Fabre in Sacheon's Tang-Chapter 206: Growth (2)

‘Is it difficult with my current level? But I definitely grew one step further, didn’t I?’

At Sister Seol’s words that I needed to grow more, I reconsidered my level.

From my perspective, I didn’t seem to be lacking at all.

Originally, I had only accepted Cho’s poison and reached the first poison level. Then, by absorbing Hyang’s poison, I advanced to the second poison level.

Now, I had inadvertently absorbed Cheongwol’s poison, elevating me to the third poison level.

And was this third poison level just any ordinary third poison level?

My three poisons weren’t just random ones. They were three out of the five poisons that formed the foundation of the Five Poisons Returning to the Origin Art.

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‘Is it difficult with my current level? But I definitely grew one step further, didn’t I?’

At Sister Seol’s words that I needed to grow more, I reconsidered my level.

From my perspective, I didn’t seem to be lacking at all.

Originally, I had only accepted Cho’s poison and reached the first poison level. Then, by absorbing Hyang’s poison, I advanced to the second poison level.

Now, I had inadvertently absorbed Cheongwol’s poison, elevating me to the third poison level.

And was this third poison level just any ordinary third poison level?

My three poisons weren’t just random ones. They were three out of the five poisons that formed the foundation of the Five Poisons Returning to the Origin Art.

It was fundamentally different from the mere three-poison martial artists of the Tang Clan.

Not only was the level of poison vastly different, but my physique itself was fundamentally transformed.

That was why I couldn’t understand what was supposedly lacking.

I hadn’t properly tested my body yet since it was currently in tatters, but if I compared it to when I advanced from the first poison level to the second, the third poison level had to be on a whole different scale.

So I had to ask again.

“You’re saying I need to raise my level? But I’ve already absorbed Cheongwol’s poison and reached the third poison level. I’ve even gathered three of the five foundational poisons of the Five Poisons Returning to the Origin Art.”

Sister Seol waved her finger.

With an expression that said, you don’t get it, she explained.

“This isn’t about your internal energy or the level of your martial arts. You haven’t just been following the principles of the Five Poisons Returning to the Origin Art. You’ve been mastering Beast Heart Art itself, haven’t you?

Beast Heart Art isn’t the kind of martial art where your level rises just because your internal energy increases.

Beast Heart Art requires the training of the heart. If you want to be completely in sync with that creature, you need to train your mind.”

“Huh? Train my mind?”

Her words were so out of the blue that I was reminded of those people in my past life who asked if I knew the way of enlightenment.

I blinked in confusion at Sister Seol’s words.

Then, I heard another sound from Cheongwol’s direction.

— Krr...

When I turned my head, I met Cheongwol’s gaze, and the creature slightly waved its pincers.

It had the exact feeling of saying, Well then, good luck. I’m off.

Then, it turned away.

Considering that it had carried me all the way here because I was injured, it was definitely showing goodwill, but at the same time, it was clearly stating that it wasn’t going to stay with me.

But I couldn’t just let Cheongwol leave like this.

It wasn’t just about keeping hold of the creature out of greed.

The bigger issue was that the Five Venoms Sect had already seen Cheongwol.

If I let it go now, it could become their target.

If those bastards learned that Cheongwol had returned to the desert alone, they would definitely try to capture it again.

Grabbing my wounded side, I staggered forward and blocked its path.

“Wait, if you leave like this, those guys might show up again...”

— Krrr...

When I voiced my concern, Cheongwol gave me a look as if to say, Then I’ll just crush them again.

It sounded so casual, as if dealing with them was no different from squashing ants.

Considering the horrible stench and remains I had noticed when I woke up, Cheongwol’s confidence wasn’t baseless.

It had probably wiped out a dozen of the Five Venoms Sect’s warriors with ease.

But no matter how sturdy its body was, just like how I had found a weakness to exploit, there had to be a way to capture Cheongwol as well.

Those bastards were desperate to gather spirit beasts.

They had already figured out how to counter Cho’s poison.

“That may be true, but it could still be dangerous... Ah, just leaving you alone is too risky.”

