Fabre in Sacheon’s Tang Novel - Chapter 230

Chapter 230
Initially, the three elders had been making their way down from the Tang Clan’s main residence, situated midway up the mountain, using light footwork in a relaxed manner, their hands held behind their backs.

However, the instant they caught sight of Cheongwol in the distance below, they shared a look and immediately propelled themselves toward us.

Their eyes went wide the moment they obtained a clear view of Cheongwol.

It was no surprise—Cheongwol’s magnificent tail was arched gracefully over her back like a ceremonial canopy, and her pincers were spread wide, as if she were squaring her shoulders with pride.

This was because I had instructed Cheongwol to stiffen her posture and display her most impressive stance.

“Krorr. ‘You informed me this was home. Why must I hold a combative pose?’”

“Because I wish to present you to everyone.”

“Krorr. ‘Present me?’”

“Indeed. Your magnificent form.”

“Kr-Krorr. ‘You… you have begun speaking in such a manner now.’”

While Cheongwol was becoming slightly flustered, the three elders reached us and promptly erupted in exclamations of shock.

Naturally, any member of the Tang Clan who witnessed Hwa-eun and me mounted atop Cheongwol would be struck speechless.

“This—this is! Without question…”

“Ohhh! That enormous body of stone! That tail! This must be one of the Ten Great Venomous Beasts, the Ten-Thousand-Year Stone Armored Scorpion!”

“It truly is… the Ten-Thousand-Year Stone Armored Scorpion from the Ten Great Venomous Beasts!”

As anticipated from the clan’s foremost elder, its most powerful master, and its patriarch—both Mandok Shingun and my father-in-law identified Cheongwol’s true nature immediately.

Their smiles stretched from ear to ear.

‘It seems we will not be harshly rebuked for merely departing to Qinghai without extensive prior notice.’

Their expressions suggested that we would not face severe punishment for having sent only a message before traveling to Qinghai. Just as Hwa-eun and I allowed our expressions to ease—

Krurrr!

A sharp cry pierced the air.

As the shrill sound echoed, I looked toward the end of my right arm, where Hyang was holding her head high, her luminous form twisting in the sunlight and scattering reflections in every direction.

With her ruby-red body shimmering like crystallized blood, Hyang illuminated the surroundings with a dazzling, club-light radiance, ensuring she commanded attention. Though beautiful, her actions likely indicated displeasure that Grandfather and Father-in-law had noticed Cheongwol first.

‘Even though she holds respect for Elder Sister Cheongwol, is she declaring that she will not relinquish her status as the favorite?’

As Hyang’s display and cry resonated, exactly as she intended, the elders immediately took note of her and voiced their awe once more.

“C-could that possibly be… H-Hyang?!”

“Father, that is unmistakably—”

“Yes, indeed. That is without a doubt the form known as the Flame-Blood Crystal Scorpion!”

Hearing this confirmed by both Mandok Shingun and my father-in-law, Hwa-eun and I exchanged a glance and nodded.

“Flame-Blood Crystal Scorpion.”

“Flame-Blood Crystal Scorpion.”

The name signified a scorpion of blazing fire and blood crystal. A rather fierce title, to be sure. It was a direct, descriptive name, yet it could also be understood affectionately as “Little Flame-Blood Crystal Scorpion,” which fit Hyang perfectly.

While we were admiring Hyang’s true appearance, the two elders continued their exposition.

“Yes, the Flame-Blood Crystal Scorpion. Among the Twenty-Four Venom Types: Heaven, Earth, Black, Yellow; Sun, Moon, Stars, and Dust; Cloud, Rain, Snow, and Thunder; Gold, Silver, Water, and Fire; Red, Blue, White, and Black; Flower, Tree, Grass, and Ink.

It represents the Fire attribute within the Twenty-Four—a tremendously powerful creature of flame and poison, renowned for emerging unscathed even from the heart of a inferno.”

“It is said that while its pincers may not equal those of the Stone Armored Scorpion, they are still capable of shearing through riverbanks.”

True to their status as senior members of the Tang Clan, they appeared knowledgeable about Hyang’s evolved state.

Learning of these latent abilities we were unaware of ourselves elicited even greater admiration.

“Huuuh!”

So Cho, the firstborn, possessed a water attribute. And Hyang, the second, held a fire attribute?

This meant Hyang was a filial daughter of the fire type. I made a mental note to reconsider my personal definitions of filial piety.

Our Cho and Hyang were both excellent daughters—they simply had different elemental natures. Cho, the water-type filial daughter. Hyang, the fire-type filial daughter.

