Jarvan gently clapped his hands: "Chen, nothing can be hidden from you after all."
Chen's eyes narrowed slightly; he had actually guessed it.
Lux looked at Jarvan and Garen in disbelief: "You shouldn't know I'm here. I hid myself so well..."
Chen turned to look at Lux and couldn't help but exclaim: "Miss Crownguard, the rich young lady, you are still too young. Do you really think you can hide from Demacia's most prominent family, the Crownguard Family, and the Demacian Royal Family?"
Lux was not foolish; in fact, she was very intelligent, otherwise she wouldn't have become a powerful mage in Demacia, a land of anti-magic.
But sometimes, intelligence isn't enough. Even though Lux hid everything she did extremely well, her methods were not sophisticated enough compared to the Crownguard Family and the Royal Family.
Garen said to Lux with great heartache: "Lux, I actually knew for a long time that you wanted to live your own life and secretly made so many preparations, but we are of the Crownguard Family. For the honor of the Crownguard Family, sometimes sacrifices must be made..."
Lux's expression instantly turned gloomy.
Jarvan helped explain: "But your brother still sided with you. He found out about these things, but he never reported them to the family. Only the two of us knew. If you hadn't suddenly disappeared, we wouldn't have come here to look for you."
Lux's eyes were a little moist: "Garen, is it true?"
"It's true."
While Garen and Lux were immersed in their deep sibling affection.
Jarvan walked up to Chen: "Talk?"
Chen was not flustered. If they were truly here to capture him, they would have acted already. Jarvan clearly had something to say: "Only you and Garen came. No army?"
"Yes."
Jarvan IV cut straight to the chase: "In Demacia, honor is valued more than life. Fiora returned for honor."
Chen didn't think he could change the Demacians' minds in a short time, so he said to Jarvan: "Can you manage it?"
Jarvan shook his head bitterly: "I want to manage it, but I can't. Demacia's deeply entrenched systems and way of thinking make reform incredibly difficult. I know there are countless others like this in Demacia, both men and women, whose marriages and lives are controlled, living like puppets."
Chen could completely understand. From the Qing Dynasty to the Republic of China, liberating the people's minds required countless setbacks, which was no simple task: "So what are you going to do?"
Jarvan still had a bitter expression, but he was very sincere: "I don't have a suitable solution right now. I still came to you, even though I know you're unwilling to interfere in internal affairs..."
Chen's mind whirred. Looking at the pathetic Lux beside him, and thinking of Fiora who had just left, as a Party member, he could not tolerate such feudal ideas ruining people's lives.
Defeating all feudal systems in the world was an urgent matter. After Fiora's incident, Chen had made up his mind to help them. So, a thought suddenly struck Chen: "I can't interfere in politics, but I can spread culture..."
Jarvan's brow furrowed slightly: "Spread culture?"
"The New Culture Movement!"
Chen thought of a strategy, which was a crucial turning point for China to regroup and move towards revitalization: "Only when the people's minds are liberated can they move towards the future! Demacia also needs an Age of Awakening!"
Jarvan seemed to grasp a hint and quickly said: "Elaborate..."
Starting from advocating democracy and science, then to democracy and the republic, and vigorously advocating new morality, opposing old morality, and promoting new literature!
Chen wanted to launch a New Culture Movement in Demacia to break the people's feudal thinking and help Demacia achieve ideological liberation!
After listening, Jarvan felt as if he had been enlightened: "...So, using the power of words and culture to change people's minds! Chen, you are truly a genius. I never thought there was such a method!"
Chen thought of the countless obstacles encountered during the New Culture Movement, such as feudal remnants and warlord oppression. He stated directly: "But there are too many difficulties in implementing it. I alone am not enough; the power of literati is needed..."
At this moment, Lux, who had been on the side, walked over. She had already calmed down and bravely said: "I want to help too. I've studied writing for many years, and I've also met many people like me who don't want their lives to be bound by their families. They can help too!"
"But..."
Just as Chen was about to say something more.
Jarvan interrupted him. Jarvan said to Chen: "I will fully support you from behind, give you a push, and ensure your smooth operation. Is that acceptable?"
"Your full support certainly works..."
Chen leaned close to Jarvan's ear and whispered: "How will the expenses be settled..."
Jarvan had anticipated this. He had nothing in abundance but money. He waved his hand: "The same as we discussed before!"
Chen immediately made the decision: "Good, then I will let Demacia enter the Age of Awakening!"
...
Fiora was walking on her way home, but along the way, she faced the pointing fingers of passersby:
"She's the one who broke off the engagement!"
"Eh, how did the Laurent Family produce someone like this? I heard the Crownguard Family challenged the Laurent Family to a duel!"
"I heard she also caused a big scene at the wedding."
"..."
Amidst the many voices of doubt, Fiora remained single-minded, ignoring the idle chatter.
She walked to the main gate of the Laurent Family. The guard looked at Fiora in surprise; he had thought his young lady would never return!
Almost everyone thought so, but Fiora did not escape. She, alone, walked back to the Laurent Family with Focused Resolve!
...
Study.
Sebastian held a portrait of Fiora, his eyes red, tears welling up: "Only when I lost her did I learn to cherish her..."
After yesterday, after being fiercely kicked by Chen, he returned home and sat in his study, refusing to see anyone, and did not deal with the aftermath of the incident.
"Father was wrong. I truly wasn't a good father..."
Sebastian's hands were trembling. He constantly replayed yesterday's duel in his mind.
He had dueled for so many years, and he could clearly feel that he couldn't defeat his own daughter. Fiora was indeed a genius with the sword, and he had indeed overlooked her talent.
Moreover, at the last moment, Fiora clearly held back, allowing him to stab her to death with one sword.
Sebastian stared at the portrait of Fiora in his hand, his chapped lips slightly parted: "Fiora, if that sword hadn't been blocked by someone else, I would have lived in guilt my whole life, but thankfully someone saved you."
Suddenly, Sebastian seemed to have come to terms with it and leaned back in his chair: "Actually, this is good too. The freedom you wanted is now in your hands. You no longer have to be at my mercy."
"However, we probably won't have a chance to meet again. The Crownguard Family's duel challenge has already been sent. I know I can't beat them, but at least if I die, the family will still exist, and you will still be alive. That's enough."
"If there's a next life, I will definitely apologize to you in person..."
But just then, the study door was pushed open.
Sebastian turned to scold: "Didn't I say not to come in..."
He couldn't hold back his tears, and they fell: "Fi... Fiora..."