Fabre in Sacheon’s Tang Novel - Chapter 523

Chapter 523
The Secret Compendium of Venomous Creatures lists ten entries under the heading of the Top Ten Venom Beasts.
Jimjo.
Hoja.
Golden-Crowned Serpent King.
Ten-Thousand-Year Stone Scorpion.
Sky-Flying Centipede.
Bloodflower Illusion Butterfly.
Gold-Faced Spider.
Azure Fire Magma Toad.
Silver Silkworm Moth.
And the very last one was the World-Ending Golden Frog.

It was documented in the final passage of the Top Ten Venoms chapter, noted as a being whose venom had the potential to annihilate the entire world—a truly fearsome entity.
It was a name I recognized.
My face lit up with a grin, and I called out happily at the recollection.
“Oh! So when the Five Venoms Sect Leader yelled ‘Myeolse,’ that was it, wasn’t it?”
Naturally, I was thrilled.
I had already gathered eight of the Ten Venom Beasts. Regarding Jimjo, I either knew where it lived or had a good idea of its seasonal path, supposing it was a bird that migrates.
Just one creature’s location had stayed a mystery.
Up to this point, I hadn’t discovered any sign of it—but if this “Myeolse” was truly the toxin of the World-Ending Golden Frog, then we had just found a lead to follow.

Hwa-eun’s voice, coming from beside me, was also filled with eager energy as she answered my question.
“You’re correct, So-ryong. The Secret Compendium of Venomous Creatures explicitly wrote that the World-Ending Golden Frog holds a poison that can bring about the world’s destruction.”
“Now I recall! With poison of that caliber, it could absolutely wipe out the world and more!”
Considering the devastating effect of the poison those Five Venoms Sect villains used while we were hunting them, it was very probable that the “Myeolse” the sect leader screamed referred to that exact substance.
The strength of that poison was genuinely horrifying.
The user instantly broke apart on the spot, as if melting away, and a complete circle twenty meters across was simply scoured clean from existence.
If they possessed a sufficient quantity, I could easily believe it had the power to erase the world.
I had witnessed Jimjo’s venom before, and even measured against that, this was not less potent.
It might have been more powerful, in fact.

There was one detail that puzzled me, however.
The Secret Compendium of Venomous Creatures appeared to rank the venomous beasts by power—so why was an entity able to unmake the world positioned at the very bottom of the Top Ten?
As I considered this, I thought back to a discussion I’d shared with Hwa-eun while reading about the World-Ending Golden Frog.
“World-Ending Golden Frog. That is an immensely imposing title.”
“Indeed, it is a poisonous being that contains a toxin with the capacity to end the world.”
“But Hwa-eun, wouldn’t you say the Top Ten Venoms part of the Compendium is sorted by strength? Why would something this formidable be ranked last?”
“Hmm? Well… The Secret Compendium of Venomous Creatures was authored by Elder Tang Hwaseong. I am certain he had his own purpose for ordering it like that.”
“You think so?”

While I was remembering that talk with Hwa-eun, I abruptly heard Grandpa Yakseon speak up.
He sounded utterly astonished.
“World-Ending Golden Frog!? You… you youngsters are aware of that creature!?”
Well, it was understandable. It was a name that radiated disaster.
“Yes, Grandpa Yakseon. The World-Ending Golden Frog is named in a Tang Clan text known as the Secret Compendium of Venomous Creatures as one of the Central Plains’ Ten Venom Beasts. It specifically states its poison can erase the world.”
“World-Ending Golden Frog… A dreadful name. And yes, the title is fitting. But you don’t possess it among your companions, do you?”
“No, Grandpa.”
“Then… is it possible the Five Venoms Sect managed to acquire it?”

Since Grandpa was wondering if those scoundrels had seized it, I thought I would attempt to find out.
Because I was acquainted with someone—or more precisely, something—that might have the answer.
“I’ll make an inquiry.”
“An inquiry?”
“Yes, just a moment.”

