Fabre in Sacheon’s Tang Novel - Chapter 495

Chapter 495
—Chirrr. Chirrrr.
The night was silent save for the chorus of insects.
A month had passed since a peculiar development emerged along the periphery of the Daewol State.
Towers constructed from bamboo had been erected at measured intervals along the frontier.
Perched atop each of these structures, two sentinels kept watch.
These installations were known as Juktap, bamboo watchtowers, established on the orders of the Martial Alliance to survey the territory.
The strategy had been devised by the military advisor, Elder Zhuge Hu.
Because the jungles bordering Daewol were too thick to patrol effectively, sections of the woodland had been set ablaze to create open lines of sight, and these bamboo towers were positioned along the newly cleared perimeter to observe any activity.
Their purpose was to provide early warning should the Five Venoms Sect or the Blood Cult attempt to cross into the region.
“Yaaawn.”
Seated high atop one such watchtower, a man overseeing the borderlands of Daewol released a cavernous yawn.
Each squad consisted of ten men, and five squads formed a single unit.
This man was Seo Ga-myeong, a first-class warrior and the leader of Squad Eul, which belonged to the Black Tiger Division of the Martial Alliance.
“If you’re tired, Captain, why not take a short nap?”
The question came from Oh Jin, a second-class warrior sharing the watch.
Seo Ga-myeong’s face quickly grew serious.
“Sleep on duty? Don’t suggest such a thing. Have you forgotten the two from Gap Unit who fell asleep a few nights ago and created a huge problem?”
It was true—just recently, two guards from a different squad were discovered sleeping at their post, resulting in a significant security failure.
Oh Jin, however, appeared untroubled.
“Those fools were stupid enough to both doze off at once. If I keep watch and rouse you if anything happens, wouldn’t that suffice?”
“It would not. Just because all seems calm now doesn’t mean we can lower our guard. What if a member of the Five Venoms or the Blood Cult infiltrates? We must remain alert at all times.”
Though Seo Ga-myeong spoke with gravity, Oh Jin responded with a look of irritation.
“Come on, Captain… You worry too much. Those scoundrels from the Five Venoms and the Blood Cult haven’t stirred for months.
When the last supply group arrived, I spoke with people from the Alliance—they said most of their covert networks in the Central Plains have been dismantled. They’re bound to fade away, just like the Blood Cult did in the past.”
“You’re referring to how the Beggars’ Union and the Hao Clan divided the north and south and crushed their illicit trade routes?”
“Exactly. With their sources of revenue severed, they’ll have no option but to retreat into hiding, as they’ve always done. An army can’t fight without supplies. No provisions, no battle, correct?
Otherwise, why would they be so silent?”
Oh Jin delivered his explanation with the fervor of an seasoned strategist.
His reasoning wasn’t without merit.
As he stated, the Blood Cult had a long history of spreading turmoil throughout the Central Plains before retreating into secrecy whenever their power waned.
Given that circumstances were once again turning against them, it was logical to presume they were withdrawing to recuperate.
Yet Seo Ga-myeong shook his head.
The situation was different now.
“I believed that initially as well, but the leadership disagrees. They argue that the Blood Cult can now function from inside Daewol, correct?
They claim the cult requires time to assimilate and consolidate their followers. So we must stay vigilant.”
“Ahh, the higher-ups always say things like that…”
While Oh Jin grumbled quietly, Seo Ga-myeong turned his gaze back toward the distant Daewol border.
He was exhausted, too.
Each Juktap was staffed by three squads, working in four-hour rotations. After a ten-day assignment, the entire unit would be relieved—and today marked the conclusion of their tenth day.
The built-up weariness was substantial.
His next destination was the Beast Palace, where he would rest for ten days. That prospect offered some comfort.
Another yawn broke from him, and then Oh Jin spoke up again.
“Oh, that reminds me—have you heard the news? The Tang Clan’s son-in-law is making his way to the Beast Palace.”
“I have. He’s their adopted son, coming to wed Dokhwa.”
“Incredible. To earn the favor of the renowned, proud Poisonous Flower herself. He truly is one of the martial world’s rising heroes.”
Naturally, he’d heard.
It was the subject of half the conversations among martial artists these days.
The young hero who formulated a poison enabling even mediocre warriors to challenge elites of the Blood Cult.
The betrothed of the Tang Clan’s Poisonous Flower.
And then the open secret everyone was aware of by now—he was the Alliance Leader’s descendant.
In the Martial Alliance, where the Lord was deeply revered, how could anyone remain indifferent?
Although his moniker was somewhat odd.
