Four Split Personalities

Chapter 1695: Chapter 790: Switching Houses

"Afraid?"

Yizou stared in shock at her senior’s serene, impassive face, her eyes full of disbelief: "Senior, are you afraid?"

The other smiled and nodded, "Yes, I’m afraid. From the moment I warned Fire Yang to break the status quo a while ago, to when I boasted to those Sumer elders that if all goes well, I could reclaim the entire North Territory in just a few days—even now, with the ’early stage’ 80% complete, I’m still very afraid."

Unable to feel even a trace of fear from the other, Yizou steadied herself, puzzled: "But senior, why would you..."

"Why would I be afraid?"

Motan smiled, shrugged, and said, "It’s simple. Because I’m a coward with very poor stress tolerance. After persuading those elders to fully support me, and even handing over all command of the Sumer side, I’m naturally suffocating under the pressure—subjugated by the fate of Sumer, thousands of lives, and the expectations of everyone, including you."

Yizou could understand Motan’s words. After all, as Motan said, now that he had taken over command of the Sumer and become one of the de facto operators of this war, the burden on his shoulders was understandably heavy. But due to her blind trust in her senior, the female knight had never considered this before.

She understood the greater the ability, the greater the responsibility, yet she subconsciously ignored how capable people themselves felt.

"I... I’m sorry, senior..."

Looking at Motan’s calm and gentle eyes, Yizou suddenly realized she never truly understood this young man she had called ’senior’ for months, and then inexplicably apologized.

Only after noticing the hidden fatigue and fear in his eyes did Yizou realize that the senior she always relied on and trusted unconditionally wasn’t so grand.

A minute ago, in the eyes of the female knight, the person sitting beside her was still a stunning genius, skilled in strategy, who could effortlessly turn the tide of battle with a smile, destroying anything into ashes with a laugh.

Yet now, a minute later, the same senior in Yizou’s eyes had become someone constantly pushed to the forefront by the torrents of fate. Despite not wanting to bear anything, he could only rush about for responsibilities with no escape, played by his own talents—tired and haggard, an ordinary person.

A person she would have looked down upon in the past, content with mediocrity, lacking ambition, yet he had to sit in this position now, exhausting his mind to force himself to win this incredibly tough battle.

Because no one could replace him.

Because he, in this place and time, was unique.

Did he choose to remain indifferent when he had the power to do something and later endure the torment of conscience? Or take up the overwhelming responsibility, struggling forward under burdens far beyond his capacity?

The choices before him had never been fair, likely as it was back in Misha County.

In the silence, Yizou bit her lip lightly, suddenly ashamed for focusing only on her senior’s series of miraculous victories without thinking about what lay behind those victories.

The female knight instinctively looked at the man in her eyes who was no longer grand but seemed closer, then lowered her head deeply.

[Were senior’s shoulders always so thin?]

Yizou was shocked by her own slowness, and then suddenly recalled a conversation she had with His Highness Wang Yu before the crusading army set out.

"Ah, you’re talking about Hei Fan..."

Seeing Yizou desperately trying to find out details about the Misha County battle, as if idolizing Motan, Yu Chen showed an unfathomable expression. After a moment, she gently shook her head and chuckled softly, "He’s not as great as you think, just couldn’t remain indifferent to those unacceptable things, forcing himself to do what we couldn’t."

The female knight couldn’t understand these words then, but now she felt she could comprehend a bit.

And that little understanding was enough to shake her.

In an instant, Yizou even had an unrealistic, illogical impulse, almost neurotic, to knock Motan out with a swift hand chop, then take him away from the North Territory and back to the City of Light to stroll with His Highness Wang Yu, as if that was truly the life suited for him.

Yet, the person involved, Motan, blinked in confusion and awkwardly smiled at Yizou, who had been silent for a long time, "Well, don’t overthink. I just hope you don’t overly idolize me."

"Eh?"

Yizou was first taken aback, then asked incredulously, "Is that so?"

Motan looked at the female knight in front of him, whose expression was full of mixed emotions, and said with a wry smile, "Of course, it is. I’m cowardly, I’m anxious, but I must still do what needs to be done. I may not have many strengths, but my mindset has always been okay."