Fabre in Sacheon’s Tang

독물원(毒物園) 1

The Tang Clan was in absolute disarray after the appearance of those darn Blood Cult members!

With several of the clan’s warriors dead or injured, it was no wonder they were flocking here, encouraged by the support of other White Dao sects.

According to my sister, as soon as the news broke, the Qingcheng Sect and the Emei Sect, both located in Sichuan, sent help without delay, and people were also en route from the nearby Wudang Sect and the Zhuge Clan in Hubei.

It turns out that those Blood Cult rascals were a bunch of abductors, harvesting blood from people, and they were a twisted cult responsible for a massive slaughter thirty years ago, now infamous in the martial world.

They were labeled a heretical cult, considered even worse scum than the Black Dao or the White Dao.

Saying that these jabronis casually perform cocktail therapy on humans makes them sound like radioactive waste level trash in the eyes of the Tang Clan.

I couldn’t help but think, ‘If the Tang Clan, who aren’t shy about capturing and killing people, consider them trash, then what kind of trash are we talking about here?’

Moreover, I’ve heard that the Martial Forest Alliance in Wuhuan, Hubei, is also dispatching people for investigation.

Is this a really big deal or what?

So that’s why everyone is piling in, and after the Qingcheng and Emei folks arrived first, a strategy meeting was convened in the Clan Head Hall.

“How’s the search going around here?”

Grandfather inquired, prompting the chief of the Qingcheng Sect, Elder Baek Heo-ja, who had shown up with dozens of disciples, to report on his team’s findings from the past three days.

While the Tang Clan had searched once already, the many injuries prevented a thorough job, prompting Grandfather to request another search immediately upon the arrival of the two sects.

“Elder Mandok, it seems those fiends crossed over from the Tang house. We’ve discovered signs that moss recently fell from the rocks, but we couldn’t track where they came from due to the rain washing much of it away.”

Upon hearing this, Fire Elder from the Emei Sect chimed in about the search results from the mountain where we had fought.

“Amitabha. We also searched for three days, but the rain erased all signs, and we couldn’t determine the direction they came from. It’s unfortunate. I hope there’s not another bloodbath in the martial world.”

Grandfather scowled, clearly unpleased, and yelled, “So then, it looks like tracking those bastards is out of the question!”

Bang!

With a fierce expression, Grandfather slammed the table, causing the teacups on it to wobble precariously.

Once the tremors settled, he sighed and turned to Fire Elder with a request.

“Ha… Fire Elder, could I trouble you to conduct the Chendo Ritual for the victims of the Tang Clan? If you would oversee it, I think I could rest easier.”

“Amitabha. Of course, Elder Mandok. If you ask, I will pour my heart into it.”

“Then, I would like to ask a favor… Thank you.”

The Chendo Ritual seemed to refer to a Buddhist funeral rite. The casualties from this incident had been temporarily interred where the martial artists of the Tang Clan would normally be buried, and it looked like that’s where the ritual would take place soon.

The death toll was a total of eight.

It seemed those monsters preferred not to kill outright but to toy with their victims, draining their blood and then leaving the surrounding warriors to bleed out.

Considering the ferocity of the skirmish, eight seemed like a small number, yet it was still a heartbreaking loss for the Tang Clan.

Among the dead was also a warrior who had been involved in the search team traversing the mountain trails, which left a bitter taste in my mouth.

I still don’t grasp it well, but the thought of someone, a comrade I shared the same roof with, dying hit me strangely.

‘Is this what being family feels like?’

Just as I thought the brief meeting was coming to an end with the funeral request, I caught the eye of a nun standing behind Fire Elder.

“Ah!”

The nun’s eyes widened in surprise upon seeing my face.

‘Was it Nun Yeon-su I met before?’

She seemed startled to see me and I gave a slight nod in acknowledgment.

I figured she was likely startled because she only knew the way I looked before I consumed the Golden Hair Bee King’s essence.

“When did we meet?”

Fire Elder promptly asked Nun Yeon-su, curious as to why she was taken by surprise.

Realizing her slip, she quickly explained with an apologetic expression, “Oh, I’m sorry! We briefly crossed paths on my way back from a previous offering, but your appearance is very different now…”

“Oh… Is that so? Speaking of which, I see a Junior Hero I haven’t met before. Elder Mandok, could you introduce us? I had no idea there was such a young Junior Hero among the direct descendants of the clan.”

Fire Elder’s request for an introduction made Grandfather smile and call out my name.

“Seo-ryong.”

A clear cue for me to step forward and greet everyone.

I had always been praised for being quick on my feet in my past life, after all.

“Nice to meet you. My name is Wei So-ryong.”

However, even with my polite greeting, people looked at me, puzzled.

There was a unanimous confusion bubbling up from the crowd.

“Wei?”

“Wei?”

Here I was, in the heart of the Tang Clan, and yet people were wondering why a Wei was among them—it seemed they couldn’t make sense of it.

So Grandfather, still smiling, explained simply.

“My grandson-in-law.”

“Grandson-in-law…?”

“Grandson-in-law, you say? Elder Mandok?”

At Grandfather’s words, my sister’s cheeks flushed like freshly applied lipstick, and people stared back and forth between her and me, finally realizing the situation and gasping in shock.

“No way, are you saying he’s the son-in-law of Hua Eun?”

“Ha ha, one of the three martial prodigies marrying such a young Junior Hero?”

