Fabre in Sacheon’s Tang

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Chapter 1: The Unexpected Punishment

“Yesterday, those beasts that devoured the hamsters received the Lover’s Venom punishment.”

“What’s that, you ask?”

It’s basically a punishment where they raise venomous creatures while developing a loving bond with them.

So, I told them to go out and catch anything poisonous, and three warriors returned with their own little toxic treasures, clueless about their future.

“Alright, let’s see what you’ve caught.”

As I looked at the warriors each holding a small jar, the one at the front opened his jar and proudly showed me.

“I caught a scorpion, So-ryong.”

A scorpion, or “Heul” as we say.

Scorpions are easy to breed and raise, making them a rather decent venomous creature. I nodded.

“Oh, Heul. Very good. An excellent choice of venom. Next?”

“I brought back an ogong. I figured since you carry them around, they must be the best kind of venom.”

“Ogong is also great.”

The warrior proudly declared he caught a centipede, and that flattering comment was gold.

Once I heard their responses, I turned to the final warrior, who was stammering and hesitating.

“Uh, um…”

“What’s wrong? Didn’t you catch anything?”

Not bringing back anything was unacceptable for a Tang Clan warrior.

It’s an easy task if you try, and not doing so just means you lack willpower or just didn’t want to.

Upon hearing my statement, Gu Pae glared and said, “If you couldn’t catch anything even after given enough time, it shows a lack of will. You’ll be on hamster duty for a month!”

Hamster duty was a punishment I experienced when I was younger, and it reminded me of the transparent chair from my past life.

The warrior then squeaked in a small voice, “I-I caught something! Just not venomous. Uh, it’s a lizard.”

“A lizard?”

“Correct!”

When I shouted “correct,” Gu Pae’s expression turned sharp as he asked, “So-ryong, a lizard isn’t venomous, you know?”

True to his word, lizards seldom carry venom.

Only a couple of species exist in the Americas, a few in Australia, and some in Indonesia and Komodo dragons.

But since I liked lizards, I considered it acceptable.

“It’s fine. Lizards have a venomous gaze.”

“Huh?”

“Whatever! Accepted!”

Gu Pae looked flustered, but this was a matter of taste, and I couldn’t compromise.

Thus, I accepted it and issued next orders to the warriors.

“From now on, what you’ve caught here will be your Companion Vengeance. Everyone, come up with names by tomorrow.”

“What?”

“Did you not hear? I said to come up with names!”

When I insisted they name their companions, the warriors showed surprise.

In my mind, I promised that should any of them die, they would again shed tears.

That was the true cruelty of the Companion Vengeance punishment.

‘Those who’ve lost a pet and didn’t cry can’t possibly know the pain. Ugh.’

While I was handing out the punishment to the warriors who had eaten hamsters yesterday, my older sister’s voice rang out.

“So-ryong, the critters have woken up. They’ve been wandering around since dawn.”

I followed the sound of her voice and saw my sister, with Chao, Hyang, and Bin on her shoulder, waving their feelers with joy.

“Looks like these little ones finally regained their energy. Come over here!”

I hurried over and placed my hand on my sister’s shoulder, trying to direct them towards me.

Immediately, the ogongs climbed onto my arm.

As soon as my arm reached my sister’s shoulder, Chao jumped over, followed by Hyang, and lastly, Bin crawled onto my body sequentially from my sister’s shoulder.

I often checked on their health, but when they came over, I needed to ensure they were alright.

This was the duty of a venomous creature caretaker.

I observed each one carefully.

“Chao looks healthy, and Hyang… yeah, appears fine…”

Just then, as Bin crawled over, I noticed something odd.

“Hmm? Bin? Why are you acting weird? Are you sick?”

“What’s up, So-ryong?”

Noticing an unusual change, I rushed to a sunlit area to inspect Bin, who was tangled around my arm.

And indeed, Bin looked different than before.

“Little One, doesn’t Bin’s color seem different?”

“Where? Oh!? You’re right! I didn’t notice in the dim light, but why did that happen? Did I keep her in darkness for too long? Or was it because I briefly left her while welcoming guests yesterday?”

The reason my sister and I were puzzled was that the end of Bin’s feelers had turned a slight black color.

Just a little, like it had been dipped in soy sauce…

‘Damn. Now seeing black makes me think of soy sauce thanks to the warriors.’

Snapping out of that soy sauce thought, I carefully examined again, but unlike the other two, Bin’s feelers were tinged black.

Initially, I thought it was color development, but typically, insects stay yellow until they shed at least twice.

The others remained yellow, so it couldn’t just be a development problem.

“If it’s the color coming in, then it should show on the others’ colors as well.”

“I doubt it’s about her molting and changing colors…”

If it wasn’t just color development, the only other possibility was sickness.

After being rained on by the Blood Cult Elder and crawling into bushes and holes, I feared she might have fallen ill.

Pets can’t tell you when they’re sick, so it’s the owner’s job to notice any changes because they could suddenly die.

