Chapter 254

Almost all the teachers agreed that Drona's actions were correct.

Because he was Brahmin, while Ekalavya was just a Nishada, a tribesman outside the caste system.

Therefore, none of this violates the Dharma.

Now, Drona stands at a crossroads in history, his hands behind his back, his eyes filled with conflicted emotions, as if he is about to make a decision at any moment.

Arjuna stood anxiously beside his teacher.

Finally, Drona's voice rang out in a deep, muffled tone, like the prelude to a summer thunderstorm.

"Ekalavya! Listen to me!"

"Master, I'm listening."

Ekalavya answered.

"There is absolutely no way I will accept you as my apprentice."

Drona said, "According to the Manusmriti, even if Shudra untouches the Vedas, molten lead will be poured into their ears; if they recite the Vedas, their tongues will be pulled out."

"According to the Dharma, I shall cut off your thumb, break your bow and arrow, and blind your eyes."

"If it were me in the past, I probably would have done the same!"

Drona exclaimed, "But in a small town, I met a venerable master who was unparalleled in the world."

Under this venerable one's tutelage, I learned that Brahmin are not necessarily noble, Kshatriya are not necessarily fierce. I live according to the Vaishya way, working with my own hands to earn a living.

If it weren't for an accident, I might have already successfully completed my cultivation.

Drona sighed and bent down to help the trembling Ekalavya.

"My child, I still regret it to this day—it was the arrogance of the Brahmin that prevented me from practicing the Venerable One's teachings; it was also the ignorance of the Brahmin that prevented me from completing my own practice."

"My child, I won't accept you as my disciple not because I look down on you, but because I know I cannot treat everyone equally. How can someone like me be your teacher?"

Ekalavya stood there, stunned, upon hearing this.

When he heard Drona's answer, he felt disappointed and fearful, but not surprised.

Because of his background, Ekalavya had experienced similar things countless times—being despised, looked down upon, and insulted was the least of his worries; being beaten, expelled, and threatened was the norm.

He truly learned Vedic Archery by worshipping the statue of Drona.

Besides joy, Ekalavya also felt fear.

So when Drona said he was going to "cut off his own Ekalavya," I wasn't surprised at all.

So when Drona bent down and helped him up, Ekalavya burst into tears.

"Master!"

Ekalavya's face was covered in tears. "Please don't say that!"

"No, child. I'm serious."

Drona said, "I cannot teach you anything, but that doesn't mean no one will teach you— Arjuna."

Arjuna was startled when he suddenly heard his own name.

"Yes, teacher?"

Arjuna asked cautiously.

"Arjuna, son of King Pandu, your Vedic Archery is already superb. In my opinion, you are fully qualified to teach the Ekalavya."

"Drona said."

"I?"

Arjuna pointed to himself in surprise, his gaze shifting back and forth between Ekalavya and Drona.

It was clear that Drona was serious. He genuinely intended for Arjuna Ekalavya teacher.

But would Arjuna agree?

In this era, students choose their teachers, and teachers also choose their students.

The princes of the Kuru Dynasty Drona as their teacher because he was a great Brahmin; conversely, Drona's acceptance of the Kuru King as disciples also glorified his status.

And now, Drona wants him to take a Nishada —the lowest of the low—as his apprentice? To pass on all his skills to him? How could that be possible!

Besides, wasn't it precisely because he was uneasy about Ekalavya's archery skills that he asked Drona to handle it?

At that moment, Arjuna felt like he had shot himself in the foot.

Moreover, with both Drona and Ekalavya's gazes fixed on his face, the uneasy and awkward atmosphere almost suffocated Arjuna.

How could he say something that would allow him to refuse to Ekalavya while still maintaining his image in front of Drona?

In his anxiety, inspiration suddenly struck Arjuna.

It seemed as if a voice from the depths of his being was telling him how to disguise his past.

"Teacher!"

Arjuna knelt on one knee, trembling with fear, and reached out to touch Drona's feet. "Are you trying to send me away?"

"Oh, I never thought that way."

Drona asked, "Why do you think that?"

"I lost to Karna just a few days ago, and I came to the forest specifically to practice my archery skills; it was only after I heard the sound of Ekalavya shooting an arrow that I told my teacher."

Arjuna's face immediately showed a look of shame.

"My archery skills are inferior to Ekalavya's, so how can I be so arrogant as to be his teacher?"

"This..."

Drona hesitated.

He could tell that this was Arjuna's original thought.

If that's the case, why should I force others to do things against their will?