All eyes in the Clan Head Hall turned toward me and Sister Hua Eun, and soon questions filled the air with curiosity.

“Elder Mandok, could you introduce this Junior Hero in detail? To allow your dear granddaughter to marry such a young man is unbelievable, I’m sure you wouldn’t allow just anyone to marry her…”

“I’m quite curious myself. They say the consort of the Tang Clan often has exceptional abilities, but what’s so special about this young man that he gets to have someone like Hua Eun?”

Everyone seemed eager to know just what kind of guy I was, as if I were some extraordinary person worthy of gaining a beauty like my sister.

In my past life, I couldn’t even save my own skin, let alone meet someone like her!

As the inquiries from the guests continued, Grandfather stood and patted my shoulder, smiling broadly as he answered.

“This kid has just captured two members of the Blood Cult that were hiding among them.”

Instantly, the expressions of the Qingcheng and Emei guests morphed into surprise, nodding in admiration.

“Wait, you mean the warriors the Blood Cult Elder brings? He captured two of them?! This Junior Hero must possess quite extraordinary skills! The guards for an Elder shouldn’t be pushover types…”

“Amitabha. A Junior Hero who hasn’t even reached adulthood yet, capturing vile Blood Cult lackeys? They must consider it a blessing for the martial world.”

‘Looks like the Tang Clan wasn’t the only one with a weird perspective; this whole world is bizarre…’

For some reason, hearing about a fifteen-year-old boy who even managed to eliminate two enemies had the martial artists nodding with pride as if they were hearing of a glorious achievement.

But when Grandfather continued speaking, people’s eyes widened in disbelief.

“No. What Seo-ryong captured weren’t just any Blood Cult lackeys; they were the Blood Elders themselves.”

A moment of hush fell over the room.

At first, people thought they must have misheard something and looked at Grandfather in confusion.

But as Grandfather nodded again, disbelief turned to astonishment in an uproar.

“Elder!? You mean this young Junior Hero really captured a Blood Cult Elder?!”

“Amitabha. Surely Elder Mandok would not jest, but how could this Junior Hero…”

Amidst the questions from the astonished crowd, Elder Mandok wore a pleased smile, while a mix of true bewilderment surged through me.

Here in this world, it seemed the ability to kill well was equivalent to gaining respect.

In that sense, I was making a promising start for myself.

“Seo-ryong, I need to ask you a favor. Can you fulfill it?”

Grandfather quietly called me to his chamber that evening.

He seated me across from him and suddenly revealed his request.

“What favor would that be? If it’s something I can help with, I shall do so wholeheartedly.”

Upon my response, Grandfather nodded and began explaining.

“It’s about the Martial Forest Alliance, they will be sending someone soon.”

“Yes, I’ve heard that much too.”

I had already been told about the Martial Forest Alliance by my sister, and I nodded as I recalled that they were sending people to investigate the incident.

“Right, there will definitely be martial soldiers from the Alliance among them, and I want you to showcase the poison you discovered. I aim to let them know about the specific weakness of those Blood Cult fiends. It’s important to us, sure, but for the greater good, we shouldn’t keep it to ourselves, right?”

Sharing knowledge for the greater cause—it made sense. With such a reckless and strong bunch, even a few deaths would be nothing to them.

Considering the damage done to our Tang Clan, revealing this information was the right call.

It could save lives in the end.

So I nodded eagerly at Grandfather’s words.

“I understand. Of course, it’s the right thing to do.”

“Great! There’s something else I’d like done as well.”

I had thought that the request was regarding sharing information, but it turned out that the actual favor was something else entirely.

“What is it?” I asked, curious.

Grandfather gazed toward the opened window of the Mandok Hall before replying.

“Could you raise the Hoban Yusa for me? From what I’ve heard, we can obtain more poison by cultivating it rather than killing it after just getting the venom.”

As I heard this, it turned out Grandfather wanted me to cultivate poisonous creatures for venom extraction!

I had been waiting for this opportunity, and answered with delight.

“Absolutely! If you entrust me with this, I will surely deliver!”

“Great! I’ve heard the renovations in the Mandok Hall are complete, so starting tomorrow, head over there and dig in for the sake of the martial world.”

“Really?! Thank you, Grandfather!”

The renovations I’d eagerly been anticipating were finally done!

Tonight, sleep would surely come easily.

Or rather, it felt like I’d be too excited to sleep!

*

The day after receiving the request to produce Hoban Yusa venom in bulk, my sister arrived early in the morning, ready to guide me to my new job.

Where was that, you ask? To Mandok Hall, of course!

Just as Grandfather said, the renovations were indeed complete, and a bright separate chamber had been allocated. Now it was time to set up an ideal environment for cultivation!

“So, Seo-ryong, have you thought of a name for the chamber yet?”

My sister asked as we walked together.

Since the name of my chamber was now entrusted to me by Grandfather, she wanted to know what I intended to name it.

‘Could it be that she’s eager to help me name the chamber?’

I worried she might exhibit her worst naming instincts again, so I quickly replied.

I couldn’t let her name it, no way!

“Of course, I have a name in mind.”

“What is it? It’s a chamber strictly for handling poisons, so I’m sure it will sound grand and impressive, right?”

My sister’s eyes sparkled with anticipation.

Nodding, I confidently answered.

“How about ‘Venomous Insect Garden’ (毒物園)?”

“Venomous Insect Garden?!”

My sister’s eyes widened in shock at the profound name.

‘Seriously, it’s the best name out there!’