Fabre in Sacheon’s Tang Novel - Chapter 8

Chapter 8

The discovery that Cheolsan possessed medical knowledge came as a genuine surprise. While walking with the village chief to his home, I took the opportunity to quietly question one of the Tang Clan warriors about it.

From what I had observed during our journey, the Sichuan-based Tang Clan was a martial family famous for one particular specialty: poison.

In short, they were a clan dedicated to the research and refinement of assassination through toxic means.

They carried the aura of a mythic family of killers.

This reputation had caused my personal estimation of them to continuously drop.

However, if the Tang Clan was also skilled in medicine, that could change things. Their profound knowledge of toxins could theoretically be applied to healing, not just harming.

Ultimately, every individual chooses their own path, doesn’t they?

‘A Tang Clan that masters medicine… now that is an interesting thought.’

[But is their medical skill actually true?]

I looked at the Tang Clan warrior, my silent question clear in my eyes. He smiled in response, evidently still keen to win me over. He seemed utterly determined to recruit me into the Tang Clan.

“The Tang Clan’s martial arts are centered on poison techniques, so it is only natural that we are also deeply learned in medicine. Medicine and poison are two facets of the same art.

Furthermore, all martial arts begin with a comprehension of the human body, so a foundational understanding of medicine is indispensable.

If one intends to bring harm to another’s body, one must first achieve a profound understanding of it.

For example, our clan apprehends wicked individuals to observe how various poisons interact with their systems. This work inevitably grants us a more intimate knowledge of medicine than most other clans possess.”

“I understand… Is that so?”

The warrior even adopted formal speech, as if this politeness might persuade me to join.

Yet, after his explanation, my mental picture of the Tang Clan morphed into something much darker—a cabal of maniacs performing human experiments to refine their poisons.

A group of psychopaths who studied anatomy solely to discover more efficient methods of killing, even developing toxins for mass slaughter.

‘Studying the human body to improve murder… Mental evaluation score: -50. Conducting human experiments: -100. A complete clan of psychopaths. But I’ll add +3 points for their community service.’

In the end, aside from their impressive qinggong and their willingness to aid the village, the Tang Clan’s score in my internal assessment was in a steep decline.

As I privately graded the clan, we reached the village chief’s house. Cheolsan placed his hand on the chest of the unconscious child and performed some procedure. The girl’s ragged breathing slowly evened out, and she released a heavy sigh.

Phew…

Whatever Cheolsan had done, it appeared to have stabilized her.

Wiping his brow, he turned to the village chief.

“For the moment, I have channeled some internal energy into her to keep her condition from deteriorating further.”

“Th-thank you! Please… you must save her. She is the only granddaughter I have left!”

After examining her for a while longer, Cheolsan’s expression became one of confusion.

“This is unusual. She has a Bujo Pulse.”

“Bujo Pulse? What does that mean?”

‘Bujo Pulse… that sounds like an arrhythmia. A heart condition, perhaps?’

While I had no formal medical training, my previous life as a specialist in poisons and venoms had familiarized me with certain medical and toxicological terms.

So, I had a general idea of what Cheolsan was referring to.

“It means her heart is not beating correctly. Has the child been this way since she was born?”

‘Ah, he’s asking if it’s a congenital heart defect.’

“No, not at all! This began only half a year ago. It wasn’t just her—other villagers also became sick. We’ve been calling it a plague. That is why I urged you to leave earlier, to avoid becoming entangled in our misfortune.”

The village chief’s words explained why the typically hospitable Yuezu had treated us with such coldness. They were burdened by this trouble.

Hearing this, Cheolsan nodded thoughtfully.

“It does not seem to be a contagious illness, so you need not worry on that account. However, to treat the child, I must examine others who may be suffering from the same malady. Can you have them assemble here?”

“Of course!”

Somewhat relieved to hear it likely wasn’t a contagious heart disease, I felt myself relax a little.

At the chief’s call, the sick villagers began to gather outside his home. Cheolsan meticulously examined each patient, recording their symptoms.

But after he finished his evaluations, he shook his head, perplexed.

“Fatigue, swollen eyes, irregular pulses, and mild fevers… Yet the symptoms are not uniform. In the most severe cases, everything seems to originate from a problem with the heart. It is most peculiar.”

Some villagers had fatigue and fever, others had swollen eyes and arrhythmia, and all the critical cases involved cardiac issues.

The village chief, growing alarmed, asked nervously, “Does this mean… it cannot be treated?”

“For now, I will prepare a medicine that is beneficial for the heart. Please collect the ingredients as swiftly as you can, and we will see if it provides relief.”

True to his medical training, Cheolsan avoided a definitive prognosis, focusing instead on treating the symptoms.

For the village chief and the villagers, even this offered a glimmer of hope. They immediately dispersed to gather the required herbs.

“Everyone, assemble! The physician needs herbs to make medicine!”

