Fabre in Sacheon’s Tang

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Twenty-Four Poisons Branch 1

“Isn’t that the place that the Five Poisons Sect and the Southern Barbarian Beast Palace destroyed a hundred years ago?”

The Five Poisons Sect was the origin of the Five Poisons Return to Origin Divine Skill that I had learned, and it was a name I had vaguely heard from my grandfather.

Thus, I looked at my grandfather with surprise when I heard they were still alive, only to feel the intense killing intent from the side.

“Th-Those dastardly scoundrels!”

Startled by the dense killing aura, I quickly turned my head to see the Beast Palace Lord scattering his fury around with a furious expression.

“Father, pl-please calm down. There are benefactors and guests with us.”

With my hair standing on end from the dense killing intent, Seol-pyo barely managed to pacify the Beast Palace Lord.

Then the lord approached the Queen Ant again, examined its head, and with a crunch said,

– Crunch.

“If it’s related to the Five Poisons Sect, then it must involve the Beast Explosion Silent Techniques of the main palace…”

“The Beast Explosion Silent Techniques?”

All the members of the Tang Clan gazed at the furious Beast Palace Lord in awe at the mysterious name of the technique, and Seol-pyo stepped in to explain.

“It explodes the potential of beasts and drives them into a frenzy for a time. After using it, the user is bedridden for a while, and if something goes wrong, the children could die. Therefore, it’s forbidden to use unless one’s life is threatened.”

“Then did they use the improved methods of the Tang Clan’s golden needles and poisons to draw out some potential of that Queen Ant?”

I cautiously presented my opinion to my grandfather, who was deep in thought, and the furious Beast Palace Lord.

“I suspect they may have kept feeding it and making it lay more eggs. You see, Ants typically don’t eat their siblings, but when they found that Queen Ant, it was feasting on its own kind and its own offspring.”

Normally, army ant queens are not that massive; moving ants usually look a bit spry compared to other ant queens.

But the one in question appeared grotesquely oversized, with a gluttonous appetite and far too many eggs.

Moreover, if such a giant ant rampaged through the Central Plains, there would have been no survivors, and it would’ve been seen a lot, yet if people hadn’t seen it before, I figured the normal colony would contain maybe a few dozen or a few hundred at most.

Then the Beast Palace’s people looked at each other in disbelief.

However, the point of their surprise seemed a bit off.

“You mean the Queen Ant was devouring its own offspring?”

“It really was!?”

“To make its own children into food!”

The Beast Palace Lord, Seol-pyo, and the accompanying elders all widened their eyes in shock at the revelation that the Queen Ant had been eating her own offspring.

Perhaps because they didn’t know much about ants, they didn’t realize the Queen Ant had been munching on her children.

Nodding cautiously amidst their astonishment, I answered,

“Yes, all the ants that the Queen Ant carries are her own offspring.”

At that moment, even Seol-pyo, who had been calming the Beast Palace Lord, shouted with an angry expression.

“Such a vile act!”

“Our ancestors recorded them as truly brutal beings!”

“Aren’t they just despicable? How could a parent make their child into food…?”

I was puzzled by their intense fury, but when I attended the meeting in the Beast Palace, I learned there was an undisclosed fact behind the Fall of the Five Poisons Sect that the Tang Clan did not know.

“The Tang Clan might not know, but for us in the Southern Barbarian Beast Palace, deciding to eradicate the Five Poisons Sect was not solely because of martial arts. We rely on the jungle; we occasionally take in sons-in-law or daughters-in-law from the minority tribes of Yunnan, and conversely, we also send them off in marriage, so as long as they uphold their oaths, we are quite generous.”

“Oath?”

“Not to pass on martial arts to the next generation. If they’re only practicing themselves, it’s not an issue. Furthermore, if they manage to make substantial progress with our martial arts, we acknowledge it as theirs. That’s how the Five Poisons Sect was able to establish themselves in Yunnan initially.”

Indeed, as the Beast Palace Lord said, they were more lenient about martial arts compared to the Tang Clan.

“It is indeed generous to allow changes to a creator’s work.”

“Then why then?”

“Because they violated the Beast Palace’s taboo.”

“Taboo? What taboo?”

“They don’t treat the beasts they raise cruelly. They cherish them like family and kin.”

Since these folks were genuinely passionate about animals, that did make sense. When I showed them venomous insects and referred to them as my companions, they praised me.

“But they brought an entire clan to ruins over such a reason?”

That did seem a bit excessive.

No matter how much someone loved animals, was this really justified? Yet, when I heard their explanation, it felt just a bit unreasonable from a lover’s perspective.

