Fabre in Sacheon’s Tang Novel - Chapter 206

Chapter 206Of course. Here is the paraphrased chapter, adhering to all your requirements.

‘Is my current level really not enough? But I’ve clearly progressed, haven’t I?’
Hearing Sister Seol say I needed further growth, I took another moment to evaluate my own strength.
From my point of view, I didn’t feel deficient in the slightest.
Initially, I had only taken in Cho’s poison to achieve the first poison level. After that, absorbing Hyang’s poison allowed me to break through to the second poison level.
This time, I had unintentionally taken in Cheongwol’s poison, which raised me to the third poison level.
And this wasn’t just any ordinary third poison level, was it?
The three poisons I possessed weren’t common varieties. They were three of the five foundational poisons essential to the Five Poisons Returning to the Origin Art.
It was a world apart from the average three-poison practitioners of the Tang Clan.
Not only was the quality of the poison incomparably superior, but my very physical constitution had been fundamentally remade.
This was precisely why I failed to grasp what could possibly be missing.
I hadn’t been able to properly assess my new capabilities since my body was currently shattered, but if I compared it to my advancement from the first to the second poison level, the third level had to be on an entirely new scale.
So I felt compelled to ask again.
“You’re telling me I need to improve my level? But I’ve already absorbed Cheongwol’s poison and attained the third poison level. I’ve even collected three of the five core poisons for the Five Poisons Returning to the Origin Art.”
Sister Seol wagged her finger.
Wearing an expression that said I was missing the point, she clarified.
“This isn’t about your internal energy or your martial arts tier. You haven’t been solely practicing the tenets of the Five Poisons Returning to the Origin Art. You’ve been cultivating the Beast Heart Art itself, correct?
Beast Heart Art isn’t a discipline where your rank improves simply because your energy reserves expand.
Beast Heart Art demands the cultivation of the heart. To achieve perfect harmony with that being, you must train your mind.”
“What? Train my mind?”
Her statement was so unexpected it reminded me of people from my previous life who would ask if I understood the path to enlightenment.
I could only blink in bewilderment at Sister Seol’s explanation.
Then, a sound came from where Cheongwol was.
— Krr…
Turning my head, I met Cheongwol’s gaze as it gave a slight wave of its pincers.
It had the distinct air of saying, ‘Well then, best of luck. I’m leaving now.’
Then, it began to turn away.
Given that it had carried me all this way because of my injuries, it was certainly showing kindness, but it was also making it clear it did not intend to remain with me.
However, I couldn’t simply allow Cheongwol to depart like that.
It wasn’t merely about holding onto the creature out of desire.
The larger problem was that the Five Venoms Sect had already laid eyes on Cheongwol.
If I let it go now, it would become a target for them.
If those scoundrels discovered Cheongwol had gone back to the desert alone, they would undoubtedly attempt to capture it once more.
Clutching my injured side, I stumbled forward to block its path.
“Wait, if you go now, those people might come after you again…”
— Krrr…
Hearing my worry, Cheongwol looked at me as if to say, ‘Then I’ll simply crush them again.’
It sounded utterly casual, as if handling them was no more difficult than stepping on bugs.
Judging by the terrible odor and remains I’d noticed upon waking, Cheongwol’s confidence was not unfounded.
It had likely annihilated a dozen of the Five Venoms Sect’s fighters with little effort.
But no matter how resilient its body was, just as I had found a weakness to target, there had to be a method to capture Cheongwol too.
Those villains were desperate to collect spirit beasts.
They had already devised a counter for Cho’s poison.
“That might be so, but it could still be dangerous… Ah, it’s just too risky to let you go alone.”
It was at that exact moment.
— Churr?
Abruptly, Hyang slipped out from within my robes, poking its head through my collar to look at Cheongwol with a tilted head.
It still appeared sleepy.
Its antennae were slightly ruffled, as if it had just woken from a nap in my clothing.
Then, seeing Cheongwol, it suddenly went rigid.
— Krr.
— Churr!
Hyang’s antennae shot upright in surprise before it launched itself into the air.
