Fabre in Sacheon’s Tang Novel - Chapter 234

Chapter 234
Of course. Here is the paraphrased chapter:

Before the first light of morning could touch the sky, urgent news had come, forcing an immediate assembly in the Tang Clan’s Patriarch Hall.
The entirety of Tangga Mountain was illuminated, as bright as the midday sun.
I was already inside the hall with Grandfather when my father-in-law rushed in, his appearance slightly untidy from being roused from sleep.
Close behind him entered my mother-in-law and Hwa-eun—who remained lovely even with her hair tousled—trailing her father into the great room.
“Father, what in the world has occurred?!”
“We will discuss it once all are present. Hold your questions.”
Although Grandfather answered my father-in-law and told him to be patient, Hwa-eun, sitting next to me, softly pressed her elbow against my arm.
She seemed to be indicating that he could not share details prematurely. When I looked toward Grandfather instead of responding, Hwa-eun gave a small nod of understanding.
She had realized this was a matter of such gravity that I was not at liberty to speak of it first.
After the direct lineage members of the Tang Clan were seated, more individuals entered through the opened doors: the clan elders, the Five Dragons and Three Peaks, and even Sister Seol.
This was evidently not merely an internal clan affair—it had to be a significant event in the martial world to warrant summoning everyone in this manner.
“Great Elder, what is the reason for this, before the sun is up~”
“What could be so pressing?”
“What is happening at such an early hour?”
“Have you heard any news?”
“Sir So, do you know what this is?”
“What is all this about~”
“If you wait a moment, Grandfather will clarify everything.”
A murmur of voices filled the hall, growing into a low rumble of conversation as the doors remained open.
Once everyone had found their places around the large round table, Grandfather stood and lifted a hand to call for quiet.
Then, the item he had ordered the guards to fetch earlier was carried into the hall.
“Unfurl it in the middle.”
“At once, Great Elder.”
Two guards acknowledged the command and unrolled an enormous scroll onto the table’s center.
What was revealed before us was a vast map sketched onto tanned leather—a chart of the clan’s territories.
It was not exactly the same as the one I recalled, but it was a map all the same.
Grandfather then took a long pointer fashioned from black bamboo, tapped a specific location, and began to speak.
– Tap!
“Early this morning, while I was supervising So-ryong’s internal energy cultivation, a missive arrived from the Sichuan Branch of the Martial Alliance.
Its contents were this: Ho Gwan Gate, a lesser sect located near the border of Guizhou and Sichuan, has been eradicated.”
“……”
The first response was a hollow, shocked silence.
Then, like a burst dam, a tempest of exclamations broke out.
“E-Eradicated?!”
“Are you saying Ho Gwan Gate was completely destroyed?!”
“But they have had dealings with our Tang Clan for generations!”
“With more than two hundred disciples and their families, they would have numbered seven or eight hundred souls—are you telling us all are dead?”
“Who was responsible? Who is the perpetrator?!”
The announcement of Ho Gwan Gate’s destruction ignited a chaotic outburst.
Again, Grandfather raised his hand, settling the crowd, and addressed just one of the many frantic questions shouted out.
“The culprit is not known for certain, but the report stated that not one drop of blood remained in any of the discovered bodies.”
Then, nearly in one voice, a single name left the mouths of almost everyone present.
“…The Blood Cult!?”
Just as I had guessed, they were all thinking the same thing.
The mood became deeply solemn at the naming of the Blood Cult, and Grandfather and my father-in-law exchanged words.
“Did the message come from the Martial Alliance headquarters in Wuhuan? Or from the Sichuan branch itself?”
“It came from the Sichuan branch.”
“Then it will be a summons for a conclave in Chengdu.”
“Correct. They have called upon all the smaller sects of Sichuan, including the Tang Clan and the Qingcheng Sect.”
“When is this gathering?”
“Without delay.”
Yes—mere moments before, a message had been passed by the guards: the situation was critical, and we were to leave for Chengdu immediately.
My father-in-law gave a grim nod, then posed another question.
“I understand. But when did this tragedy occur?”
“They say it happened less than a full blood cycle ago.”
“Then…”
Having already been told this, my focus wandered to the map now laid out before me. Something odd captured my attention.
I tilted my head a little and thoughtfully rubbed my chin when a quiet voice sounded next to me.
“What is it, So-ryong?”
I turned to see Hwa-eun watching me.
At her query, I looked back at the map and answered.
“It’s only… the positioning seems somewhat unusual.”
