Fabre in Sacheon’s Tang Novel - Chapter 417

Chapter 417
In the teachings of Buddhism, Avici Hell is a realm of perpetual agony where the condemned endure suffering without cease or respite. The phrase Abigyo Hwan evokes the desperate shrieks and moans of those lost to that endless punishment.
Naturally, I have never laid eyes on such a place.
Yet, observing the situation at the stone wall now… it feels as if Avici is right before us.
The spider silk that Yo-hwa had woven to block the cave openings in the stone wall functioned like the skin of a drum, magnifying every groan and scream from within. The warriors trapped inside wailed as though their very spirits were being torn asunder. Their tormented cries rose into the night air like the grieving of the eternally lost.
“Aaaagh! M-my eyes!”
“My nose!”
“Get out of my path!”
“Move, I said!”
Then, one voice rose above the others:
“Graaagh! W-what is this!? *Cough cough!* What is this that won’t yield!? Cut it with your sword!”
“I-it won’t be cut!”
“Step aside! Allow me—grrk!”
“Oh—it’s giving way!”
It seemed one warrior possessed enough skill to focus his inner energy into his blade, for its point pierced through the silk—a fleeting glimpse of hope.
But Yo-hwa immediately produced new thread and mended the tear.
—*Kissit!*
“Curse it!”
Once built up to that density, her silk was no longer so simple to break.
A lone strand of Yo-hwa’s web can be cut by flame or martial energy, but woven and layered like this, its toughness is extraordinary—even against powerful internal force.
Then, my sister-in-law joined the fray, her spear striking down any foes attempting to jump from the upper gaps. Hwa-eun also began to shoot her sharp needles.
“Don’t you dare!”
“Approach and you will die!”
Soon, the sounds of chaos inside were replaced by voices of hopelessness.
*Cough cough!*
“S-someone… save us…”
“Let us out—urgh!”
With that one opening sealed, no other cave entrance held anyone capable of the same feat.
At the other holes, the outlines of faces and limbs pushed against the adhesive threads before disappearing—again and again. Each was clogged with five or six warriors desperately trying to fight their way out, their bodies stuck to the web, struggling uselessly.
‘It appears the stone wall section is almost secure.’
I turned my attention to Bini’s team below ground, reaching out with my thoughts.
『Bini, what is the situation down there?』
—*Tssrrt.* (The uncles captured four earlier. It is silent now, Daddy.)
‘Is that so?’
—*Tssrrr.* (No more people are arriving. There is no noise from further in. Ranghyang says she detects no vibrations either.)
‘Even so, remain vigilant. If anyone emerges armed, stay behind the uncles, understand? Allow them to manage it. Be safe, alright?’
—*Tssrr.* (Yes, Daddy.)
I had anticipated more enemies retreating through the tunnel. But it stayed quiet. Since the upper exits were sealed, I cautioned Bini regardless—and looked back toward the stone wall.
Strange. It had grown quieter there as well.
‘Why the sudden silence? They shouldn’t be perishing from pain of that degree…’
Bini’s venom could cause great distress to larger beings, but it was not lethal.
It was puzzling… until I focused my enhanced sight and saw something almost comical.
Aside from the cave guarded by Hwa-eun and my sister-in-law, the others now displayed a procession of mucus-covered, tear-stained faces. The warriors had crammed their noses into the sole points of egress—the small vent holes Yo-hwa had deliberately left open for smoke.
They resembled fish in an overfull bowl, their mouths pressed to the surface, gulping for air.
Even with spears and needles threatening them, they craved just one breath of fresh air—a pitiful sight.
‘Revolting. These monsters who valued human life so cheaply now scrabbling to survive like vermin…’
It seemed Sister Seol shared this disgust.
From a distance, she observed the Five Venoms warriors contorting at the holes—then moved forward, her voice icy with anger.
A warped little smile touched her lips as she spoke:
“Hmm? See how you struggle. So you do possess a will to live? You lunatics who released locusts upon the Central Plains, likely dooming thousands?”
A rasping, spiteful voice shouted back:
*Cough cough.* “Whoever you might be, do you believe there will be no consequences for this!?”
Simultaneously, a hand shot out to seize her.
But Sister Seol evaded with ease, her face hardening as she lifted her right hand.
Her fingers took the form of a flicking motion—Tangji Gong, the finger flick technique.
Her playful grin gleamed under the moonlight, both eerie and youthful.
And then—
—*TAAACK!*
—*Tack… tack…*
It didn’t sound like splitting fruit. It was closer to the strike of a monk’s wooden percussion block.
A clean, sharp snap resonated against the stone wall.
‘Ahahaha… that is our Sister Seol.’
“AAAGH!!”
A scream ripped through the darkness.
Sister Seol had channeled her inner power to flick the forehead of the man who had reached for her.
