Fabre in Sacheon’s Tang Novel - Chapter 170

Chapter 170
Tsrut?
『Father, did you summon me?』
I had barely called out for Cho when the door to the clan leader’s hall inched open. A set of shimmering antennae appeared first, then a small head cautiously slipped through the gap.
I must have projected my call with a sense of urgency, because Cho had obviously abandoned whatever he was doing and come at once.
Not that he had many duties within the Tang Clan beyond napping and amusing himself with the others.
My gaze trailed down from Cho’s antennae to his face, instantly catching on the gleam of his venomous fangs under the light.
My heart began to beat faster.
And why wouldn’t it? How could I not be thrilled when I was moments from revealing our coordinated claws?
“Cho, wait for me outside for a little bit, alright? I just need to conclude my discussion with Grandpa.”
– Tst.
Once I’d asked Cho to wait, I turned back to finish speaking with Grandfather Mandok Shingun.
As eager as I was to show off my matching claws to Cho, I couldn’t rudely interrupt a conversation with an elder.
We had arranged to test the potency of the Centipede Poison Fang Claw together at daybreak.
“So, we will examine it at first light tomorrow, correct?”
“Indeed. I will have my warriors make all the preparations. We shall witness its power for ourselves in the morning.”
“Understood. Then, Grandpa, may I be excused?”
“Oh, y-yes….”
“I’ll see you then!”
I gave a lively and eager reply before spinning around to depart. Grandfather Mandok Shingun observed my exit with a slightly dazed look.

The instant I stepped outside, Cho, who had been waiting by the entrance, brightened and called out to me.
Tsrut!
“Hey there, Cho!”
I walked over happily and gave his head a pat. Then, my demeanor became more cautious as I subtly scanned the area.
“You came by yourself, right?”
I couldn’t recall every word I’d impulsively said to Cho earlier, but one instruction was perfectly clear: he absolutely had to come alone.
Having matching claws with Cho was wonderful, but if the others discovered it, I had no idea how I’d endure their pestering.
If Bini or Hyang threw a fit and demanded claws to match their own colors, I would be in real difficulty.
I might have to turn myself yellow for Hyang or batter my nails with a stone to make them purple for Bini.
It was entirely plausible. My daughters were the very essence of jealousy.
So, I needed confirmation.
Fortunately, Cho verified that he was alone.
Tsrut.
Even so, I could feel his puzzlement over my insistence on solitude.
After one more glance around, I pointed upward.
“Cho, let’s go up for a while. I need to speak with you in private.”
Tsrurur.
I could have located a secluded spot on the ground, but nowhere was more secure than the sky.
The moment the words left my mouth, Cho—still curious—wound his body around me and started to raise us both into the air.
As we ascended slowly, he tilted his head and repeated his question.
Tsrut?
He was either asking how high we needed to go or what our destination was.
I looked out toward the horizon, where the sun was dipping behind the mountain peaks.
Ah… the mood is just right.
Instead of answering, I lifted one hand between us and started circulating my energy through the Five Poisons Returning to the Origin Divine Art, directing it to my fingertips using the Centipede Poison Fang Claw formula.
At once, a prickling feeling spread through my fingers.
Then, my nails lengthened, shining with a vibrant emerald light.
The very same shade as Cho’s body.
“Fufu. What do you think, Cho? Now your father looks just like you.”
Tsrut?
Initially, he seemed not to comprehend.
But the moment he registered the dazzling, jewel-toned color shimmering between us, his antennae went completely still.
Then, as if jolted by electricity, they shot straight up like exclamation points.
His amazement erupted.
Tsrururur!?
“Haha, I just wanted to coordinate with my daughter, so I made a bit of an effort. Hahaha.”
Tsrut tsrut!
A tsunami of pure, overwhelming delight poured from Cho’s heart and crashed over me.
He tightened his coils around me, wrapping his body two additional times.
As if declaring, I am never letting go of Father again!
This is the very picture of pure love between a father and his daughter!
“You like it that much?”
Tsrut!
