Fabre in Sacheon’s Tang

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Companion Venomous Creature Culture

After eating breakfast, I gathered Gu Pae, the Deputy Commander, and the Venomous Insect Team for some mental training.

I had been wondering why the warriors had been meddling with hamsters yesterday, and it turned out that the Tang Clan had been harvesting poison and using the deceased venomous creatures for cooking or distributing them.

They were boiling snake soup and grilling them.

Because of this, the treatment of venomous creatures was seen as live venomous materials when they contained poison, but just mere cooking ingredients once they were dead.

From the start, they had never treated venomous creatures as precious; as for the food they eat?

Not a matter for management.

At least Gu Pae, the Deputy Commander, saw how much I loved venomous creatures, which is why he came yesterday to apologize, dragging the warriors with him.

There was no culture of pets at all, so even the dogs were just livestock eating leftover food.

Occasionally, they were treated as a delicacy for some.

Moreover, the fact that the poison from living venomous creatures was deemed out of the ordinary contributed to yesterday’s incident.

What the Tang Clan values as precious are the poisons treated as secrets that they synthesized and some well-regarded natural poisons.

The widespread notion was that if venomous creatures were lacking, just catch more to fill the gap.

Additionally, I had mentioned that it would take at least a month or two for the Chinese hamsters to increase supply, and in the meantime, I would provide frogs or small toads as food for Hoban Yusa, which also seemed to have affected this incident.

“Well, since there aren’t enough numbers, I was planning to catch frogs to feed Hoban Yusa once it arrives, but we absolutely cannot touch any venomous creatures in the Venomous Insect Garden or anything alive. Do you understand?”

“““Yes, So-ryong!”””

Just as the mental training ended and we were leaving the Venomous Insect Garden.

“So-ryong, I truly apologize. I will punish the ones who made a mistake yesterday severely.”

Gu Pae mentioned he would punish the three warriors who caused trouble yesterday, but that wasn’t the issue.

“No, it’s not a simple matter of punishment. I have a thought, so please wait a moment.”

“You have a thought, So-ryong?”

“Yes.”

The first place I headed to after exiting the Venomous Insect Garden was the Clan Head Hall.

I wanted to meet with my grandfather, who was currently acting as the temporary Clan Head.

“Grandfather, are you here? It’s me, So-ryong.”

“Oh, yes, So-ryong, come in.”

As I entered the Clan Head Hall, my grandfather was in a meeting with the elders of the clan.

He looked busy receiving guests, but once I walked in, he, along with the elders, smiled at me.

“Ah, my grandson has come!”

“So-ryong has come? How are you?”

“Our proud Tang Clan member So-ryong has arrived. Ha ha.”

Maybe due to the matters of the Blood Cult and Earth Gall Pill, the atmosphere was very friendly.

I politely greeted the elders and stepped inside.

“I apologize for bothering you while you are busy.”

“No, we were all about to take a break. So, what brings you here, So-ryong? Ah, please sit down. Would you like some tea?”

“I’m fine with tea, so I’ll just sit and explain.”

I sat down as my grandfather suggested and informed them that the preparations for bringing Hoban Yusa were complete.

Then I explained my reason for visiting.

“So… I believe all preparations are finished.”

“Good news indeed. And?”

“Yes, it’s just that from what I’ve heard, the clan’s warriors don’t treat venomous creatures with much value. That’s why this incident happened…”

“Such a thing happened, you say?”

“Yes, grandfather.”

As my explanation continued about how there will be more venomous creatures in the future, but if the Tang Clan treats them like this, it would be problematic, my grandfather and the elders nodded in agreement.

“If things continue as they are now, as So-ryong says, it would indeed be an issue.”

“Shouldn’t we punish several of them severely?”

“Yes, that would be advisable. So, So-ryong, what do you think we should do?”

In response to my grandfather’s inquiry, I presented my thoughts.

Rather than just a momentary harsh punishment, it seemed necessary to establish Companion Venomous Creature Culture in the Tang Clan.

“I will propagate the Companion Venomous Creature Culture to the assassination clan of the Central Plains, the Tang Clan!”

“Could you set some rules for all clan members that must not be broken?”

“Rules?”

“Yes, what I mean is…”

*

Zhuge Hu, a military officer of the Martial Forest Alliance staying in Wuhuan, was leading the Fierce Tiger Team, one of the military forces of the Martial Forest Alliance, towards the Tang Clan in Sichuan.

Behind him were the Fierce Tiger Team, his family, the Zhuge Clan, and all the support troops from the Wudang Sect, a sizable number of people following him.

“We will soon arrive at the Tang Clan residence, military officer.”

“Then we can rest at the Tang Clan today.”

“Probably, right?”

“Finally escaping from sleeping outdoors.”

The Wudang Sect elder, who was leading the group, reported.

