Fabre in Sacheon’s Tang Novel - Chapter 39

Chapter 39

When I informed my sister that I intended to name the building the “Venomous Creatures’ Garden,” she looked at me with a puzzled expression, prompting me to elaborate on its significance.

I was eager for her to grasp the full scale and brilliance of the chosen name.
“‘Venom’ signifies poison, ‘Creatures’ stands for every living being, and ‘Garden’ means a protected refuge. It conveys the idea of a sanctuary that draws every poisonous being from across the Central Plains. This name embodies my goal of assembling all the world’s venomous life. How does it sound? A visionary haven where every toxic being can thrive.”
“A refuge for venomous beings… A place to bring them all together…”

My sister’s voice was soft and reflective, her gaze turning almost dreamy.

I allowed myself a proud grin. If nothing else, this demonstrated that I was no slouch, casually slapping on labels like Oil, Cucumber, or O-Sam out of mere laziness. When I truly applied myself, this was the caliber of work I could produce.

As she murmured the name quietly to herself, my sister appeared to give her approval.
“Venomous Creatures’ Garden… Venomous Creatures’ Garden…”

With that settled, we chose to proceed directly to the Venomous Creatures’ Garden instead of the breeding areas within the Mandok Pavilion.

I had asked for a distinct structure since the cavernous setting of the Mandok Pavilion was ill-suited for housing living beings.

It could perhaps function as a winter refuge, but as a long-term dwelling, it was deeply inadequate.

While the cave maintained a consistent temperature, its particular environment posed difficulties. For example, it housed an ice room that accumulated rime even during midsummer, creating an excessively chilly and moist atmosphere.

Even with the pavilion’s air channels designed to manage moisture, the absence of natural light remained the primary obstacle.

Maintaining venomous creatures inherently involved keeping reptiles and amphibians, and these vertebrates need the sun’s ultraviolet rays to produce vitamin D. In its absence, they fail to process calcium correctly, resulting in ailments such as metabolic bone disease.

In my previous life, I employed UV bulbs for my reptiles, but that wasn’t feasible here. Without sunlight, the cave was fundamentally unfit for venomous life.

We continued our conversation on these topics as we walked, soon reaching the gateway to the Venomous Creatures’ Garden.

“There are individuals awaiting you, So-ryong,” my sister mentioned.

I turned and saw a formation of fighters assembled before the structure, anticipating my arrival.

These were probably the aides my sister had referenced—the group designated to support me in operating the Venomous Creatures’ Garden.

Within the assembly, one recognizable figure instantly stood out.

Startled, I blinked and addressed him.
“Deputy Gu?”

Positioned at the front of the group with a broad smile was Gu Pae himself.
“Correct, Sir So-ryong! Gu Pae, Commander of the Venom Squad, at your service!”

Hearing his vigorous reply, I frowned in bewilderment.
“The Venom Squad?”
“Yes, Sir! The Venom Squad! We are here to aid you in gathering and maintaining venomous beings. This is your dedicated unit, Sir So-ryong!”

I was aware that helpers were being assigned for the upkeep and management of the creatures, but I had not anticipated the formation of a formal squad, akin to the Tang Clan’s Venom Blood Squad or Extinction Squad.

Glancing toward my sister, I saw her beaming with maternal pride.
“Father decided this just as we were departing. He stated it was the right moment for you to learn leadership and command. Surprisingly, every clan elder consented without dissent. I am uncertain what influenced them.”

She went on, “This unit answers directly to you, So-ryong. Consider them an extension of your own will.”

So, these combatants were my personal retinue.
“Incredible, they are truly providing complete backing.”

I had always envisioned operating my own venom-centric business in my former life.

Though it was a beloved pastime, maintaining creatures solo had its constraints. Marketing offspring or overseeing breeding was difficult without assistance, which was why I had aspired to employ workers, compensate them, and relish the rewards of my efforts.

Now, it seemed that very dream was materializing in this new existence.

Determined to achieve the ambitions left unfulfilled in my past life, I observed the twenty warriors arrayed before me with a swelling pride.

