Fabre in Sacheon’s Tang Novel - Chapter 511

Chapter 511
Of course. Here is the paraphrased chapter, adhering to all the specified requirements.

***

‘Is that hydrogen gas coming up from the water?’

The idea occurred to me unexpectedly as we continued our journey against the current.
I’ve read in stories and comics about powerful electrical discharges in water causing hydrogen bubbles to rise to the surface.
There are even lines like, ‘the distinct smell of hydrogen reached my nostrils.’
‘Yeah, it’s usually something like: a burst of current made hydrogen gas bubble up, and its scent drifted to my nose, right?’
It was daytime and still raining, so there was no chance of anyone lighting a torch and causing an explosion. But driven by simple curiosity—a defining trait of Spicy Fabre—I had to know for sure.
I concentrated, taking a careful breath through my nose. There was nothing. No scent at all.
The only thing filling the air was the gentle sound of rain falling on the river.
Maybe the whole thing is a fiction, or perhaps hydrogen is simply odorless. Either was possible.
‘This isn’t my field, so I can’t say for certain.’
I dismissed the thought and looked back at the water. On the surface, all I saw was calm, steady flow.
It appeared peaceful, but below, it was absolute chaos—as if the underworld itself had broken loose.
Because just ahead of us, Seomi and Byeogi were thrashing about, releasing violent arcs of electricity in all directions.
The tremendous current they generated was overwhelming every living thing that had somehow endured the Stickyworm infestation—the large carp, smaller fish, frogs, tadpoles, and even dragonfly nymphs—
Every aquatic creature in the vicinity was convulsing in torment beneath the water, only to eventually rise to the surface like a waterlogged rug and float lifelessly downstream in the pair’s wake.
Countless existences were being snuffed out, pointless and without reason.
‘Ah…’
As my scientific curiosity faded and the grim reality took hold, a powerful wave of remorse washed over me.
“I’m so sorry, everyone…”
I offered a quiet apology, my face filled with regret, to the dead fish, amphibians, and insects bobbing on the surface.
I was the one breaking the most sacred rule of any true naturalist—I was personally destroying the habitat of the very creatures I adored.
‘I’m wiping out these fellow beings and shattering their home… with my own hands… this is a terrible transgression.’
Every collector and nature enthusiast understands the prime directive: preserve the environment.
Never take breeding females or young. Never harm the surroundings while gathering specimens. And no matter how extraordinary the find, you must always release at least half of what you collect.
Because the individual you capture could be the very last one.
There is no official decree for this.
It was a personal code that Fabre created for himself.
It was a principle he had carved into his soul and honored until the day he died in his previous life.
Now, it felt as though I was shattering every one of those rules simultaneously—and the psychological weight was immense.
The grasses and water plants exposed to the high-voltage current were certainly not spared, and even the unseen microbes in the water would have been eradicated.
‘Those damned Five Venoms Sect scum.’
Even though this was a critical environmental purge, I felt like a tyrant—a perpetrator of mass death.
I recalled a game from my past life where a leader, in a final act of desperation, ordered the complete burning of a planet overrun by aliens.
Back then, I thought that character was pure evil… but now I comprehended his choice.
Because now I was in his position.
And it truly was a last-ditch measure to rescue the entire world.
Gritting my teeth, I forced down my fury, swearing eternal vengeance on the Five Venoms Sect, and pressed on upstream.

