Returning to Azure Cloud Monastery Back Mountain, Black Snake slipped quietly into the cave.
Deep inside, the heap of medicinal herbs gave off its distinctive scent. Black Snake set the fresh herbs carried in his mouth on top, lowered his head, and sniffed closely, carefully distinguishing the aromas. After a moment, he flicked his tongue in satisfaction.
This year's herbs had fermented beautifully, their fragrance richer and mellower than in previous years.
After being turned away three times in a row on his last attempt to seek an education, he had abandoned the idea of paying to study.
He would certainly learn to read. He just needed another way.
His enormous head poked out of the cave, gazing toward the County Seat as he considered how to get an education.
It was quite a worry.
While he fretted, the sound of evening lessons rose from below the mountain. Black Snake listened quietly until the familiar chanting gradually faded into the night.
He slithered out of the cave and climbed to the highest point of the back mountain, facing the wind and gazing at the moon.
He resolved to make every moment of cultivation count and turn his yin spirit into a yang spirit as soon as possible.
In the days that followed, he stayed peacefully on the mountain, practicing breath cultivation day after day. Once he settled into this stillness, two months passed before he knew it... One clear, bright morning.
Black Snake eavesdropped on pilgrims chatting in the dense woods beside the Stone Terrace, and as he listened, he heard something new.
Apparently, a new Holy King Hall had been built in the busiest part of the county. Its slogans rang loud, but beneath all the repetition lay the same old claims, such as promising that followers could enter