Fabre in Sacheon’s Tang Novel - Chapter 479

Chapter 479
—Chirp. Chirp.
The cheerful sound of birdsong roused me from sleep. Sunlight poured into the room from somewhere.

A pair of warm, soft weights rested gently against my eyelids.

As my sight adjusted, all I could see was a expanse of soft, flesh-toned skin.

I shifted my head just slightly, and between two smooth, rounded slopes, Hwa-eun’s face came into view.

I gasped.

The moment I understood what I was nestled against, I startled in surprise.

I had experienced that sensation secondhand many times before, but never so intimately—without the slightest barrier of fabric between us.

Ah… but it’s alright now, isn’t it? Hm… In that case, perhaps I should just relax and appreciate it fully. Heheh.

After all, we were properly married now—this was permitted.

So I let my face sink back into that comforting warmth.

And the knowledge that this was something I had personally helped to develop made it all the more satisfying.

Lovely… I certainly chose correctly. No regrets.

Savoring that softness, my mind drifted back to last night, when So-ryong truly became Daeryong.

My frank opinion: while the firm, compact bodies of children were pleasant in their own way, they couldn’t possibly compare to the form of a woman.

As I luxuriated in that gentle pressure, I abruptly became aware of a pair of eyes watching the top of my head.

Is it Bini again!? For heaven’s sake, she believes babies are made by parents gazing at the sky together—why must she constantly disturb us!?

Alarmed, I glanced upward—only to find Hwa-eun’s flushed face looking down at me.

Making eye contact in such a compromising posture caused me to lock up completely.

I froze, speechless. Hwa-eun gave an embarrassed smile and spoke.

“So-ryong seems to… r-really like them, don’t you?”

“Ahaha… ha… well… that’s only because they are a part of you, Hwa-eun.”

I couldn’t very well claim to dislike them, so I laughed sheepishly. Hwa-eun reached out and gently stroked my cheek.

But the instant her hand touched my skin and our eyes met again, the atmosphere between us changed.

“So-ryong…”

“Hwa-eun…”

In my previous life, I’d heard that newly married couples could feel a spark just from looking at one another.

Back then, I dismissed it as an overstatement.

People aren’t mere beasts. All those stories about overturning tables from a single glance—surely that was excessive, right?

Perhaps it was true for us, after all. The moment our eyes connected, it was as if a flame was lit, and we instantly pulled each other close.

As if our very bodies had caught fire.

—Smack.

Our lips met in unison with our embrace.

But right at that moment—an ill-timed voice called from outside the door.

“So-ryong, young lady—are you awake yet?”

It was Unmirang.

Hwa-eun turned her head and called back toward the door, her tone full of frustration.

“Mm! Y-yes, Unmirang.”

“Shall I bring water for your morning ablutions?”

“J-just a moment!”

Hearing the offer to bring in water, we both flustered and scrambled to collect our garments.

But it was impossible.

The clothes we had—we had shredded them completely the night before.

After Bini’s interruption had thrown us into a panic, we had torn at each other’s clothing like wild animals.

“Ah. Our inner wear…”

In the Central Plains, it was customary to wear layers, both inner and outer. But our underclothes were now just rags.

Hwa-eun’s hastily donned robes resembled a scant bikini, and mine—though I hadn’t been set upon by a bear—were ripped and slashed as if I’d been clawed.

Had I been a beast last night… or had Hwa-eun?

Seeing one another in such a state made us both blush fiercely once more.

We had undoubtedly been excessive.

“H-ha… perhaps the material was simply too worn?”

I offered a feeble justification. Hwa-eun nodded, just as uncomfortable.

“…I-I suppose that must be it.”

“What should we do now?”

We couldn’t remain there undressed. As I hesitated, Hwa-eun steadied her breathing, crept to the door, and whispered to Unmirang on the other side.

“Unmirang, could you please fetch us some new clothing?”

“Clothing?”