Heaven’s Poison Papa?
Seo Ga-myeong smiled faintly at the thought. He then returned his attention to the border and murmured,
“The one who has inherited the Lord’s techniques… I hope he reaches the Beast Palace without incident.”
He tried to picture the appearance of this adopted son of the Beast Palace, this future son-in-law of the Tang Clan.
It was then that a tense, strained voice sounded next to him.
“Ugh. C-Captain. I think that rice ball I had earlier was bad. I, uh… I need to relieve myself.”
Seo Ga-myeong turned to see Oh Jin gripping his abdomen and shifting his weight from one foot to the other.
Food deteriorated quickly in Yunnan.
The heat and humidity accelerated spoilage.
They were instructed to consume only freshly made meals, but earlier, driven by hunger and impatience, Oh Jin had eaten a leftover rice ball from the previous day.
He had insisted it would be fine, but clearly, it was not.
Seo Ga-myeong scowled and rebuked him.
“Did I not warn you against eating old food?”
“M-My apologies. I’ll be fast!”
Oh Jin hurriedly descended the ladder and dashed into the undergrowth.
Some time elapsed.
Then, detecting movement behind him, Seo Ga-myeong turned to see the replacement squad approaching.
“Is it time for the shift change already?”
Through the shadowy jungle, two martial artists emerged from the bushes and swiftly climbed the ladder.
One of them announced:
“Captain! We’ve arrived!”
“Well done. Wait—where is Oh Jin?”
Now that he considered it, nearly half an hour had passed, and Oh Jin had not come back.
Seo Ga-myeong wrinkled his face in distaste.
“He complained of a stomach ache from a spoiled rice ball. I’ll go and find him.”
“Disgusting fool.”
“Oh Jin is always causing trouble.”
After transferring his duties, Seo Ga-myeong climbed down and moved toward the bushes where Oh Jin had vanished.
But he was not there.
A short distance away, Seo Ga-myeong found him—sprawled on the ground near a dense thicket.
Had he actually fallen asleep?
“Oh Jin, what in the world are you—?”
Just as he extended a hand to nudge him awake—
Seo Ga-myeong realized something.
Oh Jin’s chest was still.
Wordlessly, he gripped the hilt of his sword and strained to detect any nearby presence—but there was nothing.
Oh Jin was a second-class warrior.
Even if he had been negligent, for an opponent to overpower him so completely…
It indicated a highly capable enemy.
He sharpened his senses to their utmost.
Then—
A piercing pain in his ankle.
—Shhhrrrk!
“Khhrrgh!”
He jumped backward, attempting to seal the acupoint in his leg, but then—
A white substance flew toward his face, obscuring his sight.
Seo Ga-myeong dropped soundlessly beside Oh Jin.
—Thud.
***
It had escaped my notice before, but I now understood that Hwa-eun’s expertise lay not in assassination poisons—but in healing.
The evidence was clear: she had brought Daeryong back from actual death multiple times using an esoteric method.
I had believed three revivals would be the maximum, but she achieved four, then five…
Each time she performed her restorative technique, Daeryong returned to life as if by wonder.
However, as anticipated, this came with a price. I spent the entire morning struggling to stay awake, drowsing like an ailing bird.
Even with my cultivation at the Flower Realm, my internal energy was excessively yin in nature, and the consequent lack of yang left me profoundly fatigued.
Tssrrt. 『But Mom said she was healing Dad all night… so how come Dad looks worse?』
Tssrrr. 『But Cho unni, Mom’s face became all glowing and radiant—like our shells!』
Tssr. 『What?』
The children had led me out to the deck for sunlight, concerned by my constant nodding and ill appearance. They were now murmuring to each other, observing me as if I were a peculiar exhibit.
I kept my eyes closed, feigning ignorance, until I heard Yo-hwa’s voice close to my ear.
—Kishit. 『Brother…』
I opened my eyes to see Yo-hwa standing beside me, looking hesitant and uneasy.
Offering a weak smile, I asked, “Yes, Yo-hwa. What is it?”
She appeared remorseful, twisting her fingers together as she whispered:
—Kishishi. 『I’m sorry, but… it’s the day…』
“Oh—ah, of course! I understand, Yo-hwa. My apologies, it completely left my mind.”
Only then did I recall—it was the day Yo-hwa required nourishment from my yang energy.
Almost instinctively, I extended my hand toward her.
Yo-hwa’s way of drawing yang was to gently suck on my finger.
But the moment she began, her voice became laced with disappointment and concern.
—Kishit. 『Huh? Brother, what happened to all your yang?』
“…What?”
