Fabre in Sacheon’s Tang Novel - Chapter 482

Chapter 482
In a previous life, I underwent general anesthesia for an appendectomy, and a single thought consumed me upon waking.

Had the surgery actually taken place?

What if it was all a ruse and no operation had been performed?

“Nurse, is your name ○○?”

My memory was clear: the nurse called my name, and then—nothingness. I awoke to find my appendix removed.

I had no recollection of the event, yet the troublesome organ was simply… gone.

It was difficult to accept.

That is, until the anesthesia fully receded and the agony slammed into me without mercy.

Why am I recalling this now?

Because everyone around me appeared to be experiencing the very same disbelief I felt back then.

The people on the deck, Do Sagong among them, were glancing about in a daze, muttering questions:

“Hold on… this is the Lancang River?”

“It is, Do Sagong.”

“We truly made it into the Lancang?”

“Yes, brother.”

“Are you saying Geumdo traveled all this way to the Lancang River?”

“Yes, sister.”

Their bewilderment was understandable.

Every soul on the vessel—human and venomous beast alike—had been rendered unconscious for hours by Geumdo’s mist, a sensation akin to a total bodily anesthesia.

The sole individuals who remained awake were myself, Cho, and Heukjeom, who had been sheltered inside Geumdo’s mouth.

It seemed Geumdo’s mist had grown tremendously more potent after his shell had healed.

What we believed was a simple defensive shield turned out to be powerful enough to envelop a area of one to two kilometers around him.

In hindsight, when I had succumbed to his venom before, he must have been too weakened to access his full strength.

This time, not only did everyone aboard fall into a deep slumber, but the entire vicinity was also shrouded—and they awoke to a completely altered reality.

Before losing consciousness, we had been on another river entirely. When they opened their eyes, we were on a new one.

“So the moon is there, and the North Star is… it’s difficult to see with the sunrise… Ah! There.”

Do Sagong, attempting to verify our location, started working out our position using the moon and stars.

At that moment, the commander and his squad from the Venom Extermination Squad burst from the cabins in a frantic rush.

“So-ryong! What is happening!?”

The Venom Extermination Squad had been assigned to me by my father-in-law to find the source of counterfeit medicine emerging in Yunnan. From their alarm, they clearly assumed we were being assaulted.

All ten members, the commander included, were ready for battle.

A sharp, lethal intent was visible in their keen eyes.

Just then, Hwa-eun emerged from a cabin and clarified:

“It is nothing dire. Geumdo merely emerged from the water and relocated the ship. Please stow your weapons and return to your posts.”

“G-Geumdo accomplished that?”

“Yes.”

She had been asleep on the deck near me, so she had a general # Nоvеlight # understanding of the events. After briefing the squad commander, she turned to me with a gentle smile.

“So-ryong. Forgive me—Dragon Commander.”

“Yes, Silver Wolf. Are you well?”

“I am… I feel peculiarly rejuvenated, as if I enjoyed a profoundly restful sleep. You moved me, did you not?”

“I did.”

Earlier, after she fell asleep on deck, I had carried her to her quarters—and now she was expressing gratitude for it.

I must confess, while she slept, she looked so endearing that I may have… lightly prodded her cheeks a few times. That remains a secret.

It was contact essential for moving her. Furthermore, she was soft and pleasantly warm… merely an observation.

As I fondly recalled the sensation and smiled to myself, others began exiting the cabins one after another, demanding to know what had occurred.

Those who had been on deck could at least surmise the story. Those who were inside only knew the ship had trembled fiercely, and then they had lost consciousness.

“What happened? The vessel began to shudder, I was gripping the furniture… and then I evidently fainted.”

“It was the same for me.”

“And me.”

“Geumdo climbed from the water and transported the ship over to the Lancang River. That was the cause of the disturbance.”

“We crossed into the Lancang? So we are truly upon it now?”

“Yes.”