Cheong-yu Sojeo was now part of our group. I had posed a question to her once before.
Whether there were any other spirit beasts held captive by the Five Venoms Sect aside from Hoja Mama.
It was to verify if there were any other unfortunate beings I needed to save.
At that time, Cheong-yu Sojeo had said she knew of none.
Apparently, if the spirit beasts they caught weren’t of Top Ten Venom caliber, they processed them immediately for medicinal use.
Despicable scum.
Even though she was brainwashed and thought herself the sect leader’s daughter, she still had access to confidential matters, so her word probably carried authority.
If that was the situation, and the Five Venoms actually obtained the World-Ending Golden Frog, it must have occurred after Cheong-yu Sojeo joined us.
In that event, Hoja Mama would probably know.
And even if not, they might have caught another spirit beast since then, so I quickly reached out to Mama in my thoughts.
‘Mama! Mama!’
A response arrived right away.
[What is it, my child? What is so pressing that you call for Mama like this?]
‘No, Mama, please don’t call me “child.” I’ve asked you—please use So-ryong…’
[But if I cease calling you that, I will be discontented, and that cannot be. Referring to you as “child” brings me joy, so I cannot yield on this matter.]
The reason I couldn’t use the shared connection and had to speak privately like this…
Was because after Hoja announced we were truly parent and child, she persisted in calling me “child.”
Every time I requested she use my name, she would maintain she couldn’t, as it would cause her displeasure.
Lately she had essentially been employing “joy” and “discontent” as bargaining tools, so I let out a breath and came to the point.
‘I need to ask you something. Did those Five Venoms wretches seize any new spirit beasts after Cheong-yu Sojeo left? Something such as, for example, a Golden Frog?’
There was a short silence before she answered.
[Hmm… From my memory, there was no Golden Frog. I do recall them capturing a lower-grade serpent-type spirit beast, however. I believe they mentioned using it to brew liquor. Why do you inquire about this?]
‘Damnable villains! Ugh, relax. The issue is—remember when I pursued the Five Venoms during your rescue?’
[Ah yes, you gave chase to them, did you not?]
‘Right. Back then, I deployed poison alongside Cho, and after the human martial artists began tracking them, the leader of the Five Venoms cried out “Myeolse.”
Then one of the figures in black shattered his own ceramic vial—and the force that burst out was unbelievable. It cleared the immediate area as if it had been purged by poison. That is why I’m asking.
I began to suspect they had captured a spirit beast and drawn poison from it—’
[Hmm…]
Mama went silent, obviously pondering it.
And then, as if something came back to her, she spoke once more.
[Ah… that vial—was it made of ceramic with a black color?]
‘Yes. A matte, black-glazed ceramic. Do you recall something?’
She seemed to possess a clue.
And indeed, she answered that she had observed it.
[I remember now. I witnessed an individual wearing a black mask presenting that specific object to the Five Venoms Sect Leader. Usually, no one ventures to address him informally, but at that time, I remember the masked man insistently advising him to treat it with great caution.]
‘A black mask?’
[Yes.]
A black mask?
That likely indicated the Five Venoms Sect’s assassination team that had assaulted me.
This meant it was within Cheong-yu Sojeo’s field of knowledge.
Rather than Mama, I chose to contact Cheong-yu Sojeo.
‘Thank you, Mama.’
I was preparing to thank her and shift to Cheong-yu Sojeo when Mama’s last query came through.
Concerning when I planned to consume the meatballs.
[Very well, I understand. But inform me, child, when will you eat those meatballs? You have appeared somewhat leaner recently.]
‘I-I’ve eaten enough for today, so, um… shortly?’
[Do not cause Mama to be discontented.]
‘Ah… yes, understood.’
[Hehe. That is my child.]
I pledged to be a dutiful son, but evidently that would be challenging. After I provided an noncommittal reply, Mama laughed softly.
At that sound, I couldn’t help but feel—
Recently, it seemed she was deliberately ribbing me.
Even so, if that brought her happiness, then this So-ryong would happily be the subject of her jokes.
Thinking that, I called for Cheong-yu Sojeo.
‘Cheong-yu Sojeo?’
‘—Shiaa. 「Yes, So-ryong. What is it?」’
Although it was nighttime, she responded immediately.
I promptly asked about the identities of the men in black masks.
I had learned about them previously but had forgotten.
‘The ones who ambushed me in Cheonghae. Those with black masks—what was their name again?’
‘—Shiaaa. Ah, you mean the Shadow Unit? They are the Five Venoms Sect Leader’s private strike force. Why do you ask?’
As anticipated, she replied without delay.
I clarified the reason for my question.
‘Well, it’s simply that… one of them was the individual who employed that monstrous poison. Grandpa Yakseon just identified the toxin—it could be from the World-Ending Golden Frog.
But Mama said she doesn’t remember them seizing a Golden Frog… So I was thinking perhaps they had some alternative method for handling spirit beasts?’
‘—Shiaa. 「Hmm… if the Shadow Unit is connected, then even I would not be certain. They receive commands solely from the Sect Leader, so no one else is aware of their activities.」’
The returning answer was that she too was unsure.
The Shadow Unit was a covert organization answering directly to the Sect Leader, and even Cheong-yu Sojeo was ignorant of their operations.
‘I see.’
‘—Shiaa. 「My apologies. I desire I could have assisted you further, So-ryong.」’
‘No, that is plenty.’
Concluding the discussion, I turned to Elder Yakseon and Grandpa Uiseon, who were observing me intently, and explained.
“I just consulted Hoja and the Golden-Crowned Serpent King—both of whom I can speak with through Beast Heart Resonance—about whether the Five Venoms could be holding the World-Ending Golden Frog. Neither was aware.
But Hoja did mention she observed a member of the Five Venoms’ Shadow Unit presenting a poison named ‘Myeolse’ to the Sect Leader. Normally, they would not speak to him so freely, but this instance was handled with the utmost care.
The Shadow Unit is an elite force directly under the Five Venoms Sect Leader. Only he can command them, so no one else knows their tasks. But if Hoja saw them deliver the poison, then it is plausible to suppose they may have captured the World-Ending Golden Frog.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes.”

