Fabre in Sacheon’s Tang

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Chapter 2: From Glory to Gloom

Mandok God and Hua Eun gazed in awe at the beautiful Inner Dan, their expressions dumbfounded. But as I saw the creature that had shrunk to about one meter as it regurgitated the Inner Dan, a scream involuntarily escaped my lips.

“Gyaaaaak!”

And my legs went limp.

-Thunk.

“What! What’s wrong? Wei So-ryong? Are you hurt?”

“What’s going on!? Wei So-ryong? Did you get hit by a shard or something?”

Mandok God and Hua Eun looked at me, alarmed, as if they thought some disaster had struck.

I sat on the floor, staring blankly at the Flying Heavenly Snake with a gaze full of despair.

“My… F-Flying Heavenly Snake…”

“The Flying Heavenly Snake?”

“What happened to the Flying Heavenly Snake?”

“It’s so pitiful now… After all the trouble we went through to catch it…”

“…Ugh…”

“…Cough.”

-Shaa?

With its splendid six-meter length and the glimmering, azure scales it used to flaunt, plus the stunning, gem-like emerald-hued horns—it had transformed into a sorry sight.

The grand Flying Heavenly Snake had now become a pitiful one-meter snake, its cobalt scales faded to a near sky-blue. Those majestic two-pronged horns were nowhere to be seen, leaving only two tiny, sharp-looking horns on its head.

As I felt the weight of my earlier labor flooding back, a sense of hopelessness filled me.

I had put together a party consisting solely of thieves and cat owners, drawing aggro to learn its patterns, and after sleepless nights chasing it down, I finally caught it—only to see my Flying Heavenly Snake deflate like a popped balloon.

What was once a rare specimen that justified all my hard work had downgraded to an uncommon one.

“That beautiful form… Why didn’t it say anything about eating the Inner Dan!”

“If I had just waited a little longer, I could have persuaded Grandfather! I was trying to think of convincing words to say to Older Sister too. Foolish creature!”

“Sigh…”

As I wallowed in despair, I heard Hua Eun’s sigh behind me, followed by the warm touch of her hand on my shoulder.

Hua Eun comforted me with a gentle pat.

“Wei So-ryong, can’t you see this as a good thing? It regurgitated the Inner Dan and shrank to a manageable size! Now you can raise it beautifully like before, right? There are plenty of baby fish in the Tang Clan’s pond to feed it.”

“That’s true but…”

While it was now smaller and easier to care for as Hua Eun said, it still felt bittersweet. A six-meter giant snake was a rarity hardly ever seen.

Feeling sentimental, I gazed at the pitiful creature when Older Sister quickly asked Yo-hwa.

“Yo-hwa, can you take out that bead of mine?”

“Kishi!”

There were only two options to break Yo-hwa’s tough and springy web: burn it or ask the creator directly to retrieve it.

After Hua Eun’s request, Yo-hwa made a small hole in her webbed pouch and pulled out a shiny blue bead from within.

Then, she meticulously closed up the hole with more silk.

-Kis!

The Inner Dan was passed from Yo-hwa’s hand to Hua Eun’s.

As soon as the Inner Dan, the size of a Qi pill, was taken out, it started to emit shimmering light, casting its brilliance all around. Showing me the glowing Inner Dan, Hua Eun spoke.

“Look. If you eat this, Wei So-ryong might soar to my level—or even beyond! Then, catching creatures like this one will become much easier. Now, let’s leave it to Grandfather first and go rest quickly.”

“Sure, I understand. You must verify it for me. Please identify the precise energy so that Wei So-ryong can absorb as much inner power as possible.”

“Okay, understood. Of course, that must be done. But… why are you so sad, as if the sky is falling? I thought maybe a shard injured you. What a creature. Just take it and let it be comfortable for now.”

“Yes, Grandfather. Off we go, Wei So-ryong.”

Led by Hua Eun, I started towards the resting place prepared by the soldiers.

For some reason, I had zero energy.

‘How hollow…’

In a moment of contemplation, I thought, perhaps the Spicy Fabre, truly serious about toxic creatures, was punished for pondering whether to eat it.

‘But still, that punishment is too cruel…’

*

Waking up in the morning with an unbelievable memory, I was met with even harsher news.

