Fabre in Sacheon’s Tang Novel - Chapter 87

Chapter 87

Becoming an adopted son—it stirred a memory from my previous life.

The ritual itself was straightforward: a single bow before the ancestral shrine and sharing a ceremonial drink. That the drink was mingled with blood, however, caused a vague recollection to flutter at the edge of my mind, elusive and intangible.

“Now, drink.”

“Understood, f—father.”

A single crimson-filled cup was passed to me. I took it carefully and tipped the contents into my mouth.

—Gulp.

Instantly, the sharp burn of alcohol—a sensation I hadn’t experienced since being reborn—was undercut by the unmistakable metallic flavor of blood.

As that coppery taste settled on my tongue, the hazy memory finally snapped into focus.

‘Right. This is just like those gangster films.’

It was uncannily similar to the initiation rites in old movies, where new members sealed their loyalty by drinking blood to join a crime family.

The more I considered it, the more the parallel held. That was about becoming part of a new family, and so was this. The methods were merely… different.

And so, my adoption into the Southern Barbarian Beast Palace was finalized far more quickly than I had anticipated.

Or, to be more precise, I was officially “transferred” to them.

“You are now a son of our Southern Barbarian Beast Palace. Hahaha! In our sect, we forego surnames, so from this day forward, you are simply So-ryong. A dragon is a mighty beast, so the name fits well. Little dragon… it suits you. May you grow into a great one.”

“Kehk! I understand… father.”

The enormous hand that clapped my back nearly sent me stumbling, but I mustered an awkward smile in return.

Then, my new elder sister, Seol-pyo, reached out to gently stroke my cheek, her face breaking into a wide grin.

“So-ryong, you may call me Sister Seol-pyo, or just Sister Seol. Let’s get along, alright? Ah, you are simply adorable.”

“Uh… Yes, Sister Seol. Please take care of me.”

Previously, she had seemed like a fierce, sun-tanned wildcat of a woman, but now that we were family, she was behaving like an affectionate puppy.

Seeing both her and Father’s utterly delighted expressions made me feel deeply self-conscious all over again.

‘I’ve adopted many animals in my past life, but this is the first time I’ve been adopted.’

This was my inaugural experience being welcomed into a family.

I had always been the one bringing little creatures home—was this how they felt?

‘Still… it isn’t a bad feeling.’

I could comprehend their joy.

From their point of view, I was undoubtedly an S-tier specimen.

‘Yes, absolutely S-class. Without question.’

Having recently consumed the royal jelly of the Golden-Furred Monkey King, my “coloration” was exceptional, and since I was still young, there was immense “potential for growth.”

I was a prime catch.

Their happiness was no mystery.

A modest celebratory feast was held with the Tang family following the brief ceremony, and it was late into the night before the festivities concluded.

“This will be your room, So-ryong. What do you think?”

“It’s… remarkably lavish.”

The quarters I was given were opulent, a stark contrast to the Tang family’s practical and modest aesthetic.

A soft bed draped in leopard fur, plush rugs of wolf skin, and an array of cozy furnishings—it felt like a penthouse suite nestled in the heart of the jungle.

“And while you will primarily reside at the Tang family’s estate, you will need a proper place of your own for your visits here.”

“Thank you, Sister Seol.”

“Oh, there’s no need for thanks! Family members don’t thank one another.”

“Ah… right.”

Still unaccustomed to the dynamics of being in a family, I offered her another awkward smile.

“Also, wait here for a moment. I need to go and fetch something.”

“Fetch… something? What do you mean, Sister?”

She answered with a cryptic smile and vanished.

I had just changed into comfortable clothes and was about to sink into my new bed when she returned abruptly.

And she was not alone.

Seol-pyo had brought Hwa-eun with her.

Hwa-eun was dressed in a thin, sleepwear-like garment, her face flushed a deep, scarlet red.

Sister Seol, meanwhile, looked immensely pleased with herself.

“W-why are you two here?”

I was so flustered I instinctively took a step backward.

Sister Seol replied as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

“Now that we’re family, we must bond! I proposed we have a sleepover.”

