Fabre in Sacheon’s Tang Novel - Chapter 152

Chapter 152
Before my silent plea for the heavens to cease their torment could even fully form, the boat heaved with a violent, jarring motion. Something solid and heavy collided with the hull.
– Thump!
– Kreeeeech…
This was followed by the shuddering aftermath.
– Sploosh!
“Aiyya…!”
“Ugh…! Hwa-eun, steady yourself!”
Water sloshed from the bucket holding Wolyeong, nearly toppling it. Hwa-eun and Seol wobbled dangerously, fighting to keep their footing.
The force of the hit wasn’t catastrophic, but the sheer aggravation building inside me erupted like a fountain, aimed squarely at the sky.
‘What did I ever do to you?! My request was so modest! I didn’t ask for the Hundred Poison Body or the Thousand Poison Realm—just a simple Ten Poison Body, or even a Five Poison Body would have sufficed!’
I couldn’t indulge my internal rant for long. I had to forcibly adopt the calm of a forgiving saint, convincing myself this was all trivial.
Because suddenly, a familiar, unwelcome warmth bloomed in my nose.
‘N-no, it’s alright. These… things occur, don’t they? The heavens aren’t infallible! Haha… This jolt isn’t so terrible. It’s merely a branch…’
I needed to master my thoughts before another nosebleed started.
The heavens might have been unjust, denying me even the right to a proper curse, but I had one consolation—I was resting in a hammock woven from Yo-hwa’s stretchy silk. The threads acted like shock absorbers, cushioning the blow and shielding me. I clung to that small mercy.
– Shhhkkk!
Furthermore, a flustered Yo-hwa quickly shot additional strands around me, bundling me up even more securely for protection.
“Yo-hwa…”
– Shkk!
Seeing my grateful look, Yo-hwa beat her chest lightly, a gesture telling me to rely on her.
Emotion flooded my heart, stinging my eyes.
How could I not be deeply touched, witnessing Yo-hwa’s fierce resolve to keep me safe?
“Very well. Let the wretched branches come—I fear nothing as long as Yo-hwa is here—”
Just as I was about to complete my bold declaration, it occurred.
– Screeeeeech!
The ship listed sharply to port.
From the passageway, the alarmed shout of Captain Do Sagong cut through the air.
“Port side! Steady the ship! Uprooted trees are approaching!”
‘For pity’s sake, stop this now!’
As if the heavens had heard my challenge and decided to raise the stakes, a whole tree, torn from the earth, was now bearing down on us.
Seol dashed to my side, gripping my hammock tightly to buffer the impending collision.
– Groooaan!
– Craaaack!
The noise of straining timber was followed by the sound of something grating against the ship’s side.
And then…
“We… we cleared it! It’s past us!”
“We’re safe!”
Miraculously, the massive tree drifted by without inflicting critical damage.
‘Good grief… At this pace, I’d perish even with nine lives…’
Twice now, my life had nearly ended in an instant. All strength left my body, and I went limp.
Surely it’s over now?
As I lay deflated in my hammock, finally allowing myself to unwind, the captain’s yell came again.
“More uprooted trees are on the way!”
My irritation with the heavens escalated into a silent shriek.
Then I heard Seol’s desperate voice beside me.
“Ryun, quickly! You must accept it! You need to live to cultivate your arts!”
Her meaning was clear—she was urging me to absorb Wolyeong’s venom.
I desired to. Truly.
But how in the world was I supposed to circulate my inner energy aboard a ship being tossed about like a toy?!
My skill wasn’t sufficient to guide Qi amidst such turmoil. In a peaceful, stable environment, perhaps I could manage with focused breathing and internal recitation, but not under these conditions.
My mind was utterly scrambled by the pandemonium.
“I… I want to… but my mind is blank, Seol…”
“What?!”
She stared at me, aghast, just as—
– Bang! Craaack!
– Splash! Crash!
“Elder, watch out! Hah! He cleaved the tree?!”