“…”

“Oh my! T-the wedding night for martial artists is truly something else, isn’t it!”

When Hwa-eun wordlessly passed a torn strip of fabric through the door, Unmirang shot away like a bolt.

—Tap tap tap tap.

We looked at one another again, faces red. Then, glancing down at each other’s tattered attire, that electric tension returned.

Without a second thought, I moved closer and slipped my arms around Hwa-eun’s waist.

“Eek. S-So-ryong. Unmirang will return any moment.”

Hwa-eun’s voice was flustered.

But she didn’t refuse my sly proposition.

“Then only until she gets back?”

“…”

She gave a silent nod, and our lips met again—only to be cut short by the sound of Unmirang’s return.

“Young lady! I have your clothes! I’m entering!”

That girl—she hasn’t even formally trained in lightness techniques, yet she is far too quick.

We had barely finished our kiss.

***

Hwa-eun and I dressed and shared our morning meal together.

Alone.

While martial households typically rise at dawn, we had slept until the sun was high, so we were the only ones dining.

When I asked Unmirang why we hadn’t been roused, she explained the elders had instructed her to let us sleep naturally.

“Let us finish eating and go to greet Grandfather and Father, So-ryong.”

“Yes, Hwa-eun.”

Even as we ate, our legs touched beneath the table—and just then, our three daughters charged into the room.

—Sssslrrp. 『Dad, where is the baby?』
—Sssst. 『Mom, where is the baby?』

They entered, circled us once, and all demanded to know about the baby.

Being asked so suddenly, “Where is the baby?” placed us in a deeply awkward situation. I fumbled to explain that babies require time to develop.

“You see, Mommy must first… um… carry it inside her belly for a while…”

After breakfast, we acted on Hwa-eun’s suggestion and went to pay our respects to the elders.

Even late, the formal greetings could not be skipped.

This was my first official audience as a genuine son-in-law, after all.

“Shall I send a message ahead to the inner hall?”

“Yes, Master So-ryong!”

First, we went to see Grandfather Tang Mu-seong, then moved on to the clan leader’s quarters.

When we requested a messenger be sent in, a guard promptly announced our arrival from the entrance.

“Clan Leader, Master So-ryong and Lady Hwa-eun are here!”

“Allow them to enter.”

“Yes, sir!”

As we stepped through the doors held open by the guards, Father-in-law glanced up from some documents and shot us a mischievous grin.

With the intuition shared between men, I felt certain he was about to tease me.

Sure enough, his playful tone emerged immediately.

“Well, well. Look who it is. You appear rather worn out, son-in-law. In contrast, Hwa-eun’s complexion is radiant! Hwa-eun, if you continue like this, you may be the death of our son-in-law.”

“Father!”

“Not at all, Father-in-law! I am still brimming with vitality!”

“Is that so? Haha. Now that the two of you are formally wed, it brings something else to mind.”

“What would that be?”

“You once referred to my Hwa-eun as a weed, recall? At the time, I believed you were merely an odd fellow with no interest in women. It seems I was mistaken, was I not? Hahahaha!”

As Father-in-law jested, Hwa-eun groaned and winced several times in humiliation.

Soon, he had tea served and inquired about our future plans.

“So then, when do you intend to return to the Beast Palace?”

We had already talked about wintering there for the children’s sake and coming back in spring. He was asking for our departure date.

The sooner, the better—I wished for the children to be somewhere warm without delay.

“I think we should leave as soon as possible. Would that be acceptable?”

“Why would it not be? But when you return, you must remain for a time. You will need to begin learning the clan’s affairs.”

When I proposed a quick departure, he agreed readily but instructed me to engage with clan matters upon our return.

“Yes, Father-in-law. But… is there something in particular I must study?”

I asked, curious what new knowledge would be required. He nodded.

“Naturally. You and Hwa-eun will one day lead this family—the list of what you must learn is endless.
From domestic matters to relations among the great clans, clan council meetings, the martial world’s political landscape… it is extensive.”

