One-Eyed Monster

Kuyi Tulan indeed didn’t lie.

This was his most fundamental principle. Firstly, he saw no need to lie, believing it to be a mere manifestation of weakness. Secondly, he felt no need to lie; he did as he pleased, fearing nothing.

So, in this regard, Igor was right.

Facing Igor’s questioning, Kuyi Tulan did not shy away. He met Igor’s piercing gaze directly, a hint of pride on his face. ”Dastan is omnipresent,” he said. ”He’s in excellent condition now.”

Igor almost knelt down at Kuyi Tulan’s response. That could hardly be called an answer; it felt more like a dismissal.

What did ’omnipresent’ mean? What did ’excellent condition’ mean?

It wasn’t just Igor; the others were also baffled by Kuyi Tulan’s statement. Of course, their confusion was tinged with a deeper hatred for him, and they expressed their dissatisfaction with bared teeth and guttural growls.

Nonetheless, this group of monsters seemed to have reached a silent agreement, unanimously making Igor their spokesperson.

It didn’t take long for Igor, listening to the monsters’ accounts, to glean more details. He realized that this Kuyi Tulan had never considered them his own people and had always been guarded against them.

”You actually had the audacity to use sorcery on us!”

Igor’s outcry startled the members of the Alchemy Workshop as well; it seemed they hadn’t expected their own Chief to turn on everyone at such a moment!

”No, my young friend Igor, that is not sorcery. It is Sound Confusion. It’s an instinctive reaction he developed after entering the Empire Council Hall. His speeches unconsciously affect us, making us forget our current circumstances and become completely engrossed in his words.”

It was the Great Mentor who spoke up for Kuyi Tulan this time. He offered this truth not because Kuyi Tulan was his disciple and he was being protective, but because he didn’t want young Igor to lose understanding over a simple misconception.

The Great Mentor greatly admired Igor and had even considered taking him as a disciple, but unfortunately, Igor himself had no desire to become an Alchemist.

However, Igor’s reluctance didn’t diminish the Great Mentor’s fondness for him. Indeed, Igor’s recent misjudgment had caught his attention.

Igor had only heard of the phenomenon of Sound Confusion before and hadn’t paid it much mind. He never expected to experience it firsthand today. It was truly an extraordinary experience.

Igor rubbed his face. Grateful for the Great Mentor’s clarification, he bowed to him. Then, he gestured towards Kuyi Tulan, feeling a slight embarrassment for having misjudged the situation, though he felt no remorse whatsoever towards Kuyi Tulan himself.

He couldn’t quite pinpoint why.

He always felt an unpleasant aura emanating from Kuyi Tulan, an aura he deeply disliked.

The creatures of Guru Mountain had already accepted Igor as their representative. They had no desire for a pointless, bickering argument with Kuyi Tulan and his group; it was better to let Igor, their representative, contend with that madman.

Igor did not disappoint their trust. His dialogue with Kuyi Tulan continued.

”Can you clarify what you mean by ’Dastan is omnipresent’ and ’in excellent condition’?”

Because of Kadi’s interruption, the effect of Kuyi Tulan’s Sound Confusion unknowingly dissipated. It was precisely for this reason that Igor was able to speak those words so freely.

Kuyi Tulan smiled. ”Do you know what eternity is?”

”Are you asking me, or am I asking you? Even in a question-and-answer exchange, there’s an order to things. How can you be so ignorant of basic courtesy?” Igor deliberately retorted this way, suspecting Kuyi Tulan would try to evade a direct answer. He figured this was the only way to make Kuyi Tulan truly ’acknowledge’ his question.

After all, Kuyi Tulan always operated on his own rhythm. If one didn’t break that rhythm, his speech could easily lead them astray again. That blasted Sound Confusion might return at any moment.

”Don’t be impatient,” Kuyi Tulan said. ”I know what you want to find out. I’m telling you this because what I’m about to say next is related to eternity.”

I... Igor desperately wanted to curse. How can this Kuyi Tulan be such a windbag? I told him to answer the question directly, but he’s still just beating around the bush. What on earth is he trying to do?

”Can you just answer our question directly? Why is talking to you so exhausting?”

Igor complained, genuinely no longer in the mood to listen to any more of Kuyi Tulan’s stories.

”Tulan, my child, I don’t know why you’ve become like this. Is it so difficult to answer a question?” The Great Mentor could no longer bear the scene and also urged Kuyi Tulan to answer quickly. Of course, he too was eager to know Dastan’s condition.

”Mentor, in fact, I have already answered your question. What I am doing now is merely helping you understand the meaning behind my answer.”

This explanation left Igor even more bewildered.

The meaning of an answer? What in the world was that supposed to mean? Does this Kuyi Tulan just enjoy messing with people, deliberately saying things no one can comprehend?

”Then can you tell me where Elder Dastan is now?” Igor persisted, not understanding Kuyi Tulan’s convoluted responses and wanting only a simple, clear answer.

Kuyi Tulan remained perfectly calm. ”Dastan is here,” he stated.

But his words threw the Moonflow Stream into an uproar. The creatures of Guru Mountain scanned their surroundings, searching for Dastan. The Wizards of the Alchemy Workshop showed varied expressions but remained resolutely by Kuyi Tulan’s side, making no sudden moves. Stan Sol, observing from his concealed position, felt a sense of foreboding, a premonition of an unfavorable outcome. Igor, meanwhile, was utterly lost, still unable to grasp Kuyi Tulan’s reply...

”Where is Elder Dastan?” Igor pressed, determined to get a clear answer.

”Yeah, where is he? Why can’t I see him?” Kadi blurted out, equally baffled by Kuyi Tulan’s cryptic response.

Kuyi Tulan remained unruffled. He extended his hand, clenched it into a fist, then slowly opened his palm. A small, golden sphere floated up from it.

This golden sphere resembled a peach pit, enveloped in a layer of white light, constantly spinning and radiating a gentle glow.

”What is that?” the creatures of Guru Mountain muttered, their brows furrowed, not quite comprehending what Kuyi Tulan was presenting.

”This,” Kuyi Tulan said, his gaze soft as he looked at the golden sphere, his voice filled with pride and admiration, ”is the meaning of eternity. No matter where you are, no matter your state, you can appear at any time.”

It was as if this golden sphere was his crowning achievement, something that not only filled him with pride but also utterly captivated him...