One-Eyed Monster

Kadi hadn’t expected Kuyi Tulan to behave this way. The man was in blatant denial of his mistakes, shamelessly stating that he had done nothing wrong. This man is hopeless, Kadi thought.

Just as Kadi was about to say something more, Igor, who was standing nearby, held him back. Kadi glared at Igor. What do you think you’re doing, buddy? Stopping me?

Igor met Kadi’s glare with a resolute gaze, his own intentions clear: Don’t question me; I have my reasons.

Igor had stopped Kadi because he had perceived the intricacies of the situation. Kuyi Tulan remained the central figure; after all, he was the root of the conflict, and everything had started because of him. Now, through a peculiar sort of apology, he expressed his lack of regret, a display that only made him appear more arrogant.

Kuyi Tulan’s various actions had placed him at the center of the storm. To put it bluntly, his behavior was infuriating, making people feel he deserved a beating. If not for their respect for the Great Mentor, most people present would likely have confronted him long ago.

”I firmly believe I can lead everyone to glory! This is what I strive for. Nothing will stop me, and nothing can stop me!” Kuyi Tulan declared, his voice growing more fervent, as if he had been nursing grievances for years.

He’s truly hopeless! Kadi thought. He then cast a meaningful glance at Igor, noticing Igor’s complete composure, as if everything was unfolding exactly as he had anticipated.

Is this why Igor stopped me from trying to persuade Kuyi Tulan further? Kadi rubbed his face. This reason seems a bit absurd.

The intricacy Igor had discerned was precisely this: Kuyi Tulan had never faltered in his pursuits over the years. This indicated an incredibly strong will; such a determined individual could not be easily swayed by words.

Like everyone else present, they had all weathered their share of storms. Without significant personal experience, one could not be easily persuaded. Kuyi Tulan was no ordinary individual either, so convincing him was naturally a difficult task.

Igor understood this simple principle, and the others likely did too. They watched in silence as Kuyi Tulan continued his performance, expounding on his grand ambitions…

Strangely, the recent collapse of the Twin Peaks no longer seemed to shock anyone. Those who had witnessed it were initially stunned, but now, their astonishment had faded. This was primarily due to the Great Mentor. His mere presence had a calming effect on the monsters of Guru Mountain. He was a symbol of stability; everyone unconsciously felt at ease when they saw him. Just seeing the Great Mentor and hearing him speak was enough to quiet them. Everyone understood that as long as the Great Mentor was there, everything would be fine.

This trust in the Great Mentor was invaluable.

Consequently, after the Great Mentor dispatched Kevin and the others to the Twin Peaks, people ceased to worry about the situation there, even though the Twin Peaks had collapsed with a thunderous crash.

At this moment, many were waiting for the Great Mentor to speak. Kuyi Tulan was still boasting, and it was becoming rather tiresome. Besides, they had always been at odds with Kuyi Tulan and had no desire to speak with him.

The members of the Alchemy Workshop, however, dared not interrupt their chief, allowing him to continue outlining his grand vision.

”Every endeavor is accompanied by sacrifice! Sacrifice is inevitable. Without sacrifice, there can be no New World!”

”Sacrifice,” the Great Mentor murmured, his gaze distant as if the word had stirred long-dormant memories. ”Since you speak of sacrifice, you should understand that the harm your actions have caused cannot be resolved with a mere apology.”

”I apologize because I was too weak.”

”Tulan, stop deceiving yourself,” the Great Mentor interjected, cutting through Kuyi Tulan’s distorted reasoning. ”Isn’t what has transpired enough to make you recognize the gravity of the situation? Can you truly bear to watch your friends drift away from you?” He didn’t want Kuyi Tulan to continue cloaking himself in such excuses.

”Mentor, I understand everything you’re saying. However, the path I must take is inevitably paved with sacrifice. If I cannot even accept this, what else can I possibly achieve?”

What Kuyi Tulan said seemed to carry a sliver of sense, yet such fallacies were ultimately untenable. Unfortunately, he was now so deeply entangled in this distorted logic that he couldn’t see a way out.

”You speak constantly of sacrifice,” the Great Mentor’s voice rose, ”but have you ever considered if these sacrifices of yours hold any meaning?” He knew he couldn’t convince Kuyi Tulan. If he had been capable of persuading this disciple of his, he wouldn’t have departed the Alchemy Workshop over a decade ago, leaving only a letter behind.

”Some things must be done by someone, Mentor,” Kuyi Tulan replied calmly, his anticipation for the future burning brighter than anyone else’s present. ”When the New World manifests before you, all these sacrifices will prove their worth.”

”New World... What will your New World be like? A Great Harmony World, free of strife?” the Great Mentor immediately voiced the question that had been on his mind from the start.

The Great Mentor was eager to understand why Kuyi Tulan was so interested in the secrets of the Twin Peaks. Has this disciple of mine also been corrupted by the Dark Force? he wondered.

”Mentor, do you not yet understand my world?” Kuyi Tulan responded. ”I desire a world where no one dares to threaten our Kayne Empire. I want to make the Kayne Empire so strong that its borders are no longer coveted by Wensi and Mantai. I want the citizens of the Empire to celebrate multiple festivals each year...”

Kuyi Tulan’s ambition was to protect his Empire. His aspirations had always been vast, yet hearing him articulate them now lent them a peculiar air. Indeed, when spoken from his lips, this ambition made him sound less peculiar and more like a truly great man.

”So, you still covet all forms of power,” the Great Mentor said softly.

”Mentor, if your own power were insufficient, could you protect this Guru Mountain that stands behind you?”

”A gentleman may love wealth, but he acquires it through righteous means. This is a principle I taught you long, long ago. Why can you not understand it?” For some reason, the Great Mentor Guzan seemed to be losing control of his emotions, his words becoming hurried.

The situation felt like the beginning of a heated argument, slowly building towards a climax.

”I have not forgotten my mentor’s teachings. No matter when or where, I always acquire power through legitimate means. I never resort to corrupt or unorthodox methods.”

Kuyi Tulan was indeed principled in this regard. He would never swindle, cheat, or resort to unscrupulous tactics. What was rightfully his, he would take. What was not, he would not forcibly claim.

Nevertheless, he would always strive for power. In his eyes, power was utterly indispensable.