As the crowd listened to my explanation and hurried to the railings to survey our surroundings, Do Sagong approached and inquired:

“So-ryong, this is indeed the Lancang. But… can you estimate how far downriver we have traveled since arriving?”

“The sun is rising, but I do not believe we have been moving for long. Perhaps half an hour at the most?”

Geumdo required about a sikjeong to traverse twenty-five li—approximately ten kilometers. We waited for everyone to awaken before proceeding downriver, and that had only been an hour or so ago.

Although six or seven hours had passed in total, the actual distance covered was not immense.

Hearing this, Do Sagong requested that I have Geumdo halt.

“So-ryong, would you ask Geumdo to stop for a moment? I believe it prudent to confirm our precise location. Do we not also need to make a stop at Dali?”

“Ah, you are correct. Understood. Geumdo, stop for a while!”

Dali was the major city in Yunnan.

It was where the counterfeit medicine was first discovered, making this my first official task as a son-in-law of the Sichuan Tang Clan—to gather intelligence and locate the production site. A visit was absolutely necessary.

—Bubrrr.

At my call, Geumdo—who had been drifting with the current—swung around and settled near the riverbank.

Shortly after, several crew members went ashore to scout. By the time we sat for breakfast, they had returned with news of the area.

“There is a lake nearby named Tianchi.”

A sailor reported this as we ate.

I was on the verge of asking Sister Seol about its location when, to my surprise, Geombong was the first to respond.

“Tianchi? It is near here?”

“Yes, miss.”

She sounded truly excited.

Now that I considered it… Geombong and Chang-ryong have not taken a meal with us for some time.

She and Chang-ryong had been so engrossed in their courtship that they were seldom seen.

Several nights prior, the two had been discovered by the martial guards in a secluded part of the Tang Clan’s rear garden, sharing a kiss. That was how her “activities” were revealed.

They typically took their meals privately as well, but perhaps because everyone was knocked out by Geumdo’s mist, they joined us for breakfast this morning.

I asked if she was familiar with the area.

“You know of it?”

She nodded enthusiastically.

“Naturally. If it is Tianchi Lake, then we are within our territory. Travel twenty li east and you will reach Mount Dianchang. And at its base lies Dali.”

In other words, this region belonged to the Dianchang Sect.

Geombong wore a look of immense local pride, but let us be honest—while the Dianchang Sect is one of the Nine Great Sects, it is still a peripheral group on the borders of Yunnan.

Nonetheless, stopping here seemed the correct decision.

We needed to investigate in Dali and apprehend the counterfeiters. Given our planned route, this was the most logical course.

“Then halting here was the right choice. Unmirang, please inform the Venom Extermination Squad commander that I wish to speak with him after breakfast.”

“Yes, So-ryong.”

Immediately after I had Unmirang relay the message, Geombong posed a question—her curiosity evidently piqued.

“But young warrior, why is the Venom Extermination Squad traveling with you? Even with the Five Venoms Sect’s territory nearby, is that not excessive for merely escorting gifts?”

At this, all three members of the Dragon Fangs nodded in agreement.

They had remained silent until now, but it was obvious the same question had been on their minds.

It was not a secret, so I relayed what my father-in-law had told me.

“It is quite simple. Apparently, within the Tang Clan, when a son-in-law is formally welcomed into the family, he must command the Venom Extermination Squad for a number of years and manage clan duties.”

“Ah, yes. That is a recognized tradition of the Tang Clan.”

“Correct. Now that the wedding is concluded, I have begun that service. And since this matter in Dali arose, I brought them along.”

“A matter in Dali? Could you elaborate? You would need to notify our Dianchang Sect if you intend to take action within its jurisdiction.”

I had heard that martial sects operated like territorial gangs, and that permission was required before initiating any violent operations within their borders.

I intended to bring it up regardless, but I was uncertain if this qualified. I shot a glance at Hwa-eun, and she gave a slight nod.

“This is typically a matter for the Venom Extermination commander, but Geombong is right.”

So I proceeded to explain the details.

“Well, the fact is, I created a medicine. But I have received reports that a counterfeit version is being sold covertly in the market alleyways.”