True to his words, the Tang Clan residence began to appear soon.

Zhuge Hu was aware that crossing the bridge laid over the winding river leads to the Tang Clan.

As he drew closer to the bridge in sight, Zhuge Hu’s expression became awkward.

Now that he was about to be free from the night dew of outdoor sleeping, his strange expression wasn’t due to that.

It was because of his thoughts about the Clan Leader who had sent him here.

“I must bring back at least some good news.”

If there was someone who reacted most strongly to the news that the Blood Cult had reemerged in the Martial Forest and attacked the Tang Clan, it was definitely the current Martial Forest Leader, Kwonhwang Zhu Zhongxue.

Thirty years ago, after losing his clan and wife to the Blood Cult, Zhu Zhongxue, the leader of the Martial Forest Alliance, was furious upon hearing that news.

Thirty years ago, during the Blood Cult Massacre, the Zhu Clan was annihilated, leaving Zhu Zhongxue himself as the only survivor.

Everyone in the Martial Forest Alliance, even a child, knew just how much he hated the Blood Cult.

When he became the Martial Forest Leader, he vowed that he would never stop until he crushed the last heart of a Blood Cult member.

Therefore, as soon as the leader heard the news, he had planned to lead the Blue Dragon Team directly to Sichuan.

“‘I will lead my Blue Dragon Team to Sichuan! How dare those bugs from the Blood Cult!’”

“No! Leader, how can you go yourself? The fact that the Blood Cult, which has been missing for thirty years, has resumed activity means that there could be large-scale massacres happening throughout the Central Plains without our knowledge.

In such times, you must take care of yourself. What if we receive bad news from somewhere else?”

“Ugh. Then can the troops go instead? If they go, I can trust them. It would be great if they thoroughly investigate and bring back their trail. While the troops are away, significant matters can be handled by the deputy leader.”

“Me? Me?”

“Yes, I trust that you will definitely bring back good news.”

However, Zhuge Hu opposed that, and as a result, he ended up taking this trip in place of the leader.

“Huuh…”

Zhuge Hu sighed as he recalled what the leader had said when he was sent here.

The leader had insisted on bringing good news, but it seemed somewhat distant to achieve what the leader desired.

What the leader wanted most surely was to catch the trail of the Blood Cult.

However, considering the information he had gathered on his way here, it was clear that he would not uncover the Blood Cult’s hideout.

It wasn’t merely because it had rained and many days had passed.

The reason Zhuge Hu thought he might not bring back good news was because this Blood Cult attack on the Tang Clan seemed odd.

Thirty years ago, during the Blood Cult Massacre, the Martial Forest Alliance had united to hunt down and eliminate the Blood Cult members.

They burned their factions and hideouts and exterminated all Blood Cult members.

Thus, they had no choice but to go into hiding, but now, after thirty years of hiding, they suddenly appeared and attacked?

Especially the Tang Clan?

Even if the Mandok God or the Clan Head were absent, the composition and numbers of the attackers seemed utterly outrageous, and it appeared they were after the secret techniques of the Blood Water Poison Claw.

Considering all possibilities, it felt like they had come to target the secret technique but switched to an attack when something went wrong.

Still, he decided to listen once more to Mandok God’s story to learn more, and Zhuge Hu arrived in front of the Nine Entrance Gate of the Tang Clan.

“Who are the guests arriving at the Tang Clan?”

“I’m Zhuge Hu, a military officer of the Martial Forest Alliance.”

“Ah, you’re a military officer. Welcome to the Tang Clan. Please wait a moment. The Mandok God will be coming to meet you shortly.”

One of the Tang Clan’s martial artists hurriedly headed towards the upper part of the Tang Clan residence, and while the guests waited at the Nine Entrance Gate, just then, one of the Tang Clan’s martial artists approached Zhuge Hu with a cautious face and said.

“Military officer, before the Mandok God arrives, I must inform you of some things to be cautious about when entering our Tang Clan.”

“Cautions?”

Zhuge Hu cocked his head at the words of the martial artist saying there were things to be cautious about.

Then one of the Wudang Eight Swords, Elder Eun Seong-cheon, also tilted his head and asked.

“Has a Sacred Sword Pool appeared in the Tang Clan?”

To enter the Wudang Sect, one must leave behind one’s weapons, and the place where weapons are kept is called the Sacred Sword Pool.

Thus, the elder from Wudang asked if they had to set their weapons down to enter the Tang Clan.

However, since it was not long since the Blood Cult had attacked, there might be some voices of rejection, but the Tang Clan martial artist scratched his head and answered with an expression implying it was awkward for him to say.

“No, it’s not that, military officer. It may come as a shock, but there’s one thing I must insist upon. No one should take even the life of a trivial bug within the Nine Entrance Gate of the Tang Clan.”

“Not even the life of a trivial bug should be taken?”

