Fabre in Sacheon’s Tang Novel - Chapter 12

Chapter 12

I had often heard tales of the immense expanse of the Central Plains, but witnessing it myself was another matter entirely. The terrain seemed to stretch on without end.

Our journey began with a ship from Hainan to Qinzhou Port. We then traveled through Nanning, and after a grueling month and a half, we finally entered Sichuan.
Even utilizing swift Qinggong movement, the trip was draining.
The clan leader, driven by fear for his daughter, pressed on with little rest. By our arrival in Sichuan, my appearance was that of a vagabond.
We seldom stayed at inns, camping outdoors most nights. Compounded by the fact that I was constantly carried on the backs of either the deputy commander or the clan leader, I frequently found myself sick, vomiting the scant morning meals I managed to keep down.

I proposed we rest, but as the newest member of the group, I felt I couldn’t openly show my exhaustion.
When I insisted I was alright and could continue, the Tang Clan members were quick to commend my so-called “dedication.”
“I’m fine! This is nothing for a man to handle!”
“Truly, you are a worthy addition to our family. Such resolve and vigor!”
And so, looking gaunt and disheveled, we finally arrived at the mountain’s base.

After crossing a long bridge over a river, we reached the foot of the mountain, where a surprising structure stood before us: a massive, nine-tiered gate known as Gujinmun, with a large plaque mounted above it.
It read: Sichuan Tang Clan (四川唐家).
‘Why is there a gate and plaque at the foot of a mountain?’
I stared at the sight, completely bewildered. When I turned a questioning glance, the deputy commander, Gu Pae, smiled and offered an explanation.
“This is the Sichuan Tang Clan, young warrior.”
“This is the clan? But this is merely the entrance to the mountain.”
“This entire mountain is the Tang Clan, young warrior. That is why it is called Tang Clan Mountain (唐家山).”
“What?!”
Distracted by the gate, I had failed to properly survey the area. Now, as I looked across the mountain ridges, I saw pavilions and terraced fields dotting the entire landscape.
What I had initially mistaken for a simple rural part of Sichuan was, in fact, far more magnificent than I could have imagined.

On the road, the Tang Clan members had spoken of the Nine Great Martial Sects and the Eight Great Noble Clans, noting that the Sichuan Tang Clan was counted among them.
At the time, I had been skeptical. Having come from a previous life filled with internet braggarts and exaggerated claims, I had developed a habit of distrusting anything I hadn’t seen for myself.
But now? The sheer grandeur before me was beyond description.
“So this is the Sichuan Tang Clan…”
As I stood there, utterly captivated by the scale of it all, Gu Pae gestured toward the mountain and spoke with evident pride.
“Yes, young warrior. This is our Sichuan Tang Clan. Soon, it shall be your Sichuan Tang Clan as well.”
‘Your Tang Clan and mine, is it? I like the sound of that.’
The thought of belonging to such an awe-inspiring place filled me with pride. I could already picture myself commanding respect wherever I went.

Our arrival stirred significant activity on the mountain. Soon, figures began descending—some running, others flying—toward the Gujinmun gate to welcome us.