"Ekalavya, come with me."

Drona said, "I'll go and find you another good teacher."

Arjuna followed silently behind, but the surroundings became increasingly familiar.

This is the path leading to Karna's dwelling!

"No, no way..."

Arjuna was in despair.

Even without a renowned teacher, his Ekalavya are already ridiculously strong.

If Karna becomes his teacher now, what will he do in the future?

But Human Order his little mood at that moment.

Drona knocked on Karna's door and asked the latter, who was studying late into the night, to take on the role of a disciple on behalf of his master.

"Can."

Karna said crisply and decisively.

Drona, who was ready to launch into a long speech:?

The Ekalavya is already prepared to have his thumb chopped off:?

Arjuna, who was secretly praying in the woods: It's over.

In response to Drona's question, Karna simply shrugged. "My parents never said that these things couldn't be taught to others. As for the books I've read, they preach the principle of 'education for all.'"

"Education should be provided to all without discrimination?"

Drona's voice trembled slightly. "Could you repeat what it said?"

"Perhaps it is because education does not discriminate between high and low social classes, and this is how we cultivate talented people."

Karna answered.

Drona trembled all over upon hearing this.

He longed to fly directly to Hebe's house, to read those unheard-of classics, and to converse with that unique wisdom.

Upon hearing this, how could Ekalavya not know that his fate had undergone a dramatic change?

Although Drona did not accept him as a disciple, it would be good to become Guru Drona- disciple.

Moreover, his young master looked to have an extraordinary air about him.

As for Arjuna? Well, let's take a look at the beautiful Forest of Asceticism instead.

And so, Ekalavya also joined Karna's senior year intensive class.

It is worth mentioning that after seeing the determined Ekalavya, Ashvasena immediately refused Duryodhana's banquet invitation and returned to his previous "ascetic life" of going back and forth between three points.

Influenced by the example of these individuals, the entire Forest of Asceticism underwent a complete transformation.

Overall, it went from elementary school to high school.

In this atmosphere, the course, which was originally expected to take ten years, was shortened by nearly half.

Of course, there are always some people who can't adapt to this atmosphere.

Duryodhana had expressed his opinion semi-publicly on several occasions, believing that as Kshatriya, they should fulfill their duty to enjoy themselves, rather than asceticizing like Brahmin.

Such opinions are best taken with a grain of salt. After all, Karna was the only one diligently practicing before, and without any results, they cannot be verified.

She has now demonstrated extraordinary abilities, and more and more people are beginning to take her as a role model.

It's one thing to laugh at someone when they're struggling; but now that everyone's in the thick of it, and you're still throwing parties every day, what are you if not a fool?

Even when Duryodhana himself, he was still practicing while complaining.

But Arjuna was truly restless.

The reason is simple: ever since that night, when another voice came from the depths of his heart, he could occasionally hear a faint sound.

It could be the crackling sound of flames burning, the rushing sound of a river, or the sounds of fighting that seemed to come from a great distance... but the words that had been spoken earlier never came.

It wasn't until evening, several months later, that this continued.

As Arjuna was shooting arrows alone at the archery range, he heard that familiar voice again.

"Hello, Arjuna."

"I've been waiting for you."

Arjuna's expression changed slightly. "Who exactly are you?"

"Please forgive me, our connection should have been established a year or two ago."

The voice sighed softly, "Unfortunately, I am powerless to change my fate. Ever since that vicious night owl gained the support of the Yadu Clan, it has been relentlessly hunting me down..."

Arjuna had heard of the Yadu Clan, a powerful vassal state that had maintained close ties with the Kuru Dynasty since ancient times.

And the "night owl" mentioned in the voice... sounds like a familiar image.

"You guessed right, that man is Shakuni —he came here on the orders of Kuru King, and has been burning, killing, looting, and committing all sorts of atrocities. Almost every Yadu Clan wishes they could kill him..."

How can I help you?

Arjuna asked, "Is there anything I can do for you?"

"I'm sorry, given your current status, there's nothing you can do to help me."

The voice chuckled, "That's why you need to climb the ranks. If you have a title, you can send troops; if you were the Kuru King now, you could control the war with just a word."

After experiencing so much, Arjuna is no longer as innocent as he once was.

He knew that some things had to come at a price.

What should I do?

"Wait for the opportunity, then seize it. I'll give you hints at the crucial moment."

The voice said, "The fact that we can communicate across such a long distance means that we are indeed destined to be together. Helping you is helping myself."

"Is that so..."

Arjuna pondered.