A Master’s Deception and a Sacred Duty

“There is no need to hide. Stand tall and proud before everyone. I will take full responsibility for whatever happens.”

It seemed Venerable Won-hyun was trying to provide me with a protective shield, preparing for the moments when I might suddenly revert into my human form within the temple grounds.

“But Gwang-yeon, the grand-disciple, called me his junior brother. He even gave me the name Gwang-eum.”

Upon hearing this, Venerable Won-hyun laughed heartily for quite a long time.

“What an amusing lad. To turn his own grand-grand-uncle into a junior brother. How about you, Sorin? Do you like the name Gwang-eum?”

“It doesn’t seem too bad. Though I don’t even belong to the ‘Gwang’ generation…”

Venerable Won-hyun could not stop chuckling for a good while, finding it hilarious that Gwang-yeon had taken a baby snake, named it, and adopted it as his junior brother.

“At any rate, it is a relief that your reason remains intact even when you transform into a snake. That alone will bring great changes to your future.”

With that, he gazed intently at me.

“Do you wish to go back to the temple grounds next time as well?”

“Yes, Grandmaster.”

“Call me Master, Sorin.”

“Yes, Master.”

He fell into deep thought for a moment, then finally nodded.

“I shall set a condition instead. If you achieve it, we will do as you wish. Otherwise, as the Abbot said, I will have no choice but to lock you in the box.”

“Yes, Master.”

Venerable Won-hyun looked at me with an amused expression.

“You seem quite confident that you can pull it off.”

I wanted to pull it off.

I desperately wanted to succeed, no matter what. Until now, it had been difficult to even begin anything because I would suddenly lose consciousness and lose all memory of those periods. But now, I wanted to do things properly.

“I have created a cultivation method tailored specifically for you. I will teach you the mnemonic phrases, so you must practice it from now on.”

“A new cultivation method?”

I was already practicing the cultivation method of the Tang Family. Changing a cultivation method once learned was not entirely unheard of, but as a direct descendant of the Tang Family, discarding my family’s technique to practice Venerable Won-hyun’s method was not a decision to be made lightly.

As if reading my thoughts, Venerable Won-hyun continued.

“I believe it is necessary. If the Family Head ever finds out about your condition, he might shatter your dantian—which was formed through the Tang Family’s method—and decree your expulsion. And that is only if he decides to let you leave with your life.”

Hearing those words, reality grimly set in. Just because it was something I didn’t want to think about didn’t mean I could simply cover it up and ignore it. Though I preferred to avoid the thought if possible, it was an issue that had to be addressed if I wanted to prepare a contingency plan.

“When you were born, the elders of your clan must have strengthened your blood channels to suit the Tang Family’s cultivation. Ideally, it would be best to continue practicing your family’s method, but since it could put you in greater danger, I believe it is wiser to make a firm decision now.”

“I understand, Master. Thank you for allowing me to learn.”

Unable to hide his bitter sorrow, Venerable Won-hyun recited the mnemonic phrases and guided me through the instructions with meticulous detail.

“If there is anything among what I have said that you do not understand, speak now.”

“Yes, Master. However… I am also worried that if my father finds out I have mastered a cultivation method other than the Tang Family’s, he might become furious over that as well.”

“It is a difficult matter. Yet, if the Family Head does not withdraw his affection for you, he will actually condone everything you have done. If you explain that you mastered a method to protect your frail body, wouldn’t the Family Head understand?”

Those words made my chest tighten. This was all because of that wretched One-Legged Fire Python.

If not for that beast, I would probably be spending a sweet, pampered time in Sichuan right now, receiving the Family Head’s love and care. But dwelling on such thoughts now was utterly pointless.

Even if the Family Head raged at me, I would have no right to protest. I wouldn’t even be able to resent or complain. When I thought about how much he had loved me, the sense of betrayal and loss he would feel was beyond imagination.

“For now, practice it. Once you reach the third stage, we shall arrange for you to go out.”

When I heard that, my immediate thought was, ‘Only the third stage?’

As if reading my mind again, Venerable Won-hyun smiled.

“This method consists of twelve stages in total, but I did not create it expecting anyone to reach the twelfth. Even for me, the creator, I suspect the ninth stage would be my limit.”

To think that even Venerable Won-hyun’s limit was the ninth stage. That brought me back to reality with a jolt.

“Then wouldn’t it be impossible for me to even reach the third stage?”

“That is why you must make it happen, by any means necessary.”

