The Old Man and the Tide II

Tianshi Zhuang...? What brings you here?

Are you a disciple of Tianshi Mo? He told me about you, but I didn't expect to meet you in this meeting. Where is your mentor?

Mr. Mo ... he's...

Tianshi Zhuang and Uncle Pan?! If you're here, that means...

Tianshi Mo told me earlier about a matter he wishes to discuss. As for him...

I saw the young man getting all emotional in a teahouse, and got worried when I heard Old Mo's involved. I was doing my morning exercise when the young man rushed out, so I decided to see what's going on.

So Mr. Mo made an appointment with you, Tianshi Zhuang, but ... I don't know where he went.

Tianshi Mo...

Perhaps he...

Tianshi Zhuang, I don't suppose you know where he went?

I'm just a little worried. Do you know the purpose and topics we're supposed to discuss?

He wanted me to ... find you a new mentor.

WHAT?!

Since then, I can't help but feel a little worried.

Ever since you became the Viceroy, Old Mo turned quite grouchy as well.

Xiranite research at the Institute of Materials Science got further away from his theories. I'm surprised he actually asked you to help the young man.

What is Mr. Mo trying to do...?

He wants me to transfer you to a dependable mentor. Tianshi Mo can't stop saying how he has failed you and your senior.

Your senior is ... was just short of achieving her dreams. As for you, he confided that he failed his duties of mentorship.

I read his letter. Every line is filled with regret.

Perhaps he realized that ... he had lost way too much for the sake of research and his revenge.

Hmph. That's because you know nothing about Old Mo.

Old Mo grieves not because he didn't do it. He grieves because he let things go.

If he didn't want to let go, why get himself checked in to the Medical Clinic?

If he gave up already, why did he leave without a word?

Mr. Mo ... he's...

He tried to kick me out of his lab so I can find a new mentor, but...

...whenever Mr. Mo visits Chun He's stone, he would turn into someone else.

"Let it go. Just let it go." He never stopped saying that, but he didn't tell any of that to Chun He.

There were times when I saw the spark of flaming passion in his gaze...

......

The more you lose ... the less likely you are to give up.

From what I see, Old Mo never gave up. Not one moment.

The Tide... Hold on. Have you checked the Blight Tide itself?

These heroes searched the place ... but...

The Tide that took his loved ones, left a mark on his body, and ate at his soul.

We're here. Sorry to keep you waiting.

My heroes! I thought you'd be friends of Mr. Mo... I've been waiting since morning, but no one else came...

We should go and see that Blight Tide.

There's a place at the monitoring center where one can see the entirety of the Blight Tide...

This Blight Tide doesn't look right.

The spread and distribution... It actually resembles the Blight in the test fields.

Mr. Mo... Maybe Mr. Mo...

No rush. Let's find a place where we can get closer.

MISTER MO —!! MISTER MO —!!

Mr. Mo... Are you...

!!

......

No... Mister ... Mo...

"Let it go. Just let it go." Well... Old Mo never let go...

The Tide... It's been split apart.

This Blight is held in a strangely unstable state. The Tide Flayer delivered the Xiranite and affected the Blight Core...

He really did it...

Mr. Mo! Please just open your eyes again! Look! Your project succeeded!

......

So many legends pass us by, while we drink and listen to the lapping of tides...

Every obsession ... will find its release.

I raise this cup in your name, Old Mo.

Mr. Mo...

Perhaps it's why he entrusted you to Tianshi Zhuang.

The old man really cared about you. He made the arrangements before he "settled" his business with the Blight Tide.

I know, but I'm just...

My heroes, I only studied under Mr. Mo for less than a year but he treated me like his own kid. He taught me real values and lifted my ignorance.

I don't care what others say about him. He's the most important guide in my life.

Witnessing the "Tide" and his final pose ... only proved me right.

Tianshi Zhuang contacted the Tianshi Bureau Academy. Tianshi Mo ... will be well taken care of.

As for his final wishes... She contacted several respectful Tianshi interested in mentoring you. You can...

Thank you, but ... I'm his only disciple. I intend to continue his project.

The recent events were his best lesson for me. He taught me nothing about Tide Flayers, but I do not intend to give up the project.

Tianshi Zhuang expected this outcome... She will make arrangements and get you a lab. The project will also be getting attention from the Institute.

I really appreciate everything you've done, my heroes. I will not forget it.

I still need to read through the papers on Mr. Mo's Tianshi apparatus. I kinda need...

It's okay, just head back already. We're looking forward to the results too!

Say, I wonder what was going through Tianshi Mo's mind when he finally split that big Blight Tide in half?

Yeah. "Don't leave any regrets in life." But everyone's bound to have at least a few.

I guess seething hatred only ends with death... One can only let go at the very final moments.

Perhaps Tianshi Mo only realized what he wanted when he split the Tide apart.

And that moment will be forever etched upon the Flayer's lash.

In the end, Tianshi Mo decided to resolve his final wish...