There was absolutely no possibility that our Hyang could ever be a bad daughter.

‘Correct. I must not allow my own limited perspective to brand Hyang as unfilial.’

Startled by the revelation of Hyang’s true nature, I had delayed offering my greetings. Realizing this, I leapt down to land before the three elders, with Hwa-eun touching down beside me.

We promptly bowed and offered our formal greetings with clasped fists.

“We have returned. Please forgive me for journeying to Qinghai without prior discussion.”

“We are home.”

Since the atmosphere was positive, I attempted to address the most likely reason for reprimand first—and, just as anticipated, their reactions were warmly predictable.

Exactly as I had guessed, the entire matter of us going to Qinghai without explicit permission swiftly evaporated into insignificance.

“You scoundrels. I was prepared to chastise you for rushing off to perilous Qinghai without a proper word… but under these circumstances, should I not be commending you?”

“Precisely, Father. Each time he travels, he returns with yet another venomous creature. We should be praising him.”

“That is correct. This merits praise.”

‘I knew it.’

Of course! Every time their son-in-law embarks on a journey, he comes back with one of the most prized creatures among either the Ten Great Venomous Beasts or the Twenty-Four Venoms. Naturally, they would praise me.

Raising my chin slightly, I responded.

“It was all for the benefit of the clan…”

Though my own achievement, I was striving for a humble tone—I was about to continue, to speak of how I had devoted myself entirely to the family, when—

“Mother… hic…”

Abruptly, Hwa-eun interrupted me with a voice quivering with emotion.

The jovial mood instantly solidified, as if doused with icy water.

And when her voice broke with tears, my father-in-law, mother-in-law, and Mandok Shingun all stared at her in pure astonishment.

“Hwa-eun is crying?”

“What on earth…?”

“Mother… So-ryong… hic…”

‘What in the—?!’

Why was she suddenly becoming emotional? Was she simply overwhelmed by the return home?

But when she uttered my name and then rushed into her mother’s embrace, bursting into full-bodied tears, the eyes of everyone who had just been praising me transformed, becoming cold and suspicious.

The earlier warmth vanished—now their gazes were laden with doubt.

“T-the situation is…”

I didn’t even understand why Hwa-eun was crying about me, so I began to stammer—

And then I heard her voice, muffled against her mother’s shoulder.

“Sniff… Mother, I beg you… do not allow So-ryong to travel out again. He nearly perished… on two occasions this time…”

“Ah, so that is the reason…”

Now that I considered it, her face had borne a concerned expression the entire journey back. Perhaps it wasn’t solely due to her anxiety or my broken ribs—maybe all that pent-up emotion had finally overflowed upon seeing her mother.

Her fiancé had almost died—twice. Of course it would all pour out now.

“What?!”

“Is this true?!”

“Hwa-eun, are you certain?!”

“Yes… hic…”

Their eyes widened even further than when they first saw Cheongwol and Hyang.

My father-in-law and Mandok Shingun surged forward and each seized one of my wrists.

“A-ah, no, I am perfectly fine now…”

“Remain still!”

“We heard your heart even ceased beating. There is no possibility you are fine!”

Their voices were stern as they clamped onto my wrists to feel my pulse. After a brief moment, both men spoke with severe expressions.

“As I suspected—his pulse is irregular!”

“I also sense what seems to be a broken rib. This is unacceptable. We are going to the Medical Hall at once!”

“No, truly, I am alright… I have not even introduced Hohae and Hongdan yet…”

“You are not alright, you fool!”

“No wonder Hwa-eun was weeping!”

Before I could process it, I was being hauled toward the Medical Hall at a pace even swifter than when the three of them had descended using light footwork.

‘Wait, the praise… my celebratory return!’

My victorious homecoming had now been transformed into a direct admission to the medical ward.

***

The moment we entered the Medical Hall, they removed my upper garments. The elders stared at me, their faces rigid with alarm.

Not that I could fault them. My side still bore a long scar, and my chest was mottled with bruises from my fractured ribs.

“Good heavens… this is no ordinary injury. That scar on your side—it appears aged. How did you receive it?”

“I was stabbed by an assassin belonging to the Five Venoms Sect.”

“What?! An assassin from the Five Venoms?! Those wretched curs!”

“They dared to attack our son-in-law?!”

As soon as Hwa-eun clarified the origin of the wound, both Mandok Shingun and Father-in-law exploded in anger.

Fortunately, Mother-in-law intervened to soothe them.

“Please, both of you, compose yourselves. We must attend to our son-in-law first.”

“Ah, yes…”

Following that brief outburst, Mandok Shingun examined my injury and spoke again.