Gratifying. Utterly satisfying.
The moment I had that thought, another crack sounded.
—*Tack! Taack… tack…*
Every flick was met with a warrior’s cry.
“GRAAAH!!”
“Gkkk!”
A flick without internal energy is painful enough—but with it? It shakes your very brain.
The warriors’ shouts echoed through the ravine.
‘Damn, that seems entertaining…’
I wished to ascend and join the amusement, but as the commander of this operation, I was required to stay at my station until it concluded. Agitating.
So the pattern continued—one man fell from a forehead flick, and another took his spot.
In the meantime, I contacted Bini once more.
『Bini, status report? Any further activity?』
—*Tssrrt.* (Two more appeared. We subdued them both.)
‘Good, then instruct Ranghyang to…’
There was still no indication of the Black Snake Unit Commander.
He was probably concealed deeper within—Cheong-yu Sojeo had mentioned that someone of his caliber could likely resist Bini’s toxin. Most likely gathering his strength.
It was prudent to eliminate the remainder first.
Capturing him would be preferable, but Cheong-yu had warned that individuals at his level might possess means for suicide—it was wiser to question those of lower rank.
Just as I prepared to command Ranghyang to emit the cyanide-infused mist…
—*CRRRACKK!*
A loud noise erupted from the stone wall—different from before.
‘What was that? Did a skull finally shatter?’
I looked toward the sound.
One of the cave mouths—the one most crowded—had partly given way. A section of the wall collapsed, and Five Venoms warriors tumbled out.
Yo-hwa’s threads were not easily severed, but evidently, the rock surrounding the tunnel was fragile.
‘Damn. I should have assessed the geology more thoroughly…’
It was unexpected, but our team reacted without delay.
They surged forward before the escaping warriors could find their footing.
My sister-in-law impaled one with her spear. Sister Seol, Hwa-eun, and my brother leaped into the fray and began subduing the others as they clambered to their feet.
“Perish, you scum!”
“Do not become overconfident!”
Yo-hwa ensnared one with her thread, while Cho restrained another.
But then a shout came:
“B-break the wall! The rock is soft! We can escape!”
“Shatter it and get out!”
A chain reaction followed.
Other sections of the stone wall started to fracture—and more Five Venoms warriors began flooding out.

***
Immediately after we neutralized the first group of foes, bedlam broke out again near the stone wall.
Fortunately, the majority of warriors emerging were already debilitated—gassed, terrified, drenched in tears and mucus. They were not fighting at their peak.
Yo-hwa acted quickly, binding Five Venoms warriors in silk one after another. Concurrently, Sister Jeokwol dispersed her butterfly powder to disorient and cloud their vision.
Cho and Yeondu took flight, seizing adversaries and hurling them from the cliff.
Hwa-eun, Sister Seol, my brother, and my sister-in-law grouped around Hyang and assumed a battle formation, driving into the fight.
My brother and Sister Seol anchored the front. My sister-in-law used her long spear to control the mid-range. Hwa-eun, positioned at the back, rained poisoned needles upon the enemies.
I was ready to charge in myself, but I first needed to complete my orders to Bini.
『Bini! Take hold of the uncles’ sleeves and pull them out! Everyone must evacuate—Mama’s position has been compromised!』
—*Tssrrt!* (What!? Understood!)
‘Tell Ranghyang to release the toxin before they exit!’
The underground team needed to withdraw, and Ranghyang had to flood the tunnels with cyanide mist to force out anything left inside.
Even with capable combatants like Yo-hwa and Cho above, if enemies dispersed, we could lose our advantage. I dispatched Orange to barricade the slope leading down from the stone wall and requested Cheong-yu Sojeo to advance the line of snakes to bolster our defense.
“Orange! The wall is breached—block the slope up to the stone wall!”
—*Skaaa!* 『Understood, hyungnim!』
“Cheong-yu Sojeo! Please direct the snakes toward the stone wall area!”
—*Shia!* 『Acknowledged!』
At my command, the snakes moved like a living flood.
Orange sped ahead, winding up the slope. The rest of the serpents massed below the wall, encircling its foundation like a dark tide.
“Cheong-yu Sojeo, we should proceed together.”
—*Shiaa.* 『I agree. Let us go.』
I could not abandon her—so I turned to follow.
But then, from behind a rock near the pond, a blur raced toward me.
A hand executed a technique I recognized: Venomous Snake Grabs the Peach.
“Wahahaha! At last! The Golden Crown Snake King, fully matured—her very soul consumed! I only require the horn, and I depart!”
“My apologies, young lady. I will be killing you once more. No—view it as a tribute. You were raised for the Cult Master regardless.”
Despite knowing the technique, the man’s velocity and accuracy were phenomenal. His palm was inches from my chest.
—*Whoosh! CRACK!*
Cheong-yu Sojeo’s tail hammered into the space the assailant had occupied.
