NOVEL NEXT Chapter 176
Chapter 176: Spicy Fabre at Four Heavenly Houses
If a typical drinking party is filled with a lively and noisy atmosphere, then the vibe here, continuing from the pond, was an unusual calm.
It wasn’t like we were in a funeral home, so why was this drinking party so quiet?
It wasn’t because we were with important figures either.
The reason for this solemn gathering was singular: a bottle of alcohol that had been tossed into the mix.
“Alright, then I’ll drink first. Ho-Baek, I count on you.”
“Well then, don’t worry and drink up. We’ll handle the Ho-Baek duties.”
“Whenever someone performs Yungi Chosik, it’s only natural to have the Ho-Baek stand guard.”
I thought that even if an elixir had been mixed in, this was still just liquor, so I would gulp it down, but would the martial artists truly waste even a drop of elixir?
Even if just a small amount was mixed in, they were already using it to strengthen their inner energy.
So, nobody clinked their glasses together. Instead, if one person drank, the other three stood guard in a bizarre scene.
“Khuh. Not bad. A single cup contains months of inner strength. Delightful.”
As the General of Iron Castle, who had just completed his Yungi Chosik, opened his eyes and said this happily, the remaining three beamed with joy.
“Ooh, does it really last for months?”
“Yeah, it’s definitely a mid-grade elixir. It’s rich. Very rich.”
“I’m glad to hear you’re satisfied.”
“This place has a marvelous son-in-law. To have earned the title of Jinbo Bongwang! I’ve never heard of such a thing!”
“Ahahaha. My son-in-law is indeed something special.”
Seeing the guests elated, the artisan beamed as well.
With praise for his son-in-law, my chest swelled with pride.
As the General of Iron Castle led the way, one by one, it was finally the artisan’s turn, and upon finishing the Yungi Chosik, the earlier calm atmosphere transformed into a lively chatter filled with delight.
“By the way, we can’t just partake in something precious without recompensing it, can we? Isn’t that right, General Mang?”
“The Lord of Sichuan is spot on. An elixir like this must be paid for. Eating for free brings misfortune.”
“Indeed. It is a martial world unwritten rule that one must always pay for elixirs.”
Listening to the guests, it seemed a universal law that when acquiring a living creature, one must at least pay a thousand won. Just like this, it looked like there was an unwritten rule in the martial world that elixirs must always be paid for.
‘What a nice culture!’
It’s rather expected that if one likes free things, they’ll end up with a bald head.
Nodding my head in agreement with their words, the conversation continued.
“Well then, since the three of us had something good to drink, how about we each gift something to this wonderful son-in-law for treating us well? After all, my son-in-law has done me quite a few favors, even making medicine for me.”
This was more about paying back for the medicine rather than gifts, but the topic didn’t get any further as it spiraled off.
Upon hearing that the Lord of Sichuan took elixirs, the other two looked at him with some concern.
“Elixir? Are you feeling unwell?”
“Elixir? What’s bothering you?”
The artisan had an awkward expression since he didn’t know the circumstances of the Lord of Sichuan.
After all, it was him who I sent the Earth Gall Pill to after he whined too much and ended up greeting the King of Hell not long after.
“Ahem….”
Under the scrutiny of the Longmen’s messenger and the questioning of the General of Iron Castle, the Lord of Sichuan, glancing around, leaned forward and spoke in a hushed tone.
“It’s an elixir that boosts a man’s energy. I’ve tasted many kinds of medicine, but none like this. Of course, it has a bit of poison, so you must be careful, but the effects are truly astonishing. I even brought in a new concubine because of it.”
“!”
“!”
When the Lord of Sichuan finished his explanation, the looks of the other two men were full of exclamation marks.
Swiftly, all three turned their gazes toward me, and I answered with a smile.
Those gaze full of desire.
I didn’t even need to see it to know what they were thinking.
“Prepare it for when you go, and tell the Pharmacy to get ready. Of course, be cautious with its use.”
“What!?”
“Wait, is that really true!?”
Suddenly, the drinking party transformed into an excited atmosphere, and the previously halted conversation began to flow normally.
“Hey, buddy! You not only treated us to elixirs but are also loading us up to take home? Haha.”
“This son-in-law is truly amazing! What on earth does our son-in-law do?”
“This is incredible! Not only did we get treated to an elixir, but you’re also giving us some to take back? Hoho!”
Three middle-aged men flattering me with the title of elixir as the best gift made the atmosphere almost feel like it was centered around my praises.
Ultimately, the conclusion of the discussion was that they would each give me a present.
“Well then, let’s do this. Let’s ask our friend here if there’s anything he needs or desires, and whatever he mentions, we’ll try to fulfill one of those wishes.”
“A splendid idea, Lord of Sichuan.”
“Very good idea indeed.”
“Right, do you have anything you need? Or something you want? Speak your desires, and we’ll see what we can do.”
With them wanting to hear my needs before figuring out what they could fulfill, I felt a mix of pressure and déjà vu from this type of atmosphere.
Somehow, this felt oddly familiar, so I decided to answer as I always did.
While receiving payment for information wasn’t common for me, this time, I was hopeful I could actually receive something.
My usual answer revolved around information regarding venomous insects or spirit creatures, but considering the rarity of spirit creature information, consistently providing the same answer had yielded little result before.
‘Chao, Bin Ah’s Dad is by the pond, could you come this way?’