***

The sight of the sick girl had reminded Cheolsan of Hwa-eun back in Sichuan.
“F-Forgive me, Father… I’ve been unfilial…”
Her face had been pale and blue from poison after failing her martial training, and she had apologized to him with trembling lips.
That memory resurfaced, and he found he could not simply walk away.
It was with this thought that Cheolsan devoted himself to examining the girl with the utmost care.
He understood better than anyone the anguish of a parent or grandparent whose child was ill.
Between tending to the girl, Cheolsan also prepared other treatments: washing the eyes of those with vision problems, applying salves, and administering fever-reducing powder (Haeyeolsan).
By the time all the patients had been seen to, dusk had fallen.
One of the Tang Clan warriors approached and offered him a damp towel.
“Clan Head, please wipe your face. You have worked very hard.”
“Thank you, Gu Pae.”
“There is no need for thanks, Clan Head.”
The man offering the towel was Gu Pae, vice-captain of the Poison-Blood Squad (Dokhyeoldae).
Gu Pae was a man of exceptional character, held in high esteem by the clan’s warriors. His presence in Hainan was due to injuries he sustained while saving his comrades during the capture of the Blue-Spotted Centipede.
“And the young man?”
“Ah, he seemed worn out from assisting, so I settled him down to rest in a room.”
“I see. He lacks martial training, so traveling with us for days must have been difficult. What is your impression of him, after observing him these past few days?”
Cheolsan was asking for Gu Pae’s honest opinion of Wei Su Long.
While Su Long’s talents were significant, his character was equally important. This was, after all, a potential son-in-law for the Tang Clan.
“Since he is not yet part of our Tang Clan, may I speak candidly?”
“By all means.”
Nodding, Cheolsan gestured for Gu Pae to continue.
“First, it is remarkable that he managed to live alone in the jungles of Hainan, raising venomous creatures. For someone his age, it is only natural to crave human companionship.”
“Indeed, Su Long is unique in that respect.”
“Yes, but he lacks the eccentric personality often seen in the martial world’s so-called ‘oddballs.’ While he is not ordinary, he does not appear to be cruel or malicious.”
“Before we departed, he even released some of the venomous creatures he had raised, knowing he might not return. That alone suggests a nature that is not cruel. So, would you say he is suitable to be my son-in-law?”
Gu Pae inclined his head slightly.
“Yes, but there is one point of concern…”
Though he had just received affirmation, the mention of a concern made Cheolsan look at him curiously.
“And what would that be? You said he was acceptable.”
“It is his aptitude…”
Cheolsan was already aware of this issue.
At fourteen or fifteen, Su Long was somewhat old to begin martial arts training, and his innate talent did not appear to be exceptional.
But Cheolsan shook his head. Martial prowess was not the source of Su Long’s value to the Tang Clan.
The young man’s unique abilities had the potential to greatly advance the clan’s poison techniques. In fact, it was nearly a certainty.
“Do not trouble yourself over that. Su Long’s worth lies elsewhere. We have all witnessed the venomous creatures he cultivated, have we not?”
“Even so… For the young lady’s future partner, someone more accomplished might be preferable…”
“Haha, you sound as if you are Hwa-eun’s father. Be careful, Gu Pae.”
“My apologies, Clan Head.”
Gu Pae’s worries stemmed from his deep care for the Tang Clan and for Hwa-eun.
Seeing this, Cheolsan smiled warmly. It was a testament to Gu Pae’s loyalty.
As their conversation turned to the clan and Hwa-eun, Cheolsan’s gaze returned to the unconscious girl.
“This child remains a problem.”
Though he had reduced her fever and prepared restorative medicine, the underlying cause of her condition was still unknown.
If the heart issue was not resolved, her Bujo Pulse would return. And once Cheolsan departed, her survival could not be assured.
“Still no insight into the cause?”
“None. As you know, few in the Tang Clan have studied medical texts as extensively as I have, yet I have never encountered or heard of a disease like this.”
“If we cannot remain here indefinitely, that presents a problem.”
“Indeed. Would you like to examine her yourself?”
Holding onto a faint hope, Cheolsan had Gu Pae check the girl’s pulse, but he too shook his head.
“I cannot identify it either.”
The two continued to deliberate, but no solution presented itself.
By now, the sky was fully dark, and insects were drawn to the lanterns, buzzing incessantly.
“I should check on our young guest. With all these insects about, he may need a covering. This place is as thick with bugs as the jungles of Yunnan.”
“I will escort you. This way, Clan Head. You two, keep watch over the young lady.”
“Yes, Vice-Captain.”
Leaving the girl in the care of the other warriors, Cheolsan and Gu Pae went to check on Su Long.
Inside the room, illuminated by the flickering lantern light, Su Long was deep in sleep.
Cheolsan watched the young man with a warm smile.
Then—
Buzz, buzz, buzz.
An insect flew in and landed on Su Long’s forehead. It slowly crawled down his cheek and began making its way toward his lips.
‘You impudent creature!’
If Su Long were bitten, it could be disastrous. Hainan was home to countless poisonous insects, many unknown even to Cheolsan.
Without a second thought, Cheolsan lunged forward and swatted the insect with all his might.
*Smack!*
In his zeal to kill the bug, he forgot it was crawling on Su Long’s face.
The slap jolted Su Long awake. Clutching his reddened cheek, he stared at Cheolsan in pained disbelief.
“Wh-what is happening?! My face stings!”
Caught off guard, Cheolsan scratched his head awkwardly and explained.
“My apologies… A bug was crawling on your face, and I… acted impulsively.”
“Wait, Elder, did you just hit me instead of the bug? My poor face!”
“I am truly sorry! But look at this enormous insect I caught—it was right on your cheek!”
In his own defense, Cheolsan held up the bug, still stuck to his palm.
Su Long’s indignant glare shifted from Cheolsan to the insect.
But then, something strange occurred.
Su Long’s bleary eyes widened as he brought his face closer to the bug.
He pulled Cheolsan’s hand nearer to the lantern, scrutinizing the insect carefully.
“This… Why is this here?!”
His voice shook with surprise and apprehension.
“What manner of bug is it?” Cheolsan asked cautiously.
Looking up, Su Long replied, “It’s a kissing bug… No, in the Central Plains, it is called a Jeopmunchung. This is a Jeopmunchung, Elder.”
“A… kissing bug?”
The name caused Cheolsan’s eyes to widen in shock.
Such a scandalous-sounding name for an insect—it was downright indecent!