One-Eyed Monster

Kuyi Tulan and the Great Mentor once again began trying to persuade each other. This is the world of adults, where things known to be impossible are repeatedly attempted. The world of adults has always been complicated. They don’t care about right or wrong; they only care about gaining and losing. Just like Kuyi Tulan now, who only cared about acquiring power, indifferent to the public outrage his actions might provoke. This is a world where success or failure dictates right from wrong. In this world of adults, success means everything, and failure means nothing. It was just like the Dark Force: if it was powerful enough to crush everything, people would worship it out of fear. However, when it could not overpower everything, it would be disdained by all. Being unconventional is like that: succeed, and you’re considered great; fail, and you’re treated as scum. These truths didn’t need to be stated, as they would unknowingly enter people’s minds.

Kuyi Tulan felt that he had sacrificed himself. He couldn’t care about others’ disdain; he could only slowly implement his own plan. A plan needed to be implemented step by step, and he had enough patience. For years, he had been earnestly seeking the Great Mentor, shelving his own plan. Probably no one could understand his struggle during this time. He cared a lot about the Great Mentor because he was the person who had changed his life. No matter what, he could not let the Great Mentor feel disappointed in him.

However, the Great Mentor was disappointed in him now.

He did not understand why the Great Mentor had been consistently against his plan. Wasn’t his plan a good one? Previously, when he had wanted to use the Exchange Beasts to set up formations, many people had disagreed, feeling it was a desecration of Living Beings. But when it came down to the most critical moment, weren’t these artificially produced Exchange Beasts the ones that played a crucial role? If it hadn’t been for these Exchange Beasts, how many lives would have been sacrificed in vain…?

After the Exchange Beasts appeared on the battlefield, nobody opposed his Exchange Beast plan anymore.

The event had a deep impact on Kuyi Tulan. He realized that some truths couldn’t be explained; only when the evidence was presented before people would they fully accept it. But he couldn’t persuade the Great Mentor now, which was rather awkward. If the Great Mentor supported him, his plan could be completed ahead of schedule. Unfortunately, there was no ”if.” To tell the truth, when he saw the Undead Soldiers and Death Knights summoned by the Dark Force, he was slightly tempted. These emotionless soldiers indeed resembled the army he envisioned. But his army was definitely not Undead Souls; his army was made of flesh and blood, not fearing the sunlight. He wanted to possess this Power of Darkness; only by understanding this power could he better implement his plan.

However, the Great Mentor believed he was beyond redemption. This made Kuyi Tulan sad.

”Have you fallen into darkness to conquer the entire world? Or do you want to dominate everything?” The Great Mentor Guzan no longer understood what his apprentice wanted. These days, he had continually pondered what Kuyi Tulan truly desired. All he could see was Kuyi Tulan being swayed by desire, but he couldn’t figure out what exactly Kuyi Tulan wanted.

”Darkness—I only revere it; I have never entered it. Mentor, you have misunderstood me.” Kuyi Tulan didn’t understand why the Great Mentor viewed him this way. He wasn’t a Dark Wizard; he merely respected the power that Dark Wizards pursued.

Dark Wizards relentlessly pursued power, and in this aspect, Kuyi Tulan was quite similar.

However, Kuyi Tulan felt there was a world of difference between himself and Dark Wizards. Dark Wizards’ power had a clear flaw, as had just been proven: the moment the sun appeared, their power proved fragile. This wasn’t what Kuyi Tulan sought.

”So what is your goal? Like those others, to create a Great Harmony World?” The Great Mentor recalled his experience at Twin Peaks; he felt that his apprentice resembled the leader of the Black Crow. Could their goals be the same? The Great Mentor couldn’t help suspecting their goals were indeed the same: to build a Great Harmony World, making the entire world look identical, without any differences or disputes.

”Great Harmony World? What is that?” Kuyi Tulan asked, confused. He had no such concept in his mind.

”Haven’t you been in contact with the Black Crow?” The Great Mentor was somewhat incredulous; he had always believed his disciple had contact with the Black Crow.

”I’ve had contact with the Black Crow. I bought their information—information about you, Great Mentor. It was the Black Crow who led me here. I must admit, their information is quite accurate.” Kuyi Tulan spoke with complete honesty. There was no need for him to lie.

”Is it really just that?”

”Just that, merely an information trade.” Kuyi Tulan even felt somewhat uncomfortable after speaking; the trading of information was a humiliation for the Alchemy Workshop.

”This intruder, you don’t know him?” the Great Mentor asked again. He deduced from some details that Kuyi Tulan had some connection to the Dark Wizard who had just passed away.

”Are you referring to Reed? I’ve indeed communicated with him. We were both apprentices at the blacksmith’s shop in the past; we once had a friendship!” This was the first time Kuyi Tulan had revealed his relationship with Wizard Reed; truly, no one had known about it before.

”You’ve known each other for a long time?”

”Yes, but I couldn’t prevent the choices he made. Later communications with him were only limited to discussions about magic.” Kuyi Tulan didn’t hide anything from his mentor, regardless of how many people were present.

”I never paid attention to your life before. Now, I think that was my biggest failing,” the Great Mentor sighed.

”Your teachings have always been in my heart, Mentor; I have never forgotten them. It’s just that you cannot understand my choices. I deeply regret that.” Kuyi Tulan bared his heart this time.

He and his mentor had always spoken candidly with each other. Now that they were unable to persuade one another, it seemed they could only state their respective positions once more.

”I know your blueprint is grand, but I hope you don’t turn to the wrong path. Be cautious about exploring the unknown. I have nothing else to teach you,” the Great Mentor said, moved. He still valued Kuyi Tulan greatly; it was natural to have such feelings.

”I will remember your teachings, Mentor.”

”Remember, this doesn’t mean I approve of your plan. I... I just can’t stop you anymore, my child.”

”I understand, Mentor. I won’t force you to do anything.”