Fabre in Sacheon’s Tang

We had barely escaped into the cave with Elder Cheolsan and the other warriors, but not all of us made it unscathed.

One of the Tang Clan warriors, who had approached the Zhenbird and thrown a rock at it, inevitably lagged behind.

When Elder Cheolsan dragged him into the cave, the warrior looked down at the piece of realgar in his hand, now reduced to a grain-sized fragment, and followed us in a panic.

He had survived, but his clothes had completely disintegrated. It took him a long time to expel the venomous aura that had invaded his body.

According to Elder Cheolsan, the warrior only survived because of his training in the Tang Clan’s poison arts. He was lucky—if it weren’t for the protective aura from our realgar, which had drifted back to him, he wouldn’t have made it.

Even though we had managed to take refuge deep inside the cave, we couldn’t let our guard down.

Despite our retreat to the innermost part of the cave, thin white smoke continued to rise from the realgar each Tang Clan member carried.

Although it wasn’t billowing out like dry ice dumped into water, as it had earlier, the fact that the realgar was still emitting smoke meant the presence of poison.

If the realgar dissolved completely, we would all succumb to the poison.

“Z-Zhenbird?! Clan leader, are you certain it’s a Zhenbird?”

The deputy commander’s voice trembled with disbelief.

Elder Cheolsan responded by reciting what sounded like a passage from a book.

“When it spreads its wings, they span five chi. Its beak is sharp and copper-colored, and its body is covered in feathers of a deep purple-red hue. When angered, it spreads its wings, turning everything around it pitch black, transforming all into venomous death. It wears a golden crown atop its head, befitting the majesty of a king.

This creature is called a Zhenbird.”

Every detail Elder Cheolsan described matched what I had witnessed.

I asked him in a trembling voice, “I-Is that thing one of the Ten Great Venomous Beasts?”

Elder Cheolsan nodded slowly, his words confirming what seemed impossible.

“That creature is not just one of the Ten Great Venomous Beasts—it stands at the very top. It is known as the Emperor of All Venomous Beasts: the Zhenbird.”

“The Emperor of the Ten Great Venomous Beasts!”

‘This is insane. Absolutely insane!’

My impression of the Zhenbird boiled down to one word: insane.

In my previous life, even the deadliest insects and snakes seemed tame in comparison to this living catastrophe.

The Zhenbird was a walking biochemical weapon, and just thinking about the sight of the corpses and venomous creatures melting earlier made my skin crawl.

Its venom was so potent it erased vast areas as though wiping them clean with a giant eraser.

“A Zhenbird on Hainan Island... It is said to feed only on venomous snakes, which must have drawn it here. Likely, the venom-laden snakes in the area led it to this place,” Elder Cheolsan mused.

I snapped out of my thoughts and asked, “I-Is it common to encounter one of these?”

“Of course not,” Elder Cheolsan replied. “If Zhenbirds were common, no one in the Central Plains would still be alive. Even living one’s entire life, most people would never see a Zhenbird. I’ve only read about them in books; this is my first time seeing one. It’s said they appear maybe once every hundred or two hundred years.”

If what Elder Cheolsan said was true, such a creature roaming freely would mean mass extinction.

I stared blankly toward the cave entrance and muttered, “Is there any way to catch that thing…?”

It wasn’t a question I expected an answer to. It was more of a thought slipping out unbidden.

But Elder Cheolsan smiled. “Do you want to catch it, young warrior?”

For someone who died trying to capture one of the Ten Great Venomous Snakes in my previous life, the Ten Great Venomous Beasts held a certain allure—a dream, even.

Still, I answered in a dazed voice while staring at the cave entrance. “Yes… but with venom that potent, it seems impossible…”

If I tried to capture it, I’d probably melt before I even got close.

Elder Cheolsan chuckled mischievously. “You’ve got quite the fascination with the Ten Great Venomous Beasts, don’t you? Well, there is a way.”

My eyes widened. “There’s a way?!”

“Of course,” he replied matter-of-factly. “The Tang Clan once captured a Zhenbird three hundred years ago.”

Elder Cheolsan’s words jolted me awake. If they had experience capturing one, then they must have records about it.

“Is that true?” I asked, unable to mask my disbelief.

Elder Cheolsan didn’t answer directly but gave me a knowing smile before glancing at the cave entrance.

