Fabre in Sacheon’s Tang Novel - Chapter 97

Chapter 97

Investigating the Five Venoms Clan was an urgent priority.
Both the Tang Clan and the Beast Palace had believed them eradicated a century ago, yet signs of their activity had now been found.
Not only that, but they had struck first.
Their last known stronghold was rumored to be hidden deep within the Yunnan jungles, which was why Mandok Shingun and my adoptive father planned a joint reconnaissance mission before the Tang Clan members departed for home.
“We could not leave while we were still monitoring your condition, but now that you are awake, we intend to verify the facts shortly.”
“Indeed, So-ryong. We have already obtained the clan leader’s approval, so it is best to investigate while we are still in Yunnan.
If they were bold enough to assault the Beast Palace, the Tang Clan could easily be their next target. Instead of waiting passively, it is wiser to hunt them down and conclude what should have been ended a hundred years ago.”
In essence, neither the Beast Palace nor the Tang Clan were the kind to let a threat go unanswered. If any remnants of the Five Venoms Clan had survived, they would be eliminated.
It was a reasonable decision, and I agreed internally.
‘If they narrowly avoided annihilation, they should have remained in hiding. Why invite their own destruction?’
Understanding the plan, I voiced my thoughts.
“I see. In that case, I must definitely join you, correct?”
My personal belief was that a person ought to know when to show initiative.
I was the adopted son of the Beast Palace and the son-in-law of the Tang Clan.
Under these circumstances, it was only proper for me to go with them.
I looked at the two elders with a firm expression, and both seemed taken aback.
“You? You wish to come with us, after just regaining consciousness?”
“So-ryong? You have only just recovered!”
“But I am a son of the Southern Barbarian Beast Palace and a son-in-law of the Sichuan Tang Clan! An enemy to both clans is my enemy. How could I possibly stay behind?”
If it were a mission solely about killing, I might have had reservations.
However, this was merely an investigation of some old ruins.
It was an ideal chance to gain their favor.
One side—the Beast Palace—was full of venomous creatures that fascinated me, and the other—the Tang Clan—enthusiastically encouraged my interests.
I needed to seize this opportunity.
“Haha. Is that what you believe?”
“To hear So-ryong say such a thing… He is truly one of us! Hahaha.”
Mandok Shingun and my adoptive father smiled with evident pride, while both Seol and Hwa-eun gazed at me with moved expressions.
‘Knowing when to act is the key to a good life.’
***
“Ugh, I feel so stiff.”
A few days later, as Mandok Shingun and my adoptive father finalized the plans for the investigation, I stretched and walked out of the Beast Palace’s main hall.
After being asleep for fifteen days, my body felt as rigid as an unoiled machine.
As my joints and muscles ached in complaint, I made a show of my discomfort, which immediately drew worried reactions from behind me.
“So-ryong, would you prefer to go back and rest?”
“Yes, perhaps you should lie down for a while?”
Tsrrt?
Hwa-eun and Seol followed close behind me, their faces filled with concern, and even Cho voiced a noise of worry.
Even though the elders had assured them I was fine, they remained apprehensive.
It was likely because of what they had heard about the risk to my consciousness.
I shook my head.
“No, I have been asleep for fifteen days. I need to be active. Besides, I must go check on the children.”
“The children?”
“The venomous creatures I am raising.”
I had been unconscious for fifteen days, but what concerned me more than my own state was the well-being of my little ones.
I needed to see them right away.
‘Damn, I call myself a keeper, yet I was out for over two weeks. That is inexcusable.’
As someone who raises animals, I have no right to be ill or idle.
The fact that I had been incapacitated for so long meant a thorough inspection was necessary.
But before I could take a step, sharp chittering erupted again.
Tsrrt!
Tsrrrr!
Hyang and Bin, still perched on Hwa-eun’s shoulder, puffed up their bodies and glared at me, their sounds full of indignation.
Through our connection, I could sense their feelings clearly.
‘You have not even apologized to us properly, and now you are worried about the others?!’
“…Kids, Daddy did not intend to—”
Tsht!
Tshtsht!
Since Mandok Shingun and my adoptive father had interrupted us earlier, I still had not fully mended their hurt feelings.
Seol tried to pet them, hoping to calm them, but they avoided her hand and fixed their gaze on me.
It was clear—this needed to be resolved first.
Seol, suppressing a smile, said to me,
“You should make things right with them first. And do not worry about the other creatures. Most were sent to the Tang Clan ten days ago.”
