Chapter 255

At that moment, Arjuna heard faint shouts of battle again.

The voice suddenly became urgent. "Shakuni's army is beginning to retreat, I..."

"May I have your name?"

Arjuna asked anxiously, "I can't just sit here and wait like an idiot!"

After a brief silence, the voice rang out again.

"Krishna. Krishna Vasudeva— "

The sentence was cut short before it was finished, like a candle flame being suddenly extinguished.

Arjuna waited a few more minutes, but there was still no response.

Soon after, the clouds pressed down heavily, bringing the last heavy rain of spring.

Next comes the hot and humid summer.

During this season, rivers enter their high-water season.

During this era, a large number of wild animals began to migrate across the river, which looked extremely spectacular.

For every person who successfully crosses the river, there is an unfortunate soul who is hunted by wild beasts.

Danger comes not only from the shore, but also from the turbulent river. Those gray-black "dead logs" floating in the river are the river's most dangerous hunters—crocodiles.

Of course, this is a name used in later generations.

At that time, the Bharata called crocodiles "Kali"—not a goddess, but a demon.

In short, when Drona, contrary to everyone's usual behavior, went down into the river to bathe despite everyone's advice, and as expected, was bitten on the calf by a crocodile, a flash of inspiration struck Arjuna.

He realized the "opportunity" that Krishna spoke of, and he also realized that this was Krishna's hint to him.

Arjuna immediately drew his bow and fired several arrows at the crocodile that was biting Drona's calf.

The crocodile vanished like a phantom.

Arjuna looked up and saw Drona giving him an approving look.

There are no crocodiles in the water. This is just a test for Drona.

Drona was moved by this respect for his teacher, so he passed on his magic weapon to Arjuna.

Although Drona did not categorize his disciples into different classes, his actions demonstrated Arjuna's excellence.

Even so, Arjuna still seemed very unhappy in private.

Once a chain of suspicion is formed, it cannot be easily destroyed.

—I obtained the Brahma Artifact, so what about Karna?

In this damp and gloomy mood, summer finally came to an end.

The princes of Kuru completed their years-long course and embarked on their journey back to Elephant City.

Chapter 312 Who is Karna?

The air in Elephant City was filled with a sweet aroma.

Milk, frankincense, honey... these precious things were thrown into the sacrificial fire to celebrate the King Pandu.

Duryodhana, the eldest brother of the Kauravas, rode a white horse with a sword at his waist on the Imperial Road. He looked down at the cheering people of Elephant City on the roadside, a triumphant look on his face.

No matter how well Arjuna and Karna performed, they were not qualified to be ranked first at this time.

Thinking of this, Duryodhana's smug smile deepened.

He began to fantasize again—fantasizing about becoming the Lord of the Kuru Dynasty, the emperor of all Bharata.

Drona glanced at Duryodhana, but ultimately said nothing.

In fact, Drona didn't care who among them would become king. Although he liked Arjuna, Duryodhana was also fit for the role of Lord.

In short, as long as the Tianshi is still alive, no matter what the king on the throne does, the Kuru Dynasty cannot be overthrown.

"Look at Duryodhana, he looks just like a smug monkey."

In the middle and rear of the group, the Bhima whispered among themselves, which drew laughter from the Pandavas.

The metaphor is indeed very vivid— Duryodhana has long arms and likes to wear a pointed golden crown, making him look just like a gorilla.

To describe it using a classic Cathay idiom, it would be "a monkey wearing a crown."

Pandavas and the Kauravas maintained a distance from each other; otherwise, Duryodhana would not have been able to bear hearing the mockery.

Amidst their playful banter and laughter, the eldest brother, Yudhishthira, noticed Arjuna's expression.

Their third brother was looking around, seemingly searching for someone.

Needless to say, the only person Arjuna could search for so anxiously was Karna.

Master Drona's disciples can be divided into three factions.

The first faction consisted of the Kauravas, led by Duryodhana, and consisted of the largest number of members with varying strengths.

The second faction was led by the Pandavas. Although they were fewer in number than the former, their overall quality and ability were far superior.

But besides these, there is a third "faction".

The reason it's in quotation marks is because Karna never admitted to being the leader of any faction.

She was just studying, exercising, and learning there... other people just saw her as a role model.

Now, this austere lifestyle has finally come to an end.

It is indeed true that Elephant City referred to the princes of Kuru as "triumphant."