Hearing my reply, Grandpa Yakseon sank into contemplation.
After some time, he looked to Hwa-eun and asked,
“Hwa-eun.”
“Yes, Grandpa Yakseon?”
“If a creature producing such a poison existed, do you believe the Tang Clan could apprehend it?”
But Hwa-eun instantly shook her head.
“No. Even I struggle to resist that kind of poisonous emanation, and the clan’s fighters or elders would disintegrate nearly immediately. This is not a poison that people can survive.
Even Cho’s poison, which also comes from a Top Ten Venom, only dissolves flesh upon touch—but this substance dissolves everything in its vicinity the instant it is unleashed… Even Wung-hwang disappeared in a flash…
If this being is as swift as the other spirit beasts, it would eradicate everyone in moments.”
To capture a venomous beast, you at minimum need to withstand its poison. But this one was just too lethal—pronounced completely impossible to catch.
Presently, the Tang Clan’s most powerful combatant was Hwa-eun, who had attained the Flower Realm.
If even she declared it, then it must be factual.
Grandpa Yakseon nodded gradually and said,
“Then the Five Venoms probably do not possess the World-Ending Golden Frog.”
“Because even the Tang Clan couldn’t apprehend it?”
“No, So-ryong. Consider what would be required to catch such a being yourself.”
“That would be incredibly thrilling.”
“No, you scamp. I mean, picture attempting to capture it alive—not slay it. How would you even imprison it? What sort of container could possibly hold it?”
He was completely right.
To catch it, you would need to restrain or confine it somehow—but how, and using what?
Even getting near it would make you dissolve.
But there was one point Grandpa had mistaken.
The Tang Clan might be unable to catch it, and the Five Venoms Sect might also fail…
But I was not like them.
This bold Fabre possessed a means to capture even a creature with such ruinous venom.
A very straightforward way, at that.
“I grasp your meaning, Grandpa. However, the fact is, I do have a technique to catch it…”
At my words, Grandpa Yakseon and Hwa-eun both inhaled sharply, their eyes widening like large lamps.
“You do!?”
“You possess a method to catch the World-Ending Golden Frog, So-ryong!?”
“Naturally! Why wouldn’t I? It is really quite simple.”
There genuinely was a very uncomplicated method.