One-Eyed Monster

”Mentor! My Mentor!” Xiso didn’t know what to say. He was uncertain whether to tell his Mentor about everything that had happened or not.

Kevin looked at Xiso and shrugged his shoulders as usual. He didn’t have a mind like Xiso’s; he only focused on matters at hand without overthinking.

”There was chaos at Dawn Peak. The battle between the Alchemy Workshop’s members and unknown forces has ended. A few days ago, we lost contact with Dastan.”

”Hmm,” the Great Mentor said, his gaze full of benevolence as he gently stroked the fish in his hands. ”Poor Dastan. This shouldn’t have been his fight.”

”We have vowed to stand or fall together with our Mentor. Whether it’s our fight or not, we have no complaints.” Xiso’s expression was resolute, like a steadfast rock.

The Great Mentor placed the fish from his hand onto the withered grass beside him, letting it flip and jump freely.

”I’ve thought a lot over these years.” The Great Mentor put down his fishing rod and rubbed his eyes. The morning mist settled on his graying hair, making him look even older. ”You all have followed me for so many years. It has been hard on you.”

”Mentor, now is not the time to be sentimental!” Xiso reminded the Great Mentor. He believed the situation had reached a critical point, and he had returned to Moonflow Stream out of concern for the Great Mentor.

”I understand your worries, Xiso, but even if we get through this successfully, what then? Two years later, another two years will come. Two years ago, I already started wondering why we are hiding here.”

”Isn’t that obvious? If it weren’t for Kuyi Tulan, we wouldn’t be in this predicament. It’s all thanks to him. Now that he has come knocking on our door, it’s high time we settled things once and for all!” Kevin cracked his knuckles, eager for the impending showdown.

”It is indeed time to end this,” the Great Mentor sighed, his gaze fixed on the horizon. ”Chaos of one’s own creation must eventually be faced.”

”Mentor, we can still take our time to plan. I’ve told you, us twelve ’monsters’ can make Kuyi Tulan pay dearly.” Xiso still wanted to dissuade the Great Mentor. He didn’t believe that the time for severing all ties was here.

”Monsters?” The Great Mentor frowned. ”Since when did we begin to give up on ourselves?”

”I...” Xiso lowered his head in shame.

The term ’monster’ was sensitive to them, especially to the Great Mentor, as it carried many past stories. When the Great Mentor was immersed in his memories, mentioning this term was akin to rubbing salt in a wound.

”It’s not your fault, my boy. You are brilliant and outstanding, but this physical form of yours has cost you everything. You have lost so much...” The Great Mentor, looking at Xiso, couldn’t bear to reprimand him further.

Although some events happened many years ago, what had occurred left indelible marks. Some marks dissipated like the wind, while others stayed with a person for a lifetime.

”Xiso, Kevin, my children, how do you view this world? Is it murky or clear?” The Great Mentor discarded his previous nostalgia, gradually regaining his inherent dignity.

”This world is chaotic, Mentor. The rulers of the Empire are blinded and are treading on a dangerous path,” Xiso replied without hesitation.

”I don’t have such deep understanding of the world. All I know is that things have changed significantly, and scoundrels are everywhere.” Kevin clenched his teeth, seemingly bearing a deep hatred for the villains in the world.

”Why are our rulers blinded, and why do scoundrels always appear around us?” The Great Mentor asked cryptically.

”The Empire is forced by circumstances, and everyone in the Empire must fight for survival,” Xiso replied articulately, sounding as if he were one of the Empire’s higher-ups responsible for its operations.

Kevin pursed his lips, remaining silent. The question was too elusive for him to answer. He was only aware that the continent was undergoing rapid changes, changes that many were having trouble adapting to.

”The world is changing, and many people have lost their direction. They are constantly seeking shortcuts. The Empire is being eroded by Mantai and Wensi. Crises are everywhere,” the Great Mentor said gently to Kevin.

”A sense of crisis is the catalyst for major change. Kuyi Tulan is quite insightful. He detected the crisis much earlier than any of us. His vision far exceeds all of ours.”

”That scoundrel! Why bother bringing him up? He’s nothing but a swindler, through and through!” Kevin’s anger flared suddenly.

Xiso fell silent as he looked at the agitated Kevin. Although Kuyi Tulan was scum, to label him a swindler wasn’t entirely correct. If everyone hadn’t been so anxious and impatient back then, things might have turned out differently.

’Shortcuts’—everyone had been deceived by this word, including Kuyi Tulan.

Xiso gradually reined in his wandering thoughts. The Great Mentor mentioning the past at this moment must mean he had made a significant decision.

”Kevin, my child, Kuyi Tulan merely chose the wrong path. Regardless, his original intention was good. I don’t deny his talent and ability, it’s just...” The Great Mentor stopped mid-sentence.

”Mentor,” Xiso stepped forward. ”No matter how hard you try, we have already been abandoned by this world. You led us here, whether to hide or escape, and we bear no complaints. Survival is the most important thing. I hope you can...”

”No, no, no, Xiso.” The Great Mentor interrupted Xiso’s persuasion. ”Indeed, survival is important, but there’s another task I need to accomplish.”

”Mentor!” Xiso was on the brink of emotional collapse. His instincts told him that the Great Mentor was indeed about to bid them farewell.

Kevin was puzzled, looking astonished as he watched Xiso.

”I’ve grown old and can no longer do much more to ensure your survival.”

”Mentor, what are you talking about?” Kevin also sensed something amiss in the Great Mentor’s words.

”Things need a conclusion. We resisted, but to no avail. However, we cannot give up just like that.” The Great Mentor waved his hand, signaling Kevin not to get agitated.

”I cannot determine whether our choices were right or wrong. Leave the judgment of right or wrong to yourselves.”

”The most important thing now is to pass on our will.”

Xiso suddenly looked up, a sense of enlightenment washing over him at the Great Mentor’s words.

They had indeed been abandoned by this world, but if they continued like this, it would be tantamount to abandoning the world themselves.

The Great Mentor was right. The judgment of right and wrong should be left to those who come after them. What they could do now was pass on what they had always believed in.

The enemy was unscrupulously changing the world’s prevailing winds. If they only continued to resist and evade, their struggle would lose all meaning.

”Mentor, I understand,” Xiso responded, a smile gracing his face.

”The seed of hope cannot be extinguished in our hands. I will pass on your will to them.”

”Hopefully, they can pass the test. The power to choose still rests in their hands. An old man like me can no longer sway them.” The Great Mentor let out a soft sigh, filled with gratification.

”Mentor, rest assured. Arnold and I will definitely not disappoint your expectations. Then there’s Kevin; I trust your judgment regarding him, Mentor. As for the rest, let Kadi and that young man make their own choices.”