"Since the three of you have returned, I assume you received the mountain god's blessings."
Guwu spoke calmly. "I know you must have many questions. Please follow me, and I will answer them one by one."
He turned and led the way, though this time he did not take them to the main temple hall. Instead, he brought them to a room in one of the side courtyards.
After entering, Guwu remained unhurried. He slowly poured four cups of hot tea before saying, "Please, have a seat."
The three sat down, but none of them touched the tea placed before them.
Guwu picked up his own cup and slowly took a sip. "Please feel free to ask whatever questions you have."
Akali spoke first. "Our wishes really were granted. Does the mountain god truly expect nothing in return?"
Guwu set down his cup. "According to the natural balance of all things, how could the mountain god give something away without expecting anything in return?"
Akali narrowed her eyes. "That isn't what you said yesterday."
"I did not mention it yesterday because you might not have believed me even if I had explained everything in advance," Guwu said. "What happened to the three of you yesterday was merely the mountain god proving that he possesses the ability to fulfill your wishes. That makes what I am about to explain much easier to accept."
Akali said evenly, "Then explain."
Guwu smiled faintly. "Have the three of you ever heard of divine status?"
Ahri looked puzzled. "Divine status?"
"That is correct. The many gods hidden throughout the mortal world are not merely empty objects of faith. There are also subtle differences among divine beings. Divine status can also be called godhood. Those who possess godhood are true gods, beings of boundless power. Those without it are false gods."
Guwu calmly explained the distinction.
All three of them were well traveled and naturally knew that gods truly existed in this world.
Luke silently asked Janna, "Is what he said true?"
"I don't know," the spirit goddess replied. "But it probably is. Even I wouldn't dare call myself a true god. As for godhood, I think it must exist. I can often sense something vague, as though it is almost within reach, yet impossibly distant at the same time."
Luke nodded slightly.
As far as he knew, there were probably very few true gods in all of Runeterra.
Even the one from the Serpent Isles might not qualify as a true god.
Akali made a guess. "So the mountain god is currently only a false god?"
Guwu looked at her and shook his head. "He is not even a false god. False gods can also be called demigods. At present, the mountain god remains below even that level."
Akali could not help wondering how someone who was not even a demigod could possess such incredible abilities.
As though seeing through her thoughts, Guwu smiled. "Things that are difficult for humans to accomplish or understand are often quite simple for extraordinary beings born from nature."
Akali considered that.
She had indeed encountered an extraordinary being before.
It had been the guardian spirit of an entire region, awakened after being enraged by a reckless Noxian brat. The pressure it exerted after awakening had been immense.
Such beings truly possessed powers beyond ordinary human comprehension.
Seeing the three remain silent, Guwu continued, "To tell you the truth, the mountain god is currently undergoing a ritual of divine ascension."
Akali looked up in confusion. "A ritual of divine ascension?"
Guwu slowly explained, "A very long time ago, the mountain god was merely the spirit of the mountains in this region. As the ages passed, he gradually developed a sense of self and began protecting the surrounding land.
"Many years later, Guyuan was slowly established here. The people built the Mountain God Temple, thereby acknowledging the mountain god's existence.
"Many more years passed, and foreign enemies invaded. To protect Guyuan from harm, the mountain god decided to reveal himself.
"The moment he chose to manifest in the mortal world, he also sensed a certain omen. He had a premonition that once he gathered enough faith, he would ascend into the ranks of demigods.
"Since then, he has done everything in his power to fulfill people's prayers and gather their faith. Yet he has always remained one final step away."
Guwu paused after reaching this point.
The three of them fell into thought.
His explanation had been clear enough. The mountain god was currently attempting to prove his divinity, which was why he had been so eager to fulfill people's wishes.
It was also true that the mountain god had protected Guyuan. A few casual inquiries the day before had confirmed that, during the Noxian invasion, Guyuan had been sheltered by the mountain god and spared from persecution.
Akali asked, "Is faith really that easy to obtain?"
"Of course not." Guwu shook his head. "It is very difficult to make a person develop genuine faith in a short period of time, especially when a great amount of faith is required. That is why the mountain god began searching for special people with whom he shares an affinity. They do not need to worship him. A sincere feeling of gratitude is enough.
"It is a form of acknowledgment within the heart, and thus equivalent to faith. The mountain god, who stands at the threshold of becoming a demigod, desperately needs that acknowledgment.
"From the moment the three of you entered the temple, the mountain god sensed that you were extraordinary. Gaining your sincere gratitude would provide him with tremendous assistance."
By this point, Luke and the others basically understood.
Akali asked another question. "Why isn't the mountain god telling us this himself? Why send you?"
"The mountain god cannot reveal himself and interfere in this matter directly. His intervention carries an entirely different significance from the involvement of an ordinary mortal like me," Guwu explained. "Had the three of you left Guyuan today, it would have meant that your connection with the mountain god ended there. However, since you chose to return, it naturally became my responsibility to explain everything."
Luke asked, "So what do you want us to do?"
"You do not need to do anything special. Simply pray before the mountain god's statue as you did yesterday," Guwu said. "Once the mountain god has fulfilled three wishes for each of you and receives your sincere worship in return, the matter will be complete."