“They were sent to the Tang Clan?”
“Yes, So-ryong. When we contacted Father, he arranged for their transport.”
“Ah, that must be why he sent a message. They likely left around the same time.”
“Yes, So-ryong.”
I had already provided detailed care instructions for most of the creatures, so sending them to the Tang Clan was not an issue.
That part was fine.
But then, I recalled something.
Turning to Seol and Hwa-eun, I asked,
“What about Bi-cheon Shin-sa?”
Unlike the others, I had not yet learned much about it.
Sending it away so hastily seemed somewhat irresponsible.
I had discovered what it ate, but it had shrunk significantly after expelling its Neidan.
“Ah, that’s right! We forgot about that one.”
“Now that you mention it, Gu Pae was concerned because it has refused to eat.”
They both answered as if it had just occurred to them.
I needed to pacify Hyang and Bin quickly and go check on it.
Then an idea came to me.
I could check on Bi-cheon Shin-sa and use the visit to appease Hyang and Bin.
“Kids, I know you are upset, but… What if Daddy gets you two more Neidans?”
“More Neidans?”
“You are going to get more Neidans?”
Tsrrt?
Tsrrt?
Seol and Hwa-eun looked puzzled, while Hyang and Bin tilted their heads, their anger momentarily forgotten.
I quickly guided all four of them toward Bi-cheon Shin-sa’s enclosure.
I was not sure if I could actually obtain more Neidans, but I could at least make an attempt.
We arrived at the first circular clearing that served as Yo-hwa’s dwelling.
As I approached the jagged rock formation, Yo-hwa, still in her human form that resembled my sister, hurried over with a concerned expression.
Ki-sst! Ki-sisisisi! Kisist!
“Yo-hwa was very worried about you.”
“Sorry, Yo-hwa. You were concerned, weren’t you? I am fine now.”
Unlike Hyang and Bin, she was not angry.
When I patted her head, she quickly settled down.
After reassuring Yo-hwa, I turned my attention to the area where Bi-cheon Shin-sa was kept.
Inside a large water container, a nest of baby flame lizards squirmed.
Beside them, I noticed a new structure—a temporary enclosure made of bamboo poles, covered with a translucent, silk-like material spun by Yo-hwa.
Inside, coiled tightly, was Bi-cheon Shin-sa.
I crouched down and addressed it.
“Are you all right?”
Shhhhaaa?
The creature, which had been listless, lifted its head at my voice and glanced around uncertainly.
The webbing over the enclosure made it difficult for it to locate me precisely. Since it could no longer fly, I thought it would be better to speak directly, so I turned to Yo-hwa.
“Yo-hwa, could you open the top for me?”
Ki-sst!
At my request, the top of the square enclosure opened, and I leaned in to speak again.
“This is our first proper meeting, isn’t it? I am So-ryong. I wanted to talk because I believe there has been a misunderstanding between us…”
?
The creature tilted its head slightly.
I explained the situation.
“You see, I never meant you any harm. You were so extraordinary and beautiful that I wanted to bring you home and care for you. But then you became agitated, and things ended up this way. I would return your Neidan if I could, but… well, my daughter consumed it.”
Shaah?!
At its shocked reaction, I gestured toward Cho.
The moment it saw her, its reptilian pupils dilated, and its jaw went slack.
It had finally understood what occurred.
Sha… sha… shaaa…
Its whole body quivered intensely.
Though it had surrendered the Neidan to survive, witnessing another venomous creature in possession of its hard-earned inner power must have been a blow.
It was probably akin to a martial artist seeing their stolen Qi being used by another.
I spoke to the distraught creature as gently as I could.
“Being captured so suddenly must have been terrifying, and on top of that, this must all feel unjust. But why not consider it logically?
You have become so small now. If we were to release you in this state, you could be eaten by another venomous creature.
So, how about this…? We will look after you until you recover your strength. What do you think?”
Sha?
“No deception. We will feed you, protect you, and ensure no other creature can harm you.
I heard you have not eaten anything since you arrived.”
Using a scoop net, I retrieved a plump, shiny flame lizard hatchling from the nearby water container and offered it to the creature.
“Why not eat first and consider it? You must be hungry.”
Gulp.
At the sight of the food, the creature swallowed audibly.
“See? If you are willing, we would like to help you regain your strength. I am not a bad person, really. My daughters are here as well. Oh, and— Hwa-eun, where are Bing and Seol?”
