One-Eyed Monster

At the foot of Guru Mountain.

Elder Rostellum was deeply disturbed by the entire abnormal phenomenon. Could it be true that Guru Mountain holds some secret? Could the White Cloud Fruit really exist? If all this was real, did that mean real monsters existed?

Elder Rostellum now understood the debacle regarding the Rabbit Monster.

Although he felt the Alchemy Workshop’s actions were extreme, he didn’t see anything inappropriate about them. For the sake of strengthening the empire’s power, sacrifices had to be made. Those who voluntarily offered their bodies as the honorable Seven Knights had no reason to resent the Chief Alchemist, even though his strategy was questionable at best.

Rostellum was just a humble county chief, unaccustomed to pondering such deep matters, and thus, he couldn’t distinguish right from wrong.

But the abnormal sensations now were too strong to be ignored. As a Politician, his Sound Sensing Skill told him a storm was brewing. He continued to feel uneasy.

Moreover, he was under instructions from Kuyi Tulan to keep a close eye on the old scholar.

Elder Rostellum had previously been controlled by Kuyi Tulan’s magic. Now that the magic had been lifted, he had completed the spell of imprisonment according to Kuyi Tulan’s instructions.

Thus, Scholar Manjia was imprisoned in the tavern by Elder Rostellum, Kuyi Tulan’s puppet.

Being stuck in Lubin Tavern wasn’t all that bad for Scholar Manjia. After all, the wine at Lubin Tavern was decent enough.

Elder Rostellum paced back and forth, his nerves rattled by the dark clouds threatening the nearby mountain.

”This wine is far superior to what I have back home.” Scholar Manjia seemed quite content as he sipped the wine he had taken earlier.

”Why do you have to say that? I’m familiar with your status. You’ve tasted all sorts of fine wines before, so why disparage our humble wine brewed in a small place like this?” Elder Rostellum was already agitated enough, and hearing Manjia’s comments just made things worse.

”Well, well, well, a scholar enjoys a variety of flavors and should taste them all.”

”I understand being cooped up here doesn’t suit someone of your stature, but I’m just following orders. I hope you don’t hold this against me.” Elder Rostellum felt that Manjia seemed to be taking a jab at him, possibly because he was his keeper.

Actually, Scholar Manjia wasn’t pointing a finger at him. He was just expressing his personal sentiments.

”I came here because it’s my mission. However, the progression of time has shown me that there are many possibilities for the future, and each possible outcome shares a common characteristic.”

”Can’t you, old man, just sit still for a moment? There’s nothing we can change now anyway!” Elder Rostellum’s woes continued to escalate.

”As a Politician, your judgment is quite accurate. My sighing here isn’t an attempt to change anything; it’s simply an inner release.” Scholar Manjia took a sip of his wine, savoring it with satisfaction.

Out of curiosity, Elder Rostellum also took a sip of the fruit wine, and it got stuck in his throat.

This wine tasted awful!

”I don’t understand why you important people would enjoy such inferior drinks. Both the Chief Alchemist and you, old man, share the same taste. This fruit wine is nowhere near as delicious as the Xinbal grape wine.” Elder Rostellum finally gulped down the wine, muttering his complaints.

”Well, everyone has their own taste. Kuyi Tulan might have grown bored with fine wines and found this one enjoyable. As for me, I’ve never tasted such good wine before.”

”Enough, old man, stop saying that in front of me. You’re a prestigious scholar. How is it possible that you haven’t tasted good wine before?”

”I am a poor scholar,” Scholar Manjia added.

”You, old man…” Elder Rostellum was at a loss for words.

”Every individual makes their own choices. You, as a Politician, could have accomplished great things, but in the end, you chose to stay in Gaga County, didn’t you?”

”Um…”

”HEH HEH, I understand your thoughts. You just want to live a peaceful life here, right?”

”Yes, you hit the nail on the head, old man. I just want to live a peaceful life in this small place.” After saying this, Elder Rostellum heaved a sigh, as all signs indicated that the peace here couldn’t be preserved any longer.

”You should learn to remain calm, just like this wine. After drinking a lot, you’ll understand what’s a good wine and what’s an inferior wine.”

”But, but the wine in your hand is clearly an inferior one…”

”Not necessarily. HEH HEH.” Scholar Manjia took another sip.

While Scholar Manjia and Elder Rostellum were still discussing the wine, the sky suddenly dimmed.

The sun had been obscured over Guru Mountain for many days. Normally, the onset of deep winter would make the sky gloomy, but the sun would still make a short appearance behind the clouds. However, ever since the Deep Winter Slumber of the Twin Peaks was disturbed, the sun hadn’t shown itself again.

”When will this dark sky ever end?”

”It might be even darker on Guru Mountain,” Scholar Manjia said.

Elder Rostellum was about to reply that it was impossible—after all, Dawn Peak was famous for welcoming the day’s first ray of sunshine… But he stopped mid-sentence as he felt the ground begin to shake.

”What, what’s happening…” Elder Rostellum was puzzled.

Then he heard a series of screams erupt outside the tavern.

Elder Rostellum hurriedly ran out, and what he saw nearly made his eyes pop out.

The path to Guru Mountain, previously covered in white snow, was now in complete disarray. Emerging from this wreckage were rotting corpses and skeletons...

He recognized some of the rotting corpses; they were indeed the Treasure Hunters listed as missing. The skeletons, on the other hand, seemed to be of much older origin...

More importantly, these corpses and skeletons were slowly making their way up the mountain.

Rostellum had seen this before. Previously, he had seen the Treasure Hunters being guided up the mountain by Kuyi Tulan... but now he was witnessing a group of Undead Soldiers and skeletons doing the same...

The land was in ruins, rife with a pervasive sense of desolation and lifelessness.

Aliusan hurried over, his limp not hindering him in the slightest.

”Sir, what’s happening…” Aliusan’s voice trembled with fear, since there were very few people left at the foot of the mountain.

”HEH HEH HEH, calamities often strike without warning. Don’t worry, children.” Scholar Manjia laughed heartily in the tavern, his laughter echoing with composure.