It was at that moment.

— Churr?

Suddenly, Hyang slipped out from my chest, poking its head through my collar and tilting its head at Cheongwol.

It still looked drowsy.

Its antennae were slightly ruffled, as if it had just woken up from a nap in my clothes.

Then, upon spotting Cheongwol, it suddenly stiffened.

— Krr.

— Churr!

Hyang’s antennae shot straight up in shock before it leaped into the air.

Then, like an excited puppy, it flew straight at Cheongwol and clung onto one of its front legs.

A tiny yellow silkworm latched onto a massive gray leg.

That was the scene.

— Churrr!

Refusing to let Cheongwol go, Hyang wrapped itself tightly around its leg.

Cheongwol let out a very flustered noise.

— Kr, Krrt?

It seemed utterly baffled that such a tiny creature had attached itself to its leg and wouldn’t let go.

Despite its intimidating appearance in my mind, Cheongwol was actually a rather considerate friend.

Even when it had carried me, it had been extremely careful, as if worried about hurting me.

Now, seeing that it might accidentally harm Hyang if it moved carelessly, it froze in place.

— Kr, Krrr!

— Chur!

And thus, an argument began.

“Let go!”

“I refuse! I won’t let big sis leave!”

“Oh? Oh?! Is this—?!”

As the standoff between Hyang and Cheongwol dragged on, Cheongwol eventually turned to me with a pleading look.

But these days, did Hyang ever listen to me?

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Whether it was the rebellious stage of a four-year-old or some insect version of teenage defiance, this little creature had even refused to evolve no matter what.

I gave Cheongwol a helpless shrug.

“I can’t stop Hyang either.”

Cheongwol immediately growled in frustration.

— Krrr!

Its sharp voice practically screamed, How can you, the father, not control your own child?!

But I had my own complaints too.

Did it ~Nоvеl𝕚ght~ think children ever listened to their parents?

Try raising three daughters and then talk to me. The elders in my past life weren’t wrong about anything. Not a single one of my kids listens to me.

I inwardly pouted but quickly composed myself and cautiously made a proposal to Cheongwol.

This was an opportunity.

“Cheongwol, instead of going back, why don’t you stay with us for now? Hyang clearly doesn’t want to say goodbye so soon.”

— Krrr?

“We won’t be here forever. Once I recover, we’ll leave. But wouldn’t it be better to stay with us until then? If you go back to the desert, you’ll just be alone again. Here, you have Hyang, Cho, and Bini. You won’t be lonely, right?”

Cheongwol pondered my words.

Then, after a brief moment of hesitation, it let out a slightly resigned sigh.

— Krrr... ‘I suppose I have no choice...’

A confirmation.

Hyang, thrilled, scurried up Cheongwol’s body and began enthusiastically licking its forehead.

— Churr, churr.

— Krrr!

Cheongwol flinched, flustered by the affectionate display, but Hyang refused to stop.

‘Well done, my little one!’

Since Hyang had bought me some time, I needed to use this chance wisely while I recovered.

***

After arriving at Gunryong, we were greeted by the head of the sect and received his gratitude. We settled into accommodations reserved for the esteemed guests of the Fortune Telling Troupe.

While the others were given time to rest, my treatment began immediately.

There was no room for delay—my condition was too severe.

“Here, lay him down on this side.”

“Yes, Elder.”

With Taeheo’s assistance, I was brought into Gunryong’s medical hall.

The air was thick with the strong scent of herbs, as various medicinal ingredients hung in sacks from the ceiling.

The atmosphere was reminiscent of the Tang Clan’s medical hall, and at the center of it all was the bamboo bed where I was laid down.

As soon as I lay down, the elder of Gunryong removed my upper garment. Upon seeing the cloth Taeheo had used to bind my wound, he smiled.

“If Taeheo took care of you, then your condition shouldn’t be too bad.”

But Taeheo shook his head.

“No, Elder. The wound was too deep, and there was even petrification attached to it, so I couldn’t examine it properly.”

“Is that so? Then we should take a look inside first.”

— Tuduk.