When explaining, it’s always best to show.
After asking the two to come closer, I saw the sky darken for a moment.
Thinking it might rain when the sky darkened unexpectedly, I looked up, seeing the response of the Longmen’s messenger, who gasped in shock as he reached for the sword at his waist.
“Whoa!”
Seeing his reaction, I looked at the sky again, and of course, the first to land was Chao.
As Chao slithered down from the sky, the other two unassuming ones finally got the shock of their lives and jumped back from the pavilion.
“W-What is this!”
“O-Oh! A Centipede!?”
-Drip?
Then something dark appeared at the entrance to the pond.
The black-bodied Bin, with her chitinous shell reflecting light, quickly crawled over.
-Drip drip drip.
“D-Duo!?”
“Y-You spirit creature!?”
My two daughters quickly positioned themselves beside me, packed me with love and affection, and rubbed their faces together, alternating kisses on Chao and Bin’s cheeks as they spoke.
“I love raising poisonous insects and spirit creatures. If you happen to know even the slightest strange rumor or tale about them, could you kindly share?”
‘If you truly appreciate it, spill the details on those venomous insects and spirit creatures.’
The three gentlemen exchanged glances, blinking in surprise.
*
As the three settled down from their surprise at Chao and Bin, the first to speak was General Mang of the Iron Castle.
He pondered for a moment while looking at Chao and Bin before slapping his palm and speaking.
“Ah! Speaking of which, do you know the ‘Yay’ (예)?”
“What? You mean the name?”
‘What is Yay?’
I tilted my head slightly in confusion, prompting General Mang to clarify.
“Ah, many call it ‘Wawa Fish’ (왜왜어).”
“Oh! Wawa Fish! I know about that. Of course, I do!”
The moment the name Wawa Fish came up, my body surged with excitement.
Though it might have appeared a bit frivolous in front of guests, such excitement was simply unavoidable.
The Wawa Fish refers to the giant salamanders that live in the Central Plains, boasting a size of up to 1.8 meters, and they are recognized as the longest-lived giant salamanders in the world.
Giant salamanders inhabit both Japan and China, yet the largest specimens are indeed found in the Central Plains.
With their large, wrinkled bodies resembling old rags and their flat heads, they ooze a sticky liquid when frightened—this is the infamous Wawa Fish.
While its name consists of Chinese characters, it’s unique because these creatures emit baby-like cries during mating season, hence their name symbolizes the sound of an infant’s wail.
Typically referred to in Korea as the Chinese Giant Salamander, its formal name is Chinese Giant Salamander (A. davidianus).
These amphibians belong to the Urodela order and the Cryptobranchidae family of the Andrias genus.
In my previous life, I had yearned to raise one, but China never exported them since they even cooked and consumed them within their borders.
They say it’s a delicacy called “Manhan Quanxi,” and quite pricey!
I had heard stories about them being detected at customs after sneaking into Korea through dark channels, but I could only personally meet them upon visiting China.
When I asked a guide to show me a Wawa Fish while in China, I was quite surprised when he took me to a restaurant.
‘Ah! There are giant salamanders here! How could I have forgotten about that?’
Having come to the Central Plains, I should have certainly raised a few, but how could I have overlooked this?
I felt as if I had been neglecting the foundational creatures in favor of other spirit beings, but the smile spread across my face upon remembering them.
‘After the drinking party, I’m going straight to catch one!’
I was certain they inhabited Sichuan, so the thought of rushing to catch one popped into my head.
Seeing my expression, General Mang nodded, smiling broadly as he continued.
“Seeing how much you enjoy them, liking venomous insects and spirit creatures isn’t just flattery. Anyway, I truly enjoy cooking the Wawa Fish regularly.”
‘Gyaah! Hey, you barbarian! Stop eating my future pets!’
The thought of someone frequently cooking them nearly caused a sneer of disdain to escape my lips, but I quickly calmed my emotions and wore a welcoming smile.
Isn’t the Central Plains known for consuming everything except the table and chairs?
“I see.”
“Thus, I sometimes send servants to buy a Wawa Fish, or I accompany them back to get it myself, and I recall something a merchant once told me.”
“What was that?”
“I heard that there are Wawa Fish with poison that are hard to find in a lifetime.”
“Is it the Hyang (호예)?”
“Indeed, it’s the Hyang.”
‘What the heck is this Hyang? Does it mean Tiger Salamander?’
As I imagined what the creature looked like, General Mang elaborated.
“It has a patterned appearance like a tiger, and anyone who approaches or touches it loses their life. Yet, interestingly, no marks or symptoms of poisoning remain on the body of those who die.”
“Ooo! A tiger pattern!”
I recalled whether a giant salamander had such features, but while I remembered orange or yellow variants like golden lobsters, I certainly had no recollection of one with such traits.
Especially since this one has lethal poison, this was undeniably a spirit creature.
This was completely beyond my expectations, and I felt an urgent need to inquire.
“So, when and where was it caught or discovered?”
“I believe it was found around here in Sichuan about ten years ago. Two fishermen who attempted to catch it lost their lives right then and there.”
While ten years may seem like a long time, if it hasn’t been caught, it may still be alive.
After all, giant salamanders are known for their longevity.
Typically speaking, their average lifespan is about 50 years.
‘Just wait, whether it’s the Yo or Hyang, you’re already a prisoner of this Spicy Fabre!’