“The Elder split the tree! Incredible!”
“Whoaaaaa!”
A strange noise echoed from the deck, succeeded by the exhilarated cries of the crew.
‘Father-in-law, I never lost faith in you! Unbelievable!’
– Thud! Thump!
A lesser jolt shook the bow, but it was manageable.
Shortly after, my father-in-law burst into the cabin, soaked in sweat, his voice strained.
“Son-in-law! Just take it in! My energy is depleting!”
‘I give up…’
Advanced abilities like projecting air blasts were techniques only Mandok Shingun, my grandfather-in-law, could sustain endlessly.
With fate seemingly toying with my life for sport, I decided I might as well yield.
Then, disturbed by the tumult, something moved.
From the folds of Hwa-eun’s robes, a small head poked out.
The tiny creature, which had stubbornly remained hidden for safety, clambered onto Hwa-eun’s shoulder. It surveyed the scene and then suddenly sprang toward me.
– Plop!
It landed squarely on my forehead and began to move with clear intention.
– Kyut! Kyuuuung.
‘W-what is it doing?!’
Was the illustrious, fiery Fabre’s final moment to be… soiled by an infant lizard?
Just as I lamented the ultimate absurdity—
A cool, vaporous sensation diffused across my brow.
The intense heat from Wolyeong’s venom, which had been scalding me from within, abruptly diminished.
My father-in-law’s astonished voice exclaimed.
“This… This is! Countering poison with poison!”
It meant using one toxin to nullify another.
Upon reflection, Wolyeong’s venom was saturated with yang energy, while Seol and Bini’s venom was imbued with yin energy.
“Precisely! Wolyeong’s venom is blazing yang energy! But Seol and Bini’s venom carries yin energy! You are saved, son-in-law!”
As Seol and Bini, following their small companion’s lead, channeled their own energy into me, my body temperature slowly stabilized.
Had… had I endured?
Not only had I survived, but I had also inadvertently found the counteragent for Wolyeong’s venom, which normally demanded cautious control.
I was uncertain whether to laugh at or lament this twist of fate, but before I could choose, another frantic voice called out.
“Do Sagong! Evasion is impossible now! There are too many trees being driven toward us!”
“Ugh…! Everyone, brace yourselves! Hold fast to the ship and do not go overboard!”
I still required time to completely overcome the venom’s effects. A blow in this weakened state might not be fatal, but it would certainly result in grave injury.
Hearing Do Sagong’s grim warning that dodging was futile, Seol locked eyes with me, her expression full of dread.
Hwa-eun’s gaze flickered between Seol and Bini before she suddenly shouted to Cho and Bini, who were huddled on the cabin floor.
“Cho! Bini! You must defend your father! Go out and aid the sailors!”
In the midst of the frenzy, the idea of relying on the children hadn’t occurred to me. But observing Seol, Bini, and the little one, it appeared Hwa-eun had just thought of Cho and Bini.
– Sssk!
– Sssshk!
Like bolts of lightning, Cho and Bini scurried toward the exit and vanished outside.
Moments later, instead of a crash, the thrilled shouts of the sailors reached us from the deck.
“O-Ogong! The Ogong is shoving the trees back!”
“Amazing! Young Master So-ryong’s venomous beings are repelling them!”
“Another Ogong is coiling around the prow!”
‘My precious daughters!’
Tears sprang to my eyes.
It felt as though a waterfall—no, a monumental cascade—was pouring from my eyes.
Not only had I survived, but I had also salvaged my pride against the relentless unfairness hurled my way.
***
When the turmoil finally ended, we reached Xiangyang and were compelled to examine the ship.
I hadn’t anticipated significant damage, but it appeared one of the drifting trees had struck the hull, initiating a leak.
It was minor—just dampening my hand upon touch—but we dared not risk it worsening during the journey. A thorough inspection was essential.
As the sailors checked the vessel at the Xiangyang docks, my father-in-law returned from procuring supplies, his face concerned.