“If one masters the Tang Clan’s poison arts, they become impervious to ten thousand poisons, including the Zhenbird’s venom. Our martial arts are the only ones in the world capable of neutralizing its poison.

But alas… our clan’s rules forbid teaching our techniques to anyone who isn’t family… What a pity. I’d love to help you, but rules are rules. Hahaha.”

His laughter was almost mocking, but I couldn’t blame him. The secrets of their poison arts were likely the Tang Clan’s most closely guarded treasures.

In a cautious voice, I asked, “If I were to become part of the Tang Clan, could I learn it?”

I needed to be sure. Becoming part of the clan wasn’t enough—I had to confirm they’d actually teach me their techniques.

Elder Cheolsan smiled again, his expression full of amusement.

“If you make up your mind now, I’ll teach you everything without holding back. And I’ll even throw in some gifts. But if you hesitate for too long…”

‘Did this guy reincarnate too? He talks like a mobile game notification.’

Elder Cheolsan’s offer was practically irresistible, phrased like a “limited-time offer” ad.

‘Fine. It’s not like I can live in the forest alone forever. Hobbies can wait. This is an opportunity I can’t pass up.’

I had made my decision.

“I accept! I’ll join the Tang Clan! Please take care of me, Elder—no, Clan Leader!”

Elder Cheolsan laughed heartily, his voice echoing through the cave. “Excellent! From now on, you’re one of us—forever!”

His joyous laughter was short-lived, however, as the harsh reality of our situation set in. We still needed to find a way out of the cave alive.

***

It wasn’t until a full day later that we were finally able to leave the cave.

The faint smoke that had been rising from the realgar finally stopped reacting, bringing us some relief.

If it had continued for even another hour or two, the realgar would have run out entirely.

“What… is this?”

“Good heavens…”

“Those corpses… they’re gone!”

What greeted us outside the cave was a blackened wasteland.

The area, once covered with piles of corpses, had been transformed into a barren expanse of black soil stretching 20 to 30 meters around.

There wasn’t a single blade of grass or insect in sight.

The lush greenery, towering trees, and even the heaps of bodies had vanished entirely, leaving behind only black soil and charred stones.

It was as if the events of yesterday had been nothing more than a fleeting nightmare, leaving behind a surreal scene devoid of life.

“Do you think it’s safe to step on this ground?”

“I tested it by dropping some of the remaining realgar on it while we exited. Strangely, the poison has completely dissipated,” Elder Cheolsan replied.

Apparently, the venom that had contaminated the area had evaporated or otherwise disappeared.

With our safety confirmed, our next priority was to pay our respects to the fallen.

The Tang Clan warriors searched a nearby mountain hut and retrieved an old bottle of liquor. Using it, we offered a simple prayer for the souls of the deceased.

“May they find peace in paradise…”

After the brief ceremony, I turned to Elder Cheolsan and asked, “So, are we heading to Sichuan now?”

“Yes, it’s about time we did.”

“First, I need to stop by the Daoist temple to release my friends. I can’t bring them with me to the Tang Clan.”

“Very well. Let’s head to the temple first. You’ll need to gather your belongings as well.”

“Let’s go.”

“Indeed.”

The Blood-Handed Rakshasa’s secret manual had already been retrieved by Elder Cheolsan. While I had thought he might destroy it, the Tang Clan valued practicality above all else. They intended to study the manual to glean anything useful, discarding the rest.

No matter how sinister the martial arts, the Tang Clan believed there was always something to learn.

It felt like I had just looted a boss in a game after defeating Tak Wonyang, and now, as part of the clan, I figured their gains might benefit me in the long run.

Thinking this, I climbed onto Elder Cheolsan’s back as we prepared to leave for the ruined Daoist temple.

That’s when I noticed something glinting in the middle of the blackened wasteland.

I pointed toward it and said, “There’s something over there.”

“Hm? What’s that?”

We all approached the glittering object at the center of the barren ground.

It was a single feather, its purple hue shimmering with an iridescent green sheen when caught in the light.

How could I forget that color?

It was unmistakably a feather from the Zhenbird.

“This… this is…”

“It’s a Zhenbird feather!”

I wanted to touch it but hesitated, worried it might still be laced with poison.

Elder Cheolsan, however, pulled out a pair of gloves from his robes, carefully picked up the feather, and placed it into a protective container.