***

When my eyes opened, the first sight was my mother’s face, streaked with tears.
“Mother… how am I still alive?”
“You’ve pulled through, Hwa-eun.”
Beside her stood my grandfather, his face pale and glistening with sweat from clear exertion.
“It is over now,” he whispered, his voice faint.
“Grandfather…”
I had pushed myself too hard, desperate to surpass the Ten Venoms Realm (十毒之境) and achieve the Hundred Venoms Realm (百毒之境). My own ambition had led me into a state of Qi Deviation (走火入魔).
I had been certain I would not survive the final ordeal, convinced the progressing poison within my body would be the end of me.
Yet here I was, with my mother and grandfather gazing down at me.
“Ugh…”
The joy of survival was momentary. Despair quickly took hold, and tears began to fall.
To survive Qi Deviation often meant the loss of all martial ability—or worse, becoming an invalid.
I had seen it many times before. Practitioners seeking a cure for Qi Deviation would come to the Tang Clan, but regardless of the poisons or medicines we applied, the outcome was always identical: they lived, but were never whole again.
I had been raised witnessing their fates.
Now, it appeared, I had joined their ranks.
I had wanted to prove my worth to the clan elders, to show them I was more than just my appearance. I had wanted to demonstrate that even as a woman, I could achieve greatness and bring honor to our family through martial prowess.
But now, I was merely a cripple—a burden.
“I… I am so sorry, Mother.”
My mother, the clan leader’s main wife, had been unable to bear more children after me. Despite pressure from the clan, my father had refused to take a concubine, and my grandfather had supported his decision.
Nonetheless, the elders and the branch families had always been dissatisfied.
I had wanted to show them. I had wanted to prove that even as a woman, I could be an immense asset to the clan. I had been so determined to reach the Hundred Venoms Realm, a mastery that would mark me as a true grandmaster.
But now, I was useless. Tears streamed down my face, an endless flow from the depths of my despair.
Then I felt it—a warm, firm grip on my hand.
It was my grandfather’s hand, holding mine tightly.
His familiar, gentle voice offered reassurance.
“You foolish child. Are you crying because you regret causing your father and me such worry? You should cease your tears and rejoice. You have, after all, attained the Hundred Venoms Realm you desired so deeply.”
“Huh…? What?”
I could not comprehend his words. I had reached the Hundred Venoms Realm?
I blinked, looking between my mother and grandfather. Both were smiling at me.
Bewildered, I instinctively assessed my body.
To my amazement, my senses were intact. I could feel my entire form, and I could move my fingers and toes freely.
I quickly shut my eyes and began to circulate my internal energy.
The true qi flowed unimpeded through my meridians.
Then I focused on my dantian, where I sensed a tremendous surge of power—a colossal force.
I completed a small energy cycle (Small Zhou Tian), but that was insufficient to gauge the full depth of my internal energy. I immediately performed a Large Zhou Tian, confirming the incredible power now residing within me.
As my eyes flew open in disbelief, my grandfather patted my head and said with a smile, “Convinced now? You have accumulated enough internal energy to step into the Thousand Venoms Realm (千毒之境) the moment you gain the requisite insight. You will soon achieve the mastery you have longed for.”
“H-How can this be?”
I had collapsed from Qi Deviation. How had I gained such vast internal energy? Enough to approach the Thousand Venoms Realm?
My grandfather chuckled, his tone light.
“Naturally, it is due to the precious Neidan of the Blue-Spotted Centipede.”
“The… the Blue-Spotted Centipede?”
“Yes, Hwa-eun. Your father and I nearly lost our lives capturing it. That little beast led us on a formidable chase. Ha! I must be aging; such a long pursuit is no simple feat anymore.”
The Blue-Spotted Centipede—a gigantic centipede rumored to be the size of a dwelling, as recorded in the Secret Compendium of Venomous Creatures.
It wasn’t a martial arts manual, but I had once read the entry out of curiosity.
“The Blue-Spotted Centipede… the one said to live for centuries? You… you truly captured it?”
“Indeed, silly girl.”
If the legends held true, consuming the Neidan of such a creature could elevate even a person on the brink of death to new heights.
Finally, I understood.
I realized how I had survived, how I had not only cheated death but gained immense internal power.
“T-Thank you, Grandfather!”
I bolted from the bed and threw my arms around him.
Even though he smelled of sweat and hadn’t bathed, I did not care.
“Haha! You are this delighted, are you?”
“Yes! But… where is Father?”
Only then did I notice my father’s absence. My grandfather had said they captured the Blue-Spotted Centipede together.
“Only now do you see your father is not here?” my grandfather teased, causing my cheeks to flush with embarrassment.
After checking my pulse once more, he began to recount their journey.
“Your father remained behind. We decided to invite the young warrior who aided us as an official guest of the clan.”
“An official guest?”
“Yes. Without him, we would never have located the Blue-Spotted Centipede. He is not only a benefactor of the Tang Clan but your personal savior as well.”
“I see. Then I shall ensure he is treated with the highest respect upon his arrival. I will honor him as our clan’s benefactor.”
“That is my granddaughter! That is the conduct of a true Tang Clan woman.”
I resolved to treat this mysterious young warrior not only with reverence but with genuine warmth. He hadn’t just saved my life—he had made my dream come true.

***

“Haa…”
The joy of achieving the Hundred Venoms Realm and gaining the internal energy to approach the Thousand Venoms Realm was short-lived.
Tang Hwa-eun now sat in a bath, her expression troubled.
Petals of Guihua flowers floated on the water, and beneath the surface, various aromatic herbs released their fragrance into the bath.
It was not evening, but early morning—yet she was soaking in the herb-infused water. The reason?
For some inexplicable reason, ever since her recovery from Qi Deviation, a strange, acrid odor had begun to emanate from her body.
It wasn’t perspiration—it was far more pungent, an odd smell that clung to her and made anyone nearby recoil.
Even without exertion, the bizarre scent seeped from her pores, unpleasant and offensive.
Despite having her condition examined by her grandfather and the clan physicians, they could find no irregularities in her body, nor could they pinpoint the origin of the odor.
To make matters worse, the stench seemed to be growing stronger over time, leaving Hwa-eun increasingly distressed.
Having attained the Hundred Venoms Realm, she had intended to devote herself entirely to advancing her poison arts and striving for the Thousand Venoms Realm. Instead, she now found herself scrubbing her skin raw multiple times a day, achieving little beyond fraying her patience.
As she sighed and continued her futile bathing, a commotion erupted from outside.
“My lady! The clan leader has returned! Please, come at once!”
“Father? He is back?!”
It had been nearly a month since her grandfather returned to the Tang Clan.
Hearing that her father had finally arrived, Hwa-eun hurriedly finished washing, threw on her clothes, and darted out using Qinggong, heading for the Tang Clan’s grand gate, Gujinmun.
When she reached the gate, the first thing she saw was her father’s face, clearly marked by the strains of his difficult journey.
“Father!”
“Hwa-eun! You are alive!”
“Father, I am so sorry!”
“It is all right. You are alive—that is everything. Thank the heavens…”
As she rushed into her father’s embrace, gratitude and guilt overwhelmed her, and tears streamed down her face.
After their emotional reunion, her father smiled and stepped aside, speaking warmly.
“Hwa-eun, there is someone I wish you to meet.”
Hwa-eun immediately thought of the mysterious young warrior her grandfather had mentioned. She quickly dried her tears and straightened her posture, ready to greet her benefactor.
Even if he was merely a youth, a savior was a savior. She was determined to welcome him with the utmost respect.
As she composed herself, a scruffy-looking boy stepped out from behind the deputy commander.
He was thin, pitifully so, and his ragged appearance suggested he had endured immense hardship. Shuffling awkwardly, he approached her, and then her father’s voice rang out.
“Ah, So-ryong, this is my daughter, Tang Hwa-eun. You mentioned she smelled like… grass? Herbs? Ah, that’s it—weed! Yes, this is her, Weed Girl!”
“Wha—?!”
“What?!”
Hwa-eun’s father smiled mischievously, leaving both Hwa-eun and the young warrior staring at each other, wide-eyed and utterly flustered.