Fabre in Sacheon’s Tang Novel - Chapter 16

Chapter 16

Mandokjeon (Palace of a Thousand Poisons)

“Even in my past life, I had my share of romantic moments, didn’t I?
I even felt a spark with a few well-known actresses.
There was one noona—three years older than me. When filming ended, she would sometimes reach out, and we’d meet for meals, just the two of us.
At first, I assumed she was simply friendly by nature.
Then, during our second dinner together, we were at an intimate wine bar. The atmosphere was warm, we’d had a few glasses, and out of nowhere she asked me:
‘Fabre, would you go out with me? I like you.’
‘Excuse me!?’
A direct, heavyweight proposition. Not just a fastball—more like a meteor.
Back then, I was only a YouTuber with a hundred thousand subscribers.
Stammering, I asked for time to consider, and in the end… I apologized.
‘I’m sorry, noona. I’m just a small-time YouTuber. More than that, I’m an ordinary person. You’re a star. I feel it would be disrespectful for someone like me to be with someone like you.’
She looked at me silently, her face falling into disappointment as she replied:
‘I’m disappointed.’
‘I-I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to—’
‘No, I’m not upset that you turned me down. I’m disappointed that the man I like has so little faith in himself.’
Her words struck me like a physical blow.
‘Even if you’re unknown now, even without a steady job, having ambition and chasing your dreams is attractive. If you’d said something bold like, “I’ll become the greatest venom specialist so you never regret choosing me,” even if it sounded far-fetched, that would’ve been impressive.’”
Remembering that conversation, I now stood before noona, whose gaze seemed to be waiting for me to declare my ambition.
“I spent the whole night thinking. About what you told me yesterday—that I’m a ‘Ten-Poison Body,’ someone limited to absorbing only ten toxins. You said it’s the peak for someone with no talent like me.”
“Th-that’s…”
“So I reached a decision. If my body can only hold ten poisons, why not make them the most powerful ones—the Ten Great Poisons of the Central Plains?”
“The Ten Great Poisons!?”
“Yes. If I dedicate myself to absorbing the Ten Great Poisons, would that be sufficient to earn your trust? If I vow to pursue that, would you have confidence in me?”
Taking a lesson from my previous life, I chose to be daring.
After all, what’s there to lose by aiming high?
Noona’s ears flushed scarlet, and she turned her face away, speaking with clear fluster.
“D-do you understand what you’re saying?”
“I don’t!”
I answered truthfully.
How could I know? I was only suggesting I take in the Ten Great Poisons.
She continued, “That path is filled with agony. It isn’t something achievable in a year or two. It could take ten years, twenty, thirty—or your entire life. That is the scale of what you’re proposing.”
‘Wait, that long!? Noona, didn’t you say to dream big, even if it’s unrealistic?’
Just as I was despairing over this seeming contradiction in her advice, she gave a slow nod.
“Very well. So-ryong Sohyeop, I understand you are fifteen. In three years, you will be a man and eligible for marriage. If, within those three years, you manage to acquire even one of the Ten Great Poisons, I will have confidence in your potential. Just one will be proof enough of your ability.”
‘Did she just agree?’
Hearing her response, I felt a surge of gratitude toward the noona from my past life.
But then, noona suddenly stood and began walking away, visibly flustered.
As thrilled as I was, I couldn’t let her leave yet. There was still important business at hand.
I called out quickly, stopping her.
“Sojeo!”
Noona halted but didn’t turn around. “Was there something else?”
Though she was embarrassed, I couldn’t let her go.
The O-Gongs were probably hungry, and I also needed to perform her treatment under the pretense of breaking the curse.
“Yes, the treatment. You should stay for one more sijin before you go.”
“…”
Noona, hesitating between staying and leaving, eventually took slow steps back and sat down again.
Still avoiding my eyes, she murmured, “Fine. Only for a little while.”
It was time to begin.
To put her at ease, I used a phrase no pet owner should ever say: “Don’t worry. My little ones don’t bite. Okay, kids, go to mommy, not daddy.”
Having seen noona’s face in their dreams, the O-Gongs scurried onto her without delay.
I could feel them breathing more deeply than usual.
Then, noona’s shocked voice broke the silence.
“D-daddy? M-mommy?!”
Her astonishment at being called “mommy” was obvious; her ears, cheeks, and the back of her neck turned bright red.
Wide-eyed, she looked up at me and stammered, “W-what are you saying?”
I scratched my head and hurried to explain, “It’s nothing! Just… something you say to pets.”
There was truly no ulterior meaning.
***
The Blue-Spotted Centipede, a spirit beast that had cultivated a neidan over three hundred years, observed everything from within the woman’s form.
When it appeared in a dream again late that night, it was ecstatic.
“G-great benefactor! You are truly remarkable!”
This person, who had asked for the centipede’s trust, had handled everything with honor. The centipede remembered how the woman’s heart had raced at the benefactor’s words.
It was a sign of total surrender.
How could the centipede not bow deeply in gratitude?
Now, the children would always be able to absorb the energy from the dissolved neidan within the woman.
The Blue-Spotted Centipede, having witnessed countless greedy humans and very few righteous ones, felt immensely fortunate.
“Haha, well, being a man is about courage and determination,” the benefactor said with a light laugh.
Overwhelmed with thankfulness, the centipede bowed repeatedly and pledged to help with any request—no matter what—before it could finally rest and ascend.
With its grievances resolved and its neidan dissolved, the centipede could no longer remain in this world. Its spirit was already drifting from the woman’s body, and it couldn’t linger much longer.
Today would likely be its final day.
“Is there anything I can do for you? This is my last chance. Though I am like this, if it is within my ability, I will do anything you ask before I depart.”
The benefactor stared silently, a look of intense yearning in their eyes that made the centipede nervous.
Then, in an almost apologetic tone, the benefactor said, “Ahem… There is one thing.”
The centipede grew tense as the benefactor’s gaze swept over its borrowed form, leaving it increasingly unsettled.
The desire in that look seemed to suggest a physical interest in this woman’s shell. Could it be… this righteous person had a hidden appetite?
The centipede, which had thought the benefactor virtuous, now felt uneasy. It hesitated, unsure what to do if the benefactor desired worldly pleasures.
“C-could you take it off, just for a moment…?”
Of course. They wanted it removed.
Resigning itself, thinking of its daughters, the centipede began untying the robes of the borrowed body.
“Do I… need to remove my clothes?”
“W-wait, don’t undress! I mean—could you return to your original form instead?”
“Huh?”
The centipede froze, completely baffled.
The benefactor’s eyes shone with excitement as they explained eagerly.
“The truth is, I’ve never seen a fully mature Blue-Spotted Centipede before. One of your size is a rare sight! If I wait for the kids to grow, it will take ages. I’d love to see your true form, just once, even if it’s only in this dream.
A giant centipede… I mean, who wouldn’t want to see that?
Besides, seeing you fully grown might help me raise the kids better! What do you say?”
Stunned by the request, the centipede could only nod blankly. It shed the borrowed woman’s form and revealed its true self.
The benefactor gasped.
“Wow! It’s incredible! Are you waterproof? When you move, do your front and back legs move together? Can I touch you? How strong is your venom? Do your eyes work? What about your antennae?”
“Wh-what? Yes… I suppose… My legs? I’ve… never paid much attention…”
The benefactor spent a long time enthusiastically examining and prodding the centipede’s massive body. When they finally expressed their gratitude, the Blue-Spotted Centipede felt a growing unease as it began to fade.
“Will my daughters truly be all right?”
That worry remained.
After all, the benefactor’s eyes and hands had shown far more interest in the centipede’s true form than in the beautiful woman it had borrowed.