Plus, mammals usually show symptoms when they’re ill, but insects often hide their ailments, requiring sharper observation.

Anyone who has kept creatures like centipedes knows that discerning their health can be tricky—even for those with extensive experience.

All they usually show are symptoms like fasting.

“Did Bin show any signs of illness while she was in your care?”

“Well, she just sat still with the others, so I can’t say for sure.”

“Bin, you’re not sick, are you?”

Bin, who had shown the most spirited demeanor while biting a snake in the hole, had me fully worried.

Is this what it feels like when a child is sick?

My sister and I looked deeply concerned.

‘Why must I be burdened with such a punishment!’

*

Returning from the Tang Clan estate with warriors was my grandfather.

Following him were warriors carrying bags.

“Have the military officers returned?”

“Mandok God, it’s been a while.”

Upon hearing my grandfather’s return, Zhuge Hu, a military officer from the Martial Forest Alliance, rushed out to greet him.

Mandok God, back from an outing, joyously responded to him.

“Long time no see. It seems like just yesterday you left to travel with the mountains, and now one is a military officer and the other is the Tang Clan’s head. Haha.”

“Elder, enough with the old tales… There are clan kids and the Martial Forest Alliance warriors here…”

“Haha, alright, alright, I get it. By the way, sorry for not being able to meet you; I was getting a gift ready for you.”

Upon mentioning a black history with the artisan, Zhuge Hu appeared flustered, but his eyes sparkled at the mention of a gift.

It seems gifts excite people of all ages, whether in this life or the past.

“A gift, you say?”

The reason Mandok God had briefly gone out with the warriors was that he had gone to catch the Hoban Yusa.

This was our Venomous Insect Team’s first venom capture mission.

Before Zhuge Hu from the Martial Forest Alliance arrived, I had strategically suggested capturing the Hoban Yusa, but Mandok God had initially refused our plan.

No, he had specifically denied my going out altogether.

There were various sects gathered around the Tang Clan, so it wouldn’t be unlikely, but perhaps to understand what had happened to the one who died or for reconnaissance; that was the reason given.

However, since the poison from the Hoban Yusa was essential, my grandfather personally led our Venomous Insect Team to the expedition.

Anyone could catch snakes for the Tang Clan.

I felt a bit sulky for missing out on the first capture expedition, yet it was reassuring knowing we were capturing a non-new species.

Having had a major incident and been unconscious for ten days would be worrying for him too.

“Alright, let’s head inside. So-ryong, you’ve caught all those creatures from Rat Cave, so let’s check them out and take some with you to Clan Head Hall.”

“Understood, Grandfather.”

The bags on the warriors’ shoulders wriggled as they followed my grandfather.

I led the warriors to the Venomous Insect Garden and released the creatures into a large wooden enclosure.

“Let’s sort through the larger and stronger ones first, and since my grandfather mentioned needing some venom from the Hoban Yusa, let’s collect a little.”

“Understood, So-ryong.”

“The Hoban Yusa’s venomous fangs are shaped differently than other snakes, so to extract the venom, you’ll need to push the jar as deep into their mouths as possible.”

First, I used a Yuhyeol snake to open its mouth and pushed its upper jaw as far in as I could into a small jar.

To rest the Yuhyeol’s small fangs on the jar’s rim, I needed to at least push its jaw as deeply in there as possible.

Typically, when extracting snake venom, it’s usual to let the snake’s upper jaw barely hang over the jar’s opening, but because this guy’s fangs are inside its mouth, doing it this way makes the extraction much easier.

“Understood. Hurry!”

“Yes, Deputy Commander!”

We set aside the injured ones and took venom from them, while we decided to quarantine the healthy ones for a few days.

As I observed the warriors, the Deputy Commander brought over a small porcelain jar he could hold in his palm.

“So-ryong, I filled this half-full.”

“I see. Then, I’ll leave the rest to you. My grandfather is calling for me.”

“Understood!”

After leaving the Venomous Insect Garden, we reached the Clan Head Hall, where voices echoed from within.

“Ah, I see. Just as I thought, the mysterious Junior Hero met with the Tang Clan head on Hainan Island, right?”

“Indeed. He has become the grandson-in-law of the Tang Clan. Isn’t he a precious gem of our clan?”

“That’s an understatement. I was truly surprised to hear he raises the Golden Hair Bee King.”

“Right? That’s what shocks everyone when they hear he’s joined the Tang Clan.”

‘Ugh, dear me. Am I really considered a gem?’

Hearing the conversation coming from inside, I couldn’t help but feel a swelling pride as I announced my presence.

“Grandfather, it’s me, So-ryong.”

“Oh, welcome in!”

As I stepped into the Clan Head Hall, two individuals were engaged in conversation over tea.

Before I could even sit down, my grandfather asked, “So, did you bring it?”

“Yes, here.”

His query seemed about whether I had brought the venom from the Hoban Yusa, so I promptly placed the porcelain jar on the table.

Thud.

