Fabre in Sacheon’s Tang Novel - Chapter 106

Chapter 106
-Tak, tak, tak, tak.

As the first hints of daylight brushed the mountain peaks, we arrived at the foothills. Close behind Paeng Gyu-seong, Yang Seong-hu (Azure Dragon) lifted a trembling hand toward a glistening line in the distance and panted,

“Huff, huff… There it is, the Lan Cang River. Just on the other side is Zhongyuan.”

“Finally!”

“We’re nearly there… Hoo…”

The sight of our goal, Zhongyuan, waiting just beyond that water, brought a renewed fire to every pair of eyes in our weary party. Paeng Gyu-seong glanced back at me and inquired,

“Huff… Huff… So-ryong, are you managing?”

We had not stopped running for two full days.

He likely believed my martial arts were the weakest in our group and that my internal energy must be nearly spent. However, the royal jelly from the Golden Wasp Kings and the mysterious benefits from Cho’s evolution were still sustaining me.

‘Not to mention, if I don’t push through, I die. So I have to keep moving.’

“Yes, brother. Huff, huff…”

I dragged a sleeve across my sweat-stung eyes and fixed what I hoped was a look of resolve on my face. But Paeng Gyu-seong came to a halt and declared,

“The ground ahead is open and flat. We will need to break through in a single, swift rush. And we still have the river to cross. We should rest here briefly and recover our strength. Hoo… If we meet enemies out in the open, our only option will be to fight.”

“Understood, brother.”

“Got it, So-ryong.”

I looked back toward the river. The mountains ended just ahead, giving way to a vast, exposed plain that ran all the way to the water’s edge.

Paeng Gyu-seong’s caution was warranted. In such terrain, we would be completely visible, and crossing the river would leave us at our most vulnerable. We would need to move at our absolute fastest.

That required ample reserves of internal energy. Maintaining our light-footed techniques for so long had already drained us; attempting to sprint across a plain in that state was a tremendous risk.

If we were confronted by enemies, we might not have the strength left to defend ourselves.

I looked over my shoulder. The torches of those chasing us had disappeared from view.

For two days, the Blood Cult had doggedly pursued us, maintaining a distance of a few kilometers as if to exhaust us slowly.

But for the last two hours, there had been no trace of them.

With our pursuers seemingly gone for the moment, we all agreed to take this chance to rest and recuperate, just as Paeng Gyu-seong suggested.

“Haa… I’m spent.”

“Huff, huff… Is everyone okay?”

The moment Paeng Gyu-seong gave the word, Yang Seong-hu (Azure Dragon) and Sword Master Seon-hwa dropped to the ground.

I turned to check on Seol and Tang Hwa-eun, who were seated together on a nearby rock, mopping their brows.

“Hwa-eun, are you alright?”

“I am. And you, So-ryong?”

“I’m managing. What about you, Seol?”

“I can keep going. But are you sure you’re okay, So-ryong? Your martial arts are the lowest here.”

“I’m fine, Seol. How is Yo-hwa?”

-Ki-siit!

I had been most concerned about Yo-hwa over such a long journey. But she had navigated the trees with her webs and cleared the valleys with powerful leaps, so she appeared to be coping well.

I checked on everyone else, ensuring the whole group was present.

It was critical to account for everyone each time we stopped.

“Hyang, Bin, are you two okay? Cho?”

-Tssrrt!

-Tsssrrrt!

Hyang and Bin raised their heads from my shoulders, sending me waves of reassurance. I gave their chins an affectionate scratch.

Then, Cho emerged from the undergrowth and pushed his head into my arms.

-Tssssrr.

He made a soft, pleased sound as I patted his head.

Seeing that the three sisters from O-Gong’s group were also unharmed, I addressed Tang Hwa-eun.

“Hwa-eun, how are Seol and Bini?”

She subtly lifted the edge of her skirt, revealing two small forms peering out.

After a quick inspection, she nodded.

“They seem fine.”

-Kkukku…

-Kkuu…

Though they had traveled with us the entire way, they had been remarkably silent.

Unlike the centipedes, which hunted actively at night, lizards had a slow metabolism. Provided they had food and a secure hiding spot, they tended to remain still.

While Cho and the centipedes were constantly active, Seol and Bini simply clung to Tang Hwa-eun’s wrists, absorbing energy during our pauses.

That was the reason for their quietness.

In my previous life, lizards were frequently bred in small enclosures known as “racks.” Even the most spacious habitats recommended by expert breeders abroad were rarely larger than 450x450x600.

“Alright, everyone. We’re almost there, so let’s persevere.”

-Tssrrt! -Ki-siit! -Kkukku!

I offered the creatures some encouragement before settling in for a short rest.