My sister gave me a gentle push from behind and whispered, “As they are your Venom Squad, you ought to address them.”
“Wait, a speech?!”

I had always wished to deliver a rousing oration at least once.

Bursting with resolve, I started to pace before the fighters and spoke to them. It felt like the ideal moment for an opening address.
“Ahem! I am Wei Su Long, and from this day forward, our fates are intertwined.

Your mission is to aid me in overseeing and maintaining the Venomous Creatures’ Garden.

Some among you may be wondering, ‘Why should I be occupied with tidying up after small animals, providing them meals, or handling their refuse?’”

As predicted, the warriors—proud martial artists of the Tang Clan—stiffened slightly at the reference to such mundane duties.

I had discovered during my time here that these fighters took immense pride in their combat practice. Requesting they perform what they might view as低级 labor was bound to cause discontent, so I confronted it directly.
“However, let me be clear: the duties you perform here are priceless. Did you not witness my triumph over the Blood Cult’s elder?

That success was achieved through venomous beings. The work you do here will be equally vital!”

I emphasized my point with a theatrical gesture.
“Consider this! Today, we might be tending to serpents, lizards, and arachnids. But the knowledge we gain here will ready us to manage the Ten Great Venoms. With that, we will overcome not only the Blood Cult but any who dare oppose us!

Our Tang Clan will ascend to new heights, owing to your efforts!”

The warriors, already knowledgeable of my win against the Blood Cult elder, burst into applause at my declaration.
“Praise Sir So-ryong! Praise the Tang Clan!”

Even my sister and Captain Gu participated, clapping with fervor.
“Superb address, Sir So-ryong!”
“You were magnificent, So-ryong! My pulse is racing!”

With my sister and Captain Gu amplifying their zeal, the warriors cheered with increased volume.
“Hurrah!”
“Woohoo!”
“This is becoming excessive…”

Their passion made it difficult to conclude my speech without providing a suitable incentive. Ultimately, inspiration should always be paired with acknowledgment.
“I am effectively a unit commander now. I ought to at least provide a reward they’ll appreciate, correct?”

Recognizing that my inaugural address couldn’t end without a tangible offer, I decided to promise a benefit they would cherish.
“Also, I have already discussed with the Clan Leader. Those who demonstrate outstanding performance will be granted first access to the venom from the Golden Centipede King.”
“Hurrah!”
“Woohoo!”

The cheers erupted before I could even complete my sentence.

As anticipated, nothing ignited enthusiasm more effectively than the prospect of a reward.

***

Following the inspiring address, I assembled the warriors inside the Venomous Creatures’ Garden to outline our next steps.

The fighters who had previously been stationed at the Mandok Pavilion only performed duties such as slaughtering, moving, or elementary upkeep. It was evident that I needed to instruct them thoroughly from the beginning.
“Sir So-ryong, what is our initial assignment?”

The most ardent among them, unsurprisingly, was Captain Gu Pae.

Apparently, he had offered to lead the Venom Squad. His dedication was unequaled, likely because he had willingly sought this role.

Since the incident with the Golden Centipede King, the captain of the Venom Blood Squad had begun evading me as if I were a curse, probably fearful of being drawn into another taxing venture.

Gu Pae, however, seemed to have fostered a kind of respect—or perhaps he simply relished challenges. After that event, he regarded me with nearly worshipful eyes. When my father-in-law proclaimed the formation of the Venom Squad, Gu Pae personally stepped up and volunteered.

Whether he had been captivated by the appeal of venomous beings or was a masochist, I wasn’t entirely sure. Regardless, I planned to utilize him effectively.
“First, we must venture out to capture some creatures,” I stated.

Gu Pae’s expression brightened with anticipation.
“Oh! Splendid! What is our first quarry? Tiger-striped pit vipers? Lizards? Or perhaps spiders?”
“Tiger-striped pit vipers, correct? Grandfather emphasized them, and serpents are the most toxic, are they not?” my sister added, equally thrilled.

Smiling at their excitement, I provided an answer that diverged from their expectations.
“First, we are going to capture mice.”
“Mice!?”
“Mice? Did you say mice?”