Hearing it all made my head spin slightly.

I resolved to delegate some of it to Hwa-eun and nodded.

“Understood. I-I will endeavor to do my best.”

Then came the next point:

“It seems you quite enjoyed your wedding night. You are full of vigor. That is good. Oh, and I do not know if Hwa-eun informed you…”

I glanced at Hwa-eun then, and her expression was that of someone who had forgotten to relay a message entirely.

It was obvious there was something she was meant to tell me but had not. Father-in-law noticed and smiled.

“The wedding must have been overwhelming. Regardless, it is nothing major. In our Tang Clan, when a son-in-law is formally married in, he commands the Eradication Unit for a period of three years. The unit leader will come to pay his respects. You should at least have a proper introduction.
You will learn the specifics later, but it is customary to exchange greetings.”

“The Eradication Unit?”

I stiffened.

Was the Eradication Unit not the Tang Clan’s premier assassination team?

I had heard they handled anyone foolish enough to oppose the clan.

Am I being given an assassination post now that I am officially the son-in-law!?

I felt a mission assignment looming, and as I grew anxious, Father-in-law went on.

“Correct. By tradition, the son-in-law leads the Eradication Unit for a time to solidify the family’s authority. It is the Tang Clan’s way.”

“But I already command the Venomous Creature Squad…”

“Well, that is your own. Naturally, you will manage both.”

I attempted to evade by mentioning my existing command of the Venom Squad, but it was futile.

Concerned, I asked:

“Does the Eradication Unit see frequent action?”

Certainly, I had confronted the Blood Cult and the Five Venoms Sect before, but professional assassination? That was unfamiliar ground.

“Not often. Who would be so bold as to openly challenge the Tang Clan?”

Whew. What a relief.

I was put at ease hearing the unit was rarely deployed. Just then, Father-in-law suddenly stood and walked to his desk.

“Ah, now that I think of it—you are journeying to Yunnan, correct? Good. This is convenient.”

“?”

He was searching through papers and sounded as if he had a side task for me. Soon, he found what he sought and brought it over.

“I planned to assign this after your return, but since you are going to Yunnan, there is no need to wait. Here.”

“An assignment?”

“Look it over. I suspect this is a matter you will personally be unwilling to overlook.”

“I… is that so?”

Judging by his words, it seemed someone was dearly in need of a thrashing. I opened the documents he handed me—and found reports about forgers producing counterfeit versions of our medicine.

Tang Clan medicine, no less.

The audacity never ceases… the penalty is death if caught, yet they dare to fake Tang medicine?

In my past life, I’d heard that in China, adulterating food or medicine was a capital offense.

Yet many still perished from such fraud. Now there were people counterfeiting Tang Clan medicine?

These scoundrels have nerve.

As I read, I discovered something astonishing.

“Wait… it says the counterfeit is more potent than the genuine article?”

“That is correct.”

The imitation was reportedly more effective than the real thing.

No way… A ‘mistake of the continent’?

In my past life, there was a saying—“Mistake of the Continent.”

It was used when a counterfeit surpassed the original in quality.

This one was said to be superior to ours.

My eyes fell to the bottom of the document—and there it was.

Jidam Pill.

Huh? I created that one!

The very first pill I developed after arriving at the Tang Clan to enhance the family’s standing—Jidam Pill.

Now someone was producing and selling counterfeits of it.

At that moment, Father-in-law added:

“They say the effects are excessively strong. The user died standing up. And the size is apparently absurd…”

“…”

“You are to find those selling these counterfeits under our name, handle them according to Tang Clan law, and secure their production method.
We have already retrieved samples from the market. The toxins were powerful. The clan wishes to discover the source of that poison.”

Thankfully the order was to adhere to Tang Clan law—so, punishment then?

From the sound of it, this matter truly fell within my purview.

They were using my own creation to run a scam, after all.

I was… also somewhat intrigued by the mentioned size.

Just how large could it be?