One-Eyed Monster

”This!” Kevin exclaimed in shock. ”We are talking about two mountains, two towering Twin Peaks, which just suddenly disappeared!”

It was their first time witnessing two mountains collapse before their very eyes.

Although they couldn’t see the entire process due to the blinding light and explosion-like sound, they found the outcome now presented to them difficult to accept.

The concept of a mountain just disappearing was unthinkable.

This was a force capable of altering nature itself. Could anyone possibly possess such power? Or had nature itself transformed somehow?

Everyone’s faces turned serious. The occurrence was so peculiar that they were left wondering: What could have caused this? Why had it happened?

”Mentor!” Kuren suddenly exclaimed, having realized the grave problem. The Twin Peaks had vanished, but the Great Mentor and the others were still there. Could they be in danger due to the disappearance of the mountains?

Kuren’s outcry alerted the creatures of Guru Mountain. They gathered around the Great Mentor, hoping to see if there were any changes to him or if his consciousness had returned.

At this very moment, the Great Mentor slowly opened his eyes, took a deep, meaningful look at the location where the Twin Peaks once stood, and let out a heavy sigh.

The others also sighed in response.

The Great Mentor sighed because of the incident, while the others sighed in relief, their anxieties eased.

”Xiso and the others are still at the Twin Peaks’ location. Is anyone able to go and retrieve them?” The Great Mentor gathered his thoughts and addressed the people around him in a calm tone.

”But it has already collapsed!” Kadi exclaimed in confusion, voicing his objection without hesitation.

”Quit the nonsense, kid! Don’t interrupt the Mentor while he’s speaking,” Kevin snapped, smacking Kadi on the head. Seeing the Great Mentor return, Kevin was somewhat excited and naturally angered by Kadi’s impolite interruption. Adults are talking; children shouldn’t interrupt. At least, that was Kevin’s point of view at that moment.

”The secrets of Guru Mountain have been unveiled. We have failed as Soul Guardians,” Estev, who had lost an arm, said gloomily. It had been his mission to guard these secrets, but it seemed the mountain’s secrets had been unsealed without their knowledge.

”Do you mean the scroll that was sealed within this mountain has been taken?” Kuyi Tulan, who had remained silent until then, asked Estev with a startled look.

”How did you know that a scroll was sealed here?” Grand Master Guzan turned to face his former pupil, his face full of astonishment.

Could everything happening here be related to the Alchemy Workshop? Could it all have been caused by Kuyi Tulan? Kuyi Tulan’s question made the Great Mentor pause and reconsider.

”Mentor!” Kuyi Tulan bowed deeply to Guzan. ”I met a Soul Guardian at the foot of the mountain who gave me this information.”

”Are you talking about Scholar Manjia?” Estev asked calmly, as if he wasn’t surprised at all.

”Yes, the learned scholar. I consider it a blessing that you have such an elder among your ranks,” Kuyi Tulan continued.

”Can’t you go help Xiso before you discuss this? They might get hurt by the collapsing mountains!” Kadi exclaimed again. To him, these people were genuinely senseless, completely unaware of what they were doing. They ignored the urgent matter at hand and chose to discuss such odd things!

”Stop causing trouble, kid!” Kevin snapped at Kadi in irritation.

”I’m not a kid anymore! Stop treating me like this!” Kadi retorted, somewhat unhappy. He felt he was only speaking the truth; how was that causing trouble?

”Alright, Kevin, you go help Xiso; his condition isn’t great at the moment. Also, tell Meslo, Goodley, and Garon to come back. There’s no longer a need for anyone to guard that place,” Grand Master Guzan said lightly. What concerned him more at this moment was his former pupil. If all this truly involved his once-brilliant student, the situation would indeed be terribly troublesome.

Kevin, along with Simon and Jemma, headed towards the Twin Peaks. Following the Great Mentor’s instructions, they were to bring Xiso and the others back. As companions, they would not abandon them. Moreover, the power that made Xiso uneasy was not to be underestimated, especially since even the Great Mentor hadn’t been able to prevent the mountains’ collapse.

”Is it really okay for them to go, considering the Twin Peaks have collapsed over there?” Kadi was still extremely worried. To him, every creature of Guru Mountain was as dear as family.

”It’s fine now, Kadi, don’t worry,” the Great Mentor reassured him. At this moment, his spirits were high, and he seemed quite rejuvenated, not at all like an elder weary from the vicissitudes of life.

”But...” Kadi was not completely relieved. He felt that the collapse of the mountains was not as simple a matter as it was made out to be. How could they be so hasty in dealing with it? Nevertheless, he couldn’t articulate his worries and was just murmuring, unable to make a clear point.

”What do you mean by ’the sealed scroll’?” Igor was extremely intrigued by the whole event and seemed revitalized with new vigor.

Moonflow Stream bustled with activity once again. The Alchemists’ excitement stemmed from the Great Mentor’s return; they had longed to see him for a very long time. Listening to his voice once more was a thrilling experience. This excitement wasn’t confined to the Alchemists; others were thrilled as well. Igor, for example, felt a new challenge and a new adventure unfolding, making everything feel incredibly stimulating. Even onlookers like Kuruto, excited just to witness new skills, couldn’t contain their exhilaration.

The collapse of the Twin Peaks had stirred excitement throughout Guru Mountain.

However, amidst all this commotion, some remained calm, notably Kuyi Tulan and Estev.

Grand Master Guzan was surprised by his former pupil’s earlier reaction.

”Tulan, did you come here just for this scroll?”

”No, Mentor, I came here to find you.”

”To find me? Really? Or did you come for the seal?” The Great Mentor seemed unconvinced by Kuyi Tulan’s words.

”Oh, Mentor, my Mentor, that’s all in the past. No matter what, I won’t go searching for what’s been lost.” Kuyi Tulan sighed, feeling his mentor understood him less and less.

”Ah, Tulan, my pupil, I truly cannot comprehend what you’re trying to do. As your mentor, I feel I have failed.”

”Oh, Mentor, my Mentor, I cannot forget your teachings. It was you who turned me from an ordinary blacksmith into an Alchemist. Without you, I am nothing.”

Kuyi Tulan’s words touched all the Alchemists present. Grand Master Guzan had influenced each of them in some way, and everyone felt a deep sense of gratitude for his guidance.