In truth, it was merely a transaction that benefited both sides.
Akali considered it. "What happens if I make a wish that the mountain god cannot fulfill?"
Guwu smiled helplessly. "The mountain god is not yet even a demigod. If you make some truly outrageous wish that defies all reason, there may be nothing he can do. I hope the three of you will show some restraint."
It seemed that as long as their wishes were not excessive, the mountain god could fulfill them.
After thinking briefly, Luke said, "In that case, let us help the mountain god take his final step."
Guwu replied, "Then allow me to thank you in the mountain god's stead."
Since Luke had agreed, Akali and Ahri raised no objections.
The three returned to the hall containing the mountain god's statue and repeated the same steps as the day before, offering their prayers before the stone figure.
Once they had finished, Guwu escorted them to the temple gates.
"Please return tomorrow."
He watched as the three descended the mountain and gradually disappeared from sight.
Guwu then turned around and returned to the small room.
"Great God, I explained everything according to your instructions. They appear to have believed me."
"Excellent. We need only wait for them to return once more. At that time, I will appear before them personally."
A mysterious voice echoed through the room.
Guwu asked in confusion, "Are those three truly so important to you, Great God? What would happen if they chose to leave?"
"Very well. I suppose there is no harm in telling you."
A broad, indistinct apparition suddenly appeared inside the room. Its features were impossible to discern.
Guwu hurriedly lowered his head and waited respectfully.
The apparition spoke in an indifferent tone. "Of those three, only one is truly vital to me. The masked woman would also make a rare delicacy, but compared to that Vesani vastaya, she is hardly worth mentioning.
"To think that after several centuries, a remnant of the Vesani still survives. If I devour her soul, the success of my ascension ritual will be all but guaranteed!"
By the end, barely restrained excitement had entered the apparition's voice.
He truly was conducting a ritual, but it was not a ritual of divine ascension.
It was a demonic ascension!
As a demon who had survived for several centuries, he had possessed many different names throughout history.
However, the name he liked best was the River King.
From the moment of his birth, he had been an exceptional greater demon. Yet despite the passing of centuries, he had remained at the same level.
Then he learned that demons far more powerful than himself existed.
The River King was no longer satisfied with his current position. He wanted to transform into a mightier being, one capable of manipulating human souls with even greater ease.
His long preparations in Ionia had finally paid off. The crucial soul he required had arrived.
If he successfully devoured that soul along with the entirety of Guyuan, there was a strong possibility that he could evolve into a far more powerful demon.
Unfortunately, he did not dare attack them directly in Ionia.
Although the River King was a greater demon, his direct combat abilities were not particularly formidable.
However, he possessed one special power.
He could tempt souls into accepting his gifts.
The moment one of his gifts was accepted, a demonic contract would automatically be formed.
Three times.
As long as a soul accepted his gifts three times in succession, he would forever possess power over that soul.
All he needed to do was maintain his disguise until the third gift was accepted. Once that happened, his victory would be assured.
His powerful demonic abilities and centuries of accumulated strength also allowed him to fulfill the wishes of ordinary mortals with ease.
Guwu immediately said, "Congratulations, Great God."
"It is still too early for congratulations, though only one final step remains." The apparition spoke with absolute certainty. "I can sense the desire within her heart. She, above all others, is the least likely to leave."
Guwu did not know what the Vesani were, but he could sense the importance of the cloaked woman.
Then another thought occurred to him, and he curiously asked, "What about the man?"
"He is inconsequential."
The apparition answered indifferently. "At most, he is a reasonably appetizing ordinary human. When the time comes, I can enjoy him as an appetizer."
"So he is merely an ordinary man? This humble servant saw his handsome appearance and extraordinary bearing and assumed his depths were unfathomable."
Guwu recalled the man's demeanor. He had assumed Luke was the most mysterious of the three.
It turned out he was the most ordinary one.
In that case, there was nothing to worry about.
"Of the three, his wish was the most vulgar and the easiest to fulfill. He is not worth considering," the apparition said. "I will now make preparations for tomorrow. There are still a few matters concerning the Vesani girl that I must investigate. Guard this place well."
"Yes."
Guwu immediately acknowledged the command.
The apparition gradually faded away.
By this time, Luke and the others had already descended the mountain.
"I made the same wish as yesterday. What about you two?" Akali asked.
Ahri nodded. "So did I."
She wanted to learn more about the Sunstones and her own origins. Now that she had seen a glimmer of hope, she could not abandon it.
Luke said, "Mine was the same too."
Akali walked while thinking. "Ascending into a demigod... Can it really be as easy as he claimed? Does he truly only need our gratitude?"
Although she had agreed to Guwu's proposal, something still felt strange. She simply could not identify what was wrong.
Guwu had not demanded anything suspicious. All they needed to do was sincerely worship the mountain god with gratitude in their hearts.
They stood to lose nothing and would instead receive three blessings from the mountain god.
The mountain god also appeared to have an excellent reputation throughout the region.
During the war, he had genuinely protected the people living nearby.
Perhaps the needs of a mountain god were simply different from those of humans.
