One-Eyed Monster

Beneath Guru Mountain, Lubin Tavern.

Kuyi Tulan was sitting in a corner as usual, sipping on low-quality fruit wine, but this time he had more company.

If you were fortunate enough to approach Lubin Tavern, you might see through the windows seven people inside, some standing, some sitting, their faces expressionless, discussing something unknown.

Unfortunately, you do not have such luck. Nobody can approach the tavern beneath Guru Mountain right now. Even Lubin, the honest owner of the tavern, had been driven out by these detestable Alchemists just moments before. They informed Lubin that they had important business to discuss and asked him to leave temporarily. Meanwhile, no one was allowed to approach the tavern without their permission.

Honest Lubin didn’t ask many questions. He had already earned enough gold coins and even had the honor of cooking for Elder Rostellum... He was quite content these days. Even if these strange Alchemists asked him to sell his tavern, he would do so willingly. This was because the Alchemist leading them would occasionally exchange a gold bar for a bottle of fruit wine, and the gold obtained from these exchanges was already enough to buy a large tavern in Liuli City.

So, honest Lubin cheerfully left the tavern. He even eagerly helped the Alchemists place some strange stones and pieces of wood around the tavern. Though he had no idea what purpose this served, they gave him gold coins. He took the money and left promptly, without asking a single question.

Those stones and pieces of wood were Markers crafted by Kuyi Tulan and the other Alchemists. By placing them around the tavern, the Alchemists could use an Exchange Beast to form a small Alchemy Array. Its purpose was simple: to prevent disturbances. This was far more effective than a wooden sign reading ’No Entry for Outsiders’. Some meddlers would react defiantly to such signs. If you tell me I can’t enter, I’ll go in just to see what you can do about it! Such people usually lacked any real ability; they were merely seeking verbal satisfaction. He recalled when they first arrived at Guru Mountain, an overconfident drunkard who defied them was taught a harsh lesson by Brad. Although Brad had been a bit heavy-handed, directly transforming the man’s mouth into a duck’s beak, the deterrent effect of that ferocity was remarkable. That moment of brutality ensured everyone else in the tavern promptly retreated without another word.

Kuyi Tulan had always believed that merely persuading through words was a waste of time. A display of strength, even for a few moments of Gudu Time, would shut up those verbose good-for-nothings. Those with real strength never wasted too much time on idle chatter. That was why the Alchemy Workshop he led never engaged in verbal disputes; it was pointless. Only with tremendous strength could one have a true say in matters.

Kuyi Tulan took a sip of wine, his eyes downcast. He said mildly, "I was too hasty before, couldn’t see clearly or far enough. It seems we’ve been used."

At these words, the surrounding Golden Seat holders frowned. However, as they, after all, were not the Chief Alchemist, they couldn’t grasp the full implications. They could only remain quietly standing or seated, pondering the meaning of their leader’s words.