Fang Hu was talking to his disciple, Jiahao. He'd spent 5 days already trying to combine the four techniques he has into two separate techniques that would put him over the top in comparison to the standard of cultivators around here. It was, however, not going very well. The sheer inadequacy of 'Solar Sculpting Body Cultivation' made itself readily apparent. Fang Hu would not be able to make it work without much more thorough understanding of the solar dao, but that didn't mean there wasn't work to be done. 'Gale Force Body Reinforcement' was a masterpiece to Fang Hu, even without a decent understanding of the solar dao, it wasn't impossible for him to model the 'body reinforcement' part of the techniques to go together. The problem here is the 'amulet' part of whole deal.

Without the qi gathering array produced by the cultivation ritual, all Fang Hu would have is a much improved version of solar sculpting body, and while that's cool and all, that's neither auto-cultivation nor a groundbreaking technique. He might have gotten both techniques for free, but that's no reason to settle for less. Without a better understanding of the sun dao, it would take nearly 40~50 spirit stones to make, and with that much on the line, it would likely be better to just force his regular cultivation up. That's not even mentioning the fact that the amulet would be better if he was more knowledgeable. He would just have to get another solar cultivation technique.

While working on his grand project, Fang Hu would take breaks from time to time to work on his side project, the embetterment of 'Basic Snake Breath'. When working on such a difficult project made him feel like he was a wage slave whose job was slowly turning his brain into mush, he would stop working on that, and start working on his side project! Yeah. What a nerd. Who rewards work with more work? Fang Hu was born to be an academic, well that's called being a scholar in this world. Actually, he was born to be a public servant and now a cultivator, but that's just me nitpicking because it's not like those are mutually exclusive or anything.

Anywaaaayyy~ after the nerd was done exploring the truths of the universe or whatever, he ran into a problem. He was getting ready to show Jiahao how to preform the new-and-improved version of 'Basic Snake Breath Cultivation Technique' when Jiahao dropped a bomb on him.

"I won't be following the dao of the snake, Master."

Fang Hu was shocked, before he could even get off a cultivator-speak for 'WTF, why?', Jiahao started explaining himself.

"I've seen what that dao can do, Master. If you weren't such a kind-hearted individual, you'd be one of the coldest cultivators on this side of the Wonton Plains."

Fang Hu was insulted, but he wasn't angry, because he didn't anger easily. He was hurt, he would never admit it, because 'MeN DoNt ShOw tHeiR eMotIonS' and all that noise. That, however didn't fool Jiahao for a second, he was an old man, and even if they had only talked sparingly in between cultivation sessions, they had bonded enough to become friends.

Fang Hu knew he shouldn't be mad, the fact that he releases killing intent whenever something even startles him is a problem. He wasn't a fool either, he knew he was more okay with death than he ever was, and it wasn't because his entire atheist belief was shattered to pieces. The snake dao made sure he knew that if he ever needed to kill, he wouldn't hesitate. His only consolation was that his dao made it so he could never enjoy it. That was a boon, as in his mind, even justified cruelty is cruelty, and people who enjoy killing are scum, whether they are saving the world or dooming it. In his mind, that satisfaction characters get all too often when killing some villain makes them bad people, unless that satisfaction is because the villain can't hurt anyone anymore.

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Even if he knew Jiahao was right, he couldn't stop feeling insulted. A dao is more than your preferential element in some video game. It's not some outside force manipulating your mind either, it's a way of life. True dao's only manipulate your mind when cultivated incorrectly. What they truly change is your disposition, your free will and thought are the same as they will always be.

Jiahao had implied that if he was less kind, he would become crueler than the cultivators he had seen in the books. What he had heard of history confirmed that there had been true cultivators who had destroyed entire cities for mere convenience. What's worse is that he suggested that if he wasn't kind his lifestyle would turn him into a psychopath. Imagine, will you, if Jiahao had said Fang Hu's sexuality, religion or nationality would turn him into a serial killer if he wasn't so kind. For a dao is as important as all of those in a cultivation world. Maybe the system had chosen his dao, but he had chosen to cultivate it, to own it.

'No... Fuck it, I am angry'

Fang Hu would not threaten Jiahao this time, for that is not something you do to a friend or a disciple. That is what you do to a thief. If Jiahao was a child, or wasn't from this world, then Fang Hu wouldn't hold it against him. But Jiahao was from this world, and the old man was stuck in his ways. Their master-disciple relationship wasn't normal, Fang Hu would never kill Jiahao unless something drastic happened, and Jiahao knew that. He could force Jiahao to follow the dao of the snake by saying he wouldn't train Jiahao, but doing that could lead to all different sorts of problems, most of which wouldn't even be intentional on Jiahao's part. Think 'inner demon' or 'cultivation backlash'.

*Fine, have it your way. I won't stop you from taking any of my good techniques, but I expect an apology when you have followed your dao and learned your lesson. Don't say that shit to other people.*

"If you wish to not follow the dao of your master, then it shall be so. You will face the consequences of your actions, you will not be able to follow in the footsteps of your master. For the time being, I will not be able to supply you with better techniques than what you have. However, once the opportunity has presented itself, and you have dedicated yourself towards your dao, I expect a proper apology for your misconduct. Do consider yourself warned before sprouting such nonsense towards others."

Jiahao was concerned when he saw his master's hurt serene smile shift into his angry one. When he heard Fang Hu's words, he was distressed that he had somehow committed a deep disservice unto his master. He tried to apologize, but was interrupted before he could even form the words.

*Don't bother with the apology, I want it to matter when you say it.*

"Halt your apology, if you do not know why you should apologize it will be hollow when you do."

*Don't be ashamed about your mistake, just be sincere when you eventually realize your mistake.*

"Do not allow your mistake to make you lose heart, allow yourself to keep your heart steady as you remedy your folly."

As it was, Fang Hu's 'angry' serene smile shifted to his 'kind' serene smile, and Jiahao was left reflecting on his decision. Even now, Jiahao didn't get what he had done to offend Fang Hu. Fang Hu might have been able to explain what was wrong with his actions, but he was too emotional to guarantee he doesn't say or do something he will regret. If Jiahao is destined to walk the path of the cultivator, he will understand eventually.