“A s-sleepover!? All three of us!?!”

“Of course! I’ve always wanted a younger sibling, and now I have one. So we’re doing this. It will be fun, right?”

I whipped my head toward Hwa-eun, my eyes silently demanding, Then why is SHE here?!

Hwa-eun stammered, the blush spreading all the way down her neck.

“I-it is a c-custom in the Beast Palace f-for betrothed couples to… t-to share sleeping quarters…”

‘What? Such a fantastic tradition exists?!’

No, no! This was not the time to be impressed!

From what I could gather, Sister Seol wanted a sibling bonding experience, but her presence also meant that if I were to refuse her proposal…

Then it would be just me and Hwa-eun. Alone.

[Just… just agree. This is far less awkward than the other option.]

A desperate voice echoed inside my head.

I turned to look at Hwa-eun.

Her eyes were pleading.

The message was clear—she would rather perish than be left alone with me in this scenario.

I swallowed hard and asked Sister Seol with caution.

“S-so… does that mean I have to sleep in the middle?”

“Of course!”

‘Tonight… sleep may be impossible.’

***

Sister Seol possessed an endless supply of questions.

As I sat at the breakfast table, dark circles under my eyes, mechanically placing dumplings into my mouth, she suddenly spoke up.

“So-ryong, after breakfast, I will tell you the thing you were most curious about. Finish your meal and follow me. Understood?”

“The thing I was curious about?”

“Your Oh-gong.”

“Ah.”

True to her word, after the meal, Sister Seol said she would help me understand why I could communicate telepathically with Cho.

I nodded, hurriedly finished eating, and followed her to the base of the cliff behind the Beast Palace.

My foster father was already there, waiting for us.

As soon as I sat down, he placed a hand on my shoulder.

“Since we have confirmed that the Ohdok Guiwon Divine Art contains traces of our Beast Heart Art, Grandfather Myung has permitted me to examine your martial arts. Begin circulating your inner energy.”

“Understood.”

Because my martial art contained the greatest secret of the Southern Barbarian Beast Palace, he wished to inspect how much of it was truly present.

Following his direction, I sat cross-legged and began channeling my energy through the Ohdok Guiwon Divine Art.

Father placed his hand on my back, attentively sensing the flow of my qi.

When I finished, he nodded with comprehension.

“They concealed it this thoroughly—no wonder we failed to detect it before. It is an imitation of the Beast Heart Art, but… it is vastly inferior to the original. I need not discuss this further with Grandfather Myung.”

His expression softened, as if a weight had been lifted.

Curious about what made the Beast Heart Art so unique, I ventured a question.

“What exactly is the Beast Heart Art?”

Before Father could respond, Sister Seol interjected excitedly.

“I’ll explain. The Beast Heart Art is an inner cultivation method that only the direct bloodline of the Southern Barbarian Beast Palace can practice. It enables a warrior to grow alongside their beasts.”

The phrase “grow alongside their beasts” instantly seized my interest.

I leaned forward.

“Grow alongside them? What does that mean?”

“Well,” Sister Seol said with a teasing smile, “it has a special property—it allows you to feel the hearts of beasts and command them. It is a martial art that lets you become one with them in combat.”

“So, when you say ‘grow alongside them’… you are referring to how effectively you can command and fight alongside them?”

“Precisely.”

Feeling the hearts of beasts and commanding them…

I could already issue commands, but I could not feel Cho’s thoughts.

I tilted my head in confusion.

“But I can already command Cho… I just cannot feel his heart.”

Sister Seol grinned.

“Just you wait.”

—Thud, thud, thud.

As she spoke, a cloud of dust rose in the distance.

Then, ten wolves came sprinting toward us.

Upon reaching the base of the cliff, they immediately bared their fangs at me.

—Grrrrrrr.

Sister Seol scolded them sharply.

“Hey! So-ryong is my little brother now! No growling!”

—Whimper.

The wolves instantly pinned their ears back, tucking their tails and whining up at her like scolded pups.

Sister Seol smirked and issued her next command.