“The positioning?”
Hwa-eun’s eyes followed mine to the map; she studied it briefly, then cocked her head as if puzzled.
“What seems unusual about it?”
“Well… it may be nothing, but that area appears to be directly on the frontier between Sichuan and Guizhou.”
“Yes, that’s correct, So-ryong. Ho Gwan Gate is constructed on a riverbank a short distance from Inhui. That river serves as the divider between Sichuan and Guizhou.”
Though I couldn’t be entirely sure—the map was very old—Hwa-eun’s reply supported my notion.
I nodded and went on.
“Certain kinds of creatures—animals or insects—have a natural inclination to establish domains of their own.
And when these creatures stake a claim, boundaries naturally emerge between each territory. It is similar to the borders separating Sichuan, Guizhou, and Zhongjing.”
“I see… but what of it?”
“Well, once these borders exist, we might not know who truly controls the land,
but for the animals that are preyed upon—those beasts and insects—these borderlands are the most perilous areas. The reason is…”
Hwa-eun was listening with keen, interested eyes—when I abruptly became aware of an odd quiet in the room.
Glancing about, I saw that every person there was looking directly at me.
Surprised, I hurriedly bowed toward the elders.
“M-my apologies, Grandfather. Father-in-law.”
I had tried to speak softly, but it appeared I had inadvertently disrupted the crucial meeting.
My father-in-law smiled and spoke.
“Not at all. Please continue. It sounds like you have a fascinating point of view.”
Behind him, Grandfather, the Heavenly Poison Deity, also gave a nod.
It seemed the entire assembly had been listening.
“Yes, share your reasoning with us.”
My offhand remark now felt like it was growing into something much larger.
I scratched my head, concerned I was speaking out of turn.
“It’s really nothing significant, just a trivial observation. Now, where was I…?”
“So-ryong, you were explaining that for creatures which are prey, the borders are the most hazardous places.”
“Ah, yes. Thank you, Hwa-eun.”
Hwa-eun helped me recover my train of thought, and I proceeded, reconstructing my idea.
“Right, so—the point I was making was—if an animal marks out a territory, then the predators within that domain usually patrol it frequently.
This means the border regions are particularly dangerous, as that is where two predators from adjacent territories could encounter one another.
If you journey through a single territory, you need only be wary of one hunter, but if you travel along or across a border, you must be cautious of both.”
Observing the map, the area named Inhui sat precisely on the juncture of Sichuan and Guizhou, and was also quite close to Zhongjing—almost within throwing distance. It was not far from Yunnan, either.
Regardless of the motive, initiating an assault in a spot like that would attract notice from every quarter—Sichuan, Guizhou, Yunnan, and Zhongjing.
Why would anyone choose to attack such a place? That is the thought I was having, ha ha…”
As I scratched my head and offered an uncomfortable laugh—
*Clap!* A sharp sound echoed, followed by a voice.
“Great Heavenly Poison Deity, might I be permitted to voice a thought?”
I turned and saw Ji-ryong, who was bowing respectfully toward me with a look of intrigued admiration.
It seemed he wished to speak. Ji-ryong, after all, was renowned throughout the Central Plains for his intellect.
Despite his young age, he frequently managed important affairs for the Martial Alliance.
He was precisely the sort of person sent as a consultant whenever major incidents arose—so naturally Grandfather allowed him to speak.
“We had already planned for you to be at the Chengdu conference. Speak—who would refuse the counsel of Ji-ryong?”
“Yes, Elder. First, I must express—this Ji-ryong is deeply admiring of Sir So’s perceptiveness.”
Hearing such high praise in front of everyone made my face grow warm.
But Hwa-eun appeared to enjoy it. Without speaking, she reached over and gently took hold of my hand.
To clasp someone’s hand so openly in public… Is a sharp mind the real way to a woman’s affection?
As I looked at her, pondering this, Ji-ryong continued.
“The shocking report of Ho Gwan Gate’s destruction had overshadowed all else, and I, too, overlooked a vital detail—but thanks to Sir So’s words, my understanding is now clearer.
Ho Gwan Gate is situated directly on the Sichuan-Guizhou border and has long fostered close connections with martial artists from both regions.
And as he noted, it is also near to Zhongjing and Yunnan. The martial sects of all four provinces will feel compelled to take an interest and launch their own inquiries.”
“Yes, that is true. Given that the Sichuan branch of the Martial Alliance has already called a meeting, I anticipate an investigation team being formed within days. They will wish to examine the site and hunt for the killer.
