Fabre in Sacheon’s Tang Novel - Chapter 327

Chapter 327
“What’s the next step, Sandan?”
—Pipip!

In response to Hwa-eun’s query, Sandan drove her two front legs into the ground with a decisive stomp, then fixed Hwa-eun with an instructive gaze.
It was as if she were asking: Are you able to replicate this?

Hwa-eun shaped her hands into points and carefully mirrored Sandan’s motions.
To an onlooker, their actions might have seemed peculiar—but this was the practice of martial arts.
Or, to be more accurate, Hwa-eun was in the process of developing her own unique martial art centered on poison.
Having recently faced a near-fatal experience, she claimed that observing Sandan’s natural movements had ignited a creative spark within her—a spark she was determined to forge into a new fighting style.
This was the focus of her current training.
Her concept was to found a style inspired by the praying mantis.
It was a sound plan.
Within the realm of predatory insects, the praying mantis is a supreme hunter.
A martial art that could emulate its movements promised to be formidable.
It held the potential to be a discipline defined by sudden, explosive speed, pinpoint accuracy, and a ruthless efficiency.

Sandan unfurled the floral-patterned crest at the end of her abdomen and began a fluid, graceful demonstration for Hwa-eun to study. As she moved, the wide sleeves of Hwa-eun’s robes swept through the air like great, flowing petals.
There in the courtyard, the two of them resembled a pair of blossoms swaying in a synchronized dance.

“It appears almost like a dance.”
“Doesn’t it, though?”

I was watching Sister Seol and Hwa-eun’s practice with a sense of contentment when Cheongyu, who had been resting with her head on my lap, abruptly raised her head and stared intently toward the main gate.
“What is it, Cheongyu?”
—Ssshhh. 『So-ryong, people are approaching.』
She was indicating that individuals were coming up the mountain. The serpents she had positioned around the slopes had detected their ascent.
Cheongyu possessed not only the ability to command snakes but also to perceive the world through their eyes. The approaching group had evidently entered the visual range of the snakes she had stationed across the mountain.
—Sshaa! 『They are arranged in a formation, carrying spears and swords!』

The news of visitors made me tense for a moment—but upon hearing they were armed and moving in an organized manner, I gently stroked Cheongyu’s head and eased her back down.
I had a fairly strong notion of who it might be.
“It’s alright. I believe I know who this is.”
—Sshaa?
Despite my reassurance, Cheongyu continued to cast uneasy looks toward the gate.
She was likely still dwelling on her error from a few days prior.
At that time, she had sensed the Blood Cult assassins in the area early on—but had been unable to discern their malicious intentions.
Wild animals with no prior experience of humans do not instinctively bear ill will toward them.
Much like the now-extinct Falkland Island wolves or the dodo birds.
Before joining us, Cheongyu had lived a solitary existence in the wilderness.
Consequently, her inherent wariness of people was minimal. Even though the Blood Cult assassins had been operating nearby for days, she hadn’t recognized them as a threat.
Although she suffered a grievous experience because of that oversight, now that she was under my care, perhaps she still clung to the belief that most humans were not evil.
Alternatively, it could be that Golden-Crowned Spirit Snakes are naturally disposed to be amiable toward humans.
If that were true, then perhaps their instinct to absorb a fragment of a human soul was a way to gain understanding and evaluate possible dangers.
Whatever the reason, safeguarding her innocent nature was also my responsibility.
“I told you, it’s fine.”

After comforting Cheongyu and waiting a short while, the sounds of arrival became audible from beyond the gate.
Accompanied by the rattle of weaponry, a man’s voice called out from the other side.
“Who is within?”
“You see? Those with ill intent attempt to slip in unnoticed. They do not announce their presence so openly.”
—Sshaaa.
Hearing this, Cheongyu finally seemed to relax and gave a nod.

“You may enter!”
I called back, rose to my feet, and walked to the gate.
Shortly after, a government officer came through the main gate, followed by a man whose face I recognized.
“Soho-hyeop, I have arrived. To be summoned by you personally is a great honor.
My… you certainly have a multitude of children here. This is remarkable.”
He offered a warm greeting as he crossed into the courtyard—but then he started slightly at the sight of the children at play.
He quickly resumed his approach toward me.
I had previously introduced him to Hyang and Hongdan, so while there were more children now, he did not appear overly astonished.
The officer who had entered before him, however, kept his distance and did not venture closer.

“Welcome, Commander. I hope we have not caused you any inconvenience.”
This was the same commander who had aided us during the affair with the Blood Cult vice commander and Sister Jeokwol.
Three days ago, I had visited the local magistrate’s office and specifically requested he be called so I could turn over the captured Blood Cultists. It seemed he had come as soon as he received the message.