“Well, if Cho is happy, then her father is happy, too. But you must remember, this is our secret from your siblings, understand?”
Tsrururut!
…It was inevitable that they would find out eventually, but that was a worry for another day.
For the present, I resolved to bask completely in this heartfelt moment with Cho.
Chururup… Chururup…
“Haha, easy now, you’re going to lick the skin right off my face.”
Overcome with exhilaration, Cho squeezed me tightly, almost cracking my ribs, while continuously covering my face in licks.
Just as I was luxuriating in this father-daughter bonding time—
Tak tak! Tak tak tak!
Something small patted my head.
Startled, I glanced up to see Hyang tapping me insistently with his front feet.
Oh, no.
I’d grown so accustomed to his soft, cushiony weight on my head that I’d forgotten he was there entirely.
I froze in alarm.
Was Hyang… feeling jealous?
But before I could utter a word, Hyang stomped on my head once more and, for the first time, communicated something that wasn’t about food.
Bip bip!
That’s enough. Descend. It is time to eat.
…It seemed Hyang was a tad more detached and composed than I had imagined.
***
—Cock-a-doodle-doo.
The far-off crow of a rooster rang through the serene morning.
The second the first light of dawn brushed the sky, I got out of bed and went to check on my venomous companions.
All around my room, they were splayed out in profound sleep.
Bini and Cho were lying limp on a heap of straw, totally at ease.
Hyang had been asleep stuck to my body, but when I gently detached him and set him on my bedding, he nestled into the warmth, apparently satisfied.
I softly petted the rigid forms of Moji and Soji dozing on my desk, then turned to Dong, who was curled between Seol and Bing. Noticing my movement, he shifted slightly but quickly fell back asleep.
Finally, I checked on Hyang. He was coiled up on an enormous pile of straw in the room’s corner.
The reason they were all so sound asleep, even though it was morning?
Most of my venomous creatures are naturally nocturnal.
Centipedes, lizards, and toads—they are all inherently active during the night.
However, animals raised in captivity often adapt their active hours to their keeper’s schedule. Consequently, my children had slowly become more daytime-oriented over time.
Still, since their natural instinct is to sleep at dawn, this remained their most defenseless period.
“How can they all be so adorable even while sleeping?”
I took a moment to appreciate their serene faces. I wished I could let them sleep more, but I needed to wake Cho.
I knelt next to him, gently scratching his chin while projecting my thoughts into his mind.
‘Cho, time to wake up. We have to go see Grandpa.’
The reason for rousing him?
Today was the day Grandfather Mandok Shingun and I were scheduled to test the Centipede Poison Fang Claw.
Since it involved Cho’s venom, it was only right for him to be there to observe.
Tsu… Tsut?
Cho let out a drowsy sound as he awoke, his eyes instantly darting around the room.
He was checking to see if anyone else had stirred.
Luckily, the others were still deep in slumber.
Sensing Cho’s relief, I took a final look at the sleeping creatures and then slipped out silently with him.
—Creak.
We gently closed the door behind us.

Just after we stepped outside, I detected someone approaching.
A faint outline in the distance.
From the shape of the figure, it was unmistakably Hwa-eun.
If there was a young woman in the Tang Clan’s inner quarters at this hour, it was either a servant or Hwa-eun. And I could never mistake Hwa-eun.
I hurried toward her, and the moment she saw me, she ran up, smiling broadly as she took hold of my sleeve.
Ever since I had claimed her as my woman in the cave, the nature of our relationship had changed subtly.
Physical touch wasn’t particularly common in this era, so her holding onto my sleeve was practically the same as holding hands.
As I looked at her affectionately, she returned my gaze and spoke.
“So-ryong, let’s go together.”
“If you’re weary, you should rest a while longer, Hwa-eun.”
“No. I am far too curious. After what I witnessed yesterday, how could I possibly restrain myself?”
Before retiring last night, I had privately shown Hwa-eun my Centipede Poison Fang Claw.
As someone genuinely dedicated to poison techniques, it must have left her too excited to sleep.
“In that case, let’s go.”