We took approximately an hour to recover.

We replenished our internal energy through meditation and drank from a nearby stream.

Having discarded all unnecessary gear to travel light, we had no food remaining. We simply had to bear the hunger.

“Hoo…”

Paeng Gyu-seong concluded his meditation and opened his eyes.

Everyone performed a final inspection of their weapons, and then he spoke.

“Let’s go.”

Just then—

“Wait a moment, So-ryong.”

Seol suddenly spoke.

“What is it, Lady Seol?”

Paeng Gyu-seong tilted his head in question, and she elaborated,

“Before we depart, I wish to try summoning the beasts once more. If the Blood Cult follows us into Zhongyuan, we will require the Beast Palace’s aid. If my father and Mandok Shingun remain in Namsan, they may be able to rendezvous with us.”

Because we had traveled south before turning east, Namsan was now a faint outline in the northwest.

If they were still searching for us, she wanted to signal them to meet us at this location.

“A sound plan, Lady Seol.”

Paeng Gyu-seong agreed.

-Whiiiik.

Seol produced a sharp, piercing whistle that cut through the valley air.

-Whiiiik. Whiiiik.

She repeated it three times.

Just as she was about to abandon hope—

-Bwoong. Bwoong.

A deep, resonant hooting echoed from somewhere above.

A large Eurasian eagle-owl descended and alighted gracefully on Seol’s outstretched arm.

“You made it!”

She gently stroked its head, ripped a strip of cloth from her skirt, and fastened it to the bird’s leg.

Then, she whispered instructions with urgency,

“Locate the warriors of the Beast Palace. Begin your search on that mountain, understood?”

-Bwoong.

The owl beat its powerful wings and ascended, flying directly toward Namsan.

“Alright, let’s move!”

The instant we set foot onto the open plain—

A figure stepped out from behind a boulder at the very edge where the mountain met the flatland.

“Your flight ends here! I, Blood-Wind Flying Serpent Mae Chogwi of the Blood Cult, will be your executioner!”

A thunderous detonation followed.

-BOOM!

Paeng Gyu-seong was violently hurled backward into a thicket.

“Ugh!”

“Brother!”

“So-ryong!”

Then, Tang Hwa-eun’s sharp cry rang out—

“They’ve found us!”

At Hwa-eun’s warning, I spun around. Unlike the crimson robes we were accustomed to, a group of men clad in brown leather were swiftly advancing along the ridge.

A so-called elder was engaging us, and now the main force of pursuers was upon us.

“Are you hurt?”

“Damn it… they’re quick!”

Paeng Gyu-seong wiped blood from his mouth, got to his feet with help from Yang Seong-hu (Azure Dragon), then clenched his sword and surged forward, yelling—

“Dok-hwa, now!”

The reason he could charge a Blood Cult elder without fear—

Was because we possessed a poison uniquely effective against them.

A single strike was all we needed.

Hearing the command, Sword Master Seon-hwa and Yang Seong-hu (Azure Dragon) followed closely behind Gyu-seong, while Tang Hwa-eun began preparing her Nine-Ringed Assassination technique, which fired nine lethal needles in rapid succession.

Meanwhile, I called out to Cho, commanding him to halt the advance of the men in brown leather.

‘Cho, I need you!’

Judging by their speed, even if we dealt with this elder, they would overtake us quickly. They had to be dealt with first.

As Paeng Gyu-seong, Yang Seong-hu (Azure Dragon), Sword Master Seon-hwa, Tang Hwa-eun, and Seol engaged the Blood Cult elder, Cho released a wide spray of venom at the warriors charging from the rear.

—Swaaah.

From his elevated position, Cho unleashed a fan-shaped mist of poison.

“Evade it!”

But the brown-leathered warriors scattered with astonishing agility at their leader’s command, easily avoiding the toxic cloud.

Even those who were lightly splashed showed no signs of severe distress.

‘What is this!?’

Cho tried twice more, spraying venom in rapid succession, but they dodged effortlessly. I could feel his irritation through our connection.

Then, from behind us, the sound of conflict concluded sooner than anticipated—

“You impudent juniors, still in the post-realm! Perish, you maggot!”

—Crunch!

“Urgh! D-Dok-hwa!”

“I hit him!”

Even with a grievous wound in his side, Paeng Gyu-seong grappled the enemy, enabling Tang Hwa-eun to plant two poisoned needles deep into the elder’s shoulder.

But the situation was dire.

Yang Seong-hu (Azure Dragon) was on the ground, blood trickling from his mouth, and Sword Master Seon-hwa had fallen nearby, clutching the shattered remains of his sword.

At least the poison seemed to be taking hold.