This was not good.
Hwa-eun and I had miscalculated.
Even though it had been a while and we were both keen to try the talisman’s power, I should have preserved a reserve of yang energy. Instead, we had exhausted it completely.
In hindsight, a man’s dignity is intimately connected to his yang, and I was not its sole proprietor.
I know what you might be thinking: You’re married—what’s the issue?
But it’s important to recognize: Yo-hwa relies on my yang energy to live.
For Hwa-eun, it was an indulgence—a delight, like a luxury.
For Yo-hwa, it was essential—her very sustenance.
Yo-hwa inquired again, her eyes wide with worry.
—Kishit. 『Brother, why is your yang so depleted today…?』
“W-well… Hwa-eun is the reason…”
‘I’m afraid your elder sister consumed it all last night…’
At that very instant, Hwa-eun walked out onto the deck. Her eyes met Yo-hwa’s.
Immediately, Yo-hwa initiated a mental connection and communicated directly to Hwa-eun:
『—Kishishi. (Big sis Hwa-eun… have you started consuming yang as well?)』
“Hmm? Oh… w-well, I…”
—Kishit. (But Yo-hwa requires yang too! How could you take it all for yourself? Yang is vital for Yo-hwa as well!)
Understanding her meaning, Hwa-eun’s face flushed with remorse.
“I-I’m sorry, Yo-hwa… I’ll, well… I’ll be sure to share next time.”
It seemed I would not be permitted to retain even a modest amount of yang energy from now on.
***
Sigh… I must exercise greater caution.
I informed Hwa-eun that we should abstain today.
Perhaps she had acquired a liking for it the previous night, as she was already proposing another “treatment” for tonight. But I needed to restore my yang—if not for my own sake, then for Yo-hwa’s.
After managing to soothe Yo-hwa and send her away, I was lying exhausted on the deck when I heard the humming of wings.
—Bzzzzzzm.
I opened my eyes to see Ranghu floating above me.
She alighted softly on my chest, took a small yellow object from her own head, and set it gently upon me.
“…What?”
—Bzzm.
—Shia. 『He expressed a wish to see you, so she carried him here.』
The “he” Ranghu delivered was O-gyo, the smallest of the five Qing Ji-dam larvae.
While the other children couldn’t easily converse with the larvae, the Golden-Furred Wasp Queens evidently possessed a means. It appeared O-gyo had been persistent about visiting me.
He had been perfectly content residing in the Wasp Queens’ nest, eating and sleeping, but I suppose he began to feel lonely for me again?
“Did you come all this way to see me? My dear O-gyo~?”
I stroked his chin, and he wriggled across my chest like a playful little dog.
Tiny, yellow, and oblong—he evoked memories of my first encounters with Cho, Hyang, and Bini.
“Really… utterly adorable. Look at you.”
As I admired O-gyo’s cheerful movements, I caught the sound of known voices close by.
Tssrrt. 『Hmph…』
Tsst. 『Tch.』
Hyang and Bini. I turned to find them staring with clear disapproval.
What was their problem now?
Just then, a voice called out from beyond the boat:
“Attention! If there is a pilot aboard, please show yourself!”
I rose and moved toward the rail, coinciding with our pilot calling back:
“What is it?”
“This territory falls under the governance of the Beast Palace. Might I inquire as to this vessel’s origin?”
Glancing toward the riverbank, I saw a man mounted on an elephant.
A warrior I recognized from a prior visit to the Beast Palace.
“Hello! It’s been some time.”
“So—So-ryong!?”
I waved from the ship’s side, and upon recognizing me, the warrior’s eyes widened in astonishment.
“Geumdo, take us to the bank.”
As our vessel drew near, the elephant became agitated and retreated.
“Steady! What’s the matter?”
It had likely sensed Geumdo’s aura. Ultimately, the warrior dismounted and used qinggong to leap onto the deck, offering a respectful bow.
“So-ryong-nim! Welcome! We have eagerly awaited your coming. I was informed of your arrival, but I never anticipated a ship of such magnificence.”
“Haha, is that right? How is my father faring?”
“In excellent health, naturally!”
“And the situation at the Beast Palace? All remains peaceful?”
We continued exchanging pleasantries, but when I inquired about the Beast Palace, the warrior paused.
“…Is there trouble?”
At my question, the warrior’s face grew somber.
“We have suffered significant setbacks at the border. It appears the Five Venoms have deployed a new type of venomous beast, but we have been unable to identify it.”
“A new creature?”
It seemed the Five Venoms Sect had engineered yet another artificial hybrid creature.