Fabre in Sacheon’s Tang

---

Chapter 170: Fabre in the Four Heavenly Houses

“Did you call for Dad, Chao?”

It hadn’t been long since I summoned Chao, but the Clan Head Hall door opened just a crack, and Chao’s sparkling antennae followed by his head peeked inside.

He must’ve dropped everything and hurried over as soon as I called him in my mind.

Well, there wasn’t much for Chao to do in the Tang Clan aside from sleeping and playing with the other critters.

As I shifted my gaze from Chao’s extended antennae to his face, I caught sight of his shiny, venomous fangs.

My heart raced at the sight.

What else could it be when thinking of showing off couple claws with that little guy?

“Chao, go greet Grandpa and I’ll be out soon. Just wait outside for a moment, okay?”

– Chit.

After asking Chao to wait a moment, I decided to finish up my conversation with Mandok God.

No matter how much I wanted to brag about couple claws to Chao, I had to wrap up my discussion with an elder.

After all, I was scheduled to check Mandok God’s prowess with the Centipede Poison Tooth Claw tomorrow morning.

“Then we’ll prepare and check at dawn?”

“Yes, I’ll have the warriors of my clan get things ready for morning, so let’s see its power then.”

“Understood. Then Grandpa, may I take my leave?”

“Uh, uh… yes…”

“I’ll see you tomorrow morning!”

As I cheerfully responded, Mandok God appeared flustered, seeing me off.

After exchanging farewells and stepping outside, there was Chao waiting eagerly at the entrance of the Clan Head Hall.

– Chit!

“Oh, hey there, Chao!”

I approached and petted him warmly, quickly changing my expression to scan the area and asked Chao,

“Are you sure you came alone?”

I couldn’t precisely recall what I excitedly told Chao, but I did remember the strict warning I gave him.

The one thing I insisted Chao must do was to come alone.

While it was great that we became couple claws, the moment it got out to the others, I worried about the kind of flack I’d receive from them.

If Bin or Hyang found out and started whining about making nail colors similar to theirs, it could get really troublesome.

I might end up with a jaundiced color for Hyang or have to bruise my nails for Bin!

‘It’s an entirely plausible scenario. My daughters are embodiments of jealousy.’

That’s why I had to confirm with Chao if he came alone, and sure enough, he replied he was alone.

– Chit.

But even with his answer, I sensed he still didn’t understand why I insisted he come solo, so while looking around, he pointed at the sky and asked,

“Chao, let’s go up into the sky for now. I have something to discuss in private.”

– Chirp.

We could talk somewhere hidden, but the sky felt like the safest place, right?

As soon as I finished my request, Chao wrapped around me with a look full of suspicion, slowly lifting us into the air.

Once we floated up, Chao tilted his head and asked again.

– Chit?

It was a question of how much higher or where we were going, but when I glanced into the distance, the sun was slowly setting beyond the mountains.

‘Wow… what a nice atmosphere.’

Instead of answering, I raised one hand and summoned my energy using the Five Poisons Return to Origin Divine Skill, shifting it to my fingertips as per the Centipede Poison Tooth Claw’s method.

Immediately, I felt a tingle at my fingertips, and my nails began to protrude, dyed in an emerald hue.

It was the exact same color as Chao’s body!

“Hehe. What do you think, Chao? Now Dad looks similar to you.”

– Chit?

At first, he didn’t grasp my words,

But once he noticed the radiant color emanating from my fingertips, Chao’s antennae froze in place.

Followed by a straightening of his antennae, he wondered how I achieved this.

– Chirp!?!

“I wanted to look like my daughter, so I exerted a bit of effort, haha.”

– Chit Chit!

My response filled Chao with overwhelming joy, swirling around me twice more.

As if he absolutely didn’t want to part from Dad.

‘This is the pure love between a daughter and father!’

“Are you really that happy?”

– Chit!