Tang Hwa-eun shouted to Seol—

“Seol, we must end this! That Blood Cult fiend was hit with a poison that seals internal energy—he won’t be able to use a shred of it soon!”

“Understood!”

Unlike the previous elder, this one had not ingested a massive dose directly, so Hwa-eun continued to throw needles, ensuring the toxin spread.

As the elder dodged one such attack, he produced a small ceramic vial from his robe.

With a malevolent smirk, he swallowed its contents and taunted—

“Did you truly believe we would continue to be defeated by Ho-ban Yusa’s poison? Hahaha! An antidote has been perfected—you are already dead!”

“An-antidote!?”

“They actually created one!?”

The Blood Cult had succeeded where even the esteemed Tang Clan had failed.

Even in my past life, the only treatment was a blood serum—a true antidote had never existed.

The elder expected our faces to be etched with despair at this revelation.

Instead, Hwa-eun and I exchanged a look—

And then we laughed.

“Hahaha!”

“Heh… hehe…”

The elder glowered.

“What is so amusing!? Have you gone mad in the face of death!?”

He couldn’t possibly understand why we were laughing.

I smirked and prodded him—

“Death is knocking at your door, not ours. Why not attempt to circulate your internal energy now?”

His expression, once brimming with confidence, remained for a second before contorting into sheer panic.

“W-what!? But I—I took the antidote!”

Naturally, he would be horrified.

Despite consuming the antidote, his internal energy was entirely locked away.

***

Earlier, as we prepared to cross the plain, everyone had checked their weapons.

At that time, Paeng Gyu-seong had muttered in dismay—

“Damn it, we’re out of that poison.”

“Which poison?”

I was unsure what he referred to.

He explained—

“The poison that prevents the Blood Cult scum from using their internal energy—it’s all gone.”

“Ah, that one.”

“Well, we still have Dok-hwa, perhaps she has some left. Dok-hwa, do you have any?”

They had intended to apply it to their weapons before setting out, as a precaution.

But Tang Hwa-eun shook her head.

“We used the last of it on my needles.”

Worried looks passed between everyone.

“I suppose we’ll have to proceed without it.”

Gyu-seong made to leave, but I stopped him.

“Brother, we may not have that specific poison, but we can procure something comparable.”

“Something comparable?”

He regarded me with skepticism, but Hwa-eun supported my claim.

“That poison the Blood Cult dreads? So-ryong devised it.”

“So-ryong, you…?”

“S-So-hyeop!?”

“You’re saying you formulated it!?”

Evidently, the Martial Alliance had been very effective at controlling information—everyone was astounded.

“I’ll return shortly! Yo-hwa, with me!”

I left the group and ran back toward the stream we had visited earlier.

Near the water, I pointed to something and directed Yo-hwa—

“Yo-hwa, bind that up tightly with your silk.”

-Kiisii!

She complied, swiftly enveloping the object in a silken cocoon.

I plucked it from the tree, shook it vigorously, and then hurried back.

Upon my return, I crushed it on the ground and announced—

“Alright, I need your assistance. We must squeeze their abdomens before they awaken.”

“Squeeze what?”

“Yes, before they regain awareness.”

What we were squeezing—

Yellow hornets.

Also known as Yellow Hornet, Asian Giant Hornet, and Common Wasp.

Sword Master Seon-hwa looked bewildered.

“This… is the same poison?”

“No, not identical.”

“Then what is it?”

“It’s more potent.”

The quantity was small, but if measured dose for dose, hornet venom was more powerful than Ho-ban Yusa’s poison.

Unlike other toxins, this one did not merely block internal energy.

Hornet venom shreds the membranes of red blood cells, causing them to burst and trigger internal hemorrhaging.

***

‘They must have been so proud of their antidote—only to find themselves in this predicament?’

Since we had only gathered enough venom to coat Hwa-eun’s needles, it felt as if fortune had favored us perfectly.

I grinned and called out to Tang Hwa-eun and Seol—

“Hwa-eun, Seol, end this!”

Hwa-eun moved to launch her deadliest needles, but Seol stopped her.

A cold smile touched her lips as she said—

“So-ryong, allow me to demonstrate the true nature of the Beast Palace’s Leopard Fist.”

Until that moment, I had believed only bears were proficient at tearing things apart.

But then—

The Blood Cult elder was rent to pieces by Seol’s razor-sharp claws.

He choked out a final, bewildered gasp.

“Urgh! H-how…?”

If someone expresses curiosity, it’s only polite to provide an explanation, correct?

I delivered a line I had used once before—

“Why do Blood Cult elders always ask the same question? It is because I am your natural predator.”

‘Didn’t I tell you? I’m your predator.’