I set the small porcelain jar on the table.

My grandfather slid it towards the Martial Forest Alliance military officer with a smile.

“Our grandson-in-law brought a gift for you, accept it.”

“A gift, you say?”

The military officer from the Martial Forest Alliance, Zhuge Hu, looked surprised as he glanced between my grandfather and me.

As he held the porcelain jar that had been slid toward him, he tilted his head, puzzled.

“What exactly is this? Huh? With a gas membrane?”

Seeing my grandfather was about to do something, Zhuge Hu flinched and moved closer to him.

Wondering at my grandfather’s actions, I turned to look, and he explained what the gas membrane was.

“It’s called a gas membrane, designed to prevent sound from leaking out. It’s a barrier for gas, hence the name. The sounds being exchanged here will not escape outside.”

‘Wow, this gas thing really can do so much…’

Shooting air blasts, carrying auras, erecting gas membranes, and employing lightness skills—there’s an endless world of application.

If you learn one good martial art, you’ll never go hungry.

Once the gas membrane was set, the previously relaxed expression of the Martial Forest Alliance officer turned sharp and brisk as he asked again.

“What kind of object is this that requires a gas membrane?”

To that, my grandfather glanced at me with a smile.

“It’s Dispersing Power Poison.”

“Dispersing Power Poison? That’s not an uncommon thing, is it? Using a gas membrane suggests you’re not just casually talking?”

Though it’s prohibited in martial arts circles, I remembered that it wasn’t something entirely unprocurable either.

Indeed, Dispersing Power Poison can be found in large quantities at Mandok Hall.

But upon my grandfather’s next words, Zhuge Hu’s eyes widened.

“However, the twist is, it’s a Dispersing Power Poison that affects only the Blood Cult.”

“!”

His expression spoke volumes as if a bat had landed on top of his head.

He glanced between the porcelain jar in his hand and my grandfather’s face, disbelief in his voice.

“Is… Is that really true!? No way, Mandok God can’t be joking…?”

“Is it hard to believe?”

“Well, of course! Those jerks can’t be affected by their own Dispersing Power Poison! Thirty years ago, during the bloodbath, it was the reason warriors struggled against them. They could evade it while it affected us, right?”

“Correct. I also knew that, but it exists. A Dispersing Power Poison that they suffer from.”

“This… Is this really true? If so, then this discovery is magnificent! How effective is it!?”

“The Elder of the Blood Cult was poisoned decisively by Hua Eun in one single strike.”

“One strike?!”

I shivered at the grotesque images flooding my mind upon hearing my grandfather’s recollection of how the Blood Cult Elder lost his head in one blow from my sister.

“What Hua Eun said was that he wasn’t much of a challenge strength-wise.”

“Oh! So it’s definitely the Dispersing Power Poison!”

“It’s a downside that it only works if applied or if you coat a blade to create intoxication.”

“That is unfortunate, but still, this is amazing. When the Clan Head sent me here, he wished for positive news, and this is beyond that! This lifts a huge weight off my chest! Thank you, Mandok God!”

Zhuge Hu’s face brightened as he repeatedly expressed gratitude to Mandok God.

My grandfather held my hand and said, “You should be thanked, not me. It was you who discovered it.”

Once again, the military officer regarded me, surprised.

“The Junior Hero, you say!?”

“Indeed. He made significant contributions in capturing the Blood Cult Elder. He managed to poison himself, making the elder suck his poisoned blood.”

“Wow! What extraordinary courage and wisdom! So, you’ve decided to pair him with Hua Eun?”

“Right? Isn’t he undeserving to share with anyone else? Hahaha.”

Feeling overwhelmed by compliments directed at me, I couldn’t help but feel my cheeks burning.

Hearing compliments right in front of me is not something anyone can stand easily.

So, I tried to maintain a nonchalant demeanor, forcing my expression to remain composed when the Martial Forest officer asked me.

“Truly, you must be blessed by fate. When I report this to the Clan Head, you will most certainly receive immense rewards. Do you have anything specific in mind that you want?”

It seems he intended to offer rewards, and since he asked me to voice my desires, how could I, the recipient of such rewards, ask for this or that?

Thus, I politely refused, eliciting a hearty laugh from the two elders.

“Since you don’t seek a reward, it’s all good. No worries, Elder.”

“Haha! Humble to the end! Mandok God, you’ve got quite the wonderful grandson-in-law. Hehe.”

“Is that so? Hahaha.”

After a while, their laughter subsided, and my grandfather spoke again.

“If there’s anything you wish, do not hesitate to mention it. The military officer will relay it to the Clan Head, so don’t hold back. You’ve done enough to earn a reward.”

In Korean custom, it’s polite to refuse three times, but I felt that refusing twice would be pushing it.

Speaking carefully, I replied.

‘If they insist, I might as well accept something.’

“If you insist, I do have something I want…”

The head of the Martial Forest Alliance was willing to offer me a reward; thus, a good idea suddenly struck me.