“Yes, if you’re happy, then I’m happy too! But it’s a secret from your other siblings, okay?”

– Chirp!

Yeah, it would probably come out eventually, but I decided to enjoy this precious moment with Chao for now.

– Churrr… Churrr…

“Haha. This little one, I’m gonna be worn out.”

Chao, unable to contain his sheer joy, clung tighter, kissing my face as if my ribs might crack from his embrace.

Just then, in the midst of this father-daughter love fest,

– Tap! Tap!

I felt a tiny tap on my head.

Startled, I looked up to find the presence of Hwa-yang tapping my head with her paw.

Oh no.

I had gotten so used to her soft touch that I forgot she was perched up there.

I wondered if Hwa-yang might be feeling jealous. Taking a deep breath, I tensed up, but Hwa-yang only continued to tap me with her paw and said something for the first time besides food.

– Beep beep!

She said to settle down and come eat.

Hwa-yang seemed to have a slightly chic personality than I thought.

*

– Cock-a-doodle-doo.

The sound of the rooster crowing echoed from afar.

Scared of the dawn sun rising, I got up to check on my venomous creatures, and there they were, nestled around my room in a deep sleep.

Bin and Chao sprawled on the straw.

Hyang was curled up against me, and as I carefully moved her onto the straw I’d been lying on, she burrowed right into it, finding warmth.

I gently stroked Mo-ji and So-ji, who were frozen atop the desk, and after waking Dong-i from her slumber by my presence, I pet her until she fell back asleep.

Lastly, I checked on Hwa-yang, who was also sound asleep in a corner, buried under a heap of straw.

The reason they were slumbering so soundly, even in the early morning, stemmed from the fact that most of the base creatures I raised were nocturnal.

Including centipedes, lizards, and toads – most of them thrived at night.

However, over time, my venomous critters had adapted their activity cycles to match mine, meaning they almost all became diurnal.

But since they typically fell asleep at dawn, this was a particularly vulnerable time for them.

‘Why are they so cute even when sleeping?’

I joyfully surveyed my sleeping companions. Wishing to let them snooze a little longer, I approached Chao and gently tickled his chin, mentally whispering,

“Chao, wake up. We need to go see Grandpa.”

The reason I woke Chao was that today I planned to examine the Centipede Poison Tooth Claw with Grandpa, and I wanted Chao to have a look too.

It was only natural for Chao to attend since it involved its poison.

– Chit… Chit?

At my call, Chao stirred from his sleep, making sleepy sounds before he snapped to attention and scanned the room.

He wanted to check if anyone else was awake, just in case.

But everyone else seemed fast asleep and didn’t stir in the slightest.

Feeling assured about that, I took one last look at the sleeping critters before quietly heading to the door with Chao.

– Creeeak.

As I cautiously opened the door and stepped outside,

I sensed an approaching presence from afar.

Judging by the shape I barely recognized, it had to be Hua Eun.

In the Four Harmonies Courtyard, if a young woman was visible, it was either Si-bi or Hua Eun, but there was no way I wouldn’t recognize Hua Eun.

Quickening my steps, I approached her, and upon spotting me, Hua Eun swiftly ran over, grabbing the sleeve of my robe with a bright smile.

Since declaring my affection for her inside the centipede cave, we had grown a bit closer.

In this era, hand-holding wasn’t customary, so her grabbing my sleeve was practically like linking arms.

Looking at Hua Eun’s radiant face with sheer happiness, she said,

“Soryong, let’s go together.”

“If you’re tired, you can rest a bit longer…”

“No, I’m curious too. I can’t help but be eager after what I saw yesterday.”

Just before heading to bed in the evening, I had secretly shown Hua Eun my Centipede Poison Tooth Claw, and being genuinely interested in venomous powers, she was probably unable to contain her excitement.

“Then let’s go.”

Thus, the three of us—Hua Eun, Chao, and I—arrived at the training ground where Grandpa was already waiting, prepared for us.

