Fabre in Sacheon’s Tang Novel - Chapter 68

Chapter 68

“What—why has the grand ritual begun!? What’s happening!?”
“So-ryong! What’s going on? Why is the ritual starting now!?”
“Grandfath… Ugh…”
As the contents of the cauldron seethed and hissed, threatening to boil over, my grandfather and father-in-law—who had been gathering other ritual components—rushed toward me with alarmed expressions.
-BOOM!
The liquid inside the vessel erupted with a violent roar, as though it might shatter the cauldron entirely.
The agony was so intense I couldn’t even speak, but fortunately, my sister was there to quickly explain what had happened.
“O-O-Gong accidentally let one drop of venom fall! I think that’s what triggered the ritual!”
I’d been instructed not to move once the ritual commenced, so I gritted my teeth and bore it with every ounce of will I possessed, even though every instinct screamed at me to escape.
‘This pain… it’s unbearable!’
It felt exactly like being plunged into a vat of boiling oil.
My skin seemed to be peeling away from my body, and the burning sensation was so severe I feared I might lose my mind.
They said the Jewel Poison’s venom should numb the pain, but O-Gong’s venom belonged to another class altogether—one that could dissolve flesh. This wasn’t mere pain; it was torture.
And how could I blame O-Gong? It had only been a single, tiny drop—like an accidental spit. How could I hold that against him?
Not that I was in any condition to feel anger.
My jaw shook uncontrollably.
My fingers, my toes, every extremity felt like it was melting away.
A raw, primal scream welled up from deep within me.
‘I haven’t even had my wedding night! And now my body is dissolving! Aaaaah!’
“What!?”
“What did you say!?”
Their shocked exclamations and rushed footsteps followed my sister’s explanation.
“So-ryong, concentrate! Listen to me! You must circulate your energy according to the Five Poisons Returning to the Origin Art that I taught you. The Five Poisons Returning Divine Art is similar—calm your mind and guide your Qi slowly. I will assist by transferring energy through your Baihui point.”
Grandfather placed his palm on the top of my head, and a stream of energy flowed into me. Fighting through the torment, I grasped at the memory of the technique and slowly began the Grand Circulation.
Sheer determination was all that kept me going.
‘Grhhh…!’
As my Qi started moving from my dantian through my meridians, the pain lessened just a fraction.
That faint relief was enough to let me know that my only chance was to commit fully to the circulation. Like a drowning man clinging to a lifeline, I held on desperately.
-BUBBLE… BUBBLE…
The only sound in my world was the boiling of the liquid around me.
With each cycle of the Grand Circulation, my grandfather made slight adjustments, refining the pathways. By the fifth cycle, they had stabilized.
It was only then that the venom—which had felt like a hostile, external force—began to feel familiar.
It seeped into my skin, merging with my Qi and circulating throughout my body. I could feel it altering something fundamental within me.
Not my dantian itself, but the energy within it. If my Qi had once been like clear water, it now felt effervescent—sharp, lively, and tingling with energy.
As the venom and my Qi harmonized, the pain faded, and my thoughts grew clear again.
The terrifying fear of dissolution was gone.
I had been told that completing the ritual would leave me overflowing with energy, but instead, I felt completely drained.
‘I survived… but only just.’
When I opened my eyes, the first person I saw was my sister, pacing anxiously nearby. When she noticed I was awake, her eyes went wide.
Beside her stood O-Gong, surrounded by Xue, Bing, Jewel Poison, and Bin-ah, all glaring at him reproachfully. They were scolding him fiercely in a language only they understood.
-Kissit! Kishishi!
-Gukkuu! Kkuu!
-Chrrrr!
O-Gong hung his head, looking utterly dejected.
Then my sister’s voice broke through, frantic with worry.
“So-ryong! Can you hear me? Can you see me? Grandfather said if you woke up, you should be able to speak!”
“Is… is O-Gong alright?”