For the moment, Akali could not find any obvious flaw in the explanation.
Luke said, "There's no point worrying about it too much. We'll know after the third wish."
The image of the mountain god's statue flashed through his mind once again.
Luke finally had a vague impression of where he had seen something similar, though he was not completely certain yet.
What he could be certain of was that the mountain god's true objective would be revealed tomorrow.
Since it was still early, the three decided to walk around town.
When they returned to the lottery shop from the previous day, it had not yet opened.
Akali glanced at it. "Your wish will probably be fulfilled through this place again."
Luke nodded. "We can return this afternoon and try."
Based on what they had seen so far, the mountain god did not fulfill wishes by directly bestowing the requested reward. Instead, he manipulated circumstances so that the wish would be indirectly realized.
The three decided to visit the market from the day before.
Shortly after arriving, they found the elderly stall owner they had met yesterday. He was energetically calling out to potential customers when he noticed Luke and the others approaching.
His eyes lit up.
"I am glad I was able to see you again. After returning home yesterday, I searched for a long time and finally found a record concerning the Sunstones. It was left behind by one of my ancestors."
Hearing his words, Ahri immediately stepped forward.
"May I see it?"
"Of course. I brought it with me because I hoped I might encounter you again today. After all, those are the last Sunstones in the world."
The old man moved a basket aside, revealing a stone tablet beneath it.
Ahri immediately felt a strange reaction. She could not stop herself from picking up the tablet and examining it.
The sight left her frozen.
An image had been carved into the stone.
It depicted a woman with fox ears and a fox tail. Three Sunstones revolved around her body, which seemed to radiate a brilliant light.
A passage of text had also been inscribed upon the tablet.
It was written in ancient Ionian, which Ahri could not read. Akali, however, had studied the language before.
She read it aloud.
"The Vesani are an exceptionally ancient people. The Sunstones were created by them. I once offered a great sum to purchase one, but my request was refused. A truly regrettable loss."
As Ahri listened, she fell into a daze. Her hands unconsciously tightened around the stone tablet.
The Vesani.
The moment she heard that name, she somehow knew with absolute certainty.
They were her people.
The woman depicted on the stone tablet was one of her own kind.
This was the past she had been searching for all along.
Ahri came back to her senses and hurriedly asked, "Do you have any more information about the Vesani?"
The old man shook his head. "No. Even this stone tablet is incredibly ancient. It seems one of my ancestors attempted to purchase a Sunstone and failed, then left this record behind because of his regret. Without it, there might not be anyone alive who could still recognize a Sunstone."
"I see. Thank you. May I purchase this tablet from you?"
Ahri was not disappointed this time, but she wanted to take the tablet with her.
"It is of no use to me. Please take it. Just like yesterday, consider it a complimentary gift for purchasing my wares."
The old man smiled kindly.
On the way back, Akali took the tablet and examined it.
"I don't think I've ever heard of the Vesani."
A glimmer appeared in Ahri's eyes. "Perhaps they still exist somewhere, but left Ionia."
"That is probably the case. Still, I'm sure there must be more records about the Vesani somewhere."
Akali had been raised by the Kinkou Order and had studied both martial arts and scholarly subjects from childhood, yet she had no memory of this tribe.
There was only one likely explanation.
The Vesani had left Ionia a very long time ago.
But why had Ahri been left behind?
That was precisely what Ahri wanted to know.
"More importantly, the timing of that old man's appearance is far too convenient," Akali said. "I'm curious whether the mountain god arranged all this or whether the old man would have appeared there anyway."
Had Ahri not made her wish, would she still have encountered that elderly merchant?
Perhaps she would have, or perhaps not.
There was little point dwelling on it now. Ahri's wish had undeniably been fulfilled for a second time.
Yesterday, she had learned the name of the Sunstones.
Today, she had learned that they were created by the Vesani, who were very likely her own people.
That afternoon, the three returned to the lottery shop and each purchased another set of numbers.
They wanted to see whether Luke's wish would be fulfilled again.
They quietly waited for the drawing to begin.
Soon, the red balls began dropping one after another.
Akali compared them to the numbers Luke had chosen.
Once again, every one of them matched.
This time, she was not nearly as surprised.
She was now certain that the mountain god was responsible.
Seen from that perspective, the mountain god truly did possess impressive abilities.
Unlike the previous drawing, Luke had also selected the correct blue number.
He had won the grand prize.
Luke's wish had been to obtain even more money. After another day of accumulation, the grand prize had grown to six thousand gold coins.
That was a full thousand more than the day before.
When Luke went to claim the prize, the entire shop was thrown into an uproar.
Even the owner could hardly believe it. He had apparently never expected anyone to win the grand prize so quickly.
When he handed over the full six thousand gold coins, his heart ached so badly that he looked ready to cry.
He had obtained the idea for this business by praying at the temple on the mountain. The shop had barely begun making money, yet he was already forced to pay out an enormous sum.
Watching Luke return carrying an entire chest of money, Akali felt as though reality had somehow become distorted.
The surrounding commotion brought her back to her senses.
Her gaze unconsciously turned toward the Mountain God Temple.
Would her wish be fulfilled in the same manner?
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