“Did you sleep well last night?”

“Did you sleep well?”

– Chirp Chirp!

After exchanging pleasantries with Grandpa, who nodded, he asked,

“So, did you all sleep well?”

“Yes.”

“Then shall we begin?”

It seemed Grandpa was just as eager, as he immediately suggested confirming its power after our greeting.

As Grandpa stepped aside, a wooden mannequin came into view.

It was a sturdy wooden puppet commonly used for martial arts practice, but it was unlike any ordinary mannequin I had seen before.

I noticed something bound atop the wooden figure.

‘What is that?’

As I approached to investigate, I saw it was a pig.

A pig, its entrails removed, was draped over the wooden mannequin like leather.

“What’s this?”

“In the Tang Clan, we check the power of poisons this way.”

Certainly, since Chao’s venom doesn’t affect wood, we needed to use pig instead.

Nodding at Hua Eun’s response, I positioned myself in front of the wooden mannequin.

“Alright, I will begin now.”

“Yes, go ahead.”

Taking a deep breath, I summoned my energy using the Five Poisons Return to Origin Divine Skill, directing it to my fingertips as instructed for the Centipede Poison Tooth Claw.

Once more, I felt my nails protruding, now shimmering with an emerald hue.

I cast the first technique of the Centipede Poison Tooth Claw.

“Poison Fang Marking Rock!”

The first move of the Centipede Poison Tooth Claw, where the centipede’s fangs leave their marks on the stone.

I pressed my thumb and forefinger, along with my middle finger, into the tied-up pig’s flesh, creating two holes as they sunk in.

The Centipede Poison Tooth Claw manifested the shape of the centipede’s fangs, so even though it was a martial technique, I bit into the target with two claws instead of three.

– Crack!

That sound from the fingertips plunging into the pig was like searing hot iron.

– Sizzle!

Upon releasing my grip, the holes left behind were the size of walnuts, revealing significant damage.

Mandok God, intrigued, promptly examined the wound I had inflicted with his silver needle to assess its potency.

“Hmm… it’s not as strong as I expected. It seems that since they are nails, as opposed to the centipede’s jaws, they can’t emit venom all at once. It appears you don’t have a lot of Chao’s poison in your body.”

Certainly, Chao’s poison was only effective when a drop was absorbed and mixed into my energy, leading to less potency.

Feeling slightly disappointed, I listened as Grandpa continued.

“However, while it wouldn’t be lethal to a person, it should cause significant harm. But don’t be too disappointed. I believe my new martial art can improve it.”

“You mean it can be improved?”

As I tilted my head in curiosity at the prospect of enhancing its weakness, Grandpa’s voice dropped to a hush.

“The Blood Water Poison Claw. By using the essence of the brain water and blood to bolster its power, we can probably draw in Chao’s poison for added strength.”

“Whoa!”

To think the Blood Water Poison Claw, which I secured, could be used in this way!

‘Wow… what a fantastic build-up.’

As I contemplated joyfully in my heart, Grandpa continued to inspect my hand.

“Draw your energy back out again.

Hmm… but it’s remarkable how your nails can effectively release the poison from these critters. Seems like the Five Poisons Return to Origin Divine Skill has evolved into the One Poison Precision, allowing the Centipede Poison Tooth Claw to infuse poison. If it becomes the Three Poison Precision, perhaps the Toothy Toad Shockwave technique could hold Hwa-yang’s venom as well.”

“Really, Grandpa?”

“Yes. That would surely create a terrifying martial technique.”

If Hwa-yang’s venom could be infused into that technique, it would drain the mana of martial artists akin to mana burn in fantasy games!

At that moment, I felt a shiver of excitement running through me.

– Kshh!?

With a startled sound, everyone turned their heads to find Yo-hwa, staring at my fingertips in disbelief.

It seemed my shiny claws had caught her attention.