A Reckless Bet Over a Tiny Serpent

“Go on, hurry along, Sorin.”

Venerable Won-hyun pulled me out of his pocket and set me on the ground. From there, I slithered toward his quarters as fast as I could. As I was making my way over, Gwang-yeon happened to be stepping outside. His handsome face was sun-kissed to a light bronze, highlighting his firm muscles and robust physique.

I had known from the very first moment I saw him that he was an exceptionally handsome lad, but in the time we had been apart, his striking features had grown even more refined. At first, failing to spot me, Gwang-yeon addressed only Venerable Won-hyun.

“I checked the room, but I could not find the item you spoke of. My apologies, Grand-Grand-Uncle…”

Believing he had failed a simple errand, Gwang-yeon spoke in a disheartened voice. But as he lowered his head, his eyes finally fell upon me.

“Oh!”

He must have expected a scolding from Venerable Won-hyun, but the sheer joy of discovering me made the corners of his lips twitch upward. Even his usually expressionless face was breathtaking on its own, but when a smile broke across it, it genuinely took my breath away.

His emotions were laid completely bare on his face. If only Venerable Won-hyun hadn’t been standing right there, his expression said he would have showered me with affection.

“You are right, Gwang-yeon. After sending you off, I realized I had made a mistake. You must have hurried over, I am sorry.”

“Not at all, Grand-Grand-Uncle. I was worried that I had simply been too dull to find it, so this is a relief.”

“Indeed. Since you have come all this way, have a cup of tea before you leave. I have some tea leaves that I cultivated and roasted myself.”

“Thank you, Grand-Grand-Uncle.”

Gwang-yeon looked at Venerable Won-hyun as if wondering how he could be blessed with such luxury.

“After that, let us see your progress.”

“It is still at an embarrassing level, but it would be an honor if you would evaluate it, Grand-Grand-Uncle.”

“Wait out here. The weather is fine, so it would be better to drink it outside.”

“I shall prepare it.”

“No need. The taste of tea changes depending on who brews it. You are my guest, so rest here. The view from this spot is quite splendid.”

“Yes, Grand-Grand-Uncle.”

The moment Venerable Won-hyun stepped inside, Gwang-yeon approached me and squatted down. That lethally handsome face beamed with pure, harmless warmth.

“Gwang-eum. Where have you been all this time? You vanished so suddenly that day, I thought I’d never see you again. Didn’t you miss your Senior Brother? But what are you doing here?”

Gwang-yeon poured out questions all at once, clearly burning with curiosity. Even if he did, it wasn’t as if I could tell him anything. But what happened next was utterly dumbfounding. After a quick glance back toward the quarters where Venerable Won-hyun had gone, Gwang-yeon snatched me up and slipped me right into his own pocket.

It seemed he thought he was merely ‘picking me up.’ One would think he might consider that I could be a snake raised by Venerable Won-hyun, but it looked like he was straight-up trying to steal me.

What was this? Why was my heart pounding so fast? As the one being stolen, I shouldn’t be feeling this way, but I found it absolutely hilarious that the righteous-looking Gwang-yeon was pulling a stunt like this.

Just then, Venerable Won-hyun’s presence stirred from within. Panic-stricken, Gwang-yeon shoved his hand deep into his pocket, desperately trying to tuck me further out of sight. Though, frankly, it was bound to leave a glaring bulge.

Trying to deceive Venerable Won-hyun—what a thoroughly adorable grand-disciple he was.

“Come over here, Gwang-yeon.”

Venerable Won-hyun called out as he placed a teapot and cups onto a small table in the courtyard. I could feel Gwang-yeon’s heart thumping wildly.

What should I do? Would it be better to slip out of Gwang-yeon’s pocket right now? It wasn’t as if his little heist was going to succeed anyway.

Exerting the utmost composure, Gwang-yeon took a seat directly opposite Venerable Won-hyun. With a soft, trickling sound, Venerable Won-hyun poured the tea.

“What is your primary weapon of choice, Gwang-yeon?”

“The staff, Grand-Grand-Uncle.”

“Have you ever wielded a nine-section whip?”

“I have no experience with that yet.”

Venerable Won-hyun nodded, appearing lost in thought for a moment before continuing.

“A nine-section whip can neutralize an opponent’s attack, but above all, it is highly effective at preventing an adversary from slipping past your rear.”

“May I ask what kind of scenario you are referring to…?”

“I am speaking under the assumption of a scenario where you must fight while protecting multiple people.”

As he spoke, Venerable Won-hyun went back inside his quarters and emerged holding a cluster of overlapping metal rods. When he unfurled it, the interlocking rings connecting the rods revealed themselves. While I stealthily poked my head out to watch, the heavy weapon spun with fluid, effortless precision in Venerable Won-hyun’s hands.

“Try to break through and pass behind me. It matters not if you take a wide detour to the side.”

Seeming to grasp Venerable Won-hyun’s intent, Gwang-yeon unleashed his movement technique and attempted to circle behind him. The spectacle that unfolded next nearly made me gasp in admiration. First, I was astonished by Gwang-yeon’s swift movement technique, and second, I was stunned by how Venerable Won-hyun blocked him every single time.

“Your body looks a bit heavy. Why don’t you try again after removing whatever is inside your pocket?”