Then, like an overexcited puppy, it flew directly at Cheongwol and attached itself to one of its massive front legs.
A tiny yellow silkworm was now clinging to a gigantic gray leg.
That was the sight.
— Churrr!
Refusing to release its grip, Hyang wrapped itself tightly around the leg.
Cheongwol emitted a deeply flustered sound.
— Kr, Krrt?
It seemed completely bewildered that such a small creature had fastened itself to its leg and wouldn’t let go.
Despite its fearsome appearance, Cheongwol was actually a quite thoughtful entity.
Even when it had carried me, it had been exceedingly cautious, anxious about causing me harm.
Now, concerned it might accidentally injure Hyang with a careless movement, it became completely still.
— Kr, Krrr!
— Chur!
And so, a disagreement commenced.
“Release me!”
“I won’t! I won’t let big sister go!”
“Huh? What in the—?!”
As the deadlock between Hyang and Cheongwol continued, Cheongwol eventually shot me a look of appeal.
But lately, did Hyang ever pay me any mind?
This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.
Whether it was the defiant phase of a four-year-old or some insectile version of teenage rebellion, this little being had even declined to evolve despite all encouragement.
I offered Cheongwol a helpless shrug.
“I can’t make Hyang listen either.”
Cheongwol instantly growled in irritation.
— Krrr!
Its sharp cry practically shouted, ‘How can you, as the father, not manage your own child?!’
But I had my own grievances.
Did it believe children ever obeyed their parents?
Try raising three daughters and then we can talk. The elders in my past life weren’t mistaken about a thing. Not one of my children heeds me.
I pouted internally but quickly collected myself and cautiously proposed a solution to Cheongwol.
This was a chance.
“Cheongwol, rather than returning, why not stay with us for a while? Hyang very clearly doesn’t wish to part with you so soon.”
— Krrr?
“We won’t remain here permanently. Once I’ve healed, we will depart. But wouldn’t it be nicer to stay with us until then? If you return to the desert, you’ll be alone again. Here, you have Hyang, Cho, and Bini. You wouldn’t be lonely, right?”
Cheongwol considered my words.
Then, after a short pause, it let out a somewhat resigned sigh.
— Krrr… ‘It seems I have little choice…’
It was agreement.
Hyang, overjoyed, scrambled up Cheongwol’s body and started enthusiastically licking its forehead.
— Churr, churr.
— Krrr!
Cheongwol recoiled, startled by the affectionate gesture, but Hyang would not be stopped.
‘Excellent work, my little one!’
Since Hyang had secured this opportunity for me, I needed to use this recovery period wisely.
***
After we reached Gunryong, the sect leader welcomed us and offered his thanks. We were given rooms set aside for the honored guests of the Fortune Telling Troupe.
While the others were permitted to rest, my medical treatment started without delay.
There was no time to waste—my injuries were far too grave.
“Here, place him down over here.”
“Understood, Elder.”
With Taeheo’s help, I was taken into Gunryong’s medical hall.
The air was dense with the powerful aroma of herbs, numerous medicinal ingredients hanging in sacks from the ceiling.
The feeling was similar to the Tang Clan’s medical hall, and in the middle of it all was the bamboo bed where I was positioned.
As soon as I was lying down, the elder of Gunryong took off my upper clothing. Seeing the cloth Taeheo had used to wrap my injury, he gave a smile.
“If Taeheo attended to you, then your state shouldn’t be too poor.”
But Taeheo shook his head.
“No, Elder. The wound was excessively deep, and it had petrification effects on it, so I was unable to inspect it thoroughly.”
“Is that right? Then we must look inside first.”
— Tuduk.
The elder of Gunryong produced a curved blade, likely a medical scalpel, and sliced through the cloth securing my wound.
As the bandages came off, the hardened petrification flaked away with them.
It must have naturally sloughed off as I built up a resistance after absorbing Cheongwol’s poison.
Underneath, a severe wound was exposed.
The deep indentation from fingers had created a cavity nearly the size of a fist at my waist.
There were also small punctures from five fingers and, separately, ripped flesh that had merged into a large tear.