Yes, not serpents, but mice. In the Central Plains, the term *seo* denotes rats or mice.

For the Venomous Creatures’ Garden to flourish, our primary need was mice.

In reptile husbandry, nothing is more critical than a reliable source of mice—particularly pinkies, the newborns.
“Regardless of what you are raising, the foremost necessity is always sustenance,” I clarified with a smile.

***

If one were to inquire why venomous beings developed their toxins, the rationale could be split into two primary objectives: hunting and defense.

The first, hunting, involves rapidly incapacitating prey, while the second, defense, counterbalances a creature’s physical limitations. These two separate goals also affect the dietary needs of venomous creatures.

Generally, beings that evolved venom for hunting are meat-eaters, whereas those employing venom for defense are frequently plant-eaters. Naturally, there are outliers, such as poison dart frogs, but this trend is largely accurate.

Consequently, maintaining herbivorous venomous creatures—those that developed toxins for protection—is not particularly challenging. One simply cultivates a large supply of vegetation for feed.

The genuine difficulty resides with the majority of venomous beings, which evolved venom for hunting. These creatures need animal-based nutrition, making it imperative to raise animal feed as a preliminary measure before their breeding commences.

During my tenure on Hainan Island, where serpents were not commonly kept, small feeders like crickets were cultivated to nourish lizards and spiders. However, here, with the Tang Clan of Sichuan, the situation was distinct.

For venomous beings, serpents were the paramount specimens.

Since we already intended to breed tiger-striped pit vipers and likely other poisonous snakes in the future, guaranteeing a steady supply of pinkies was of utmost importance.

Pinkies are infant mice, named for their hairless, pink appearance. As they mature, they grow slight fur and are termed fuzzies. Upon reaching adulthood, they are known as hoppers, and all stages function as superb feed for reptiles, delivering crucial protein and calcium.

Squeak! Squeak!
“Sir So-ryong, is this the correct one?”

A warrior lifted a sizable sewer rat he had captured near a rice field by its tail, shaking it as he inquired.

This had occurred numerous times, despite my prior instructions.

I shook my head and responded, “No, not that large. I specified smaller, with a briefer tail.”
“But this one is small!”
“Smaller than that.”
“Hmm… I suppose I’ll discard it, then.”

The warrior nonchalantly hurled the sewer rat back into the field and hurried over to the others, who were excavating the embankments with tools.
“He says it must be smaller than that one!”
“Smaller than that?”

In this period, plague outbreaks were a real possibility, so utilizing sewer rats as reptile feed was absolutely not an option. Even if wild rodents could harbor pathogens, the considerable size and disturbing look of sewer rats were unappealing.

We sought something more petite and less disgusting. Specifically, what I recognized as the Chinese hamster from my past life.

Before laboratory-bred mice became the norm for testing, Chinese hamsters were frequently used in studies. They were also less disagreeable as feeder animals compared to sewer rats and perfect for generating pinkies.

Although we were outdoors capturing “mice,” our actual targets were Chinese hamsters.
“So-ryong…”

After directing the warrior back to his duty, I heard my sister’s uncertain voice.

Turning to her, I saw her troubled expression.
“Is it truly necessary to raise mice? Can we not use an alternative?”
“No, we cannot. If serpents do not consume those, they will become ill or perish,” I explained pragmatically.
“I understand…”

Though she was accustomed to matters of life and death, mice appeared to test her boundaries.

Eventually, the warriors retrieved several Chinese hamsters from the rice fields and adjacent residences. My sister stared at them in astonishment.
“We are feeding these tiny beings to snakes? They don’t even resemble mice…”

Her reaction was justified—they were unexpectedly endearing. But in reality, these hamsters were rodent-like enough to make one doubt their classification as hamsters.

Even in my previous life, some contended that Chinese hamsters were only labeled as such because China insisted on it. It was the sort of place where calling a feline a mouse would allegedly transform it into one.

Some even categorized Chinese hamsters as non-hamsters.

I nodded and stated, “Yes, they are still mice.”

With the mice obtained, it was time to initiate the actual pinky production process.