At Venerable Won-hyun’s words, I felt as though Gwang-yeon’s heart skipped a violent beat.

“Grand-Grand-Uncle, I have a request.”

Or maybe not?

I was taken aback by Gwang-yeon’s suddenly bold tone.

“What is it?”

“If I manage to break through your nine-section whip, please allow me to take and raise the baby snake I found in front of your quarters.”

“One you found in front of my quarters, you say. Did it not cross your mind that it might belong to me?”

“How can anyone claim ownership over a living soul?”

Venerable Won-hyun burst into a loud roar of laughter, as if thoroughly amused by the counterargument. However, just because he laughed didn’t mean he had any intention of handing me over to Gwang-yeon.

If he chose not to argue the point further, it was likely because he figured he could just settle it through a match and knock the arrogant young lad down a peg.

Mind you, I was just minding my own business, only to end up caught squarely in the middle of their wager.

Was there any tension? Not at all.

There had to be at least some semblance of a fair match for me to root for someone, but wasn’t the outcome here already a predetermined, one-sided victory for Venerable Won-hyun?

I couldn’t comprehend Gwang-yeon’s reckless bravado, but Venerable Won-hyun seemed a bit ridiculous too. Instead of just gently reasoning with the boy, he seemed intent on demonstrating an overwhelming disparity in martial power, practically crushing a budding sprout into the dirt.

As I was pondering this, Gwang-yeon carefully retrieved me from his pocket. Perhaps worried that I would get trampled if left on the ground, he placed me safely atop the courtyard table.

“Placing it there will not be enough, Gwang-yeon.”

“Are you planning to smash the table as well, Grand-Grand-Uncle?”

If someone said that to you, shouldn’t you look startled or frightened? Yet, Gwang-yeon delivered the line like a joke, calmly leaving me on the table.

“How about this then, Gwang-yeon? I shall try to smash the table, and you shall block me to protect it.”

Gwang-yeon seemed to ponder the suggestion for a moment, then shook his head.

“I believe reaching your rear has a higher probability of success. Let us proceed with that, and if I lose, please grant me another opportunity to defend the table.”

Amused by this grand-disciple who refused to yield an inch on any front, Venerable Won-hyun smiled and nodded. Gwang-yeon looked down at me, a look of grim determination carving into his face.

“Stay safe and don’t get hurt. This Senior Brother will make sure to take you with him.”

Stirred into utter fascination, I watched the two of them.

Gwang-yeon launched his form forward at a terrifying velocity. It was impossible to tell exactly when his body vanished from sight. While I stared blankly in sheer bewilderment, Venerable Won-hyun proved even more astonishing. Just when I thought he had surely lost track of Gwang-yeon, Venerable Won-hyun lunged forward like the wind itself, swinging his nine-section whip to cut off Gwang-yeon’s path.

Unable to advance even a single step past the boundary Venerable Won-hyun had set, Gwang-yeon was forced into a frantic retreat. An impressed expression crossed Venerable Won-hyun’s face.

Gwang-yeon was no longer smiling. Driven by an absolute resolve to succeed, he engaged Venerable Won-hyun in a clash that sent sparks flying.

And ‘sparks flying’ was not a mere figure of speech. Genuine sparks ignited into the air. Gwang-yeon swung his staff against Venerable Won-hyun’s nine-section whip, and it was nothing short of miraculous how a simple wooden staff could unleash such devastating power.

Venerable Won-hyun nodded several times during the exchange, seemingly filled with genuine admiration for Gwang-yeon’s prowess. It made sense; he had likely expected Gwang-yeon to admit defeat after a few clashes. Yet, defying all our expectations, Gwang-yeon threw himself into the fray again and again.

A few times, he took the brunt of Venerable Won-hyun’s nine-section whip and let out sharp cries of pain, and once, he even spat a thick spray of crimson blood. Even Venerable Won-hyun flinched, clearly not intending to push it that far.

If word got out that he had dueled his own grand-disciple over a single baby snake and inflicted internal injuries, even a figure of Venerable Won-hyun’s stature would find it difficult to smooth things over.

I was completely dumbstruck. I could not comprehend why Gwang-yeon was going to such extreme lengths.

Though Venerable Won-hyun had hesitated for a fraction of a second, he did not stop entirely. He seemed to deliberate briefly, but in the end, he resolutely swung his whip to bar Gwang-yeon’s path once more.

Neither side was willing to give an inch. The only thing that had changed was Venerable Won-hyun’s attitude and mindset. While he had treated the boy like a child he was merely playing with at first, he had now become endlessly serious.

And the more serious he became, the more Gwang-yeon was pushed to the brink of death. Though the youth displayed bursts of phenomenal skill, he was ultimately no match for Venerable Won-hyun.

“Is it not time to call it quits, Gwang-yeon? What will happen if I accidentally kill you?”

“Are you trying to kill me?”

Gwang-yeon threw back the brief retort and lunged once more, aiming for Venerable Won-hyun’s rear. Shaking his head with a click of his tongue, Venerable Won-hyun brought the nine-section whip down hard against Gwang-yeon’s shoulder. Blood instantly bloomed through Gwang-yeon’s robes. By this point, there was no telling who was better or worse; the two of them were cut from the exact same cloth.

To wage a life-and-death struggle over a single baby snake—they were both completely out of their minds.