Chapter 131: Taliyah’s Journey Home and Changes in Shurima
Looking at the girl in the picture who was still full of enthusiasm and innocence, the audience felt a sense of familiarity.

No one has seen her for a long time since she separated from Yasuo.

A lot of things happened after that. Yasuo returned to his hometown and learned the truth about the murder of Elder Souma. He met Yone who returned from the spiritual realm during the Spirit Blossom, and then followed Ahri to Bilgewater.

Taliyah followed Yasuo's instructions and headed north, avoiding the ferocious Noxus, passing through the icy Freljord, and finally she set foot on this land of yellow sand.

Taliyah had almost forgotten how much she missed the furnace-like heat of Shurima. Hundreds of people gathered together, forming clouds, sweating, talking and laughing loudly at a very fast speed, bargaining, swearing, and so on. Outsiders who saw this scene would always think that they were always arguing.

She had never seen such a hot and unrestrained culture and customs in any place she had traveled. Ionia was like a fairyland, and the tundra of Freljord was uniquely magnificent, but when she stepped onto the port of Beljur, the scorching sun of Shurima instantly steamed away all these memories.

She felt the bedrock deep within the land, and the tremors she felt reminded her of Babayan's spiced tea. She walked up the stone steps to the dock, smiling from ear to ear. Even the passing of a black stone from Noxtora over her head did not dampen her mood.

Beljung is a border town on the Shurima coastline, famous for its thriving black market and mammoth wool, but it belongs to the sphere of influence of Noxus. This port city has surrendered to Noxus, exchanging food and trade preferential treatment for military protection against looters.

Taliyah didn't stay in Beljun for long. The sight of several Noxian warships at the port reminded her of bad memories and made her nervous.

She bought some travel supplies in the city and overheard some rumors in the market. The news brought back by the caravan from the deep desert was either contradictory or incredible.

For example, a warrior made of yellow sand, a thunderstorm on a sunny day, a water source that appeared out of nowhere and no one remembered, etc.

A well-armed caravan offered to take Taliyah with them. They were in the business of Nerimaj silk, and their intention was to travel south to Kenesor.

The infamous Kennesor is located at the northern end of the Great Sai Desert. Taliyah was shaken all over the carriage and finally got her feet on the ground after arriving at the grocery market.

The caravan leader, a skinny woman named Shamarra with eyes like polished black marble, advised Taliyah not to go any further south, but Taliyah told her that her family needed her and that they had no idea of ​​the coming threat.

From Kenesor, she continued south along the winding river. People called this river the Mother of Life, and it was said that its source originated from the ancient capital of the Shurima Empire.

Taliyah was alone, which actually made things easier for her. The rocks were like her steed, letting her ride on them obediently. The rock layers below kept coming out of the ground, pushing Taliyah towards Vikaola in the south. It was rumored that the city had already been mostly buried in the yellow sand that overflowed from the Great Sai Desert.

Xiamara felt that the current Vikaola was at most a tribal camp built on an abandoned old city, just a place for passing travelers and mages to rest.

But even from a distance of several kilometers, Taliyah could see that Shamara had been misled by the rumors: Vikaura had been reborn.

The camera followed Taliyah as she passed through the scenery of northern Shurima. The audience looked at everything in front of them with curiosity. The ruined city and flying yellow sand showed no trace of Shurima's former glory.

Taliyah followed the crowd into this city that had stood in the yellow sand for who knows how long and was almost like a ruin.

Even the audience in front of the screen could see that the city had just revived and was saved by the crowds that kept pouring in from all over Shurima. However, this was convenient for Taliyah, and she decided to replenish supplies here.

However, Taliyah encountered a problem here. She found a dying woman in the ruins.

……

The market in the city is drowned in color and noise, and the air is filled with strong smells. Arched canvas awnings next to each other almost cover the entire street. The sound of fierce bargaining, mixed with the pungent smell of spices and barbecue, is everywhere. Audible.

Taliyah pushed her way through the crowd, ignoring the vendors' boasts and their pleas for the well-being of her family. Someone grabbed her by her robe and dragged her toward a stall selling the most disgusting desert pests, so she broke free and moved away.

Hundreds of people crowded the wide street leading to the ruined city walls. Shriveled old men who looked like wise men sat under the porches smoking pipes, and the fragrant smoke rose like mist. She saw the markings of many different tribes, and she recognized the Babe, Zagaya, and Yeshenye, but she had never seen the other dozen or so tribes before.

When she left Shurima, she remembered that they were sworn enemies, but now they sat together peacefully like comrades in battle.

"A lot has changed since I left," she whispered to herself.

She had found what she wanted, and now it was time to return to the ruins east of the city. She didn't want to stay here for too long if she didn't have to. But she had promised to take care of the injured woman, and her mother always warned her to keep her promises, because the Weaver Mother hated people who broke their promises.

The crude satchel on her shoulder was filled with food, including bacon, oats, bread, and cheese, plus two skins of water. It was far more than she needed, but it was not for her alone.

There was not much gold left on her robe, but she knew she was not far from home. Although there was no proof, she could clearly feel that every step she took was getting closer to the warm embrace of her parents.

So she had no need of gold, for in that tent she had everything she wanted.

Taliyah was so immersed in her happy vision that she didn't notice the big guy in front of her. She bumped into him headfirst and was thrown out and lay flat on the ground.

He didn't move at all, and she felt like she had hit a cliff. The people in the market seemed to be used to it, and the crowds flowed around him like a stream flowing around a reef. He was wrapped in a rag-like robe from head to toe, but it still couldn't hide his tall and strong figure. He was holding a long cloth-wrapped cane, and the wide top was also wrapped in rags. She noticed that his legs were bent at a strange angle, and it seemed that he was not very convenient to move.

"I'm sorry, I didn't see you just now." She said, looking up.

He looked down at her, his face hidden in the shadow of his extended turban, but he said nothing. He held out his hand, his fingers wrapped in leprosy-like bandages. Taliyah hesitated only a moment, then took his hand.

He lifted her up effortlessly. She saw a ray of golden light flickering under his dusty robe. He put her down and put his hands back into his sleeves.

“Thank you,” Taliyah said.

"Little man, you have to watch your way." His accent was thick and buzzing, as if it came from a deep well of sadness in his heart.

“Shurima is a dangerous place right now.”

(End of this chapter)