The words slipped out almost reflexively—I was still thinking about that drop of venom. Had it hurt his antennae? The moment I spoke, everything seemed to freeze.
‘Huh? Is this an effect of the ritual?’
My sister stared motionless for a second before letting out a long sigh.
She looked at me with pure exasperation. “Yes, I cleaned his antennae right away. While I was desperately worried about whether you’d live or die, I might add. Honestly…”
Her tone was icy as she folded her arms.
My first thought was: ‘I’ve done it now.’
‘It was just a reflex…’
An old habit from my past life—always worrying about my creatures before myself. The words came out before I could stop them.
But now I was engaged. My fiancée should have been my first concern. This was a serious misstep.
Trying to recover, I let out a weak groan.
“Khhk…”
“So-ryong! What’s wrong!? Are you in pain!?”
Alarmed, my sister rushed over, her face full of concern.
Feigning disorientation, I replied, “Ugh… Hwa-eun, I’m sorry to have worried you. But… is O-Gong truly alright?”
Her eyes widened in disbelief, then softened with pity.
“You’re still not fully conscious, are you!? Grandfather! Grandfather! So-ryong is awake, but he isn’t making sense—please come check on him!”
“What!? Has the venom affected his mind!?”
Thankfully, I’d sidestepped the situation this time. But I promised myself I would be more careful from now on.
‘That was too close.’

***
Two full days passed before the grand ritual finally concluded.
The cauldron, once filled to the brim, was now completely dry. When I asked my grandfather about it, he explained that O-Gong’s venom had reacted with the mixture, allowing my body to absorb its power. The rest had evaporated or been integrated into my system.
After climbing out, I washed and changed into fresh clothes. Just as I finished, my grandfather spoke behind me.
“I had to quickly find extra ingredients when the venom changed, but the ritual is complete. How do you feel? Is anything amiss?”
“Nothing feels unusual,” I replied, though the memory of the pain had left me uneasy.
Grandfather’s voice was still concerned. “When you woke, Hwa-eun said your memory seemed affected. Are you certain you’re well? I fear the venom may have reached your mind.”
“I’m fine, Grandfather,” I insisted.
“Are you sure? Perhaps a more thorough examination is needed.”
“Truly, I’m alright,” I repeated, hoping to avoid further scrutiny.
I could tell that if I let him, he’d subject me to endless tests. Having successfully eased his worries, I tried to excuse myself, but he promptly handed me five books.
After nearly dying just days before, I had hoped for some rest. But Grandfather, ever the strict mentor, was already preparing me for what appeared to be the Ten Poisons Trial.
I accepted the books reluctantly. Noticing my expression, Grandfather smirked.
“Why the long face?”
He knew perfectly well why, but he enjoyed teasing me. In my past life, if I’d been a better student, I wouldn’t have become a reclusive YouTuber raising venomous pets.
“N-Not at all, Grandfather! I’m just overjoyed the ritual was a success. Ha, ha…” I lied, shaking my head vigorously.
Grandfather opened each book one by one, explaining their contents. “Maybe it’s my imagination. In any case, look here.”
“Yes, Grandfather…”
“Now that you’ve formally begun the Five Poisons Returning Divine Art, you’ll need martial techniques that align with it. These five arts have been passed down alongside the Divine Art, and I’m entrusting them to you.”
‘Wait, this isn’t a test? They come as a set with the Divine Art?’
Curious, I finally focused properly on the books. Sets always had synergy—they were stronger together than apart.
“These are the five techniques I give you: Centipede’s Venom Fang Claw (O-Gong Dok Ah Jo), Venomous Serpent’s Life-Snatching Hand (Dok Sa Tam Myeong Su), Scorpion’s Swift Tail Kick (Heol Mi Kwe Sok Toe), Gecko’s Wall-Climbing Step (Seok Cheok Byuk Ho Sin Bo), and Toad’s Exploding Palm (Seom Seo Pok Ryeol Jang).
Each corresponds to a specific type of technique: claw, hand, foot, movement, and palm.”
