Koumyou considers that answer half cop-out, and half... he's not sure. Genjo's admitted he's been in similar situations. Not having it come down to one or the other having to die is a matter of luck, and Koumyou hopes his son's luck holds. It doesn't really answer what he'd do if it didn't, though.

The older monk lets out a deep sigh, and just... finds something else to focus on.

"The apple doesn't fall far from the tree, hm? I... had the opportunity to hand you off to a different life, when you were very, very tiny. There are always villages with room for babies, you know? But I couldn't do it."

Thankfully, someone had taken pity on him and shown him how to actually care for an infant.