Fabre in Sacheon’s Tang Novel - Chapter 42

Chapter 42

Following the hamster episode, I delivered a singular sentence to the warriors responsible: The Companion Venomous Creature Penalty.
What does that entail?
It is a corrective measure wherein the culprits must nurture a poisonous being as their constant partner, cultivating affection and responsibility for it.
I commanded them to venture out and capture a venomous creature of their choosing. Unaware of what was to come, the three warriors each came back holding a container.
“Very well, let us observe what you have found,” I announced, addressing the trio and their jars.
The first warrior moved forward, unsealed his jar, and presented its inhabitant with pride.
“I have captured a hel (scorpion), Sir So-ryong.”
A scorpion—a superb selection. Scorpions are straightforward to raise and maintain, representing a prime example of a venomous companion. I gave a nod of approval.
“A scorpion? Well done. An admirable pick. Who is next?”
The second warrior approached, smiling as he revealed his jar’s contents.
“I caught an ogong (centipede), Sir. Having observed you with yours, I concluded that centipedes are the ultimate venomous creature.”
“Another superb choice.”
Flattery is always welcome, particularly when it is paired with such a sound decision.
Lastly, I focused on the final warrior, who was hesitating and shuffling his feet uneasily.
“Well? What did you manage to catch? Surely you did not return with nothing.”
For a warrior of the Tang Clan to fail such a simple task was inconceivable. Securing a venomous creature should be a trivial matter if one applied themselves.
Even Captain Gu Pae narrowed his gaze and added in a stern voice,
“I provided you with ample time. A failure to capture anything demonstrates a lack of resolve. A full month of horse stance training ought to correct that!”
The warrior, his voice hardly more than a mumble, answered,
“N-no! I did catch something. It is merely… it is not venomous. I caught a seokcheok (lizard).”
“A lizard?”
“Approved!” I proclaimed, cutting off Captain Gu Pae before he could escalate his reprimand.
Captain Gu Pae looked at me, confused.
“But, Sir So-ryong, lizards are not poisonous.”
He was technically correct. The majority of lizards are not venomous, save for certain types native to the Americas, Australia, Indonesia, and the Komodo dragon. However, I have a personal fondness for lizards and saw no reason to dismiss this one.
“It is acceptable. Lizards possess a venomous spirit in their gaze.”
“What?”
“You may trust my judgment on this—approved!”
Captain Gu Pae appeared utterly perplexed, but this was a matter of my own preference, and I would not be swayed.
I turned back to the warriors to deliver their next instructions.
“From this day forward, these beings are your companions. By tomorrow, each of you must bestow a name upon yours.”
“A name?”
“Indeed. You heard me correctly. You will give them a name.”
The warriors looked at me with disbelief, but I was resolved to impart this lesson.
I was determined to ensure they formed a deep bond with their new charges. I wanted them to weep bitterly when the creatures eventually passed away.
That is the severe elegance of this punishment.
While I was occupied with the offenders, my sister arrived unexpectedly at the Venomous Creatures’ Garden.
“So-ryong, the little ones are awake. I spotted them moving about at first light,” she informed me.
I turned at the sound of her voice and saw Cho, Hyang, and Bini resting on her shoulders, their antennae twitching happily.
Chrr… chrr…
“They have finally regained their vigor. Come here, you three,” I said, reaching out my arm.
Setting my hand gently on my sister’s shoulder, I let the centipedes transfer onto me. One after another, Cho, Hyang, and lastly Bini crawled onto my arm.
Although I had looked in on them periodically while they were in my sister’s care, now that they were back, it was my responsibility to confirm their well-being.
This is the correct attitude for a dedicated owner of venomous pets.
I inspected each of them meticulously as they moved onto my arm.
“Cho appears well, and Hyang seems fine… Wait, what is this? Bini, what is the matter? Are you unwell?”
“What is it, So-ryong?”
Noting something odd about Bini, I shifted to an area with more light to get a better view.
There was definitely something unusual.
“Look here, Sister. Does Bini not seem slightly different from the other two?”
She leaned closer, peering intently.