“You aren’t doing this just to keep me from going out, are you?”

“Why would I do that, Sorin?” he said, offering a benevolent smile.

I knew he was doing this for my sake. I also knew that, for the current me, training in this cultivation method was far more important than visiting the temple grounds.

‘Right. Others even enter secluded meditation just to focus. I shouldn’t think idly just because I’m young. Others are forging far ahead of me, so I shouldn’t take lagging behind for granted. Things are different now.’

Sensing my renewed determination, Venerable Won-hyun smiled.

“Then let us begin, Sorin.”

Unsure of whether I would succeed, but resolved to leave no regrets even if I failed, I threw myself into the training.

The training continued as countless suns set and countless nights passed.

Autumn faded, and winter passed.

Since first meeting Gwang-yeon, I had transformed into a snake about three more times, but each time, I crawled into the box on my own accord. Venerable Won-hyun seemed to find it pitiful that I suppressed my longing to see Gwang-yeon and the other novice monks of my age, choosing instead to confine myself. This must have been why he placed me inside his sleeve pocket and went to see the Abbot.

However, visiting the Abbot seemed to be purely a pretext to establish a reason for wandering the temple grounds; he didn’t even stay long in the Abbot’s quarters. Immediately after, he headed straight to the training grounds of the Arhat monks and strolled around.

Venerable Won-hyun was a far grander figure than I had imagined. Whenever he passed by, the young second-generation disciples of Shaolin would freeze in place, bowing to him with expressions of profound awe.

Their voices carried over clearly. They were whispering excitedly about how they had just caught a glimpse of Grand-Grand-Uncle Won-hyun. Venerable Won-hyun walked among them, asking about their progress and if they faced any difficulties. Yet, even this felt like a smokescreen designed entirely to meet Gwang-yeon.

From behind the voices of the many people conversing with him, Gwang-yeon’s voice finally drifted over.

“I pay my respects to Grand-Grand-Uncle.”

Hearing that voice made me so incredibly happy that I surprised myself, wondering if I had truly yearned to see Gwang-yeon this much.

“What is your name?” Venerable Won-hyun’s gentle voice echoed.

Hearing this, I found it strange. ‘He knows Gwang-yeon perfectly well, so why is he asking for his name?’

‘Is he doing this so the other Arhat monks won’t get jealous? Well, he probably doesn’t know the names of the others.’

While I was pondering this, Gwang-yeon politely stated his name.

“It is Gwang-yeon, Grand-Grand-Uncle.”

“I see.”

Venerable Won-hyun did not stop there.

“In my haste to see the Abbot, I left an important item back in my quarters, Gwang-yeon. Could you go to my residence and fetch the bundle right next to the door? You will find it the moment you open the door and step inside.”

Venerable Won-hyun then gave him detailed directions to his quarters.

“Yes, Grand-Grand-Uncle. I shall return shortly.”

With that, I could feel Gwang-yeon vanishing like the wind.

Venerable Won-hyun lingered a bit longer, chatting with the other second-generation disciples before turning to leave. I began to wonder what bundle he was talking about.

‘A bundle next to the door? There wasn’t anything like that. I saw clearly when we left. There’s never been anything like that there.’

It seemed he was mistaken, but unable to speak, I could only fret in silence. Meanwhile, as the surroundings grew quiet, I peeked my head slightly out of the pocket.

Usually, if there were people around, Venerable Won-hyun would slip his hand into his pocket to push me back down, but this time he didn’t. I, too, felt reasonably certain that no one was around. Before I knew it, he was heading back toward his quarters.

‘Is he going back? Why?’

As I wondered, I nearly fell out of the pocket. Venerable Won-hyun had suddenly unleashed an supreme movement technique.

Did he suddenly realize there was something Gwang-yeon shouldn’t see in his quarters, despite having sent him on the errand? Deprived of speech, I couldn’t ask directly, so I just frantically rolled my thoughts over.

Utterly baffled by what was happening, Venerable Won-hyun came to a sudden halt just as we neared his quarters.

“It has been a while since you last encountered Gwang-yeon. Wouldn’t it be nice to listen to his voice for a little longer?”

At first, I didn’t realize those words were directed at me. Only a moment later did the realization dawn on me.

Could it be that Venerable Won-hyun had intentionally sent Gwang-yeon on a wild goose chase just for that reason? Was a monk even allowed to lie like that? Even so, a surge of excitement washed over me.