“Ferocious Wolf Chain Formation!”

At her order, the wolves charged Father.

—Awooooo!

Their synchronized assault was breathtaking.

Two lunged simultaneously, while four others leaped from different angles, their movements seamless and fluid, like the interlocking gears of a precision machine.

Even as a novice in martial arts, I could perceive it—this formation was capable of overwhelming most experts.

Yet Father did not even allow them to touch his clothes.

After several rounds of attacks, Sister Seol raised her hand.

“Stop.”

Panting heavily, the wolves immediately trotted back to her and nuzzled against her for praise.

—Whimper, whimper.

“Good job. Did you see that, So-ryong? That is how it is done.”

“Incredible! You control all ten at once!?”

She commanded the ten wolves with the same ease as moving her own limbs.

Pleased by my admiration, Sister Seol smiled with pride.

“If you master the Beast Heart Art, you could control five hundred, perhaps even a thousand at once. But be warned—if you overextend, all of their emotions will flood your mind, and you will lose your sanity.”

I was barely managing one, and she was speaking of a thousand.

I regarded her with newfound respect.

“How… how can I feel their hearts? And how can I command my other Oh-gong as well?!”

Father and Sister Seol both smiled at my eager enthusiasm.

Father spoke first.

“From my observation, the Ohdok Guiwon Divine Art forces your body to adapt by absorbing poison. That places a tremendous strain on you, which is why your power is dependent on the number of poisons you endure.”

“But the Beast Heart Art does not require poison,” Sister Seol added.

“Then… what does it require?”

I was desperate to gain the ability to converse with my pets, not just command them.

But their answer stunned me.

“Blood.”

“What?! Blood?!”

They had spoken so much about cherishing animals… and now they said I needed to absorb blood?!

My shock must have been plain on my face, for they both chuckled.

“Only a single drop. And it is not solely blood—saliva works just as well. That is why you can command your Oh-gong—because you absorbed their poison.”

“Oh… that makes sense!”

So, consuming a tiny amount of their bodily fluid would allow me to form a bond with my pets!

This was perfect—it meant I would not have to endure more poisons to attain the level of a true Beast Master.

I was already committed to the poison path, so I would still need to strengthen my toxic cultivation, but…

The prospect of bonding with all three of my Oh-gong made me break into a wide grin.

“Please, teach me the Beast Heart Art!”

“Of course! You are my son—it is only right. Sit down, and I will instruct you properly.”

“Thank you, Father! Thank you, Sister!”

The words *Father* and *Sister* left my mouth awkwardly, yet somehow… they also felt natural.

As soon as Father began modifying my Ohdok Guiwon Divine Art, I felt several new energy channels open within my mind.

And then…

I felt it.

Cho’s emotions surged into my heart.

‘This is…!’

Cho’s feelings overflowed into my consciousness.

Limitless love and affection for his dad.

At this very moment, he was staring at the “big man” touching my head, debating whether or not to bite him.

I could perceive Cho’s internal conflict with perfect clarity.

‘Cho…!’

I was deeply moved.

Now that my martial art had been adjusted, Father spoke again.

“Now, hand over all your Oh-gong and lie down.”

“But they might bite…”

“Do not worry—I will use protective qi. And you can instruct them not to bite, can you not?”

Father asked me to relinquish my Oh-gong to him.

I had never entrusted them to anyone except Sister Seol, but I had faith in Father’s expertise.

I mentally commanded Cho to keep his siblings in check before passing them over.

“Go to Grandfather for a little while.”

I lay down.

And then…

“Now, open your mouth.”

“My… mouth?”

Darkness covered my vision.

Father held my Oh-gong above me.

“Now, you three, each give your master a single drop of saliva. So-ryong, circulate the Beast Heart Art and feel the energy of their saliva entering your body.”

I suddenly understood why he had me lie down.

He intended to drip their saliva directly into my mouth.

“Wait, w-wait, Father!”

“What is it?”

“Isn’t this… a little strange?”

“?

”

Father and Sister Seol both tilted their heads in identical confusion.

To them, this was perfectly normal.