“The princess must have acted swiftly. Word is the Martial Alliance in Akyang began mobilizing days ago. The imperial troops appear to be moving as well.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. I heard it firsthand from the Martial Alliance’s Xiangyang branch. We must make haste.”
“Agreed. I will consult with Do Sagong to see if we can sail immediately.”
We had deliberately bypassed Wuchang to save time, yet in that brief interval, the situation had already evolved.
I located Do Sagong promptly and inquired,
“Do Sagong, can we leave today? The Martial Alliance is on the move, and our return is urgent.”
“A proper treatment of the hull with pine resin will require approximately three days…”
“There is no alternative?”
Do Sagong paused before giving a reluctant nod.
“Hmm… I will endeavor to expedite the process, Young Master.”
However, by the time we made it to Yichang, a problem emerged.
We had opted for a temporary patch instead of a full repair, and now the leak had intensified.
– Glug, glug, glug.
“My apologies, Young Master.”
“The fault is mine. I should have demanded a proper inspection instead of pressing for speed.”
Ultimately, the ship had to stay in Yichang for repairs, which would take several days even for a stopgap solution.
Acknowledging the pressing nature of events, my father-in-law took half of the Venom Blood Squad and embarked on another ship to return to the Tang Clan ahead of us.
The Martial Alliance had undoubtedly dispatched some communication to the Tang Clan, and while Mandok Shingun remained there, the clan head’s presence was imperative.
Our group, having the children with us, was left with no option but to remain and await the ship’s mending.
A few days later, with the ship finally repaired, we proceeded up the Yangtze River, navigating the Three Gorges.
The Three Gorges possessed the most powerful currents on the Yangtze.
We progressed cautiously to avoid stressing the temporarily fixed hull.
Then, abruptly, a voice hailed us from outside the boat.
“Heave to! Who dares traverse the waters of the Yangtze Waterway Stronghold without rendering the toll?!”
Stepping out onto the deck, I saw us encircled by small craft.
Surveying the scene, Hwa-eun turned to Do Sagong with a confused look.
“What is the meaning of this, Do Sagong? Our clan’s banner should be flying, correct? The banner—wait, where is it?!”
Do Sagong’s face lost color as he answered,
“I-I failed to notice earlier, but it must have been lost when the floodwaters struck days ago.”
“Blast it…”
“Who are they, Hwa-eun?”
“They are… well…”
As Hwa-eun explained, they were river bandits—the freshwater equivalent of pirates.
Ordinarily, they wouldn’t venture near a ship flying the Tang Clan’s standard, but with our banner gone, they had congregated like scavengers.
“So, these are merely common thieves?”
“Yes, So-ryong. But… they are not ordinary thieves. They are practitioners of martial arts.”
“Who commands this vessel?! Identify yourself at once!”
The bandits’ voices shouted again.
Hwa-eun, visibly annoyed, composed herself before stepping forward and offering a respectful salute.
“Heroes of the Yangtze, I am Tang Hwa-eun of the Sichuan Tang Clan. It seems our clan’s banner was lost in the recent flood, causing this confusion. Might we proceed without impediment?”
One of the smaller boats detached from the flotilla, and a man who seemed to be the leader spoke.
“Is that so? You claim affiliation with the Tang Clan? Yet with no banner as proof, who can credit such a claim? Even if you are of the Tang Clan, without your colors, the toll is still required. That is the iron law of the Three Gorges. No toll, no passage.”
“Tch…”
Then, with a distasteful leer, he added,
“Naturally, you are a vision of beauty. Should payment be difficult, other forms of compensation can be arranged… Kehaha.”
‘I beg your pardon, what did you just utter?’
I had been restraining myself, accepting that this was merely local custom.
But now, this insignificant bandit scum had overstepped a boundary.
I turned my head slightly to look at Cho, who was flattened against the railing, peeking out.
“Cho?”
– Sssk?
“Flip them.”
First, we would overturn their pitiful little boats. Then, we would negotiate.