"ntor! My ntor!" Xiso didn't know what to say. He was uncertain whether to tell his ntor about everything that had happened or not.
Kevin looked at Xiso and shrugged his shoulders as usual. He didn't have a mind like Xiso's; he only focused on matters at hand without overthinking.
"There was chaos at Dawn Peak. The battle between the Alchemy Workshop's mbers and unknown forces has ended. A few days ago, we lost contact with Dastan."
"Hmm," the Great ntor said, his gaze full of benevolence as he gently stroked the fish in his hands. "Poor Dastan. This shouldn't have been his fight."
"We have vowed to stand or fall together with our ntor. Whether it's our fight or not, we have no complaints." Xiso's expression was resolute, like a steadfast rock.
The Great ntor placed the fish from his hand onto the withered grass beside him, letting it flip and jump freely.
"I've thought a lot over these years." The Great ntor put down his fishing rod and rubbed his eyes. The morning mist settled on his graying hair, making him look even older. "You all have followed for so many years. It has been hard on you."
"ntor, now is not the ti to be sentintal!" Xiso reminded the Great ntor. He believed the situation had reached a critical point, and he had returned to Moonflow Stream out of concern for the Great ntor.
"I understand your worries, Xiso, but even if we get through this successfully, what then? Two years later, another two years will co. Two years ago, I already started wondering why we are hiding here."
"Isn't that obvious? If it weren't for Kuyi Tulan, we wouldn't be in this predicant. It's all thanks to him. Now that he has co knocking on our door, it's high ti we settled things once and for all!" Kevin cracked his knuckles, eager for the impending showdown.
"It is indeed ti to end this," the Great ntor sighed, his gaze fixed on the horizon. "Chaos of one's own creation must eventually be faced."
"ntor, we can still take our ti to plan. I've told you, us twelve 'monsters' can make Kuyi Tulan pay dearly." Xiso still wanted to dissuade the Great ntor. He didn't believe that the ti for severing all ties was here.
"Monsters?" The Great ntor frowned. "Since when did we begin to give up on ourselves?"
"I..." Xiso lowered his head in sha.
The term 'monster' was sensitive to them, especially to the Great ntor, as it carried many past stories. When the Great ntor was imrsed in his mories, ntioning this term was akin to rubbing salt in a wound.
"It's not your fault, my boy. You are brilliant and outstanding, but this physical form of yours has cost you everything. You have lost so much..." The Great ntor, looking at Xiso, couldn't bear to reprimand him further.
Although so events happened many years ago, what had occurred left indelible marks. So marks dissipated like the wind, while others stayed with a person for a lifeti.
"Xiso, Kevin, my children, how do you view this world? Is it murky or clear?" The Great ntor discarded his previous nostalgia, gradually regaining his inherent dignity.
"This world is chaotic, ntor. The rulers of the Empire are blinded and are treading on a dangerous path," Xiso replied without hesitation.
"I don't have such deep understanding of the world. All I know is that things have changed significantly, and scoundrels are everywhere." Kevin clenched his teeth, seemingly bearing a deep hatred for the villains in the world.
"Why are our rulers blinded, and why do scoundrels always appear around us?" The Great ntor asked cryptically.
"The Empire is forced by circumstances, and everyone in the Empire must fight for survival," Xiso replied articulately, sounding as if he were one of the Empire's higher-ups responsible for its operations.
Kevin pursed his lips, remaining silent. The question was too elusive for him to answer. He was only aware that the continent was undergoing rapid changes, changes that many were having trouble adapting to.
"The world is changing, and many people have lost their direction. They are constantly seeking shortcuts. The Empire is being eroded by Mantai and Wensi. Crises are everywhere," the Great ntor said gently to Kevin.
"A sense of crisis is the catalyst for major change. Kuyi Tulan is quite insightful. He detected the crisis much earlier than any of us. His vision far exceeds all of ours."
"That scoundrel! Why bother bringing him up? He's nothing but a swindler, through and through!" Kevin's anger flared suddenly.
Xiso fell silent as he looked at the agitated Kevin. Although Kuyi Tulan was scum, to label him a swindler wasn't entirely correct. If everyone hadn't been so anxious and impatient back then, things might have turned out differently.
'Shortcuts'—everyone had been deceived by this word, including Kuyi Tulan.
Xiso gradually reined in his wandering thoughts. The Great ntor ntioning the past at this mont must an he had made a significant decision.
"Kevin, my child, Kuyi Tulan rely chose the wrong path. Regardless, his original intention was good. I don't deny his talent and ability, it's just..." The Great ntor stopped mid-sentence.
"ntor," Xiso stepped forward. "No matter how hard you try, we have already been abandoned by this world. You led us here, whether to hide or escape, and we bear no complaints. Survival is the most important thing. I hope you can..."
"No, no, no, Xiso." The Great ntor interrupted Xiso's persuasion. "Indeed, survival is important, but there's another task I need to accomplish."
"ntor!" Xiso was on the brink of emotional collapse. His instincts told him that the Great ntor was indeed about to bid them farewell.
Kevin was puzzled, looking astonished as he watched Xiso.
"I've grown old and can no longer do much more to ensure your survival." Nᴇw novel chapters are publɪshed on n̷o̷v̷e̷l̷f̷i̷r̷e̷
"ntor, what are you talking about?" Kevin also sensed sothing amiss in the Great ntor's words.
"Things need a conclusion. We resisted, but to no avail. However, we cannot give up just like that." The Great ntor waved his hand, signaling Kevin not to get agitated.
"I cannot determine whether our choices were right or wrong. Leave the judgnt of right or wrong to yourselves."
"The most important thing now is to pass on our will."
Xiso suddenly looked up, a sense of enlightennt washing over him at the Great ntor's words.
They had indeed been abandoned by this world, but if they continued like this, it would be tantamount to abandoning the world themselves.
The Great ntor was right. The judgnt of right and wrong should be left to those who co after them. What they could do now was pass on what they had always believed in.
The enemy was unscrupulously changing the world's prevailing winds. If they only continued to resist and evade, their struggle would lose all aning.
"ntor, I understand," Xiso responded, a smile gracing his face.
"The seed of hope cannot be extinguished in our hands. I will pass on your will to them."
"Hopefully, they can pass the test. The power to choose still rests in their hands. An old man like can no longer sway them." The Great ntor let out a soft sigh, filled with gratification.
"ntor, rest assured. Arnold and I will definitely not disappoint your expectations. Then there's Kevin; I trust your judgnt regarding him, ntor. As for the rest, let Kadi and that young man make their own choices."
User Comments
0 comments from readers