“They melted their raised beasts and poisonous insects to make spirit pills, or they would rob them of their will, making them obey like zombies, or force the mother to eat her own children to strengthen her. They were guilty of such acts. That’s why we helped the Tang Clan eradicate the Five Poisons Sect.”

Melting one’s raised companions to make spirit pills?

What kind of terrible degenerates were these?

The thought of melting our Chao, Hyang, Bin, Seol, Bing, or Yo-hwa into a concoction was downright horrifying.

After the Beast Palace Lord’s explanation, I understood why they were so furious over making a mother eat her children.

This was a violation of ethics.

Even in Islamic cultures, dishes that involve cooking young with mother’s milk are strictly forbidden by law.

“Are we to repeat the events of a hundred years ago once more…?”

Lastly, the Beast Palace Lord mused with a serious expression, and my grandfather, Mandok God, also bore a grave look.

After all, both families were enemies from that time.

*

The aftermath of the army ant incident, traced to the Five Poisons Sect, concluded that everything might have been planned.

Catching the creatures in Venomous Insect Valley and making them breed like mad, forced to follow the river due to the blocked terrain, they likely grew their forces, moving down the river to strike at the Beast Palace.

Even I, the expert, could only nod at the reasoning.

And with the malice stretching toward the Beast Palace, it wasn’t long before the Tang Clan could face dire circumstances, so my grandfather and the Beast Palace Lord promised to reaffirm their close cooperation.

After all, the enemies of the Southern Barbarian Beast Palace and the Tang Clan over a hundred years ago were forming an alliance anew.

“This time, as the representative of the Clan Head, I swear that our Tang Clan will assist the Beast Palace.”

“The oath from a hundred years ago hasn’t been fulfilled yet, so our Southern Barbarian Beast Palace will surely assist the Tang Clan as well.”

Once the political discussions concluded, discussions about awards for me began.

“We’ve received a great favor, so of course, we must express our gratitude to the Tang Clan. Is there anything you would like as a reward?”

In this cultural realm, it seems such generous offers are the norm when one does something beneficial.

As I pondered what to ask for, my grandfather’s voice resonated in my mind.

[So-ryong, ask about the Five Poisons Return to Origin Divine Skill and your Ogong. No matter how important it is, the lord will not be able to refuse.]

“Five Poisons Return to Origin Divine Skill? Ah! Right! I had Chao!”

Recalling my grandfather’s words, I remembered something from the past.

When I had confirmed that Chao understood my words last time, had I not wanted to gather some info from the Beast Palace? That was a question I raised to my grandfather.

He had previously mocked my inquiry, suggesting he wouldn’t entertain such a request without saving the Beast Palace from its demise. Now that we had saved them, it seemed I was to ask.

“Hehe, I bet you didn’t see this coming.”

Nodding slightly in response to my grandfather’s thoughts, I cautiously asked the Beast Palace Lord with a respectful tone.

“I have one difficult request; I wonder if it might be possible.”

“Of course! I’ve just saved the main palace from destruction! What couldn’t I grant? Speak freely!”

His hearty reply filled me with assurance as I summoned Chao to the table.

“Chao, come here.”

Following my command, Chao peeked out from my chest and crawled forward.

– Zzt?

As Chao looked up at me, curious why I had called, I instructed it to showcase a few basic movements.

To move in a circle on the table, travel up my arms, and hover over my head.

I called this Chao’s basic three tricks, and my mental shout triggered Chao to perform them before everyone.

Waving its antennae, it spun quickly in circles on the table, crawling up one arm to another, and lastly twirling over my head, peeking down as if asking if it was done.

– Zzt zzt?

In astonishment, the Beast Palace Lord and Seol-pyo shouted.

“Could it be that!”

“Junior Hero, that’s it!?”

They seemed to have recognized something, and I nodded in confirmation.

“Yes, unlike other members of the Tang Clan, I have learned the martial arts left by the Five Poisons Sect a century ago. It’s called the Five Poisons Return to Origin Divine Skill. Through the Great Method, I absorbed the poison of this Ogong, enabling me to command it like this.”

“Hah, so the Beast Heart Technique was included in that? I had thought we confirmed that when the Tang Clan shared its martial arts with the Five Poisons Sect a century ago…”

The Beast Palace Lord quickly plunged into serious thought, tapping his chin.

I then posed my request.

“I would like to inquire about how this came to be, and if it’s possible for others to do the same.”

The Beast Palace Lord and Seol-pyo exchanged glances.

Shortly after, the Lord spoke with a very serious and grave expression.

“Do you remember when I said our main palace is not stingy with martial arts?”

“Yes, of course, my lord.”

I recalled that it wasn’t exactly free use but a limited grant, nodding in understanding while the Beast Palace Lord calmly nodded back.

