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Curse of the Serpent: Chapter 13 (V2)

Mei entered the assessment chamber as quickly as she could. She had no interest in idle chit-chat. The attendant outside was as blind as a worm, his eyes glazed over as if entranced by the stars. How he didn’t notice her presence was beyond her, but she was too nervous and excited to dwell on it. She was eager to see if all the pain she had endured was worth it for her new deity.

Upon entering one of the testing chambers, she knew a random inner court Elder would be there, ready to assess her newly acquired abilities. If they determined that her blessing and talent were exceptional, she would be promoted to the inner court. Otherwise, she’d remain an outer court disciple—left to be snapped up by minor clans, forced into the military, or compelled to strike out on her own. The outer court’s opportunities were meager, though still better than those of commoners, but that wasn’t enough for Mei. Joining the inner court was her only chance to change her circumstances.

She walked briskly into the first available room and was surprised to see the same young female master she had met when she first arrived in the capital years ago. The master’s flowing violet silk robes, official attire for such formal events, had changed in color since their last meeting, suggesting her rank had improved significantly. If Mei’s memory served, this woman had risen to be one of the academy’s top figures.

“Well, look who it is,” the master said coolly, her chin resting on her palm, while her other hand tapped impatiently on the stone table. “I remember you… it isn’t hard to forget someone with such striking eyes.”

“This disciple greets the Elder,” Mei said, bowing politely.

“This is truly a pleasant surprise. Please, sit down and give me your hand so I can sense your Ki.” The master extended her hand, smiling. “Don’t worry. I am merely sensing the strength and nature of the blessing you received, little one.”

Mei quickly obeyed, offering her hands to the woman, who grasped them firmly, her thumbs pressing against Mei’s wrists as if checking for a heartbeat. Mei felt something stir deep within her soul, a surge of power broiling just beneath the surface.

The master’s eyebrows shot up in surprise. “Dear, what did you say was the god who blessed you?”

“I didn’t say, Elder, but the god who took me in goes by the name Vasu-Jin,” Mei stated matter-of-factly.

The woman’s brows furrowed in confusion, trying to recall the name. It wasn’t one she recognized. Shaking her head, she let go of Mei’s hands. “You’ve passed—not an extraordinary amount of Ki, but satisfactory enough to join the ranks of the inner court. The nature of your Ki, however, is something I’ve never encountered, so I can’t fully assess you based on that. You may leave now, dear,” she said, her tone sweet yet laced with cynicism.

Mei didn’t care. She had finally been accepted into the inner court after years of grueling training. Now, she could visit her mother more regularly, as outer court disciples were under stricter surveillance. She exited through the door behind the master, signifying her success.

Today was the start of proving all the naysayers wrong, she thought, a rare smile gracing her lips.

Ezio stood in the large circular hall with other disciples who had passed. He carefully observed each new inner court member as they entered. Any one of them could become a potential threat or rival in the future. After several minutes, he was pleased to note that the rude girl hadn’t made it through. It served her right for how she had spoken to him. He liked to imagine her reaction if she ever discovered his father’s identity. Surely, she would hypocritically change her attitude, trying to curry favor with him—a favor he would righteously deny.

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Just as he was about to leave his spot, leaning against a pillar, the door to one of the testing rooms opened. His head throbbed with an instant headache when he saw the blue-eyed girl step out. How had she made it through? He had never met anyone so disagreeable. Considering her status, she should have tried harder to be more cordial so people wouldn’t judge her based on her unusual eye color. Scoffing, he chose to ignore her and went to mingle with other disciples while they awaited Grandmaster Hong’s briefing.

“Ahem!” A voice cut through the chatter in the hall. “Welcome, new inner court disciples. I know it’s late, and you must all be eager to rest, so I will keep this brief.” Grandmaster Hong’s grin widened slightly. “Congratulations. You are now among the empire’s elite. Remember, less than one in ten thousand people achieve what you have. Rest well tonight, for tomorrow we will begin preparing you for your new lives.”

Mei sat in her new room, disappointed to find it not much different from her previous accommodations in the outer court. Stripping off her clothes, she turned to examine herself in the mirror. To her shock, a tattoo stretched from the base of her spine to the top of her shoulder. The image of a white serpent with piercing red eyes coiled along her left side, its fanged mouth dripping with what looked like venom. The tattoo was simple yet elegant, its design both beautiful and unsettling.

“What the hell is this?” she thought, awkwardly trying to claw at her back to see if it would come off. After several futile attempts, she accepted it as permanent. Was this a byproduct of Vasu-Jin’s blessing? Her initial panic gave way to curiosity. The tattoo, while considered taboo in Kuro—often associated with cults or criminal gangs—had an undeniable allure.

"Great… just one more thing for people to judge me for."

“Do you like it?” A deep, serpentine voice filled the room. Mei spun around, only to see her reflection replaced by the image of a giant white serpent with glowing red eyes. “I think it’s quite tasteful, if I do say so myself.”

Mei grabbed a blanket, quickly covering her naked body. “What do you want?” she demanded, her cheeks burning.

“Child, there’s no need for embarrassment. I am a god who has lived countless millennia. Seeing your body does not stir lust in me. You are now my first and most important disciple, part of my familia. That tattoo is not merely a mark of ownership; it symbolizes the transformation of your Ki through my blessing.”

Mei frowned. It still felt wrong to be exposed like this. “I still don’t feel comfortable with that,” she muttered, slipping into her undergarments.

Euuugh, Vasu-Jin let out an exasperated sigh. “Girl, once you accepted me and I accepted you, I will come to know you better than even your own parents or any lover. Our bond is eternal; there’s no turning back.”

Mei hesitated but finally nodded. “Lord Vasu-Jin, if you’ve never had a disciple before, is it because you’re not well known?”

“No, child. I am quite popular, though not by name. The farmer who drives away pests or the assassin who wields venom as a weapon all honor me unknowingly. Centuries ago, I was widely revered, but now, I am nearly forgotten... until you came to my doorstep.”

Mei realized that Vasu-Jin was a god people relied on without truly acknowledging him. It was a half-truth, in her opinion. Wasn’t that the same as being unpopular?

“Child, you will need to cultivate differently now. Though it won’t seem much different than before, you will notice the changes in your Ki and inner sea. I advise you to find a weapon that complements the abilities granted by my blessing. I have many plans for us. Pray to me in solitude, and I will guide your training. The masters here have little experience with deities like me, but learn from them nonetheless, for your future enemies will come from among the major gods you’ve encountered.”

“Lord Vasu-Jin... who will be my enemies?” she asked, already accustomed to being disliked due to her heritage.

“All in due time, child. For now, train, grow strong, wise, and fierce.”

Mei nodded, feeling a growing attachment to the tattoo. It gave her an air of mystery, though she had no intention of showing it off. Despite Vasu-Jin’s aura of wickedness, she felt no judgment from him based on her appearance.

“Lord Vasu-Jin…”

“Yes, child?”

“Err, never mind,” she mumbled, cutting herself off before she said something she might regret.