“Ah, they are feeding in their room.”
Which likely meant they were inside absorbing energy from the Ice Jade we had acquired.
Nodding in understanding, I continued.
“We even have two Seolbing Rock Lizards. Yo-hwa knows them. I care for all of them.
Ah, you must be starving. Eat first, and we can talk more later.”
I introduced the rest of my ‘family’ while nudging the flame lizard hatchling closer.
However, instead of taking the food, the creature turned its head sharply and issued a warning hiss.
Shaaa! Shaa!
(Do you think I am a fool?! You believe I would be tricked by such lies?!)
That was the feeling it conveyed.
But then, Cho, who had been observing the whole time, suddenly leaned her head into the enclosure and loomed over the creature.
Tsrrrrr!
(What did you just say to our dad?)
Her tone was threatening, fitting her new role as a ‘delinquent young lady.’
Startled, the creature scrambled back into a corner and shook violently.
Seeing that intimidation was not the right method, I took hold of Cho’s tail with my free hand and gently pulled her back.
“Cho, that is not the way. You are frightening them.”
Tsrrt!
I asked her not to scare the creature, but she stood her ground. Even as I held her, she kept her eyes fixed on the poor thing and jerked her chin toward it.
A moment later, tears welled up in the creature’s large eyes, and then, with a defeated air, it crept forward and took the flame lizard from my hand.
‘Wait… did it just accept the food to avoid a beating?’
Sha… shaaa…
Gulp.
“There, that’s it. You need to eat.”
As I watched it eat, I realized something.
It was more fearful than I had anticipated.
Rather than persuasion, intimidation appeared to be more effective.
Of course, it must have felt miserable to lose its Neidan and then be bullied by Cho. But after going without food for over fifteen days, the temptation proved too strong.
Once its belly was full, the creature curled up pathetically in the enclosure’s corner, burying its head in its coils.
It looked completely dejected.
At least it was eating now, so that would not be a problem going forward.
“I think it needs some time alone. Let us return.”
As we departed, I turned to Hyang and Bin.
“Daddy will nurse that one back to health and convince it to produce another Neidan for you. Just be patient a little longer.”
I did feel somewhat sorry for the poor creature, but what choice did I have?
I had a family to provide for.
‘Sorry, but I do not know how long it will take for you to regenerate another Neidan. Just two more times, all right?’
At my words, Hyang and Bin looked at each other.
They must have found my proposal acceptable, because they finally leaped from Seol’s shoulder and pressed themselves against my cheek.
***
After reaching Nanna Mountain, the supposed site of the Five Venoms Clan’ eradication a hundred years prior, we spent two days combing the area.
But a century had passed, making it almost impossible to find clear evidence of their existence.
The Beast Palace’s records only noted that the Five Venoms Clan had been destroyed here; they did not give an exact location.
On the third day, I opted for a new strategy.
“Cho, can you carry me?”
Tsrrt!
At my request, Cho immediately wrapped around me and lifted me into the air.
The instant her legs began to move, her body glided forward as if sliding on an invisible surface.
“Whoa! Wait, wait— Cho, stop for a moment.”
She had gotten excited about flying with me, so I had to halt her first and survey the surroundings.
I had thought an aerial view might reveal something, but even from above, nothing stood out.
The subtropical jungle was so densely overgrown that a few days of new growth could completely obscure ancient ruins.
Hoping to find traces of a century-old sect here was overly optimistic.
I was on the verge of giving up and descending when I heard my adoptive father’s voice from below.
“So-ryong, look toward the northern side.”
“The north?”
“In hot jungle regions, people typically build their dwellings on the shaded northern slopes. Check there.”
“Understood.”
I had always assumed houses faced east or west, but in a steamy jungle, north-facing structures made sense.
Just as I looked north, I detected motion in the thick canopy.
A huge flock of something dark abruptly took to the air.
I sharpened my gaze and saw—bats.
‘Just ordinary bats?’
Finding nothing else, I landed back on the ground.
My adoptive father asked immediately,
“Did you see anything?”
“I noticed a large swarm of bats flying north, but that was all.”
“Bats! Then that is precisely where we must go!”
He seemed far too thrilled by my observation.
Why was he so excited?
Noting my confusion, he grinned and clarified.
“Where bats gather in such numbers, there must be a sizable cave. Of course, we have to investigate it!”
I should have anticipated this from a man so dedicated to beasts.