“Aren’t they treating the Tang Clan as if they had all dedicated themselves to Buddhism?”

Generally, the words spoken by the Tang Clan martial artist are ones applicable in places like the Shaolin Temple.

Given that such a statement could only be heard when visiting the Shaolin Temple, Zhuge Hu and his party wore expressions that indicated they could not comprehend, so the martial artist from the Tang Clan scratched his head once more and spoke.

“Um… You’ll understand once you go in. But do keep it in mind.”

Just then, from the upper part of the Tang Clan residence, two figures came rushing down using Lightness Skill.

One was a woman, and the other was a boy, and with somewhat frivolous movements, the boy and girl arrived before Zhuge Hu and politely bowed.

“Greetings, Military Officer of the Alliance.”

“Nice to meet you, Military Officer of the Alliance.”

The girl’s face was one I recognized well; it was Tang Hua Eun of the Tang Clan.

“Oh, so it’s Hua Eun. Long time no see.”

“Yes, I saw you last year in the Alliance, so it’s been exactly a year.”

“By the way, where is the Mandok God?”

“Oh, grandfather is currently checking the location where the clan’s warriors fought against the Blood Cult members. That’s why we came out. Please forgive us for the inconvenience.”

“No, no, there’s no inconvenience in meeting one of the three heroes of the Martial Forest.”

Though I was curious why Mandok God hadn’t come out, it was certainly reasonable that he couldn’t come out if he was checking the area where the clan’s warriors fought against the Blood Cult elders, as Tang Hua Eun mentioned.

Nodding, I was about to enter the Nine Entrance Gate, guided by Tang Hua Eun, when a boy walked in next to her.

Did they call him Ice Skin, Jade Bone?

That’s generally a term used for girls, yet standing next to the stunning Tang Hua Eun, he felt equally admirable.

Zhuge Hu halted and asked, “Ah, then who is this young hero beside you?”

“Nice to meet you, Military Officer. I’m Wei So-ryong.”

“Wei?”

Wondering if he was from the Tang Clan, Zhuge Hu tilted his head at the mention of the Wei surname, prompting Tang Hua Eun to shyly respond.

“Y-Yes, he’s my fiancé.”

“Y-Your fiancé!?”

“““Fiancé!?”””

The fiancé of one of the three heroes of the Martial Forest, Tang Hua Eun!

At those words, a fiery sensation surged through Zhuge Hu’s back.

There were quite a few among the Fierce Tiger Team and Wudang Sect disciples who admired Tang Hua Eun, but to learn that she had a fiancé sent a wave of heat through him.

Among the three heroes of the Martial Forest—Poison Flower, Flower King Peony, and Kind Smiling Flower—the one who captured the hearts of the most men was Flower King Peony, but excited fans of Poison Flower weren’t few either.

Kind Smiling Flower tended to be friendly with all men, so fewer men admired her, but many were inexplicably drawn to the Poison Flower, who looked down on them.

Was it true that the glare of disdain strangely made hearts race?

These days, the tastes of young people are truly unpredictable; if he wasn’t careful, he might get swamped with duel requests from the younger hero starting today.

Thinking maybe he should give a warning to the Fierce Tiger Team at least, a warm feeling surged up in the back of Zhuge Hu’s head.

Just then, a bizarre sound echoed from somewhere.

Surprised, Zhuge Hu looked around, and as he turned his gaze to the sky upon hearing someone shout—

“Look! Look up!”

As he raised his head, huge bees were descending from the sky towards him.

The members of the Fierce Tiger Team ducked down and shouted in alarm.

“Golden Hair Bee King! Be careful! How could such a venomous creature be inside the Tang Clan!”

At that moment, as the members of the Fierce Tiger Team all drew their swords, the boy in front of them quickly dashed to Zhuge Hu’s side, spreading his arms wide as he spoke.

“Everyone, put away your swords! I distinctly told the warriors and guests to be careful, yet they aren’t following properly!”

“Young hero, it’s dangerous! What are you doing? The Golden Hair Bee King can kill a person in an instant if the poison takes effect.”

Attempts to suppress the young hero’s actions emerged, but he urged Zhuge Hu and his followers to put their swords away instead.

Unbelievably, the words that spilled from the young hero’s mouth were astonishing.

“This is one that I raised, so everyone, please calm down!”

“Raising it?”

Soon enough, the approaching Golden Hair Bee King landed on the young hero’s outstretched arm, confirming what he said.

Then, adreslessly, the young hero spoke to the Golden Hair Bee King in a gentle voice as if addressing a child.

“Did you come looking for me? I haven’t seen you in a while, right? You can’t sting the guests!”

Surrounding the young hero were several Golden Hair Bee Kings.

At the unbelievable scene, the fiery gazes that had once penetrated Zhuge Hu’s back quickly vanished.