The red marks spread across my skin like fissures.
“The injury isn’t in a lethal location, but its proximity to your internal organs is worrisome. Have you ingested anything?”
“I don’t believe my organs are damaged, but I’ve had nothing except the smallest amount of water.”
I had been advised to avoid drinking just in case, so I had only moistened my lips without actually swallowing water.
At Taeheo’s words, the elder in charge of the medicine gave a nod.
“You did well. Then we will need to investigate more closely.”
Just as the elder reached out to probe my wound more carefully—
— Chururur.
A sound emerged from within my sleeve.
Glancing down, I saw Hyang poking its head out, now awake and staring fixedly at my injury.
“A large centipede is here as well?”
The elder didn’t appear startled, probably because I had already introduced my creatures to the leader of Gunryong and the other elders earlier.
Still, he was hesitant to get too close upon seeing Hyang.
Before I could say anything to urge Hyang to move back, Taeheo smiled and addressed it gently.
“Hyang, we need to look at your father’s body. Could you move aside for a moment?”
— Churr!
Obligingly, Hyang scrambled up a nearby pillar and settled on top, peering down at my wound from above.
“Haha, I was skeptical when I first heard, but seeing it for myself, I can’t help but be convinced. It truly behaves like a child, doesn’t it?”
The sect leader observed Hyang with a kind smile.
At his words, Hyang tilted its head and made a sound.
— Churr?
“What is it saying?”
Hyang was asking if I was gravely injured.
I translated the question for the sect leader.
“It’s asking if my injuries are serious.”
“Oh? I understand. I was just about to check, so I will explain as I examine him.”
The elder of Gunryong placed his hand near my wound, feeling my energy flow and transferring a small amount of qi into me.
After a long period of careful evaluation, the elder straightened up with a look of astonishment.
“The meridians surrounding your wound were nearly ruined. However, with the correct treatment, they will heal. But the wound on your waist is quite deep… a substantial scar will remain.”
— Churr, chururur.
Hyang called out again.
This time, the elder of Gunryong looked at me expectantly, awaiting a translation.
Sighing, I translated once more.
“Hyang is saying… ‘A great deal of red water flowed out,’ meaning blood, and it wants to be certain I am not in pain.”
— Cough.
The elder let out a soft laugh.
“Hahaha, such a devoted child. Very well, don’t fret. I will ensure your father doesn’t suffer.”
With such endearing words, Hyang had completely won the elder over.
The sect leader smiled warmly before turning his attention back to me.
“For now, I will commence the treatment. You may feel sleepy, and if you do, it’s fine to rest. Will you stay here and watch the entire procedure? It will take a considerable amount of time.”
— Churur.
In response to the elder’s question, Hyang gave a small nod before slipping out through the medical hall’s door and vanishing outside.
The elder muttered to himself in a longing tone.
“…I would very much like to raise one myself.”
It appeared Hyang had successfully won another convert to the appeal of venomous creature companionship.
***
Slipping away from the potent herbal smells, Hyang hurried off in a specific direction.
It was going to see its big sister.
Backtracking from memory, it moved towards the training ground where it had last seen her.
On its way, a voice called out.
“Huh? A centipede?”
— Sreung.
A man unsheathed his sword upon noticing Hyang, but another warrior close by swiftly stopped him, his face concerned.
“Hey! Have you lost your senses? We were informed the guests from the Tang Clan brought venomous creatures. You can’t just assault one because it’s unfamiliar!”
“Ah, right. I acted without thinking.”
“Be more cautious. I hear these creatures are regarded as children by their master.”
Ignoring the two warriors, Hyang continued on to the large training ground.
Ahead, its big sister was lounging in the sunlight, eyes shut in contentment.
It was a peaceful picture.
It reminded Hyang of how their mother would pour water from the well to clean them, an act that Cheongwol had always appreciated.
Its big sister was drying off in the sun.
Hyang scurried over to her and spoke.
— Churur. 『Big sister Cheongwol, how can I become stronger?』
Its thoughts were consumed by the memory of the wound marring their father’s waist.