“Inconvenience? Not at all—it is my privilege. You could call upon me for a matter like this at any hour.
Because of the individuals you delivered last time, a promotion is within my reach. And if you hand over the others you have secured, that promotion is assured.
Should I not run here even if it were a thousand leagues away?”
“Haha, is that so?”
“Absolutely. Hm? Are these young ones coming to greet me?”
As he spoke, Cho and Bini came forward and bowed their heads in respect. The commander’s eyes opened wide in surprise.
“Yes, sir.”
“Haha, well then, it is a pleasure to meet you.”
After offering their greetings, the children scampered off to rejoin their friends.
“Astonishing… truly astonishing.”
The commander watched them run away, murmuring words of admiration.

“Commander, shall we proceed to the pavilion? We can discuss matters over some tea.”
“Very well. Lead the way.”

My reason for summoning him was straightforward.
To move against the Five Venoms Sect.
More specifically, to assault the operational bases belonging to the Blood Cult, which had been incorporated into the Five Venoms Sect.
Due to Cheongyu Sojeo’s liberation from the Golden-Crowned Spirit Snake and her subsequent alignment with us, we had acquired crucial intelligence—this, combined with information extracted from the Bloodshade vice commander and the unit commander, had revealed three key facts:
The exact whereabouts of the Blood Cult and the Five Venoms Sect, the extensive network of Blood Cult strongholds dispersed throughout the Central Plains, and a register of their active operatives.
This intelligence granted us the opportunity to take the initiative—by eradicating their surveillance and intelligence apparatus within the Central Plains.
Because the Blood Cult and the Five Venoms Sect were based beyond the border and out of direct reach, the tactical approach was to obliterate their network of bases and spies operating here.
The first phase of this campaign would begin here, in Hebei.
This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.

According to the Blood Cult unit commander Nanhwa, the majority of their personnel had already been deployed, leaving only a skeleton crew at the Hebei base—nonetheless, we intended to eliminate it utterly.

“This is Tang Hwa-eun, my formally betrothed from the Sichuan Tang Clan. And this is my sister, Seol Pyo of the Beast Palace.”
Once we were seated in the pavilion, I commenced with introductions.
I had withheld introductions earlier due to the presence of the children.
“Ohhh, so I have the honor of meeting the Flower of Murim and a disciple of the renowned Beast Palace. The pleasure is mine.”
“Welcome, Commander.”
“A pleasure to make your acquaintance, sir.”

“This way!”
The mistress of Hua Hyang Pavilion scurried through the darkness, guiding the martial artists of the Five Venoms Sect who followed her.
They were making their way toward the river via a hidden passage located beneath the establishment.
Not long before, the unit commander of the Bloodshade Unit had come seeking their assistance in apprehending someone—which they had provided. But then, without warning, government forces had raided the pavilion.
“Hua Hyang Pavilion is under suspicion of affiliations with the Blood Cult. Apprehend everyone—courtesans, servants, let no one escape!”
It was clear the operation had gone awry, and now their very base of operations was compromised.
“How did this occur!?”
“The operation must have failed, exposing this location!”
“Curse it all. This was our central stronghold in Beijing, and now it falls apart just like that… Our priority is to escape!”
While shouts echoed from outside, the courtesans used their own bodies to barricade the entrance.
Meanwhile, the mistress, the Five Venoms Sect warriors stationed there for oversight, and the core Blood Cult agents embedded within Hua Hyang Pavilion fled through the secret tunnel.
Their plan was to reach a boat waiting by the riverbank at the tunnel’s end and make their escape.
They always maintained a boat on standby for such emergencies, so fortunately, an escape route was available. The situation could have been far more dire otherwise.
“The boat is prepared directly past the underground exit?”
“Yes.”
After crawling for some time, soaked in sweat, a voice called out from the rear of the group.
“Why are there so many centipedes?”
As the Five Venoms Sect martial artist had noted, numerous centipedes were clinging to the ceiling just above them.
“It seems this tunnel was neglected for a time, allowing the centipedes to make their home. Exercise caution.”
“We are warriors of the Five Venoms Sect. Do you believe we fear a handful of centipedes?”
I offered a warning, but received only a dismissive retort.
The mistress pressed her lips together and continued crawling forward.
At last, they reached a wooden door ahead of them.
Pushing it open revealed a dimly lit space.
It was the interior of a small shack connected to the exit near the river.
“Now we just need to board the boat waiting outside and we escape!”
They rushed out, only to find the boat submerged in the water.
“Wh-what is the meaning of this!?”
Then a voice addressed them.
“Well, well, Blood Cult—welcome.”
The tone was light, almost teasing.
Startled, the mistress and the Five Venoms Sect warriors spun toward the source of the voice.
A boy was suspended upside down from the cliff face behind the shack.
Much like a gecko.
“There’s a person hanging inverted from the cliff!?”
One of the Five Venoms Sect warriors yelled, his eyes wide with shock. The grinning boy answered:
“Ah, judging by your posture, you’ve trained in the Five Venoms style. But this? This is the authentic Lizard Wall Gecko Step. And this—this is the genuine Exploding Toad Palm.”
—Boom!
The boy unleashed a dual-palm strike, and one of the Five Venoms Sect warriors was struck and thrown violently backward.
Then, above the head of the defeated warrior, a small plume of blue flame flickered and rose.