“Still, it appears the treatment was administered skillfully?”

“The wound was profound, so I received healing arts and medicine from the Kunlun Sect. While we were in Qinghai, So-ryong succeeded in defeating a massive Wind-Swelling Beast that the Five Venoms had unleashed upon the inhabitants. The Kunlun Sect offered us a gift in gratitude.”

“So that is what transpired!”

“Yes, and it is also where we encountered the Ten-Thousand-Year Stone Armored Scorpion. Cheongwol rescued So-ryong’s life when he was at death’s door.”

“Hoho, a truly spiritual beast. Nevertheless, even with Kunlun’s treatment, the scar persists. Had you applied the Tang Clan’s Golden Healing Salve, that scar would not even be present now.”

Every member of the Tang Clan speaks of that Golden Healing Salve with utmost faith. It is practically a matter of pride.

As I was reflecting on their evident pride, Father-in-law went on.

“Well, it is fortunate the wound has closed. But the true concern lies elsewhere.”

“Yes, certainly. How did your ribs become like this?”

I had believed the stab wound was the primary issue, but they seemed more preoccupied with another matter.

A puncture could potentially impact heart function, and from what I had overheard earlier, my irregular pulse was likely connected. This probably indicated I would require a period of recuperation until my condition stabilized.

“I suspect the irregular pulse is a result of the Thunderflare energy originating from Hohae…”

As Hwa-eun completed her explanation of my ailment’s cause, both men nodded and replied with grave expressions.

“So the erratic pulse was induced by that狂暴的能量 (bào zào de néngliàng – violent energy), Thunderflare? And compounded by five fractured ribs…”

“We will assign someone to observe him until his pulse steadies. You will need to convalesce for a time, until the ribs mend.”

“Almost certainly, yes.”

Sensing the opportunity, I spoke up softly.

“I—I apologize for causing you concern.”

Thinking a severe scolding was imminent, I preemptively apologized. But then both of them shifted their gaze from my body to my face, looked toward Hwa-eun and Mother-in-law, and said,

“We must examine the lower body. You two, please wait outside.”

“M-my lower body is unharmed, truly…”

It seemed they were about to remove my trousers, but as I’d sustained no injuries there, I attempted to protest.

Nevertheless, they insisted on a full examination, so Hwa-eun and Mother-in-law exited the room. The instant they departed, both Father-in-law and Mandok Shingun looked at me and smiled.

…Wait. I thought I was about to be severely admonished? What was this unanticipated kindness?

I blinked, and the two of them spoke again.

“You fool, do you believe it is acceptable to distress Hwa-eun in such a manner?”

“Exactly. When she began to cry, it gave us quite a shock, you know.”

I must have appeared bewildered, because the two of them softened their tones, explaining more gently, as if concerned I might mistake their meaning.

“Do you understand why we did not reprimand you immediately?”

“…Sir?”

“Haha, do not trouble yourself over that. You accomplished something monumental. Who would scold you for that?
Only… please, look after yourself. No matter how grand the achievement, what value does it hold if you lose your life in the process? There is always a cost for great deeds—but if that cost is your life, it is too high.
And as I mentioned before, are you attempting to make our Hwa-eun a widow before the wedding night even arrives?”

“N-no, sir!”

I shook my head vehemently at Father-in-law’s words. His expression softened, and Mandok Shingun gave my shoulder a pat.

“That is correct, So-ryong. It is ordinary to sustain injuries when undertaking significant matters. We can mend your body, certainly—but your life is invaluable, so you must always exercise caution.
Hwa-eun is clearly still distressed. Therefore, for the time being, simply focus on resting and recovering.”

‘Is this… the understanding between men?’

Yes, perhaps I had endured much, but that is simply the way of things for men who undertake fieldwork. Sometimes you get bitten by venomous creatures and find yourself in the medical ward, correct?

It felt as though we were connected, men comprehending the realities for men—until the two of them smiled and continued.

“And from this point onward, you must enhance your martial arts to ensure this never occurs again.”

“Precisely. Had your martial arts been stronger, this would not have happened. Nearly being killed by Five Venoms hounds? This is unbecoming for a son-in-law of the Tang Clan!”

“Once your body has recovered, you will need to train with even greater intensity.”

“From what Hyang indicated, you have likely ascended to the Three-Venom Realm. Once your body is healed, you will require concentrated training to fully acclimate to that level.”

“Yes, sir!”

‘Wait, hold on—how did the conversation arrive here?! I believed we were sharing a moment of understanding!’

There was no question about it… I was destined for training of the most arduous kind.