“So now I am attempting to hunt down the ones responsible. Since it was initially found in Dali, that is our destination.”

—Clatter.

I had stated it casually, but the mood around the breakfast table instantly turned icy.

One of the brothers dropped his spoon.

“What did you say?”

“Say that again!?”

“Is that true!?”

“Who would dare…?”

Everyone—my brother-in-law, his wife, Geombong, Chang-ryong, Eunbong, and Ji-ryong—exclaimed in fury.

“There are scoundrels selling a fake version of the medicine you developed!?”

“Who dares to soil my martial brother’s reputation in this manner!?”

“This is unacceptable.”

Seriously? They are this angered by it?

Even my father-in-law had not made such a fuss. I had not considered it a major issue, but these four were incensed.

Noting my confusion, Kwon Ryong and Geom Ryong spoke up, their tone almost that of someone explaining to a child.

“This clearly demonstrates how new he remains to the martial world.”

“Indeed, it does.”

“How did you even ascend to the Flower Realm, anyway?”

Admittedly, I advanced through the ranks somewhat effortlessly by forming bonds with venomous and spiritual creatures. I scratched my head, feeling slightly abashed.

“Hehe…”

Then followed a concerned explanation.

“So-ryong, one of the most critical things in the martial world is your name—and your title. Your name gains significance through your actions, and that significance eventually forms a title. For a martial artist, the name is the title, and the title is the name.”

“And your title is… World’s Greatest Beastmaster Daddy, correct?”

“Beast-Papa of Venomous Creatures.”

Hey! Why can you never get it right!?

I felt a little wounded that they could not recall my esteemed title correctly. Brother Geom Ryong noticed and offered a remorseful look.

“Ah, correct. Beast-Papa of Venomous Creatures. M-my apologies. In any case, that title builds its renown upon your name, So-ryong. And if people begin to believe those counterfeit pills are yours, they will think you produce feeble, useless trash. That will destroy the credibility of both your name and your title.”

“So those of us who have benefited from your aid—Do-ryong, Geombong, Chang-ryong, Ji-ryong, and Eunbong—we are all enraged. Because it sullies your name.”

So it was not merely a trivial case of counterfeiting.

Apparently, if I failed to act, my magnificent title, Beast-Papa of Venomous Creatures, could be reduced to meaning “some charlatan who produces worthless pills.”

This thought ignited a righteous fury within me.

“What!? So that is what this implies!?”

I mean, Beast-Papa of Venomous Creatures is a cherished title.

It embodies all the memories and affection I share with my children.

It represents my identity as the Martial World’s equivalent of a spicy Fabre, and now it risked becoming a moniker for a low-grade fraud!?

Why had my father-in-law not explained this part in detail? I felt somewhat betrayed.

You truly should have told me this, Father-in-law!

Just then, Brother Gyu-seong asked,

“So what did your father-in-law instruct you to do about it?”

In that instant, I recalled his exact words:

“Take a look at this. You will not be able to ignore this either.”

“Find the villains who produced those counterfeit pills and sold them under the Tang name. Deal with them in accordance with Tang Clan law and secure their formula.”

…Wait a moment?

Now that I thought about it, it was not that he failed to tell me—he simply communicated it in his characteristically suave manner.

“Hah. Someone is out there selling fake pills under our son-in-law’s name? I expect you want to eliminate them as well, yes?”

“As for Tang law? Well, you understand—make it painful. Employ every poison to ensure they perish as slowly and agonizingly as possible. Handle it while you are journeying to the main family for the wedding. You are our son-in-law now—you will excel.”

I slowly turned to Hwa-eun and asked,

“Hey… Hwa-eun, when he said to ‘handle it according to Tang Clan law’… what does that entail precisely?”

And the atmosphere grew colder still.

Though I had asked Hwa-eun, everyone answered as one.

“Sever the breath.”

Cut off their energy.

End their breathing.

That is what it meant in the dialect of the Central Plains.