After a considerable time ascending, the heavy rain finally slackened into a faint mist. In the distance, I began to make out watchtowers.
The bamboo observation posts erected by the Martial Alliance along the border of the Daewol Nation became visible ahead.
We had cleared the Stickyworms all the way to the meeting point of the border and the ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) Lancang River.
“We need to move faster!”
Just as I prepared to cross the border—
“So-ryong!”
“Master! Wait!”
I heard the voices of Hwa-eun and Gun Hye-rin calling out from behind me.
Gun Hye-rin was still using the title ‘Master.’
Turning to look, I saw Hwa-eun and Gun Hye-rin soaring toward us, carried by the coils of Yeondu, who was now awake.
“Everyone, stop for a second.”
I signaled for Seomi and Byeogi to halt where they were.
—Waeaae. Waeaaang.
—Waeaeae.
The two of them swam a circle around me, and with their movement, more lifeless fish began to appear on the surface.
A single Stickyworm that had not yet joined the main swarm upstream turned over and floated away.
As they landed swiftly, Hwa-eun and Gun Hye-rin spoke.
“So-ryong, we should go up together. As a precaution.”
“That’s right. We have no idea if those Five Venoms Sect villains are lying in wait ahead.”
The number of Stickyworm offspring had dwindled to almost nothing near the border.
However, a few still surfaced occasionally, meaning we had to follow the water all the way to its source—which was beyond the border.
Allowing even a single one to get away was unacceptable.
But the river’s origin was inside the Daewol Nation—Five Venoms Sect territory. It was undeniably hazardous.
During our last reconnaissance mission, we had managed to sneak through by concealing ourselves beneath the water.
But with Seomi and Byeogi accompanying us now, staying underwater was impossible.
Their own electrical field would sweep them away immediately, just as it did to the fish.
So, to avoid being caught in their discharge, my choices were to fly just above the water or to travel high in the sky.
Both options would significantly increase our chances of being detected by the Five Venoms Sect.
I had been too hurried to consider that, so I simply nodded in agreement.
“Alright.”
Gun Hye-rin might not have realized it, but in truth, I did not want Hwa-eun to come. It was far too risky.
But if I tried to go alone, they would never allow it.
So I consented.
However, with Hwa-eun joining us, we couldn’t simply charge in unprepared, could I?
I needed to give those Five Venoms Sect fiends a demonstration of power to make them think twice about attacking.
They undoubtedly already knew about the events downstream.
There was no possibility they had missed the commotion and military movements of the last several days.
They were absolutely observing us.
It was time to reveal the ultimate symbol of military deterrence—the forward deployment of an aircraft carrier.
‘You scum, your aircraft carrier is arriving!’
『“Cheongwol, can you carry Geumdo on your back and follow the river up to the guard post right before the border? Have one of the boatmen or another messenger inform Senior Yeoncheon.”
—Krrrng. (Understood.)
“And Yo-hwa, can you come to my location and cast your web to seal off the front?”
—Kissit. (Yes, big brother.)』
When relations between two countries become strained, moving an aircraft carrier to the other’s doorstep is a standard practice.
If Israel has issues with Arab nations, the U.S. positions a carrier in the Red Sea. When India and Pakistan fight, India stations its carrier near the Pakistani coast.
An aircraft carrier’s deployment is the purest form of a threat.
Cause trouble, and we will launch our aircraft directly from your coastline.
That is a genuine danger.
To be fair, Geumdo is not exactly a powerful spirit beast.
His venom is merely a fog that puts creatures to sleep.
And on his shell were only a few lower-ranking Golden-Furred Wasp Kings.
Not the most intimidating spectacle.
The Five Venoms Sect might not even recognize what Geumdo truly is.
But none of that mattered—the mere sight of a gigantic golden turtle positioned at their border?
Wouldn’t those Five Venoms Sect cowards hesitate?
Geumdo alone is massively impressive. His presence at the border should serve as a sufficient warning.
I also intended to have someone like Cheongwol standing on top of him.
—Kishishi. 『Big Brother! Yohwa has arrived!』
As that thought crossed my mind, Yohwa appeared before Geumdo.
“Yohwa, you must still be hungry. Have another meal. Then I need you to help me with the web.”
—Kissit. 『Okay, Big Brother.』
Before, I had only given her enough to slightly lessen her hunger. This time, I let her feed properly, offering my finger for her to draw yang energy from. Clearly still famished, she accepted without delay and latched onto my finger.
Once Yohwa had eaten again, she cast her web across the border as arranged. Just as the web was completed, I heard the deep, resonant sounds of Geumdo moving up the riverbed.
—Thump. Thump.
—Rumble.
The waterway was almost entirely filled by Geumdo’s huge form.
We had already cleansed the area between the downstream net and this new one, but to be absolutely certain, I intended to sweep through it one more time after we finished upstream.
“We’ll clear the section between the two nets again once we come back from the source.”
“Understood, So-ryong.”
Then, from the group that had followed Geumdo, I brought Heukhwa, Baekhwa, Hyangi, and Hongdan with me.
I left Sister Jeokwol behind because of the rain.
While hiding behind Sister Jeokwol would be perfect for moving deep into hostile territory, the weather made it impractical.
Even though her human disguise is waterproof, the raindrops hitting her form create visual distortions in the air around her—making her more likely to be spotted.
“Alright—let’s go!”
—Waeae!
—Waeaeae!
At my command, Seomi and Byeogi jumped over Yohwa’s web.
With Seomi and Byeogi taking the lead and the rest of us concealed behind Sister Jeokwol, we flew low over the water and gradually moved into the territory of the Daewol Nation.

