One-Eyed Monster

Xiso entered the Great Mentor’s stone house and was puzzled to see the surprised look on Kevin’s face.

What could have caused Kevin to wear such an expression? Xiso wondered, but he could not figure it out.

Based on Xiso’s experience, the astonishment on Kevin’s face didn’t seem to stem from anxiety; there was no unease in his demeanor, more like a pleasant surprise.

Where did this slight surprise on Kevin’s face come from? In my opinion, those bastards from the Alchemy Workshop are closing in right now. Every monster should be on high alert; how could they have the spare energy to think about other things? This former Blue Blood League Guard has truly grown decadent, Xiso thought.

The Great Mentor saw the worry on Xiso’s face and silently sighed. The once proud son of the Kayne Empire is still unable to let go of the past, overly anxious, he mused.

However, on second thought, the Great Mentor realized that among the twelve monsters on Guru Mountain, very few had managed to let go of their past. Be it past glories or old sentiments, these were all real experiences deeply etched into the minds of these monsters, not easily forgotten.

The Great Mentor naturally understood this simple principle: the past can be reminisced about, recalled fondly, but one must absolutely not become immersed in it. Once immersed in the past, one would only sink deeper and deeper, unable to extricate oneself. Those past experiences can make people lose their way forward. If the future loses its direction, what hope can there be?

The future, after all, must continue. One cannot let the various aspects of the past cloud one’s mind. Whether it’s hatred or kindness, fear or fearlessness, what’s past is past. Even if you regret it, even if you are unwilling, you cannot change the current situation. Only by moving forward without flinching can one continue one’s own future.

The Great Mentor looked first at Kevin, then at Xiso. A lump formed in his throat, and he sighed with emotion. It has indeed been hard on these children for so many years, he thought.

”Kevin, Xiso, you two have followed me for so long. It has been hard on you,” the Great Mentor said softly, his gaze full of kindness.

”Master, you gave us rebirth; we willingly vow to follow you to the death!” Kevin blurted out without thinking. His mind wasn’t that complex; he always said whatever he thought.

This directness made Xiso roll his eyes. Hearing the words ”to the death” displeased him greatly. He had always been very particular about things like luck, and Kevin’s ”to the death” was clearly inauspicious, naturally provoking him. It would be strange if he didn’t roll his eyes.

”Following you, Master, is what we ought to do. Master, please feel at ease and continue your fishing here; you need not worry about matters outside Moonflow Stream.” Compared to Kevin, Xiso’s words were more obscure, always layered with multiple meanings.

”I have lived long enough. I don’t need you to continue protecting me. You are no longer young either; it’s time to think about your own futures.”

”Master...” The Great Mentor’s words plunged Xiso into contemplation.

”The Master’s future is our future. There’s nothing to think about for ourselves,” Kevin retorted, unaffected by the same words.

Looking at these two, the Great Mentor couldn’t help but chuckle.

It would be great if these two could complement each other, the Great Mentor thought. Xiso’s thinking is detailed and meticulous, but he’s a bit too cautious and tends to procrastinate. Kevin is agile and quick in action, but his thinking is a bit too simple and singular.

”Don’t worry about me, children. The road ahead is still long; we should look to the future.”

Xiso’s frown deepened. He didn’t understand what the Great Mentor’s words were pointing at. It feels as if the Great Mentor is about to make a momentous decision, but what could it be related to? he wondered.

”I can see your confusion, Xiso. You, alas, are always entangled in various past matters, unable to fully think them through. This constrains you, child.” The Great Mentor saw Xiso’s tightly furrowed brows and guessed his thoughts.

”Master, I understand the principles you speak of, but there are some things I just can’t let go of...” Mentioning the past weighed heavily on Xiso’s heart.

”Don’t worry, let bygones be bygones. Don’t get caught up in it anymore,” Kevin patted Xiso’s shoulder, comforting his companion with words he felt were utterly useless.

”Kevin, when will you learn to be more discerning? You always behave like a child,” the Great Mentor couldn’t help saying, looking at Kevin.

”HEHEHE, with the Great Mentor around, I have no worries at all!” Kevin was indeed thick-skinned; his words made even Xiso, standing to the side, feel embarrassed for him.

”You two... one has a foot planted in the past, refusing to budge an inch forward, while the other rushes ahead like a shooting star, never once looking back at the past. Even if the past is too tragic to look back upon, it cannot be completely abandoned. What needs to be reviewed should be reviewed, but one cannot be immersed in it. The steps that need to be taken must still be taken.”

”Master, I can’t look back. The moment I do, I’m filled with rage. I don’t want to vent my anger on Guru Mountain; this is our home, after all,” Kevin, always straightforward, said what he thought.

”Thank you for your teachings, Master.” Xiso collected his heavy feelings.

”Xiso, my child, as I just told Kevin, you need not worry about me. The Stars in the sky have always protected me. And thanks to you all calling me ’Master,’ though I have many regrets in life, my gains have also been exceptionally abundant.”

”Master, you really don’t need to face Kuyi Tulan. You must believe in us,” Xiso directly stated his concern. He felt that the Great Mentor had said so much because he wanted to make a clean break with the Alchemy Workshop.

”Ah, Xiso, I knew you’d say that. Since my former disciple has come looking for me, I will naturally meet him. But not right now. For now, I don’t want to talk about that regret. I only want to talk about my gains.”

”Hm?” Xiso paused, stunned.

”Still the strategist, huh? Didn’t you notice that someone has intruded into Moonflow Stream?” Kevin started to taunt Xiso, though he himself knew nothing about what was happening in Moonflow Stream.

”Moonflow Stream... aren’t the intruders in Moonflow Stream Kadi and his companion? That was permitted by the Master...” Xiso became even more bewildered by Kevin’s remark.

”Yes, that’s correct. This is precisely what I wanted to discuss with you. And this is also the gain that gratifies me the most.”

”Huh? Master, do you mean Kadi’s companion is a rare talent?” Xiso’s mind worked fast; he quickly understood the Great Mentor’s intention. This was indeed a world of difference compared to Kevin’s reaction.

”That is so. However, not every talented person can drink with me; they also need to withstand my trials.”

”Understood, Master. Arnold is currently stationed at Moonflow Stream. I will go inform him to convey your regards to Kadi and his companion.” Xiso bowed. So that’s why Kevin had that peculiar, surprised look on his face earlier! he finally understood.

The appearance of this little fellow might allow me to resolve a past regret, the Great Mentor thought. I hope that everything that follows will be as splendid as the Stars in the sky.

”Master, rest assured. Although we twelve monsters are not what we used to be, if Kuyi Tulan wants to breach Guru Mountain, he will inevitably pay a heavy price,” Xiso replied decisively, his confidence in Guru Mountain’s defenses unwavering.