With that, Hwa-eun, Cho, and I made our way to the training grounds, where Grandfather Mandok Shingun was already waiting.
“Did you rest well through the night?”
“Did you rest well, Grandfather?”
Tsrrr Tsr!
Even Cho politely repeated our greetings, which earned an approving nod from Grandfather.
“Yes, did you all sleep adequately?”
“Yes.”
“Then, shall we commence?”
Grandfather was plainly just as impatient to see the outcome.
He moved aside, unveiling a wooden training dummy.
At first sight, it resembled a typical post used for martial practice. However, there was something unusual about it.
Something was fastened to the wooden frame.
‘…What is that?’
Moving closer, I saw what was bound to it—a pig.
A pig that had been skinned and cleaned, its flesh pulled taut over the wooden frame like a second layer of skin.
“What is this?”
“This is how the Tang Clan tests poison techniques.”
Hwa-eun’s explanation was logical.
Cho’s venom wouldn’t impact wood, so they had to use pig flesh instead.
Nodding in understanding, I assumed my stance in front of the dummy.
“Then, I’ll begin.”
“Proceed.”
I drew a deep breath, activated the Five Poisons Returning to the Origin Divine Art, and channeled my energy through my body.
As anticipated, the moment I guided the energy using the Centipede Poison Fang Claw formula, my nails extended and took on a brilliant emerald glow.
Without pausing, I performed the first technique.
“Poison Fang Marks the Rock!”
The move emulated the way a centipede’s venomous fangs leave an impression on stone.
My thumb, index, and middle fingers pressed together, piercing the pig flesh like two sharp fangs.
Since the Centipede Poison Fang Claw was meant to replicate a centipede’s bite, it didn’t feature three talons but instead simulated a pair of fangs.
Crunch!
As my fingers plunged into the flesh, a faint, burning sound ensued.
Sizzle!
When I withdrew my hand, two small, walnut-sized holes remained in the pig’s flesh.
Grandfather Mandok Shingun stepped forward immediately, probing the wound with a silver needle as he evaluated the damage.
“Hm… The potency is less than I anticipated. It appears that, unlike a real centipede’s jaws, your nails cannot inject a substantial quantity of venom at once. That is likely because your body does not contain much of Cho’s venom.”
It was true.
I had only absorbed a single drop of Cho’s venom, letting it merge with my internal energy. Naturally, the effect wouldn’t be as strong.
I felt somewhat disheartened.
But Grandfather went on.
“Still, while it may not be fatal, it could undoubtedly cause severe injury. And do not be too disheartened. I believe I can improve it using a method I am developing.”
“You can improve it?”
I tilted my head curiously, and Grandfather leaned in a little, speaking in a lowered voice.
“I am referring to the Blood-Water Venom Claw. If we apply the principles of steeping a weapon in brain fluid and blood to increase its toxicity, we may be able to use the same reasoning to draw out more of Cho’s venom.”
“Ooooh!”
The Blood-Water Venom Claw!
And to think the very technique I had retrieved could be utilized in this manner.
‘Damn, this potential is incredible.’
As I admired the concept, Grandfather continued to inspect my hand.
“Try channeling your energy once more.”
He muttered to himself while studying my transformed nails.
“Hmm… It is astounding how your claws can now discharge venom effectively. I suspect the Five Poisons Returning to the Origin Divine Art has attained the Second Venom Stage, enabling you to saturate the Centipede Poison Fang Claw with venom. If you reach the Third Venom Stage, you may even be able to imbue the Explosive Toad Palm with Hyang’s venom.”
“Truly, Grandfather?”
“Yes. That would be a fearsome technique.”
Infusing the Explosive Toad Palm with Hyang’s venom?
That would directly consume a martial artist’s internal energy.
Wouldn’t that be akin to Mana Burn from fantasy games?
Just as I was trembling with anticipation—
Kisss!?
A sharp, surprised hiss made everyone turn.
Yo-hwa was staring at my glowing, emerald nails with a look of complete and utter disbelief.
…Damn.
It seemed my claws had just been discovered.