“However, there are exceptions. That would be the Beast Heart Technique. It’s our palace’s greatest secret, allowing one to share hearts with beasts. This is a technique passed down only through direct descendants of the Beast Palace and is forbidden from leaving.”

Should it be forbidden from leaving, I might risk spitting out what I’d learned if I mentioned this thought.

Feeling a bit annoyed at my grandfather now.

“Why couldn’t you have advised me to investigate and inquire first…?”

As I contemplated the frightening prospect of having to regurgitate the martial arts I had learned, a careful question arose.

“You said you’re a son-in-law of the Tang Clan, but then what’s your main family?”

I tilted my head at the sudden inquiry about my family.

I, Wei So-ryong, the orphan.

“All alone and without help.”

– Clap!

Then there was applause in response.

Turning my head, I saw Seol-pyo clapping her hands together and grinning.

“What’s up with that? Why are you happy I’m an orphan?”

Turning to the Beast Palace Lord, I found him sporting a light smile as well.

“Really? That’s great! Your name is So-ryong, right? Such a fitting name! No need to change it. Your affection for your companion beasts should surely surpass anyone else’s in our Beast Palace.”

“Exactly right. Father, it fits perfectly.”

The two seemed to find entire sense as they nodded, and then the Beast Palace Lord proposed something completely unexpected.

“How about you become my son? If you become my adopted son, you’ll not only learn the martial arts you acquired but all the martial arts of our Beast Palace as well. Besides, with an enemy from a hundred years ago resurfaced, a stronger bond between our clans is necessary. Could you be the bridge to create that relationship?”

“W-Wait, adopt a son!?”

“I think it’s a marvelous idea, Father. I like So-ryong, too.”

“Having a gentle younger brother who loves his companions. There are so many things I’ve wanted to try with a sibling! So-ryong, please become my brother!”

Faced with this sudden and fantastical proposal, I turned to look at my grandfather and sister, both of whom seemed a bit caught off-guard as well.

“Mandok God, what do you think? Although it was a failure two hundred years ago, with someone like So-ryong, who truly cares for his companions, we can surely rectify the mistakes made by the Southern Barbarian Beast Palace and Tang Clan and build a good relationship.”

Wondering if the Beast Palace Lord’s suggestion wasn’t bad, my grandfather pondered briefly before saying there wasn’t any major issue.

“As long as the son-in-law status remains, it’s not a bad proposal at all.”

“Then it means the clan doesn’t mind, and you just need to make the decision, what do you think?”

“So-ryong, what’s your take on it?”

With my grandfather’s approval, I was encouraged to respond urgently by both sides.

The Beast Palace Lord and Seol-pyo began outlining the benefits I would gain by becoming the son of the Beast Palace Lord.

“Didn’t you say you could only share hearts with one Ogong? By becoming my adopted son, you’ll be able to share hearts with all three! No, that’s not all. I can make it so with all the other heads and lizards too. What do you say?”

“So-ryong, don’t you want to stay up discussing the wonderful companions you raise with your new sister? Plus if they have babies, you can share them too!”

However, since this was suddenly about gaining a father and sister, I hesitated to answer, and the two began to confer about something.

“It seems you’re not swayed that easily. Is there anything that might tug at So-ryong’s heartstrings?”

“Ah! Father, the Flying Heavenly Snake! Since So-ryong loves venomous creatures, how about that?”

“Oh! That’s right, the Flying Heavenly Snake!”

‘A snake that flies?’

At the mention of a flying snake, I tilted my head in confusion, and Seol-pyo launched into an explanation.

“There’s a flying snake in the depths of the Yunnan jungle called the Flying Heavenly Snake. It’s truly extraordinary, and since you love venomous creatures, what do you think? If you become my sister’s brother, I’ll help you catch that Flying Heavenly Snake.”

At that moment.

My grandfather, who had been listening, suddenly narrowed his eyes and asked,

“Are you referring to a flying snake that has two horns on its head and resembles the color of that grass!?”

“That’s right! You know about it, Elder!?”

It felt like my grandfather knew something about it.

He immediately turned to me and said.

“So-ryong, the Twenty-Four Poisons Branch refers to a selection of twenty-four elite poisons under the Ten Great Venoms. Without a doubt, if it’s a flying snake, it would be the premier, the Flying Heavenly Snake!”

“The Flying Heavenly Snake!”

‘What a mesmerizing name.’

The thought of flying in the skies paired with such an awesome name set off a round of devotion in me.

I immediately bowed my head to my father and sister.

“I pay my respects to Wei So-ryong and my older sister!”

‘This is something I cannot resist.’