I had expected something dark and venomous, but the names resonated deeply with me. They were based on poisonous creatures I loved.
‘These are perfect for Spicy Fabre!’
My heart raced just hearing the names. It felt like they were made for me.
The Centipede’s claw mimicked its venomous bite. The Serpent’s hand captured a snake’s motion. The Scorpion’s tail became a powerful kick. The Gecko’s steps mirrored its climbing agility, and the Toad’s palm—though less obvious—sounded thrilling.
‘This is it. Becoming one with venomous creatures. The unity of human and beast. This must be what Grandfather meant by harmony between man and nature!’
Noticing my excitement, Grandfather smiled. “It seems you approve.”
“Of course, Grandfather! They’re incredible.”
“‘Incredible’? What do you mean?” he asked, tilting his head.
I smiled back. “I expected typical poison arts or assassination techniques, but these are based on my favorite creatures. It’s brilliant.”
“That’s because these didn’t originally belong to the Tang Clan,” Grandfather said offhandedly.
“What?”
His remark took me by surprise. For a moment, I wondered if he was treating me differently because I was an adopted son-in-law. But he continued.
“These techniques, along with the Five Poisons Returning Divine Art, come from the Five Poisons Sect, which is now extinct.”
“The Five Poisons Sect?”
“Yes. It was founded two hundred years ago by a son of the Tang Clan and the daughter of the Beast Palace of Southern Barbaria. They eloped and merged their clans’ martial arts to create the sect.”
He explained that the Five Poisons Sect combined the Tang Clan’s poison arts with the Beast Palace’s animal techniques. But by taking each clan’s secrets and blending them, they angered both families. The sect was hunted for over a century before being wiped out in the jungles of Yunnan.
‘A hundred-year pursuit? The family grudges in this world are no joke.’
It was a tragic tale, like Romeo and Juliet, ending in bloodshed. I swallowed nervously.
“When the Five Poisons Sect fell, both clans reclaimed their arts. However, the Tang Clan took possession of the Five Poisons Returning Divine Art and its techniques due to their poisonous nature. The sect’s leader, who mastered these arts, held his own against both clan heads for some time—proof of their power. Knowing your love for venomous creatures, we believed these techniques would suit you perfectly.”
‘I see… They put so much thought into this.’
The history of the techniques, along with their thematic connection to venomous beings, moved me deeply. I bowed gratefully.
“Thank you, Grandfather. I will devote myself to mastering them!”
“Good, good. That’s what I like to hear,” Grandfather chuckled. “It’s rare to see someone so enthusiastic about these arts.”
The Five Poisons Returning Divine Art and the Five Poisons Martial Arts. They were a perfect match for me.

***
After speaking with Grandfather, I walked out of the Grand Ritual Hall for the first time in three days.
Three whole days. Not making kimchi or fermenting sauce, but sitting in a cauldron. Now, finally, I felt sunlight on my skin.
When the pain was at its worst, I thought I might never feel the sun again. Now, its warmth felt more valuable than ever.
“Ah… It really feels like I’ve come back to life.”
As I stretched lazily in the light, I noticed something scurrying quickly toward me. I glanced down and saw O-Gong rushing over from the hall’s entrance.
“O-Gong!”
Kneeling, I picked him up as he rubbed against my cheek.
-Chrrrr!
“You were worried about me, weren’t you? It’s okay—Dad’s fine now.”
It seemed O-Gong had been waiting anxiously for me all this time.
As I held him, he coiled around my arm just like he always did. But since his second molt, he had grown larger, now wrapping from my wrist all the way to my shoulder. His scales were sharper than before, and they scratched uncomfortably against my skin.
‘I wish he’d coil over my clothes instead. This hurts a little.’
No sooner had the thought crossed my mind than O-Gong uncoiled, chirped softly, and wrapped himself over my sleeve.
‘Wait… Did he just understand me?’
I felt a sudden, strange connection between us—deeper and clearer than ever before.