***
“My Lord! A report! They have crossed the border!”

In a clearing within the forest, beneath a gigantic tree not far from the border—
A figure dressed in black rushed in with light, rapid steps, delivering an urgent message to his superior.
He had just verified that the individuals they were awaiting had indeed crossed over.
He had seen a man and two women flying through the air, supported by a large centipede and a snake—exactly as anticipated.
His superior—the Sect Master of the Five Venoms Sect—spoke.
“Who precisely has crossed?”
Kneeling, the warrior answered the Sect Master’s query.
“That wretched So-ryong, the daughter of the Tang Clan, and a third woman we do not recognize!”
“And the spirit beasts?”
“Only the One-Venom Lord, the Bi-cheon Shin-sa, and the Small Blood-Flame Crystal Centipede were seen.”
Hearing this, a smile slowly spread across the Five Venoms Sect Master’s face.
The numbers were far fewer than he had predicted.
He had assumed they would bring the Ten-Thousand-Year Stone Armored Scorpion and the majority of the Ten Great Venoms—but instead, it was only the One-Venom Lord, Bi-cheon Shin-sa, and that little centipede.
This was a situation he could handle.
The Bi-cheon Centipede was one of the physically least imposing of the Ten Great Venoms. The Small Blood-Flame Crystal Centipede was durable, certainly—but it was also small and not very fast.
Furthermore, Bi-cheon Shin-sa could not utilize his full power without being alongside the Golden-Crowned Death King.
This was an ideal opportunity to remove that persistent irritant and take the Tang Clan’s daughter as a captive.
“This time, I will finally seize that Tang girl and take her as my wife. I’ve grown tired of the daughter—it is time for an improvement.”
“They say the beauty of that Tang girl is truly peerless, don’t they?”
Just as the Five Venoms Sect Master was smirking, picturing what he would do with his new prisoner—
The reporting warrior paused uneasily before adding, “However… there is a golden turtle the size of a house positioned directly at the border…”
“A golden turtle?”
“Yes, my lord.”
Hearing about the golden turtle stationed at the border, the Five Venoms Sect Master’s brow furrowed—he grasped their meaning instantly.
“They did not bring their full force across the border—but that creature is a warning. If anything goes wrong, the others will storm in immediately. That is the message.”
“A Millennium Golden Turtle can cast an entire area into a sleep that lasts a thousand years. They are making a threat.”
He tapped the rock he was sitting on lightly with his finger, then stood up and delivered his orders to the warriors.
“All commanders of the combat units, attend me!”
“We hear and obey!”
“They are advancing upstream beside the river. Hold your positions. When I initiate the assault, strike together simultaneously! Is that clear!?”
“We hear and obey!”
“We hear and obey!”
“The women are to be taken alive. I will personally cut down that wretched So-ryong myself.”
Although he understood their intent, he had no intention of withdrawing.
The golden turtle’s primary weakness was its lack of speed.
He calculated that he would have plenty of time to capture them long before it could even get close.
As all the warriors disappeared into the surrounding jungle, the Sect Master remained under the enormous tree.
He got up from his seat on the rock and retrieved a flute from within his robe.
—Fweeeee.
A faint, low sound, resembling a bird’s call, resonated through the jungle.
Moments later, the sound of enormous wings beating could be heard.
—Whooosh. Whoooosh.
Leaves were thrown in every direction.
Clumps of grass were torn from the earth and sent flying.
A massive creature landed before the Five Venoms Sect Master—a black wasp king.
He climbed onto its back and stated calmly.
“Very well. Let’s go tear their other spirit beasts to pieces.”
—Vuuung. Vuuuung.
With that, the giant black wasp ascended into the sky, carrying the Five Venoms Sect Master up into the breaking storm clouds.