“Lord Wei So-ryong, it seems the Flying Heavenly Snake can no longer fly.”

The shocking news that my Flying Heavenly Snake could no longer fly was delivered by Gu Pae.

“What!? It can’t fly?”

“Yes, it was very quiet all night.”

“Maybe it just calmed down a bit?”

Yesterday, I had noticed that it was more timid than expected.

I spun a happy tale in my head about how it may have simply become subdued after not wanting to die. But then, while passing nearby, Mandok God threw a reality check at me like a red pill.

“The Flying ability was the function of the energy in the Inner Dan, using it to channel its movements in mid-air. Now that the Inner Dan is gone, it obviously can’t fly anymore.”

Upon thinking, he was right.

The flight was powered by the Inner Dan, which contained two-thousand’s worth of internal energy. After unfolding its aerial capacity, moving it had allowed it to soar through the skies.

However, having lost the fuel that rendered it capable of flight, it was now grounded.

“Gyaaaaak!”

“L-Lord Wei So-ryong! What’s the matter with you?”

Unknowingly, another scream burst forth, catching the startled expression of Gu Pae.

And then, with a snicker, Mandok God vanished away.

“Haha! Just leave it be. It’s no big deal. That creature…”

Its grade keeps falling like a stock market crash.

I thought I had bought a premium stock, but in reality, I’d just purchased a dog’s stock.

Now, it had become quite difficult to even call it uncommon, aside from its appearance.

Just then, having presumably heard Gu Pae’s words, Hua Eun approached, holding out the pouch containing my creature, reassuring me.

“Wei So-ryong, keep your chin up. Just raise it with care like the Ogong! Feed it well and it’ll soon grow big and fly again. Now, let’s hurry, it looks like the others are about to leave.”

Supported by Hua Eun as she tended to my spirits and interests, I decided to head back toward the Southern Barbarian Beast Palace with my now flightless, no longer a Flying Heavenly Snake, just a strangely-formed snake instead.

I had to return to the Beast Palace regardless of the shocking news.

Not long after setting out to the Beast Palace, my pouch was readjusted by Yo-hwa for easier management, and Older Sister approached me, looking at the now easily liftable Flying Heavenly Snake with curiosity.

“Is that really the Flying Heavenly Snake? What in the world happened overnight?”

-Shaa!

Inside the pouch, the Flying Heavenly Snake trembled nervously at Older Sister’s words.

Hua Eun nodded and replied.

“It threw up the Inner Dan and this is what happened.”

“It threw up the Inner Dan?”

“Yes, Older Sister. It understands human speech. When we said we would kill it and cut it open, it didn’t want to die and quickly regurgitated it.”

At the mention of it throwing up the Inner Dan, Older Sister’s eyes went wide.

Her surprised gaze flared as she inquired about the whereabouts of the Inner Dan.

“Really!? W-where is the Inner Dan?”

“It’s with Grandfather for the moment. Once we reach the Beast Palace, I’ll show it to you. It emitted a radiant beauty.”

“Radiant? Beautiful?”

“Yes.”

Older Sister, who was immensely curious about the Inner Dan, turned to question Hua Eun eagerly. Only after some time did she remember I was walking beside her and tilted her head to ask.

“By the way, why does Wei So-ryong look so drained? Shouldn’t you be feeling good?”

Perhaps she sensed my gloomy mood.

In response to Older Sister’s question, Hua Eun gazed at me before cautiously whispering something in Older Sister’s ear.

Moments later, Older Sister burst into giggles.

“Really? Ahaha. That’s so like Wei So-ryong!”

“Don’t laugh! Older Sister, this is serious!”

Upon Hua Eun’s warning, Older Sister nodded, although her response didn’t mean to stop laughing.

Feigning anger, she wrapped her arms around my neck, grinning like a cat.

“Alright. But then, what you’re saying means you only half-listened to our conversation, doesn’t it? You little brat! After Older Sister and I tried to convince you so sincerely, you just replied, ‘yes, yes’! Right? Right?”

“N-No! Older Sister! L-Let go of me…”

Just as I thought their nagging had concluded, the banter between Hua Eun and Older Sister resumed.

*

-Whaaack.

