Fabre in Sacheon’s Tang Novel - Chapter 19

Chapter 19

“Now that I have covered the various poisons we employ, are there any questions you wish to ask?”
“Hm. So, poisons that cause instant death are not commonly used? I was under the impression that the Golden Poison was a standard tool, since you presented it to me.”
“Haha, that is reserved only for sworn enemies or targets whose elimination is absolutely necessary. Who would dare use something so vicious on a routine basis?”
“I understand. For the moment, I have no further questions.”
The Tang Clan’s use of poison was governed by stringent protocols.
When dealing with martial artists of the righteous path (Baekdo), the most severe poison permitted was one that induced paralysis.
However, if a member of the Tang Clan was attacked, the allowable severity increased. Should one of their warriors be slain, they were authorized to employ lethal poisons against up to a hundred individuals.
This was not a matter of punishing one to caution a hundred (il-beol-baek-gye, 一罰百戒). It was closer to punishing a hundred to deliver a severe warning to all who remained (baek-beol-baek-gye, 百罰百戒).
A merciless doctrine.
“What a difficult family to be part of…”

As I was turning this over in my mind, a question was directed back at me.
“Hm… Since you have no questions, may I pose one? You stated you were quite knowledgeable concerning venomous creatures. It has made me curious.”
“Ah, certainly. Please, ask away.”
“Is the next segment about venomous creatures? That is my specialty!”
“Within the Tang Clan, we do not often utilize venoms taken from living creatures. Can you tell me why these are not a primary resource for us?”
The Tang Clan’s daily instruction was split: martial arts practice occupied the mornings, while afternoons were dedicated to theoretical studies of combat and toxicology.
That morning, I had been taught the Five Poisons Returning to the Origin Art (O-dok-gwi-won-gong, 五毒歸元功), the core discipline for aligning oneself with five specific poisons. Now, in the afternoon, Grandpa—revered as Mandok Shingun, the Heavenly Poison Deity—was questioning why creature venoms weren’t a staple for the clan.
“I believe I know the reason, but I must answer prudently, from an assassin’s perspective.”
Venomous creatures like snakes and spiders fall under the general category of dokmul. While I knew their properties, merely listing facts like a scholar wouldn’t be enough.
Humans are adaptive beings. If I failed to assimilate here, the consequence wouldn’t simply be rejection—it would be my Golden Death (Geum Sal, 金殺). I resolved to adapt in order to survive in this harsh world.
“Besides, my sister is beautiful…”
And, truthfully, I was already committed. My childhood fantasy of amassing a collection of venomous snakes and insects had been supplanted. The foremost item on my list now? My sister.
“I am an assassin. I use poisons. I am a psychopath.”
I began psyching myself up, hardening my mentality to match that of the clan’s killers. Understanding venomous creatures wasn’t sufficient; I needed to consider how the Tang Clan would weaponize them.
In my previous life, I applied this knowledge to save people from venomous bites. Here, it was the reverse. I had to contemplate how to use venom to kill efficiently.
It was akin to being given an apple. Instead of discussing its variety, flavor, or growing season, I needed to talk about how to cook it: apple pie, apple jam, apple tart. Except in this scenario, the recipes were all methods of delivering poison.
After mentally preparing, I offered a cautious reply.
“Well… there are multiple reasons, but the chief one is likely that their application is too inconvenient.”
“Inconvenient? Explain further,” Grandpa said, his interest clearly awakened.
I laid out my reasoning in detail.
“For instance, consider snake venom. Whether in powder or liquid form, there is essentially only one way to deploy it.”
Snake venom is among the most complex natural toxins, consisting of over a hundred different elements including proteins, enzymes, polypeptides, nucleic acids, and others. It is stable and resists degradation; studies indicate venom stored at room temperature for eight decades can still retain its potency.
However, its greatest limitation is that it must be introduced subcutaneously—directly into the bloodstream—to take effect. Ingesting snake venom orally is ineffective.
“In my past life, this was an advantage, not a weakness…”
I framed this limitation from the viewpoint of an assassination clan.
“Therefore, to poison someone with snake venom, you would need to coat a blade or needle and guarantee a penetrating strike.”
Previously, if someone suffered a snakebite, the common practice was to cut the wound and suck the venom out. This was viable because snake venom, being protein-based, is generally not harmful if swallowed—unless there are open sores in the mouth or digestive system.
I went on, “Furthermore, even on a coated blade or needle, the quantity of venom is too minimal to ensure a kill. Snake venom does not dry well, making it difficult to store on a weapon reliably.”
In the modern era, we used measures like lethal dose 50 (LD50) to quantify a substance’s toxicity—the amount needed to kill half of a test population. A blade would deliver far less venom than an actual bite, reducing its lethality.
Grandpa nodded thoughtfully, a slight smile forming.
“Ah, you certainly know your venoms. Yes, snake venom is impractical due to the injection requirement. Unless one is exceptionally proficient with hidden weapons or daggers, it is challenging to use with any reliability.”
Gulp.
“It seems I answered correctly.”
Even though it was praise, it felt unsettling. It was as if he was commending me for having the makings of a skilled psychopathic assassin.
Grandpa noticed my uncomfortable expression and raised an eyebrow.
“What is that look for? Do you not appreciate being acknowledged?”
“No, not at all. I am pleased, of course. But how can a man readily show such emotions?”
“It is acceptable to express your satisfaction around me.”
“Understood, Grandpa.”
I forced another strained smile.
But the interrogation continued.
“Then, what of the venom from dokjiju—venomous spiders?”
I readjusted my mindset, ready to respond.
“Spider venom is typically not very potent, and because spiders are small, gathering a useful amount is exceedingly labor-intensive.”
While spider venom can induce considerable pain, it seldom proves fatal to humans due to the minuscule volume injected. The most dangerous spiders are native to places like South America or Australia, not this region. I shaped my answer to fit this world’s reality.
Grandpa nodded again, appeased by my explanation.
“Correct. Spider venom may cause agony but is inefficient for killing. If our goal is capture rather than death, we use paralytic agents. Employing spider venom would only make the target thrash and scream, which is counterproductive.”
The poison theory lesson was suddenly cut short by a familiar voice from beyond the door.
“Grandfather, might you step outside for a moment?”
The voice was unmistakably my sister’s. It felt like my self-induced conditioning to think like an assassin was finally yielding results.
“You scoundrel, look how your face lights up the moment Hwa-eun calls for you.”
“Ahem…”
Was I that transparent? I hurried to the door and opened it.
There she was, adorned in a brilliant red gown. My sister was like the rose she was so often likened to—noble, stunning, and seemingly beyond reach.
Although we took meals together as part of the Tang Clan’s main family, seeing her never became ordinary. Her beauty was captivating every single time.
“They say beauty fades with age, and that one shouldn’t choose a partner based on looks. But merely gazing at her is enough to satisfy me, like a miser gloating over his hoard.”
Noticing my stare, my sister paused briefly before I offered a formal greeting.
“You have arrived, my lady.”
“Ah, yes, So-ryong. Have you been applying yourself to your martial training and studies?”
“Yes, my lady.”
Grandfather watched our interaction with an amused grin, and once the formalities seemed concluded, he stepped forward to ask, “So, Hwa-eun, what is the matter?”
“Father appears to be facing some difficulty. I believe you should proceed to Hyeonmu Hall.”
“Hyeonmu Hall?”
Hyeonmu Hall was the clan leader’s administrative office, where official matters were conducted. At her words, Grandfather’s brow furrowed. My sister’s expression grew somber as she added, “The clan elders…”
“The clan elders? Can it be…?”
From her tone and expression, I remembered what she had told me days earlier about certain elders who had been creating difficulties for her.
As if confirming my suspicion, Grandfather’s face contorted in annoyance.
“What are they scheming now?”
“Well… there are two issues. One concerns the medicine we dispatched to the Governor of Sichuan. It did not produce the intended effect, and he has sent a letter overflowing with grievances.”
My sister stopped mid-sentence and looked at me. When our eyes met, she continued.
“The other matter is… regarding Mandok Hall and its venomous creatures.”
“Mandok Hall? What about it?”
A sense of dread crept up my spine at the mention of Mandok Hall.
“It is about granting you custodianship of the venomous creatures in Mandok Hall. The elders are voicing strong opposition to the decision.”
“Are these individuals seeking a confrontation with me?”
I had imagined a life where I could pursue my interests with the clan’s extensive resources at my disposal. Now, these branch family elders were attempting to thwart that.
This wasn’t merely opposition; it was an act of war.
“Let us go, my lady!”
“What? Wait!”
Before my sister could respond, I moved through the doorway. Grandfather followed without delay, and we set off together for Hyeonmu Hall.