“I’ll have this examined at the main house and give it to you later. You seem to want it quite badly. Consider it your first gift as a member of the Tang Clan.”

“Th-Thank you, Elder—no, Clan Leader!”

The feather would soon join the Blue-Spotted Centipede’s leg as one of my prized treasures. I was already imagining fashioning it into an ornament to wear on my belt when Elder Cheolsan’s voice interrupted my thoughts.

“That’s fine and all, but I’m not quite satisfied with how you address me. Still, we’ll address that after the ceremony.”

“Ceremony?”

It seemed there was some kind of initiation ritual for becoming a full member of the Tang Clan. I couldn’t help but hope it would be quick and painless.

***

For the first time in months, the somber atmosphere at the entrance of the Sichuan Tang Clan was replaced with a sense of vitality.

The reason? Tang Mu-seong, the Heavenly Poison Deity and grandfather of the clan leader’s only daughter, Tang Hwa-eun, had returned after a long journey to obtain the cure that might save her life.

However, his condition was far from reassuring.

The face of the Tang Clan’s greatest master was gaunt and pale, evidence that he had pushed himself to his limits, using every ounce of internal energy to hasten his journey back.

“E-Elder!”

“How… how is Hwa-eun?”

The first words out of Tang Mu-seong’s mouth were those of concern for his granddaughter.

Normally, a low-ranking Tang Clan warrior wouldn’t dare to speak out in such a situation, but the warrior’s trembling voice betrayed his worry for the young lady.

“She… she is still alive! Did… did you manage to obtain the cure?”

All the warriors standing guard held their breath, their eyes fixed on Tang Mu-seong’s lips, waiting for his answer.

A faint smile appeared on his face as he delivered the news they had been desperate to hear.

“I have obtained the Neidan of the Blue-Spotted Centipede.”

“Waaaaah!”

The warriors erupted in cheers at his words, their exclamations echoing throughout the Tang Clan grounds.

The commotion quickly reached the innermost part of the clan’s residence, where the clan leader’s family quarters were located.

From the main hall, a middle-aged woman hurriedly used her light-footed Qinggong to dash toward the entrance. Her face was full of worry as she barked, “What is all this ruckus?! F-Father?!”

The woman’s stern tone softened into a shout of surprise when she saw Tang Mu-seong.@@novelbin@@

“Let’s go, daughter-in-law,” Tang Mu-seong said, his voice steady despite his exhaustion. “I’ve brought back the Neidan of the Blue-Spotted Centipede.”

“You… you succeeded! Oh, thank heavens!”

The woman, Naeng So-ryeon, the matriarch of the Tang Clan and mother of Tang Hwa-eun, burst into tears—tears that were said to be as venomous as the poisons mastered by the clan.

Without hesitation, the two rushed toward the pavilion where Hwa-eun lay.

When they entered the chamber, Tang Mu-seong was greeted by the sight of his granddaughter, her entire body tinged an unnatural, deathly blue.

Around her, the clan’s elders were gathered, beads of sweat pouring down their faces as they infused her with their internal energy to keep her alive.

Seeing Tang Mu-seong, they greeted him with expressions of relief.

“Elder!”

“You’ve returned!”

Tang Mu-seong didn’t waste time acknowledging their greetings. Instead, he immediately focused on his granddaughter, who was in far worse shape than he had anticipated.

Her breathing was faint, and the poison had advanced far beyond what he had feared.

“This was close… If I hadn’t hurried, we might have lost her.”

“Hurry, Elder,” urged one of the elders, their voices laced with urgency.

Tang Mu-seong quickly pulled a silk pouch from his robes and extracted a green orb, roughly the size of a walnut, from within.

Carefully, he placed the Neidan into Hwa-eun’s motionless mouth and began guiding his internal energy into her body.

Though he was physically drained from his unrelenting use of Qinggong to return as quickly as possible, his priority was to alleviate his granddaughter’s suffering without delay.

After a full quarter-hour, a faint sigh escaped from Hwa-eun’s lips.

Soon, the deathly blue hue of her skin began to fade, replaced by her natural, porcelain-like complexion.

It was nothing short of a miracle—a recovery made possible by the Neidan, which Tang Mu-seong would never have obtained if not for his encounter with the mysterious young warrior.