Inside the Beast Palace’s main hall, as Grandfather placed the Inner Dan on the table, a beautiful blue light radiated outward.

The entire hall was instantly bathed in blue as everyone gazed in enchantment, struck by the sight.

“Remarkable! Mandok God. Such refreshing energy!”

“So, this is the Flying Heavenly Snake’s Inner Dan.”

“Incredible!”

“I can now understand why you spoke of it being two-thousand’s worth of energy.”

As Grandfather nodded, marveling, he explained to the impressed onlooking relatives.

“As its name suggests, the energy contained is from the heavens.”

“Energy from the heavens?”

“Indeed.”

“Hmmm… how unfortunate.”

“Isn’t that so…”

The vibe was great, but hearing the term ‘unfortunate’ caused me to frown as Older Sister’s voice chimed in.

“Not all internal energy has the same properties. The techniques of the Southern Barbarian Beast Palace primarily harness earth energy.

If Tang Clan’s poisonous power is related to poison, it’s fundamentally earth energy, making it unfortunate. It reduces the amount of energy one can absorb.”

I didn’t know internal energies had attributes.

The Inner Dan that came from the Flying Heavenly Snake— true to its name—contained heavenly energy, but it apparently wasn’t compatible with the techniques I was currently practicing.

“So, we can only absorb about half?”

“That seems about right.”

Having been nurtured by Hua Eun’s care and Older Sister’s remarks over the past few days during our return to the Beast Palace, I found it a bit disappointing but manageable.

Sixty years of inner power is still impressive, after all.

“I’m fine with that. Even that much is a great fortune, isn’t it?”

Grandfather smiled and replied, “Haha, have you settled your spirits? You were moping around like an orphan for days.”

“Cough… cough…”

“Well then, since you’re the owner, keep it well for now. I’ll try to find ways to extract more energy from it.”

“Understood, Grandfather.”

“Seems Wei So-ryong has found a boon. That’s great! Eating that will surely elevate your Beast Heart Technique sooner!”

It’s said that when two factions hunt for something like an Inner Dan, the distribution is always meticulous— but there was no doubt this Inner Dan belonged to me.

Having gained it through useful information received for saving the Beast Palace, the Beast Palace relinquished their claim, and the Tang Clan acknowledged it since I, as their son-in-law, earned it through effort.

For me, being a part of both factions, consuming it was effectively the same as both sides sharing the benefits.

As the guarded Inner Dan moved in my direction, brimming with light, I stood up to pull it closer.

-Slither!

-Swirl!

Suddenly, from my sleeve, the three Ogong swiftly popped out and began to circle the Inner Dan as if competing for it.

Usually, they were quite well-behaved, making this unusual scene all the more bizarre.

“What are you kids doing?”

As I panicked seeing their antics for the first time, Older Sister stood up and reached out towards them.

“Chao, Hyang, Bin, you shouldn’t be acting like this! There are adults present. Come here!”

-Slurping!

-Slithering!

Just then, the three of them lunged at Older Sister’s hand as if trying to bite it.

At Older Sister’s surprised reaction, she quickly withdrew her hand, and the trio instantly collided and began to fight each other.

“What’s going on?”

-Slurping!

-Slither!

“Are they fighting because Dad is getting mad? Hey! Why on earth would you misbehave around Mom and guests?!”

Kids do fight and squabble; that’s practically normal.

But why would their first fight happen atop a table surrounded by so many people?

Moreover, their camaraderie was typically strong, making this even stranger.

Thinking it best to intervene, I grabbed one of each creature in each hand just when Chao dashed forward to embrace the Inner Dan.

-Chomp.

And with that sound, the Flying Heavenly Snake’s Inner Dan disappeared without a trace, along with its radiant light.

“Chao?!”

Staring blankly at Chao, she stared back up at me.

The moment our eyes locked, I felt something swelling in my head, as if the blue light that had vanished from Chao’s body flickered within me.

The light didn’t genuinely emit as such, but that’s how it felt, somehow?

In mere moments, I realized it wasn’t that the light was coming from Chao; rather, my own vision had turned an eerie blue.

That moment, my consciousness seemed to fade out like a candle being extinguished.

“W-Wei So-ryong!”

Only the worried voice of Older Sister echoed, fading into the distance like an echo.