***
The next day, whatever noona had told the Tang Clan elders, they were absolutely delighted.
Throughout the meal, they couldn’t stop smiling, and after we finished eating and were drinking tea, they suddenly announced:
“Well then, Sohyeop—no, So-ryong—we’ve heard everything from Hwa-eun. From now on, you are officially our son-in-law.”
“Pardon? But, the three years…?”
“The wedding will, of course, wait until you come of age at eighteen.”
“That’s not what I meant…”
“Oh my, son-in-law! Welcome! I am your mother-in-law.”
“Hahaha, now that Hwa-eun’s marriage is settled, nothing but good fortune awaits the Tang Clan!”
Noona had clearly stated I must secure at least one of the Ten Great Poisons within three years. Yet the elders were behaving as though I was already married into the family.
I glanced at noona, pleading silently for an explanation, but she merely sipped her tea calmly, a faint blush on her cheeks.
‘What’s going on? Am I just supposed to accept this?
Ah, maybe noona left out the conditions to avoid upsetting the elders. She might have made it sound final to prevent conflict.
If that’s the case, I should play along for now so she doesn’t face any backlash.’
In this day and age, if the clan head—noona’s father—insisted on something, and noona raised objections or conditions, it could cause a major disturbance.
Besides, marriage wouldn’t happen until I was eighteen anyway. If I succeeded within the timeframe, the conditions would become moot. It seemed they intended to proceed that way.
Noona would also have the opportunity to assess me as I worked toward the goal.
So, I responded with a polite smile.
“Yes, I will do my best. Thank you, everyone.”
With that, the awkward moment passed. But the Tang Clan, true to its proactive nature, decided to begin my instruction that very afternoon.
Now that I was family, it was time for training.
The Heavenly Poison Deity, Tang Mu-seong—whom I knew as Grandfather Mandok Shingun—sat me down with brushes, ink, and books.
As he wrote characters one by one on paper, he began his lesson.
“In the Tang Clan, there are three core arts. Remember them well: Poison Handling Arts, Poison Techniques, and Poison Crafting.”
“Poison Handling Arts, Poison Techniques, and Poison Crafting,” I repeated.
“Correct. Poison Handling Arts involve knowing various poisons and their applications. This includes making antidotes, so study diligently. If you don’t understand poisons well, you can harm yourself. That is why this knowledge is essential.”
“Yes, Grandfather.”
“As for Poison Techniques, I will introduce you to them starting tomorrow. Poison Crafting, as the name implies, is the art of creating poisons. This means drawing toxins from poisonous plants, mushrooms, venomous insects, and snakes, and refining them for use.”
Finally, the explanation I had been waiting for.
While I knew little of Poison Handling or Poison Techniques, the part about crafting poisons from venomous creatures was what excited me most.
To make poisons from venomous creatures, a proper breeding facility was necessary. I was deeply curious about this era’s facilities.
After all, the clan head himself had shown interest in my breeding methods and asked for my help improving the Tang Clan’s setups. I couldn’t help imagining what they currently had.
Grandfather noticed my eager expression and chuckled.
“Look at him, so excited. Would you like to see it for yourself?”
“Yes, Grandfather!”
Smiling warmly, Grandfather motioned for me to follow.
“Very well, then. Let me show you the Tang Clan’s Palace of a Thousand Poisons. Follow me.”
“Yes, Grandfather!”
The Palace of a Thousand Poisons.
My heart beat faster.
The name alone evoked a place teeming with countless venomous beings.
I could hardly wait to see the wonders it held.