One-Eyed Monster

”Sir, is it really okay to treat Kadi this way?” Arnold asked cautiously somewhere in the White Swamp.

”It’s Mentor’s intention.” Xiso rubbed the stone in his hand. His conversation with the Great Mentor early that morning had enlightened him. Dawn Peak had fallen, Grey Eagle Peak faced a great trial, and his wisdom was required everywhere. Despite all this, he still chose to come to the swamp by the Moonflow Stream.

He was, after all, the guardian of this place. He, Arnold, and Kevin existed to protect the Great Mentor.

Now that the Great Mentor had chosen to pass on his will, they naturally couldn’t go against it.

This was a gamble, even though the outcome wasn’t too significant. Right and wrong would be weighed by time; they were merely wagering their wills for the future.

Kadi and Igor were the Great Mentor’s bets.

”This Igor is somewhat unusual.” Arnold’s tone didn’t lack admiration for Igor.

”Indeed. Able to crack the Mentor’s World Setting Technique and see through your voice traps, he is quite interesting.” Xiso had some knowledge of Igor’s actions. The young man chosen by the Mentor indeed possessed certain qualities that others lacked.

However, Xiso couldn’t make out what these qualities were. In any case, he couldn’t perceive any special talent in Igor. Compared to the Great Mentor’s previous disciple, this Igor’s talent could be considered quite ordinary.

”The Mentor has really decided to meet that bastard Kuyi Tulan?” Arnold was shocked by the news Xiso brought.

”Yes, but before that, the Mentor had his own plans.”

”Did the Mentor really gamble everything on these two kids?” Arnold still seemed unable to understand the Mentor’s decision.

”No, Arnold. It’s us. The Mentor has wagered the entire future on us.”

Xiso looked towards the other side of the swamp. Kadi and Igor were still deep in thought, unaware that the expectations of a whole group of people already rested upon them.

”We will devote all our strength, Mentor. As for the rest, it will be up to Kadi and that boy.”

Xiso closed his eyes, sat on the ground, and waited.

At this moment, Kadi and Igor were trying to figure out how to cross the vast white swamp before them.

”Can we make a canoe and row across? That way, we wouldn’t have to worry about being devoured,” Kadi blinked, always one to suggest seemingly simple ideas.

”That probably wouldn’t work. This swamp isn’t flowing water. Even if we could float on it, it would be tough to move even half a step,” Igor explained, cutting reeds around the swamp.

For some time, he and Kadi had been searching the surrounding area for resources: small twigs usable as walking sticks, large, tough leaves, and various sturdy dried weeds.

They collected everything they could use. Igor had skilled hands and could turn such dry materials into tools like ropes.

Igor had also found a pile of small stones.

Kadi was naturally puzzled by Igor’s actions. However, being accustomed to it, he no longer questioned them. Even if he did ask, he wouldn’t understand.

Igor’s explanations were too profound for Kadi to comprehend.

Igor said he intended to approach it like a Scholar and deduce what lay hidden within the swamp.

Could Kadi understand such a statement? Naturally, he couldn’t.

Igor suspected a hidden pattern in the swamp, influenced by the sight of birds flying and fish leaping about.

Igor noticed that although flames erupted from the marshland intermittently, the birds and fish remained entirely unaffected. They continued to fly and leap about as if the flames weren’t there.

Were these flames, like the scenery in Ghost Wind Valley, merely paintings? Igor quickly dismissed this thought. It would be incredibly difficult to find someone capable of painting flames so vividly. Besides, they had used these very flames to grill fish the previous night.

The flames were real, and so was the swamp. Igor was certain of this.

Since the flames were real, then logically, the fish and birds in the marsh should be affected. Even a thunderstorm or heavy rain would send the surrounding Living Beings fleeing in panic. How could these flames, gushing so intensely from the marsh, not frighten these small creatures?

This question was worth pondering. This question also deserved thorough investigation and exploration.

After careful thought, Igor concluded the flames must follow a pattern. Living Beings only behave in an orderly and methodical manner when facing predictable events.

Thunderstorms and rain are unforeseen events. Although there might be signs before they occur, these signs themselves are unexpected, and Living Beings cannot naturally adapt to them. Thus, it’s not surprising that some panic ensues. However, routines like sunrise and sunset are different; any Living Being could adapt to these with their eyes closed.

Therefore, these flames must be erupting according to some pattern, not as random, unforeseen events.

Patterns can always be discovered, provided one has enough patience.

Igor had never been an impatient person.

So, this matter transformed into a form of meditation for him.

Kadi knew he lacked Igor’s intellect; he couldn’t conceive of so many bizarre things. Perhaps it was more accurate to say he had never encountered such a bewildering array of phenomena. Nevertheless, Kadi was an excellent assistant, a highly conscientious aide.

As long as Igor gave an order, Kadi would definitely complete the task.

Even with a task as mind-numbingly dull as tossing pebbles into the marsh, Kadi would execute it flawlessly.

Although Kadi didn’t understand the purpose, ever since witnessing Igor toss stones to reveal a passage between the Moonflow Stream and the White Swamp, he had stopped questioning the significance of Igor’s actions.

Through this stone-throwing, Igor discovered Kadi possessed astonishing arm strength and remarkable accuracy; he could essentially hit whatever he aimed at.

Kadi’s abilities were a significant boon to Igor. He had initially worried that his own visual estimations would be inaccurate. Now, with Kadi’s ability to hit any target indicated, Igor no longer had to fret about calculation errors.

Now, Igor needed to quickly weave the rushes and dried grasses they had gathered into ropes and Markers. Then, by applying what he had learned at Yonder Travel Academy and proceeding methodically, he believed he could swiftly discern the pattern.

Or, he could create a pattern himself.

After all, the impending gamble was one where their lives were at stake. If he didn’t exert himself, he might genuinely find himself taking a trip to the Eternal Tranquility Realm.

However, their adversary seemed to be merely bluffing, not genuinely intending harm. Igor had always suspected this. He felt the earlier voice had just been posturing.

This was because he couldn’t detect the slightest trace of anger in that voice. His inner Scale of Faith perceived only calmness and indifference.