Chaos at Hyeonmu Hall

As we approached the entrance, turmoil was already evident within.
“How could the clan leader make such a significant decision unilaterally?”
“Precisely! Why were we not consulted before this was settled?”
“Not to mention proposing a match between our cherished Hwa-eun and some orphan with no lineage!”
-Bang!
“Orphan? No lineage? Are you insulting my future son-in-law?!”
“Clan leader, it is not an insult if it is the truth!”
Their heated argument spilled out of the hall, even touching on subjects related to me.
Unable to restrain himself any longer, Grandfather flung the doors open with a thunderous cry.
“I was the one who made that decision! Do you take issue with it?!”
“T-Tae-sang Chieftain…”
“Elder, you have come!”
The elders, who had been arguing vehemently moments before, froze and went pale at Grandfather’s sudden appearance.
My sister and I entered and took up positions behind the clan leader.
Though they spoke more quietly, the elders persisted with their complaints.
“Elder, this is no way to manage such affairs. Mandok Hall is the most vital facility of the Tang Clan. The venomous creatures housed there are treasures of our clan. How can we possibly entrust them to an outsider who is not yet formally married into the family?”
“Indeed, Elder. Even if he professes knowledge of venomous creatures, he has not demonstrated capability sufficient to convince the entire clan.”
It was obvious they were using me as a pretext to challenge the authority of both the clan leader and my sister.
“In my past life, as the eldest grandson, I had to endure outsiders stirring up trouble at family gatherings. Witnessing this same nonsense now makes my blood run hot.”
While I am not usually one to step forward, this time my personal passions were under threat. Remaining silent was not an option.
I stepped out from behind the clan leader, bowed respectfully, and spoke.
“Pardon my interruption, but since my perceived inadequacy seems to be the source of this dispute, would it not be best if I demonstrated my competence to the elders’ satisfaction?”
Every eye in the hall turned toward me.
[So-ryong, what are you doing?]
My sister’s alarmed voice sounded in my mind through our silent communication, but I simply smiled and picked up a letter from the clan leader’s desk.
“If I settle this matter to your satisfaction, will you then acknowledge my capabilities?”
“So-ryong, are you certain about this?”
The clan leader looked up at me, astonished, his face pale with concern.
“This must be the letter from the Governor of Sichuan.”