The man retreated—three additional figures in identical uniforms materialized behind him.
‘—Shiiia! 『Take care, So-ryong! That is the Black Snake Commander and his elite guards!』
‘Damn it—there must be another hidden passage close by!’
They displayed no symptoms of being impaired by Bini’s poison. They must have used a concealed route.
‘Bini! Bring the uncles to my location—enemies have appeared here!’
—*Tssrrrt!* 『What!? Are you unharmed, Daddy!?』
I commanded Bini to bring the underground team to the surface. Just then, the enemy advanced.
“Everyone is occupied with the wall—dispatch them quickly and withdraw!”
“Yes, Commander!”
“Yes, sir!”
As they attacked, Cheong-yu Sojeo cried out:
—*Siii!* 『I will engage the Commander! So-ryong, endure!』
‘Understood!’
She must have sensed I had summoned reinforcements—her aim was to stall until their arrival.
Without pause, she propelled herself at the Black Snake Commander, pinning him down. The remaining three rushed me.
“Die!”
“Those are my words!”
I had not planned on fighting, so Hyang was with Hwa-eun, and Hongdan was alongside Sister Seol.
I was alone.
Individually, these opponents were not my superiors—but their coordinated assault made it difficult.
My lack of real combat experience became apparent, and one struck my shoulder.
—*Thud.*
“Khugh…”
As I recoiled, Cheong-yu Sojeo’s voice called out:
—*Whoosh!*
—*Sii!* 『So-ryong! Are you injured!?』
“I’m fine!”
She was concerned for me while locked in her own duel. I stepped back, attempting to assess her state.
What I saw astonished me.
Cheong-yu Sojeo was dominating the Black Snake Commander.
The Golden Crown Snake King is not renowned for physical power—by the standards of spirit beasts.
But her speed surpassed human limits.
The Commander was scarcely matching her.
But then, he noticed my retreat—and seized the opportunity.
He flung something from his sleeve—a yellow powder that sparkled under the moon.
—*Ssshh!*
—*Shiaaah!* 『Ghhhk!』
Cheong-yu Sojeo jerked away, grasping her face—she had not entirely avoided it.
Some manner of powder… poison?
The Commander thrust toward her heart.
“Cheong-yu Sojeo!”
I disregarded all else. I ignited my inner energy and unleashed a full-power Toad Explosive Palm at the two before me.
Even if parried, Hwayang’s venom would taint them.
“Have this! Your own technique—Toad Explosive Palm!”
—*BOOM!*
The two were thrown backward.
I plunged between the Commander and Cheong-yu Sojeo, protecting her.
“Where is your target?!”
—*Thud!*
“Urgh!”
The third man hit me in the back—but I succeeded in blocking the Commander’s palm with both my hands.
Even so, his Snake Life-Seizing Hand transferred force through my arms and struck my chest.
—*WHAM!*
Fortunately, I wore Yo-hwa’s silk vest—it did not penetrate. But the impact was like being struck by a great hammer.
We were both flung backward and landed hard at the statue’s base.
—*CRASH!*
“Kugh…”
—*Siii…* 『Kyaah…』
That odor—sulfur.
The yellow dust must have been sulfur powder.
Forget the tales about alum—sulfur is effective. Snakes despise it. It burns on contact. The smell alone overwhelms their extremely sensitive nostrils.
No wonder Cheong-yu Sojeo recoiled.
—*Huurgh…*
As I attempted to rise, blood rose in my throat.
I scanned our surroundings—no evidence of Bini’s team, and Moji and Soji were not seen in the sky.
This… this was a moment straight out of Spicy Fabre’s demise.
“Heh heh… Eliminate this fool, take the Golden Crown Snake King’s horn… the Cult Master will be immensely pleased.”
The Commander approached, smirking.
As I fought to stand, Cheong-yu Sojeo suddenly embraced me tightly—and smiled.
—*Shia.* 『So-ryong… I was unaware. We have a new companion here.』
“…What?”
What could she possibly mean at a time like this?
Before I could inquire further, she rose—still holding me—and exhaled a plume of blue smoke from her mouth.
—*Shiaaaaaaah!*
“You take me for a fool, young lady? The Golden Crown Snake King never possessed a venom like—like…”
His words trailed off.
—*Krrkkkk!*
A vibration shook the ground beneath us—his eyes widened in dread.
“W-what is this!?”
—*CRUNCH!*
A black shadow descended.
—*Fwoosh!*
The two warriors I’d struck with the Explosive Palm ignited, casting light upon the figure.
Revealed in the flames—scales of white and crimson.
The Commander and his final elite were swallowed by it.
—*Sssss. Shiii…*
Twin hisses resonated through the air, and the blue smoke from Cheong-yu Sojeo’s mouth was drawn into the luminous red-white scales.