“You are right. It was not noticeable in the gloom, but why does it appear like that? Could it be from me keeping them in a dark area? Or perhaps it resulted from my having to leave them unattended for a time yesterday while I received guests?”
We both stared at Bini, whose antennae tips were stained with a subtle black hue, as if they had been brushed against ink.
‘Curse it. Now anything dark makes me think of soy sauce because of those warriors.’
I dismissed the thought and inspected Bini more carefully. The black tinge was unmistakable and unlike the others; it is not normal for centipedes to display such color variations until after their second molting.
Given that Cho and Hyang remained their typical yellow shade, a natural developmental change seemed improbable.
“If it is not a sign of growth, then it may be an ailment,” I said, a sense of dread beginning to form.
When the elder from the Blood Cult had assaulted us, the centipedes had been subjected to rain, filth, and falling rubble. It was possible Bini had fallen ill.
Unlike mammals, which display clear symptoms of sickness, insects are far more difficult to diagnose. Without vigilant watching, one can easily miss the subtle indicators—and then it is too late.
And centipedes? They are more deceptive still. Only experienced keepers can detect when something is amiss, and even then, the most common sign is often merely a loss of appetite.
“Did you perceive anything out of the ordinary while they were in your care?” I asked my sister.
“No, they were just as calm as the others. I noticed nothing strange,” she responded.
“Bini, you are not ill, are you?”
Bini had always been the most spirited of the three, having once chewed on a snake within a pit during a battle. To see it in this state now caused a sharp worry to pierce me.
‘Is this what it is like when your child is sick?’
Both my sister and I were grave, our expressions laden with concern.
‘Why does it feel as though I am the one being punished?’

***
The Grandfather, the esteemed Mandok Shingun, arrived back at the Tang Clan compound with his warriors. Each of the men carried large, squirming sacks draped over their shoulders.
“You must be the respected strategist,” Mandok Shingun said, greeting the military commander from the Martial Alliance, Zhu Jung-hak.
“Mandok Shingun, it has been too long,” Zhu Jung-hak replied with deference, offering a slight bow.
Mandok Shingun’s face broke into a broad smile as he spoke to Zhu Jung-hak. “It truly has. It seems like only yesterday that you and Sang Yi were wandering the highlands, and now, one is a military commander for the Martial Alliance, and the other leads the Tang Clan. How time does fly.”
“Ah, Elder, please, not such tales before the junior members and the Alliance’s warriors,” Zhu Jung-hak answered, looking somewhat flustered.
“Haha, I take your meaning. I shall not tease you further. Still, I must apologize for not being present to welcome you appropriately. I was preparing a particular gift for your visit.”
The word “gift” caught Zhu Jung-hak’s attention, his eyes shining with interest. Some things are constant—whether in youth or age, people always delight in the prospect of a present.
“A gift, you say?” Zhu Jung-hak’s curiosity was palpable.
Mandok Shingun’s short absence had a specific goal: he had gone to supervise the capture of the Ho-ban-yu-sa snakes personally.
This operation, initially intended for my Venom Squad, was supposed to be our first official capture assignment. However, Grandfather had forbidden me from leaving the estate, citing concerns for my safety. With numerous martial sects camped nearby and the continued threat of the Blood Cult, he was unwilling to take the risk. While it was frustrating to miss the mission, I could not fault his logic, particularly as I had only just recovered from a ten-day unconsciousness.
“Come inside,” Grandfather said. “So-ryong, the snakes have been secured. Report to the main hall once you have verified and arranged what is necessary.”
“Yes, Grandfather,” I responded.
The sacks borne by the warriors writhed with the motion of the captured snakes. We transported the sacks to the Venomous Creatures’ Garden and emptied the snakes into a sizable wooden pen.
“First, sort out the healthy and strong ones,” I directed. “Grandfather requires some venom samples, so we will extract venom from a select few before commencing the quarantine procedure.”
“Yes, Sir So-ryong,” the warriors acknowledged.
