Chapter 014: The Choice of Fate

With this thought in mind, Du Fan stopped bothering to consider what the High Priest Gan Nong had said. As for those two moves of his own, this creature that didn’t even resemble a human claimed to know them. Moreover, it said some so-called “Eye of Truth” was needed to fully unleash their power. It seemed he might need to obtain this so-called Eye of Truth if given the chance.
Yet, upon looking at this guy before him, Du Fan couldn’t help but sigh inwardly.
Forget it. It was probably impossible to get anything out of him. Since he was willing to let Du Fan go now, that was the best outcome. As for revenge? Hmph, a gentleman can wait ten years to take revenge. When I have the strength someday, I’ll destroy your Great Temple. Then we’ll see how this old guy can still act all mysterious!
With these thoughts, Du Fan stopped looking at the High Priest Gan Nong. He glanced around and headed back the way he came.
Only when Du Fan’s figure faded into the distance did the High Priest Gan Nong slowly open his eyes. Watching Du Fan’s retreating back, he let out a soft sigh and said, “Come out…”
“Yes…” A person slowly stepped out from behind the altar—it was Ringtone. She stared at Gan Nong and whispered, “Teacher, is that all you wanted to ask?”
Gan Nong shook his head slightly. “Ringtone, I’ve said so much just now. You’ve been listening the whole time. Do you understand anything?”
Ringtone hesitated for a moment before saying, “I don’t understand… Teacher, why did you already know, even before we left, that I would bring someone back this time, and that this person would know the secret techniques of our Kara clan?”
Gan Nong sighed softly. “Perhaps this is fate?”
“Teacher…”
The High Priest Gan Nong waved his hand. The high priest, who had been sitting in seiza, slowly stood up. His face still showed no expression, but his voice now carried a hint of helplessness. “Perhaps… this is the choice of fate… That person… Du Fan… He might be the one destined to appear. His arrival will bring a disaster unseen in a thousand years to our people of Kara. Even our entire clan could be destroyed because of it. That’s why… I sent you all out at this critical moment to bring him back… I originally planned that once you brought him here, all I had to do would be… kill him… and end this disaster. But…”

At this point, High Priest Gannon seemed unable to continue speaking. He paced anxiously for a few steps before slowly exhaling…
“But what?” Ringne asked, unable to hold back.
High Priest Gannon finally stopped in his tracks. After pondering for a moment, he spoke in a low voice, “But after meeting him, I had to change my mind… Because in him, I couldn’t see the outcome I had predicted.”
“Teacher…”
“Ringne,” sighed High Priest Gannon. “Do you know anything about prophecy?”
It seemed he was asking himself. Before Ringne could answer, he continued, “Prophecy is the ability to see the future from the present. No matter how history unfolds, under the will of the gods, what is meant to happen will happen, and what must end will end—just like a game of chess. You and I are both pieces. Although sometimes we can predict the outcome of the game, we can only watch helplessly as everything happens and then ends… This is what prophecy is… I can see the future, but I can’t change it.”
“But in that Rolandian, in that Du Fan, I seem to see… the possibility of changing the future…”
Frowning, Ringne said, “Teacher, I don’t understand what you mean…”
A hint of joy appeared on High Priest Gannon’s face. Countless emotions flashed in his eyes before he continued, “My True Eye can see through a person’s future. Anyone I gaze at, I can see through their entire life. But there is one exception—Du Fan… He is like a piece outside the chessboard. When he appears is purely by chance, yet that chance can change everything…”
As he spoke, High Priest Gannon sighed softly, almost as if chanting:
“One nail lost, one horseshoe ruined…
One horseshoe ruined, one warhorse broken…
One warhorse broken, one knight injured…
One knight injured, one battle lost…
One battle lost, an empire destroyed…”
His words were delivered with such sorrow that they seemed to carry infinite power. Ringne stared at her teacher, as if in awe.
After a moment, Ringne spoke in a trembling voice, “Teacher… Is this prophecy?”

“No, this is not a prophecy,” affirmed High Priest Gannon. “It’s just a fable, and it’s the only reason why we Karans hide in these deep mountains…”
“A fable?” Ringo couldn’t help but ask. “Teacher, what does that mean?”
Gannon suddenly let out a low laugh. He shook his head, his voice somewhat subdued. “Ringo, I could originally see your fate, but from this moment on, your future has become unclear. I don’t know why, but I know that the rest of your life might be entangled with that Rolandian. So, I think there is indeed a task I need to assign to you…”
“Yes, teacher,” Ringo replied, nodding despite her confusion. “I will definitely do it…”
Gannon whispered a few words in Ringo’s ear before saying, “Remember, you must pretend to have revealed this secret by accident. Otherwise, that guy won’t give up so easily… But he’s too weak now. If we don’t help him, this flag won’t be of much use…”
As if sighing, High Priest Gannon continued, “Perhaps this is another choice imposed by fate!”
Du Fan stood at the entrance of the altar, sighing helplessly. The stone door before him seemed ordinary, but who knew how heavy it was. He wasn’t strong enough to break it yet, so the only thing he could do was wait here. He wasn’t convinced that old pervert wouldn’t send someone to open the door for him.
After waiting a while, Du Fan grew impatient. Then, he heard a silver-bell-like laugh coming from behind him. He turned around and saw Ringo. He couldn’t help but frown. “It’s you!”
Ringo chuckled lightly. “Congratulations, Young Master Du Fan. The teacher has ordered that we escort you back tomorrow… I’m sure your safety won’t be a problem…”
Du Fan snorted. “You’re the one who captured me. Surely you’re not the one who’ll escort me out?”
Ringo replied, “Young Master Du Fan isn’t stupid. But don’t worry. The teacher holds great authority. With his order, no one in the barbarian tribe will dare touch you. So, you can have a peaceful night’s sleep—no need to worry about mice disturbing you.”
With that, Ringo casually waved a strange symbol and slapped it on the stone door. A “crackling” sound came, and the door slowly opened.

Ringne stepped forward and said, “Young Master Du Fan, please…”
The two walked in silence for a while. Du Fan secretly compared the map and realized he seemed to be heading deeper into the Great God Temple rather than toward the entrance. He couldn’t help but ask, “Miss Ringne, where are we going?”
Ringne was surprised. “Young Master Du Fan, don’t you know? Anyone who enters the Great God Temple must stay there overnight. It’s our rule. I hope you can understand.”
Du Fan remained expressionless and merely nodded in agreement.
After walking a bit more, Ringne said again, “Lord Du Fan… What exactly did you say to your teacher? He let you go so easily. I’ve never seen that before.”
Du Fan sneered inwardly but spoke politely, “Miss Ringne, aren’t you asking out of ignorance? Your teacher already knows those two techniques, as well as that so-called ‘Eye of Truth’. What else does he need to know? I just briefly explained the situation… Could he really kill me over that?”
“That’s strange,” Ringne said doubtfully. “Previously, a shaman priest sneaked onto the altar to spy on the secret of the Spatial Tear Slash. When your teacher found out, he threw him straight into the abyss behind the altar. It’s really strange that you, a Rolandian, are unharmed.”
Du Fan’s mind stirred, and he couldn’t help but ask tentatively, “Do you Karans habit of carving secrets on stones?”
Ringne gasped and hurriedly said, “What are you talking about, Young Master Du Fan… Haha… You must have heard wrong…”
By then, they had reached the door of a room. Ringne whispered, “Young Master Du Fan, please rest here tonight. I’ll come to guide you tomorrow morning. Well then, goodbye…”
Before she could finish speaking, Ringne hurriedly left. Du Fan frowned as he watched her go, lost in deep thought.