The same applies to the authorities—Zhongjing will act, and the Dianzhang Sect of Yunnan will not remain idle.”
“Yes, Elder. Precisely. The martial artists from all four provinces will mobilize like a great swarm of bees.”
Everyone nodded in agreement with Ji-ryong’s analysis.
Just as he said—although the incident involved a minor sect, it was no small event. It would trigger a enormous investigation.
“Yes, and thirty years ago during the Blood Cult Massacre, those villains began by discreetly attacking isolated mountain villages.
So why would they now strike a border area between Guizhou and Sichuan, an action guaranteed to provoke a massive reaction from the entire martial world?”
“You suspect an ulterior motive.”
“Yes, Elder. I believe this was an intentional effort to attract the gaze of the entire martial world.
Just as the powers that be are dedicating great effort to eradicating the Blood Cult, this event seems like a bold proclamation.”
“They are unmistakably trying to redirect our focus while they prepare an even greater scheme.”
I had not considered they might be planning something more profound—but Ji-ryong’s interpretation was very logical.
Everyone’s faces became severe.
Each person seemed to be turning over in their mind what kind of plot could warrant an attack of this nature.
But even with a clue as glaring as the assault on a border sect, it was impossible to discern the enemy’s exact intentions.
As a quiet fell and no one else volunteered ideas, my father-in-law spoke.
“We can only deduce so much from this hall. Therefore, Son-in-law—and Ji-ryong—make your preparations.
We leave for Chengdu immediately. With more perspectives gathered, we may discover our answer.”
“Understood, Elder.”
“I am to go as well?”
I tilted my head slightly, surprised at my inclusion.
My father-in-law smiled and said,
“The thought originated with you, so naturally you will accompany us.
We are unsure how many days this will require—ensure you are prepared to depart.”
Wait, what?
The word “days” flashed in my mind like a signal.
I turned to Grandfather and gave him the most sorrowful expression I could manage.
“I was meant to continue my martial arts practice… but it seems I must pause for a few days. Ah, how I wished to keep training…”
Perfect.

***
The metallic smell of blood still hanging heavy on her, Mae So-yeong, commander of the Blood Flame Unit, crossed the river away from Ho Gwan Gate and immediately turned to her vice-captain.
“What were our losses?”
“Thirteen. The gate master and several skilled disciples put up a fierce fight…”
The moment she heard the tally, she bit her lip in pure rage.
“Curse those wretched Five Venoms scum!
Our Blood Flame Unit was meant to be the one drenching the Central Plains in blood, and we become ensnared with vermin like this!”
And her fury was justified—this assault had not even been the Blood Cult’s own initiative.
The Blood Cult’s new sanctuary in Daeyue had been tainted by a poison—Scattering Qi Venom—deadly only to its followers.
Then the Five Venoms Clan had stormed in and overpowered them all, enslaving the surviving cultists using Gu poison.
This raid was not the Blood Cult’s desire—it had been ordered by their new masters: the Five Venoms Clan.
And how many of their members had died secretly crossing borders, only to be captured and killed by martial artists of the Central Plains?
Their original plan had been to strike multiple targets across the region—but that strategy was abandoned.
Now, the only thing they could manage was this single attack on Ho Gwan Gate.
“Our time will come. Until then, we must bide our time with patience. Let’s move. If we flee through Guangxi, we can return to Daeyue swiftly.
This area will soon be overrun by the martial world.”
The vice-captain attempted to soothe the furious Mae So-yeong, gesturing toward the prepared escape route to the south.
But Mae So-yeong gazed north instead, shaking her head.
“No. We travel north.”
“What? If we head north—”
“We are going to the Sichuan Tang Clan.”
The vice-captain’s eyes widened in disbelief.
“What?! The Tang Clan? In Sichuan?”
“If we continue like this, we will be pursued like animals and picked off one by one. So we must target their Mugoyonghwadan—the Parasite-Dissolving Pellet.
Every one of our people who took antidotes from other sources suffered a fatal explosion,
but perhaps the Tang Clan’s medicine can counteract it.”
“But… Commander, it’s the Tang Clan! With our current strength—”
“Who spoke of a direct assault? That is a final option.
We will conceal ourselves nearby and abduct a high-value individual—then we will bargain.”
Mae So-yeong led her Blood Flame Unit toward the north.
A single month was all that remained before the parasite within them fully activated.
They had to discover a solution—any solution—before that deadline arrived.