One-Eyed Monster

A ripple stirred in the hearts of Kuren and Joseph upon hearing this message.

The word ’caution’ might seem simple, but it could potentially mean a myriad of things.

Regardless of what it might imply, this word is a reminder to others to pay attention.

But the context in which such a reminder is given warrants further discussion.

Some people offer caution at the most critical moment, while others do so when the situation is beyond repair. Even though it’s the same word ’caution,’ the effects it brings are different.

Sometimes, ’caution’ could be the last thing a person heard before disaster struck. Since everything was already set in motion and destined for destruction, this word would only let the person know where they would meet their end, without changing their fate.

Conversely, some reminders came just in the nick of time, making people suddenly more prudent, helping them overcome obstacles and thus alter their fate.

However, the context in which this particular ’caution’ was given remained a significant mystery.

This ’caution’ was obviously communicated through a secret code, one that only the monsters of Guru Mountain could comprehend. Outsiders like Igor couldn’t understand it at all; it was like reading a heavenly script to them.

The uncertainty surrounding this ’caution’ threw the minds of those in the cave into turmoil. Their primary emotion was worry. They feared that something terrible had happened outside, something they desperately didn’t want to see.

Truth be told, everyone hoped this ’caution’ was the kind of reminder that could turn the tide. Yet, reality suggested otherwise. The chances were slim, simply because they were in a safe house and couldn’t possibly face any sudden incidents outside.

At present, they were hidden, sitting in some undiscovered corner fretting over the outside world.

It was an awkward situation, but they had no choice. They were, after all, the injured and the young—those who needed protection.

Frankly speaking, if a significant event happened outdoors and they acted like fools inside the cave, doing nothing, they would be forgotten by the world...

Of course, that was the worst-case scenario, and merely a hypothesis. Currently, this hypothesis didn’t hold true. Igor and the others weren’t just idling in the cave; they were actively trying to contact the outside world and even devising ways to escape. They had tried repeatedly, their thoughts constantly on the world outside.

However, their progress so far was unclear, and for the moment, they couldn’t judge if the outcome was good or bad.

Silence was always an unseen enemy, creating an awkward tension that made everyone tread carefully, terrified of making another misstep.

The Spirit Power that returned was faint. Kuren couldn’t even distinguish whose familiar energy it was. He only sensed a familiar presence, suggesting it belonged to one of their own; the rest felt unfamiliar. To be precise, it wasn’t that the sensation was truly unfamiliar, but rather the Spirit Power was so weak that they couldn’t be sure whose it was.

”Can you tell whose this is?” Kuren asked Joseph carefully, breaking the awkward silence. If this continued, they’d suffocate in this cave before the enemies outside even got to them.

Kuren understood this point well, so he stepped up first, breaking the awkward silence.

”I can’t identify it completely, Kuren,” Joseph replied. ”This Spirit Power is rather faint, making it difficult to discern. But I can confirm that this faint Spirit Power has no connection to the Great Mentor.”

From this exchange, Igor inferred that this Spirit Power Feedback hadn’t come from Guzan. But now, he couldn’t be sure if this conclusion was good or bad.

It seemed that if the Spirit Power Feedback wasn’t from the Great Mentor, it implied the Great Mentor was safe outside. But who really knew? No one knew what had actually happened out there; perhaps the world outside had changed beyond recognition.

Blessing or curse, none of them could tell at that moment.

”Let’s wait a bit longer,” Kadi suggested naively. ”Maybe the next Spirit Power Feedback will contain more information.”

Kadi’s words once again eased the tense atmosphere in the cave. Truthfully, no one thought Kadi’s suggestion was bad, but neither could anyone be certain that the next Spirit Power Feedback would bring any information.

But at this moment, they had no better options than to wait, ponder the causes and consequences, and anticipate the outcome. This seemed like a reasonable choice.

Thus, following Kadi’s suggestion, they once again found themselves anticipating the next Spirit Power Feedback. Naturally, they hoped it would bring more information and the answers they sought. Though it sounded simple, the reality was exceedingly complex, fraught with so much uncertainty that no one could be sure if this wait would be fruitful.

Reality often diverges greatly from expectations. Igor realized that unless it was a deliberate act, their current wait could only be described as letting things take their natural course. He didn’t know what Senior Kuren and the others were thinking, but he, at least, faced it calmly. He wasn’t like Kadi, eagerly anticipating the next wave of Spirit Power.

A calm mind often encounters miracles, while an impatient heart usually meets with frustration.

This was a simple truth, which Igor fully understood.

Igor was still contemplating the precise meaning of the ’caution’ message. As for this Spirit Power Feedback, he approached it with a calm mind.

To be precise, Igor didn’t think any new information would arrive. The ’caution’ message alone was enough to put them on high alert.

Even though the cave was known as a safe house, it wasn’t necessarily impenetrable.

Igor firmly believed this. He felt that if he just kept trying, he would surely find the answer to the problem.

The next wave of Spirit Power Feedback arrived quickly through the Two-way Channel. This time, Kadi was very hopeful. He believed the people outside would surely find the time to answer the questions they had posed.

However, the real world could be cruel. It wouldn’t change according to one’s hopes but continued at its own rhythm.

The flow of Spirit Power coming through the Two-way Channel quickly reached Kadi, but it carried no message. It was empty, containing nothing at all.