Meanwhile, along the Kahleek River.
Li Lin and Kassadin sat on Skallashi, holding the reins, driving them at a trot.
Sivir rode a camel behind them, with a "skateboard" made of rock generated by her own magic gliding alongside, keeping pace with the unyielding Taliyah.
Since bidding farewell to Nasus last night, they had been heading south along the Kahleek River, continuously traveling for more than ten hours without any rest.
As mortals, they couldn't intervene in the battle between demigods, leaving them futile in Vekaura or as easy targets for the taking.
Moreover, thousands of years ago, Nasus and Renekton barely fought Xerath to a draw.
Now Xerath, who had accumulated power in the tomb for millennia, was no match for Nasus alone.
Even with the elite human fighting force, it was as simple as squashing an ant for this ancient mage.
Not to mention Li Lin, who had not yet fully developed.
Therefore, protecting Sivir from being captured by Xerath was the top priority.
After more than ten hours of non-stop travel, the four felt varying degrees of exhaustion.
Kassadin was fine, having grown up in the Great Sai, he could adapt to any harsh situation.
Li Lin was barely managing, with the protection of power armor and the relative stability of riding Skallashi, his physical exertion was only reflected in his mental fatigue.
Taliyah's condition was also good. Her precision and intensity in controlling rock magic were remarkable. After more than ten hours of travel, she did not expend too much energy.
Just like Li Lin, she only felt a bit tired mentally.
But Sivir, riding the camel, was not doing well.
For one, camels were much more bumpy to ride than Skallashi.
And Sivir didn't have the protection of power armor like Li Lin and Kassadin, the long trek was taking a toll on her complexion.
We need to rest a bit, we can't continue like this...
Li Lin grabbed Skallashi's reins and stopped it.
Kassadin noticed the situation behind him and quickly stopped Skallashi and turned around. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine." Li Lin looked down at Sivir and Taliyah beside them, "But I think we need to find a place to rest for a while."
"Xerath has already been blocked by Nasus at Vekaura. We don't need to worry too much," Sivir said after moistening her throat with some water, "Only, Nasus alone can't stop Xerath, he needs Azir's help."
Li Lin sighed heavily. "And, Xerath has his own followers, they should be looking for us."
Sivir, handing another water pouch to Taliyah, listened to his words, her left eyebrow raised slightly, showing a puzzled look.
"How do you know? I remember it's only been less than 20 days since we let that guy go. Where did he find followers in such a short time?"
"You're underestimating Xerath, Sivir... Although he hasn't gained recognition, he's a true ascendant. Even before becoming an ascendant, he was a wizard who mastered various sorceries and arcane magics."
"Can he control people's minds?" Taliyah asked, raising her head.
"If you have to say, maybe."
Li Lin had forgotten too many details, only knowing that this guy had gathered more than five hundred people just to find Sivir's trail.
Although most of them were killed by Nasus in Vekaura, the timeline had already changed because of him...
He looked out into the calm horizon to the north.
Just hope that Nasus can hold them off...
...
...
In the middle reaches of the Kahleek River, within a settlement of dozens of people.
Because they hadn't had time to replenish supplies in Vekaura, Li Lin gave Kassadin a few gold coins to buy some dry food and jerky here and rested for a while.
As the sun was about to set, Li Lin suddenly noticed a problem.
When they were hurrying along the way, they saw many people fleeing in the same direction, preparing to head to the Marrowmark Market.
By time and route, even if they didn't all pass through this settlement, at least some of them would definitely pass through here.
With doubts in mind, Li Lin approached the guard outside the tent fence and asked.
So far, except for the four of them, no one else had passed through here, which was completely unreasonable.
Just as Li Lin fell into thought, feeling a sense of foreboding, Taliyah's voice interrupted his thoughts. "Li Lin? What are you doing here?"
Li Lin noticed that the girl was carrying a thick package on her back and couldn't help but pause, "Are you... planning to leave?"
"Yeah, I think it's time for us to part ways."
Taliyah nodded, a hint of reluctance on her face.
Although she had only been with Li Lin and the others for a day, she already considered them good friends.
If it weren't for Taliyah having been away from home for too long and missing her parents and other members of her tribe too much, she would definitely have accompanied Li Lin and the others to the end of this journey.
There was a slight apology on her face, "I'm sorry for suddenly suggesting parting at this time..."
"What's there to apologize for? You miss your family, so naturally, you prioritize them." Li Lin waved his hand, "Besides, we've implicated you in this matter."
Their light brown eyes met, and both couldn't help but smile.
"Where are you planning to go?"
"My tribe should be heading to the central desert to find a water source at this time. The ancient city is rising again from beneath the sands, and I think they will go there..."
As she spoke, a hint of hesitation appeared on Taliyah's face.
Li Lin guessed what was on her mind and comforted her softly, "Don't worry, Azir is not what you imagine. He can truly be called a wise ruler."
"I hope so."
Taliyah nodded and then walked out of the settlement gate side by side with Li Lin.
"Thank you, and thank you for taking care of me... I've already told Kassadin and Sivir, I'll take care of myself on the road ahead, you don't need to worry about me."
She made a gesture, and the yellow sand under her feet surged, quickly forming a raised rock slab that lifted her petite body off the ground.
Taliyah glanced at Li Lin one last time and waved goodbye, "Well, then..."
But before she could finish her sentence, a rumbling sound of galloping horses came from the northern horizon.
Taliyah, who was about to step on the stone slab, stopped her movement, "What's happening..."
Li Lin frowned and looked into the distance at the billowing dust clouds, activating his "Data Mind", his face changing slightly.
"It's Xerath's followers..."
"What?!"
Taliyah turned abruptly to look at Li Lin, an incredulous expression on her face.
Although she didn't know how he figured it out...
It might be because of this sophisticated technological armor?
But she still believed in Li Lin quite a bit and didn't have too many doubts.
Taliyah couldn't help but put her hand on her chest, her pounding heart making her emotions involuntarily tense.
"What should we do now?"
Li Lin didn't answer her question immediately, his gaze shifting to the two guards at the settlement gate, who were still looking curious, unaware of what was happening.
"Hurry, go inform the chief of your tribe, let him quickly evacuate women, children, and the elderly, and then have all able-bodied men pick up weapons to prepare for the enemy!"
The two guards stared blankly at Li Lin, who was shouting at them, not immediately understanding what was going on.
"The enemy is attacking! Those people are bandits, and they will be here in ten minutes at most!"
Seeing their sluggishness, Li Lin couldn't help but raise his voice, "What are you still hesitating for? Do you want to sit back and wait for death, wait for those people to rush into your settlement and burn, kill, and loot?!"
With his shout, fear appeared on the faces of the two guards, and they turned around and rushed into the tribe in a panic.
Li Lin shook his head, turning his gaze back to Taliyah, who also looked frightened, and calmly asked, "Can you build a large stone wall? Surround this settlement."
"I, I think I can!" Her eager voice contained a hint of doubt, "But this won't solve the problem. Those people can completely surround us..."
"We'll surround them."
Taliyah looked puzzled, not understanding what Li Lin meant, thinking it was a colloquialism from Piltover or Ionia.
"Just focus on doing it. These stone walls are only to protect the people in this settlement."
Li Lin looked into the settlement, and under his control, three standby storm robots quickly flew out and hovered in the air behind him.
Under Taliyah's amazed gaze, Li Lin looked at the rapidly approaching dust and Xerath's minions, sneering,
"It's time for them to show their might."
(End of this chapter)
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