One-Eyed Monster

Xiso’s words took many by surprise; they couldn’t fathom his reasoning.

How could they not stop Kuyi Tulan from descending the mountain? They needed an explanation.

Everyone fell silent, their attention now focused on Xiso—an understanding tacitly agreed upon. People who march to their own drum always have their reasons, known only to themselves.

As the brains of Guru Mountain, Xiso’s reputation was well-deserved. Previously, he had been an exceptional Scholar, an advisor in the Empire’s Guardian Army, and one of the Empire’s most renowned. Back then, he was young, promising, and his future seemed limitless.

However, his dissatisfaction with himself led him to join Kuyi Tulan’s insane plan, transforming him into his current state. When he was on the brink of collapse, he met the Great Mentor. It was the Great Mentor’s acceptance that gave him the courage to continue living. If not for the Great Mentor, he might have lost even the will to live.

He had always regarded Guru Mountain as his home. Thus, the collapse of the Twin Peaks and the disappearance of the Guru Mountain Shield stirred considerable upheaval within him. His resentment towards Kuyi Tulan was therefore immense. Yet, he voiced something entirely different from the consensus, and everyone needed his explanation. Indeed, what possible reason could there be to let Kuyi Tulan descend the mountain? What kind of thinking was behind letting Kuyi Tulan leave just like that? He had to explain it clearly.

Xiso naturally knew everyone was waiting for his answer. A dissenting opinion required a strong reason to support it; otherwise, it was merely trouble-making born of Nothingness. As Guru Mountain’s strategist, Xiso shouldn’t stoop to such a level. After all, this was not the time for causing trouble, and Kadi’s approach wouldn’t work.

”Why should we let that bastard descend the mountain?”

”Yeah, if he goes down, how are we supposed to teach him a lesson?”

”Guru Mountain is our home turf, just as Kadi said. If we play our cards right, surely we’ll have a chance to subdue that bastard, right?”

...

Challenging the consensus resulted in a barrage of questions for Xiso. Before he could offer an explanation, the crowd had already erupted, voicing their varied opinions. Everyone had their reasons, and the common thread was their desire to teach Kuyi Tulan a lesson.

Igor tried to understand why Guru Mountain’s strategist thought they should let Kuyi Tulan descend. He felt there was surely an enigmatic logic he couldn’t comprehend. He hadn’t yet figured out this enigma, but he sensed it made sense, as he always felt Kadi’s plan was missing something. But what Kadi had overlooked was still unclear to Igor. Perhaps what Xiso had considered was precisely what Kadi had overlooked.

The Great Mentor wore a solemn expression, pondering the same question. Xiso wouldn’t oppose everyone for no reason; there had to be an underlying cause they didn’t yet understand.

Getting Xiso’s answer would take time. After all, Xiso was currently surrounded by the other creatures. Everyone demanded an explanation from him but, in their clamor, gave him no chance to speak.

People often panic more when anxious. At this moment, they should have quieted down and listened to Xiso instead of crowding him and putting him in a difficult position. Someone venerable, whose words would be heeded by all, needed to step in and control the chaos. Unquestionably, the Great Mentor was the one best suited to shoulder this responsibility.

At that moment, the Great Mentor also realized a problem he had indeed overlooked. Now, it seemed this problem was as vexing as Kuyi Tulan himself.

So, the Great Mentor cleared his throat. He intended to break the chaotic scene, let things settle, and allow Xiso to become the focus of this matter—as he should have been all along.

”Everyone, calm down and let Xiso speak,” the Great Mentor said. ”I think we’ve been preoccupied with Kuyi Tulan and overlooked something else.”

The Great Mentor’s words were effective. Shortly, the chaotic scene returned to calm. Everyone was waiting for what Xiso would say. If his reasoning wasn’t sufficient to satisfy them, they wouldn’t follow his instructions.

”We... have always been guarding this place,” Xiso began slowly, not angered by the creatures’ earlier questions. ”You could say Guru Mountain is our second homeland.”

His words were somewhat touching; Guru Mountain was indeed their second homeland.

”But lately, we haven’t fulfilled our duties as guardians. We’ve let hatred cloud our judgment, gradually losing the caution and patience we once possessed.”

Every word Xiso spoke resonated deeply. Everyone, including the Great Mentor, felt that they had indeed acted rashly too many times recently. That was the value of Guru Mountain’s strategist: his ability to calmly analyze details that others easily overlooked, even at critical times.

Xiso continued his analysis. His perspective was always different from others; he could grasp the overall situation and consider things thoroughly.

”The secret we guarded on this mountain has been stolen, yet we remain consumed by thoughts of revenge.”

”This...” Xiso’s words plunged everyone into contemplation. Indeed, if Kuyi Tulan hadn’t been there, their primary concern would undoubtedly have been the incident at the Twin Peaks. Yet, here they were, at the site of the collapsed Twin Peaks, still trapped in their resentment and desire for revenge against Kuyi Tulan.

”We have many tasks at hand,” Xiso continued. ”But if, at this moment, we are still fixated on how to take revenge, we may very well accomplish nothing.”

Xiso’s analysis was like parting a dense fog for the creatures. In that fog, they had seen nothing but Kuyi Tulan before them. When the fog lifted, the creatures of Guru Mountain finally understood: the true invader of Guru Mountain was not Kuyi Tulan, but someone else.

”Mentor,” Xiso asked, turning to the Great Mentor, ”you clashed with the invader at the Twin Peaks. How does he compare to Kuyi Tulan?”

This question caught the Great Mentor somewhat off guard.

To be honest, the Great Mentor hadn’t considered this. Firstly, he hadn’t previously thought of Kuyi Tulan as irredeemable. Secondly, he didn’t know much about the leader of the Black Crow. However, judging from their brief battle, this Black Crow leader possessed extraordinary abilities.

”The opponent... his aura carried a suffocating sensation,” the Great Mentor replied. ”He seemed far more threatening.”