Chapter 97: Riven's sentence is announced, Yasuo leaves his homeland

The morning light is dim.

In the square outside the parliament hall.

Riven stood in the center in chains, while the three judges and villagers surrounded her.

When the bell rang, the hook-nosed female judge stood up and solemnly announced:
"After reviewing the evidence and combining it with the opinions of the elders, we have concluded that this Noxian is guilty."

Hearing the name of her birthplace, Riven's heart trembled and her hair stood on end.

The female judge glanced at Riven and continued, "Although it is easy to sentence him to death, but..."

"The death penalty cannot restore the balance of the world, nor can it repair the damage that crime has caused to the people."

Hearing this, the villagers nodded in agreement.

Riven looked at the judge with some surprise.

Then, she scanned the faces of the villagers one by one, and she saw the hardships they had endured.

——Those children who have lost their parents, those elderly people who have lost their children.

"Therefore, this court seeks a longer and more severe sentence."

The female judge spoke again.

"We will oversee the exile, Riven, and allow her to repair the damage caused by her crimes."

As she spoke, she took a step forward and looked down at Riven. "We sentence her to hard labor, starting with the fields of the Condes."

There were whispers from the crowd.

The female judge continued to announce:
"This court will also oversee Riven's repairs to the Council Chamber and her compensation to the families harmed during the Noxian invasion."

After saying that, the judge looked at Riven and said, "I wonder if you are willing to accept this judgment?"

All eyes in the audience were fixed on her, waiting for her response.

At this moment, a complex emotion surged into Riven's heart, as if something was stuck in her throat.

She couldn't help but look around.

She discovered that the ghosts of the dead who had been hurt by her and had appeared in her nightmares many times did not disappear with the verdict.

They float freely in the air and mingle with the living.

The sight shocked her, yet comforted her.

"I am willing."

Riven was completely moved by the generosity and tolerance of the Ionians, and she choked up and answered.

She will prove to everyone that she is worthy of this gift.

The words fell.

The old couple, Asa and Shava, immediately rushed forward and hugged Riven tightly.

And Riven completely relaxed in the hug, hugging them tightly.

"Deda." Sava's lips pressed against Riven's white hair.

"daughter."

She whispered back.

"Ok?"

“It’s a bit unexpected!”

"The punishment is just hard labor, and it starts at the home of the old couple Conde."

"Let's not talk about compensation for now. Isn't this just letting Riven off the hook?"

“A rare happy ending.”

"I now finally understand the way of balance in Ionia."

"Have you noticed that this piece of nascent land is very similar to our Eastern land—"

"Pursue peace and coexistence, be tolerant and inclusive, and produce talents"

“They seem to be peaceful at ordinary times, but when war comes, they can unite unprecedentedly and defeat the powerful Noxian Empire.”

“Also, the characters in this place all have strong East Asian characteristics.”

"Now that you mention it, it occurs to me that the desert land of Shurima is probably based on ancient Egypt!"

"Shit, I suddenly realized it."

"Riven is fine now, but what about Yasuo? Did he finally reconcile with me? Did he stay in the village, or did he go somewhere else?"

This is the end of Chapter 7.

But the story is not over yet
【Eight: Blooming Spirit】

"When I returned to the village, ready to find the real culprit who killed my master that year."

"In a farm field, I met a strange face that I had never seen before."

"She spoke our local dialect, but her accent was thick and awkward." "I wanted to ask her about the latest news I had heard."

"But unexpectedly, the arrival of a group of cavalry interrupted our conversation."

"She was accused of being a Noxian survivor and was taken to stand trial for the death of Elder Suma."

“The trial.”

"I listened to it outside the door."

"Her name is Riven."

""—A war criminal who once participated in the invasion of Ionia. She is now repenting for her sins.""

"During the trial, when the broken sword was presented as evidence, the truth seemed to come to light."

"She admitted that she had killed Elder Suma and confessed her crime."

“But I can tell.”

"She wanted to die."

"That night, I brought her sword to the place where she was judged, ready to fight her to the death and avenge my master."

"But, just as we were fighting fiercely, something unexpected happened."

"The fragments of the broken sword flew towards her old father in the corner. I came to her rescue in a critical situation."

""that moment.""

"She finally confessed everything."

"Although it was an accident, she regretted it deeply."

"And I no longer have the desire to blame anyone."

“The judge who came later told me that the first step to atonement is to take responsibility, and the second step is to forgive yourself.”

"But I can't force myself to say the words that will relieve the pain."

“I know that too.”

"The real difficulty is to continue living with the consequences of what you have done."

“To this day.”

"I still can't forgive myself for abandoning my master and leaving without permission, and I can't forgive myself for killing Yongen with my own hands."

"So, finally."

“I didn’t choose to stay.”

"."

"After leaving the village."

"I went to Waili to attend the Soul Blossom Festival. I thought the healing festival there might be able to soothe my heart."

“But actually, I didn’t hold out much hope.”

The afterglow of the setting sun fills the streets of Waili. Today, this small mountain village is decorated with lights and bustling with people.

On both sides of the road, there are stalls of various vendors, hawking sounds are heard one after another, and a constant stream of pedestrians are walking around.

The long sword hanging on Yasuo's waist trembled slightly in the breeze. He walked among the crowd with big strides, occasionally looking around and looking back and forth.

Suddenly, bang——

A muffled sound broke the bustling street.

"Ouch!"

A short old man wearing a cloak was knocked to the ground by Yasuo without him noticing.

Yasuo immediately leaned forward to help.

"Sorry old man, I didn't mean to."

"It's okay, it's okay." The old man interrupted Yasuo, a mysterious light flashed in his eyes, "Souls don't wait, go."

“No, I’m not.”

"Aren't you here to pay homage to the spirit?" The old man stood up. "Otherwise, what could have attracted Lord Yasuo?"

Yasuo looked at the old man, and an inexplicable feeling surged in his heart, but he couldn't tell what the feeling was.

The old man was very short and a little hunchbacked. He was carrying a backpack. He had a strange appearance, with regular wrinkles on his face and lips as dry as sand.

"What does it matter if you are awakened or not?"

He shook his head and looked at the sunset in the distance again.

"I can't catch up anyway."

"The road ahead is long and difficult." The old man sighed, then pulled down his cloak, with a gleam of brilliance in his eyes, "Maybe my sect can be tried."

　Let's read some more QAQ
　　
　
(End of this chapter)