act of atonement.
Even when Yasuo was clearing his name, Ionian farmers would speak up and defend her.
That was why Faen could say "she's different" with total confidence.
While Faen trusted Riven's character based on her lore and deeds, Riven herself wasn't so sure.
Having just been abandoned by Noxus, the rose-tinted lens through which she viewed the Empire had shattered.
She was currently drowning in a sea of doubt regarding her values and purpose.
Feeling Faen's unwavering trust, Riven bit her lip and remained silent.
She was never a woman of words; she preferred to let her actions speak for her.
However... Faen's way of "doing" things was a bit different from ordinary people, leaving Riven unsure of how to respond.
She simply stayed quiet, standing by his side like a silent protector.
Though this kind of protection was, in truth, quite unnecessary.
Hearing Faen's words, Usan couldn't help but ask:
"I don't quite understand, but do you truly believe Noxus will start a war?
From what I've seen, the Noxians have brought many good new things to Ionia."
Faen raised an eyebrow and asked, "Such as?"
"Such as... well, convenient facilities? And some farming tools." Usan shrugged after a brief thought.
"The Noxians have even helped design and build bridges in some remote villages.
Though the architecture doesn't always fit Ionian habits, with the help of the spirits of the land, those roads and bridges are indeed more durable and less prone to warping."
"No warping? That is nice. But it won't change my view.
Look at it another way: if war breaks out, those roads, facilities, and topographical surveys will become weapons for the Noxians to strike at Ionia, won't they?" Faen appeared very relaxed.
"That seems a bit too... cynical," Usan frowned, clearly repulsed by the idea.
"They have genuinely helped Ionia. Such speculation seems a bit disrespectful."