Guru Mountain is a complex place.
At the foot of Guru Mountain, a diverse crowd of people always gathered. These individuals hailed from every corner of the Yowein Continent, drawn here by a single, simple ambition: to strike it rich.
Yes, rumor had it that Guru Mountain was home to White Cloud Fruits, the rarest fruit in all the Yowein Continent. Each White Cloud Fruit was said to possess a magical power, capable of either granting the user's wish or bestowing upon them unexpected Energy.
However, obtaining a White Cloud Fruit was no easy feat.
"First, you have to know what it looks like." The tavern at the foot of Guru Mountain always did good business. If you were a stranger, a single round of drinks could furnish you with a wealth of unexpected knowledge. Look, this thin man was shaking his head, flaunting his erudition. "As a senior Scholar, I am obliged to tell you what a White Cloud Fruit looks like; otherwise, I wouldn't deserve to be called a Scholar."
"Er, what does the White Cloud Fruit look like then?" Across from the thin man sat a young fellow, his face a mask of confusion.
"A White Cloud Fruit resembles a white cloud—ethereal, drifting, appearing and disappearing, elusive and hard to grasp. Its form is as mutable as a cloud; without specific experience, you wouldn't be able to pick it at all..."
"Moreover, this White Cloud Fruit is hidden deep within the mountains. Without our Wizards' Divination to point the way, venturing into the mountains would be futile," the white-bearded man in a felt hat at the next table chimed in.
"Hmph, without the assistance of us Alchemists, you'd find it exceedingly difficult to pick the fruit, you know," another voice scoffed.
"So, according to you all, those monsters guarding the White Cloud Fruit don't require the intervention of us Hunters, is that it?"
"Clearly, your thinking is too simplistic. To acquire the White Cloud Fruit, you still need those incumbent Politicians to devise detailed plans for you."
...
The tavern patrons chattered away, their words making the young man's head sway from side to side like a pellet drum, the confusion on his face deepening like the wrinkles on an old man.
"Well… you've all provided a lot of useful information, but there's one thing I still don't quite understand," the young man said, scratching his head. "Who exactly discovered this rare White Cloud Fruit on Guru Mountain?"
"The historical records of the Yowein Continent state as much," the thin Scholar replied, massaging his temples.
"The Wizard's Association has performed Divinations time and again, and the geographical signs have always pointed here," the white-bearded Wizard declared, taking a large gulp of beer.
"Our forebears once made an Equivalent Exchange for White Cloud Fruit here; experience tells us this place can't be wrong," the hunched Alchemist added, adjusting his spectacles.
"We learned it from the mouth of a monster we captured…"
Before the fierce-looking Hunter could finish, a shrill voice erupted from the young man's satchel, "You pack of scoundrels, spouting utter nonsense! The White Cloud Fruit was discovered on this mountain by Adventurers of the Yowein Continent! This Guru Mountain hasn't even been fully explored by Adventurers yet! You lowly mercenaries, you only know how to get drunk in taverns and deceive the naive… MMM… MMM…"
"Oops, I accidentally let it open." The young man carefully closed the screaming book in his satchel.
"Is that… a Spirit Book?" The white-bearded Wizard's eyes nearly bulged out of their sockets.
"Yes, the Great Witch at the crossroads in Gaga County gave it to me," the young man smiled frankly.
"You're an Adventurer?" The thin Scholar's face registered surprise.
"Uh, I wouldn't consider myself an Adventurer." The young man placed three copper coins under his cup, then rose to leave.
"Thank you for your advice. My name is Igor. I hope when we meet again, it will be on Guru Mountain." The young man pushed open the tavern's creaking door, leaving a sturdy silhouette for the stunned patrons and dozing bartender to gaze at.
Besides White Cloud Fruits, Guru Mountain was also home to monsters.
But the villagers at the foot of Guru Mountain had never seen these monsters.
The villagers at the foot of Guru Mountain had a love-hate relationship with these unseen monsters.
Fear was natural; no one could guarantee that these elusive creatures wouldn't suddenly lose their temper and charge down the mountain, terrorizing people.
The villagers' affection for these monsters was complex.
First, they were immensely grateful to these monsters for protecting Guru Mountain from over-exploitation by outsiders.
Second, they were thankful these monsters protected the legendary White Cloud Fruit, which the villagers themselves were unwilling to see fall into the hands of outsiders.
Finally, they were profoundly grateful for the unexpected wealth these monsters had brought them.
The White Cloud Fruit of Guru Mountain might not have allowed the hopeful visitors to return laden with treasure, but it certainly brought considerable wealth to the local villagers.
Initially, the villagers merely provided food for these pioneering visitors. Later, they gradually began to offer them lodging, and eventually, even venues for entertainment.
Thus, inns and taverns sprouted like mushrooms after a spring rain at the foot of Guru Mountain.
The villagers had grown accustomed to these varied individuals.
The villagers had seen a Scholar lock himself in his inn room for two whole months, solely to research a shortcut up the mountain. During those two months, he pored over book stacks as tall as a house, exhausted all his savings, and was finally forcibly removed by carriage under the orders of Elder Rostellum, the governor of Gaga County.
They had also seen a Hunter who would frequently demonstrate his martial prowess at the mountain's base, proclaiming his intent to ascend and capture monsters. Yet, he invariably turned back midway, claiming to have forgotten his tools, only to end up drowning his sorrows in the tavern.
The villagers had also witnessed a Wizard who amassed a fortune by performing Spellcraft, clearing obstacles for every daredevil who ventured up the mountain seeking treasure.
The villagers had encountered all sorts of individuals, but never such a peculiar young man who relentlessly inquired about Guru Mountain.
If this young man were merely asking for directions, it would have been simple enough to handle.
But this particular young man was asking about monsters—monsters the villagers had never even laid eyes on!
The old woman sweeping at the foot of the mountain replied impatiently, "Regarding the monsters, I suggest you ask someone else."
The innkeeper, even more shrewdly, replied, "Monsters? Oh, they're terrifying! Please don't speak of them to me."
The village chief was their last line of defense, so his answer naturally needed to be more resolute. "Well, monsters, of course, reside on the mountain. We villagers wouldn't dare ascend, so how could we possibly know their habits?" Without these monsters, Guru Mountain would instantly be stripped of its mystique. And once that allure vanished, their current stable and prosperous way of life would face a challenge.
The young man's question, "So, none of you have ever seen a monster?" felt like a thousand needles pricking the village chief's heart.
"One can't jump to such conclusions," the village chief said, attempting to divert the topic. "We are all peaceable, law-abiding citizens here. The monsters don't trouble us, and we certainly don't go looking to trouble them. After all, we villagers lack the capability to subdue even a single monster, much less the hordes that dwell on this mountain…"
The young man cheerfully cut short the village chief's lengthy discourse. "Thank you, I've gathered some very useful information. My name is Igor. I hope the sun is shining just as brightly when we meet again!"
"Young man, are you going up the mountain?" an elder standing behind the village chief asked with concern.
"Yes," Igor replied. "I'm going up the mountain to learn about the monsters, so I can come back and tell you all about them."