Because after completing their studies, the princes of Kuru were considered adults.

It is easy to imagine that riding a horse through the streets of the Imperial City was a truly magnificent sight.

However, the Pandavas did not see Karna's signature white hair, but they did see Ashvasena and looking around.

Where did Karna go?

"Master."

Ekalavya waved goodbye to Karna at the crossroads, "I'm going to pick up my mother and sister first. Once we're settled in Elephant City, we'll come to visit you!"

For him, his lifelong goal, besides becoming a sharpshooter, was to bring his mother and sisters to settle in Elephant City.

To be precise, the latter goal is much more difficult than the former.

Ekalavya has the talent to become a sharpshooter, but transcending social classes is not something that talent alone can achieve.

Fortunately, after Karna learned of this, he conveyed his thoughts to Drona on his behalf.

Drona then relayed the matter again—for the Kuru Dynasty, this was hardly a problem at all.

Filled with gratitude and thanks, Ekalavya embarked on the journey to fetch his family.

Karna stood at the crossroads, gazing at the departing figure of the Ekalavya.

She suddenly felt a mix of emotions—did Hebe and Kama feel the same way when they saw her off?

With this in mind, Karna was eager to return home.

Although Elephant City, it is not her home.

Those young men riding horses down the imperial street were full of vigor, but that wasn't what she wanted.

Thinking of this, a gentle expression appeared on her face.

Then she turned around and saw Hebe and Kama, who were suppressing their laughter, not far away.

Hebe knew very early on that Karna would return today.

They stood quietly behind him, waiting for the moment Karna turned around.

The white-haired girl's lips curled slightly downwards. She lowered her head for a moment, then quickly walked towards Hebe.

Without a word, he pulled Hebe into his arms.

"I'm back."

Welcome back.

Hebe said in a low voice, patting Karna on the back.

Next is Kama.

The absence of several years did not bring any sense of unfamiliarity.

I'm hungry.

Karna said.

"Let's go back and have dinner."

Hebe smiled.

Of all things, eating is the most important, especially since there's a tough battle to fight later.

While Karna was enjoying his pineapple stew, a similar banquet was being held in the court of the Kuru Dynasty.

Although the main character of this teacher appreciation banquet was Drona.

But the one who attracted the most attention Shakuni, who had just returned to Elephant City —this man, skilled in manipulating power, became the focus of the entire scene as soon as he appeared.

The reason is simple: although the Kshatriya also employ stratagems, they rely more on war to demonstrate their capabilities.

Shakuni, relying on the Yadu Clan's army, achieved great victories, and naturally, he was looked up to by the other Kshatriya.

"After this experience, my only thought is that war can indeed temper a man's backbone."

Shakuni spread his arms and squinted his eyes. "Now that all the princes are coming of age, there is no better way to demonstrate their abilities than by holding a Martial Arts Tournament."

Tianshi instinctively wanted to refuse.

He knew that nothing good could come of Shakuni's arrival, and sure enough, nothing good came out of his mouth.

The Martial Arts Tournament proposed by Shakuni was undoubtedly a qualifying competition for the throne.

Tianshi looked at Drona and gestured to him.

As the protagonist of this teacher appreciation banquet, Drona certainly had the right to refute Shakuni.

However, what angered Tianshi was that Drona actually agreed with Shakuni's idea.

Has he gone mad?!

Drona is certainly not crazy.

To him, teaching the princes of Kuru was merely a means for him to take revenge on King Wooden Pillar.

The idea proposed by Shakuni was exactly what Drona wanted to hear, so how could he possibly stop him?

That night.

Shakuni met Duryodhana.

"Uncle, I've finally waited for you."

Duryodhana said happily, "I can't eat or drink, I'm looking forward to your early return!"

"Come on."

Shakuni shook his head. "I don't have time to stay here with you for long. I've prepared a few strategies to deal with the Pandavas. You can decide how to implement them yourself."

"Ah?"

Duryodhana scratched his head in confusion. "Uncle, are you going back to the battlefield again? Are the Yadu Clan really that important to us?"

"Fool, do you think I enjoy fighting? I'm doing all this for you, for your mother—my poor sister!"

Shakuni waved his hand impatiently. "Anyway, I'm going back tonight. Although that old bastard Tianshi is despicable, his reputation is indeed very powerful."

The reason why the Kuru Dynasty was still able to command the feudal lords was not because of the king's personal authority, but because of the reputation of the Tianshi.