One-Eyed Monster

Stan Sol was curious about what Kadi meant by a ”good” place.

He naturally posed this question to Kadi, but Kadi just stammered. Clearly, Kadi himself didn’t know what he was talking about.

This made Stan Sol even more bewildered. He’s just bluffing! How can he be like this?!

Kadi expressed no apology; on the contrary, he grew even more impatient with Stan Sol. I was doing just fine here, and my communication with the Great Mentor had reached a crucial moment, but then Stan Sol just had to knock on the door...

Stan Sol finally understood. You scoundrel, you didn’t take the mission seriously at all! But that’s alright; there’s still a chance to make amends.

Stan Sol’s Spirit Power continued to convey his intentions. He wanted to reason with Kadi; after all, failing to do what one had promised others was a very wrong thing. A promise is a commitment. Not doing what you committed to means breaking that promise; you become untrustworthy. If you promise something, you should try your best to fulfill it. Even if you lack the ability and can’t do it perfectly, as long as you try and put in the effort, things will be different. If you make an effort, others won’t blame you, and you won’t feel regret because effort always brings rewards.

Kadi understood some of these principles, but his mind worked in a peculiar way. Sometimes he couldn’t fully grasp the urgency of matters, and other times he couldn’t distinguish the connections between them. Kadi always felt he had to do whatever he wanted, often without considering if it was superfluous or if doing so would yield twice the result with half the effort. He didn’t consider these things; he only knew he had to do what he wanted.

Now Kadi felt that he had to convince the Great Mentor, and all other matters had to be put aside...

Stan Sol, however, felt that he should make Kadi understand that the key now was to leave this place.

Stan Sol had his own methods. He wouldn’t lecture as others did. He wanted Kadi to understand, in a short amount of time, that there were significant connections between matters.

”What do you think you need to convince the Great Mentor about?” Stan Sol asked. A rhetorical question often stirs a person’s hidden confusion; once counter-questioned, they tend to pour out everything they’ve been holding back.

”Think about it,” Kadi said. ”The Great Mentor plans to confront this Kuyi Tulan directly, but his chosen method is too extreme. I want him to change his approach.”

Actually, Kadi was quite an extraordinary creature, negotiating with the Great Mentor on one hand while simultaneously communicating with Stan Sol through Spirit Power on the other. This multitasking ability was truly remarkable, not something an ordinary person could achieve.

Stan Sol mulled over Kadi’s words; he now understood what Kadi was trying to do. Once he grasped the main point, everything would become simpler. Understanding the crux of the matter would provide direction and prevent them from straying off course. Having a clear target is always better than running aimlessly.

”Since you know his methods are extreme, you should try harder to convince him,” Stan Sol said, following Kadi’s line of thought.

”Yes, you’re right. I need to go and persuade the Great Mentor more effectively,” Kadi replied. He felt that Stan Sol was a sensible person; his initial aversion to him had mostly vanished. At this moment, he felt more willing to communicate with Stan Sol. Maybe we can even come up with a good solution together.

”The most important thing when persuading someone,” Stan Sol began, also trying to convince Kadi, ”is that the environment must not be disturbed or interrupted. Imagine you’re making good progress, and suddenly someone inexplicably interrupts you—that would be terrible.”

”You’re right,” Kadi agreed, still feeling that Stan Sol’s words made sense. This was another way Stan Sol was steadily ensnaring him.

Casting a net might only catch some slow, foolish fish. But if you sprinkle a little bait, the effect is entirely different.

Stan Sol naturally understood this principle; he was adding more bait for Kadi now.

”I don’t think this place is suitable for that right now,” Stan Sol said. ”Look, I’m the disruptive factor, aren’t I? Didn’t my arrival interrupt your train of thought?”

”Uh... it seems you’re right.” Faced with Stan Sol’s candid admission, Kadi found it hard to blame him. He had indeed been in the zone, but after Stan Sol’s THUD, THUD, THUD at the door, his attention had been diverted, and things weren’t as smooth as before.

”Think about it,” Stan Sol continued. ”If I could come in and cause a disruption, what about others? Especially that Alchemy Workshop across the way—they don’t look like they mean well.”

Those lured by bait always have a significant weakness. At that point, they tend to believe there’s a possibility in whatever the other person says.

Kadi looked at the people in the Alchemy Workshop and indeed felt their ill intentions. It seemed they had always been coveting this place, which made him even more uneasy.

Even with his ability to multitask, at this point, Kadi couldn’t distinguish his priorities. He didn’t much mind the creatures of Guru Mountain glancing over occasionally. However, the people from the Alchemy Workshop were, after all, outsiders—intruders. Their constant surveillance did seem problematic.

Stan Sol paused, leaving a void for Kadi to observe. This silence was also bait.

This kind of bait would lead to the final net. Step by step, Stan Sol was slowly guiding Kadi down this path.

The pause Stan Sol left him worked. Kadi indeed pondered for a long time and then, just as Stan Sol intended, asked a question most people would in such a situation.

”So, what should we do?” Kadi asked. He now completely considered Stan Sol one of his own, his guard thoroughly lowered.

”Hmm, let me think,” Stan Sol said, deliberately slowing his speech. Since this is a deception, I might as well do it thoroughly. Blurting things out would seem insincere. This pretense of careful consideration will make him believe I’m genuinely trying to find a solution for him.

”Well? Well? Do you have a good idea?” Kadi, always impatient, pressed him, eager to know the answer immediately.

”Hmm, I think we should leave this place,” Stan Sol finally said, revealing what he had been planning all along.

”Huh?” Kadi was somewhat confused.

”Leave this place,” Stan Sol repeated.

Kadi thought carefully and realized his own plan also seemed somewhat related to this. ”Actually,” he said, ”for my plan to work, we also need to leave here...”

”Then what are we waiting for? Let’s go!” Stan Sol exclaimed, having finally achieved his goal of completely persuading Kadi.

”That’s true, but how should we leave?” Kadi asked. He had, in fact, completely forgotten his original mission for entering this defensive perimeter!