I showed them the technique for drawing venom from the Ho-ban-yu-sa. Unlike other snakes, their venom glands are situated deeper within the mouth. I carefully pressed a small vial against the upper jaw of a snake, making certain its fangs were correctly placed inside the vial to gather the venom effectively.
“Exercise caution! Be sure to handle them with care and isolate any that are injured,” I reminded them.
Once the venom was gathered, Captain Gu Pae passed me a tiny ceramic bottle. “We have filled this approximately halfway, Sir.”
“My thanks. I will leave the remainder to you. Grandfather is waiting for me,” I said, accepting the vial and making my way to the main hall.
As I neared the main hall, I could make out voices from within. Grandfather and Zhu Jung-hak were deep in discussion.
“Oh, as I suspected,” Zhu Jung-hak was saying, “the enigmatic young man Mandok Shingun met in Hainan is indeed this young So-ryong?”
“Yes,” Grandfather answered, his pride unmistakable. “He is now the Tang Clan’s crowning jewel. What is your opinion? Is he not a treasure?”
“Truly, an extraordinary person! And to be raising the Golden Wasp King? That by itself is astounding.”
“Haha, it astonishes all who visit the Tang Clan for the first time.”
Hearing their conversation, I could not suppress a swell of pride within my chest. I schooled my features into a humble expression and announced my presence.
“Grandfather, it is So-ryong.”
“Ah, enter, my boy,” Grandfather called out.
I stepped into the room to find Grandfather and Zhu Jung-hak seated, enjoying tea. Without needing to be asked, I set the ceramic bottle on the table.
“You have brought it?” Grandfather inquired.
“Yes, it is here,” I replied, sliding the bottle across the table to him.
Grandfather pushed the bottle toward Zhu Jung-hak with a smile. “Here is a small present from my grandson-in-law to you.”
“A present?” Zhu Jung-hak asked, picking up the bottle and studying it with curiosity. “What is this?”
Grandfather’s expression grew serious as he made a slight motion; I felt an imperceptible barrier envelop us. “This is gi-mak,” he clarified. “It guarantees no sound will leave this room.”
‘So gi can be utilized for such purposes as well,’ I mused, admiring the adaptability of martial arts.
With the gi-mak established, Zhu Jung-hak’s attitude shifted to match the seriousness of the occasion. “What could possibly necessitate such secrecy?” he asked, scrutinizing the bottle.
Grandfather’s eyes sparkled as he spoke. “It is San-gong Poison.”
“San-gong Poison?” Zhu Jung-hak repeated. “That is a commonplace toxin. Surely it does not demand this level of discretion?”
Grandfather smiled knowingly. “This is not merely any San-gong Poison. This is a variant that is effective against the Blood Cult.”
Zhu Jung-hak went still, his face a picture of incredulity. “A San-gong Poison that works on the Blood Cult? Can such a thing exist?”
“It does,” Grandfather affirmed. “My grandson is the one who discovered it. During the recent attack, he employed it to debilitate a Blood Cult elder, enabling us to overcome him.”
“Absolutely incredible!” Zhu Jung-hak exclaimed. “If this is true, it is a monumental development. The Blood Cult has perpetually been immune to standard poisons. This finding could shift the balance of power against them!”
Grandfather’s pride was clear as he added, “Precisely. And the individual responsible is standing before you.”
Zhu Jung-hak turned to me, his eyes wide with respect. “So-ryong, you possess not only bravery but also unparalleled intellect. This is a tremendous accomplishment. The Martial Alliance is deeply in your debt.”
His words were earnest, and I felt my cheeks grow warm under their praise.
“To express our thanks, I will see to it that the Alliance provides you with a suitable reward. Is there anything you desire? Speak openly, and I will personally guarantee your request is conveyed to the leader of the Alliance.”
Although I paused at first, Grandfather urged me on. “So-ryong, this is your opportunity. Do not be reticent. You have undoubtedly earned it.”
After a moment’s consideration, I nodded. “If that is so, there is one thing I would like…”
I let my words hang, a strategy taking shape in my thoughts. If the leader of the Martial Alliance himself was promising a reward, why not leverage this chance intelligently?