The elder of Gunryong pulled out a curved blade, likely a scalpel used in the medical hall, and cut through the cloth binding my wound.

As the bandages fell away, so did the hardened petrification.

It must have naturally peeled off as I developed resistance after absorbing Cheongwol’s poison.

Beneath it, a massive wound was revealed.

The deep impression left by fingers had created a hole just slightly smaller than a fist at my waist.

There were also small puncture wounds left by five fingers and, separately, torn flesh that had ultimately formed a large laceration.

The red scars stretched across my skin like cracks.

“The wound isn’t in a fatal spot, but it’s near your internal organs, which is concerning. Have you eaten anything?”

“I don’t think my organs are damaged, but I haven’t consumed anything other than minimal water.”

I had been told not to drink anything just in case, so I had only been wetting my lips without actually drinking water.

At Taeheo’s words, the elder overseeing the medicine nodded.

“Well done. Then we’ll need to take a closer look.”

Just as the elder reached out to inspect my wound more carefully—

— Chururur.

A sound came from inside my sleeve.

When I looked down, I saw Hyang poking its head out, having just woken up, staring intently at my wound.

“A large centipede here as well?”

The elder didn’t seem surprised, likely because I had already introduced my creatures to the head of Gunryong and the other elders earlier.

Still, he hesitated to approach too closely upon seeing Hyang.

Before I could say anything to make Hyang back away, Taeheo smiled and gently spoke to it.

“Hyang, we need to examine your father’s body. Can you step aside for a bit?”

— Churr!

Obediently, Hyang scurried up a nearby pillar and perched on top, gazing down at my wound from above.

“Haha, I had my doubts when I first heard about it, but seeing it with my own eyes, I can’t help but believe it now. Doesn’t it really seem like a child?”

The sect leader smiled kindly as he observed Hyang.

At his words, Hyang tilted its head and let out a sound.

— Churr?

“What is it saying?”

Hyang was asking if I was badly injured.

I translated the question for the sect leader.

“It’s asking if I’m seriously hurt.”

“Oh? I see. I was about to check, so I’ll explain as I examine him.”

The elder of Gunryong placed his hand near my wound, examining my energy flow and channeling some qi into me.

After a long moment of careful assessment, the elder straightened his back with a surprised expression.

“The meridians around your wound were almost severely damaged. However, with the right medicine, they will recover. But your waist wound is quite deep... a significant scar will remain.”

— Churr, chururur.

Hyang cried out again.

This time, the elder of Gunryong looked at me expectantly, as if waiting for a translation.

Sighing, I translated once more.

“Hyang is saying... ‘A lot of red water came out,’ meaning blood, and it wants to make sure I don’t feel any pain.”

— Cough.

The elder chuckled.

“Hahaha, what a filial child. Alright, don’t worry. I’ll make sure your father doesn’t suffer.”

With such adorable words, Hyang had already captured the elder’s heart.

The sect leader smiled warmly before turning back to me.

“For now, I’ll begin the treatment. You may feel drowsy, so if you do, it’s fine to sleep. Will you stay here and watch the whole time? It will take quite a while.”

— Churur.

At the elder’s question, Hyang gave a small nod before slipping through the medicine hall’s door and disappearing outside.

The elder murmured to himself in a wistful tone.

“...I’d love to raise one myself.”

It seemed that Hyang had successfully converted another person into a fan of venomous creature companions.

***

Slipping away from the heavy scent of herbs, Hyang scurried off in a particular direction.

It was on its way to meet its big sister.

Retracing its memory, it moved toward the training ground where it had last seen her.

As it made its way there, a voice called out.

“Oh? A centipede?”

— Sreung.

A man drew his sword upon spotting Hyang, but another nearby warrior quickly stopped him, his face alarmed.

“Hey! Are you out of your mind? We were told that the Tang Clan’s guests brought venomous creatures. You can’t just attack one because you’ve never seen it before!”

“Ah, I see. I reacted without thinking.”

“Be careful. I heard these creatures are treated like children by their masters.”

Ignoring the two warriors, Hyang continued toward the large training ground.

Ahead, its big sister was basking in the sunlight, her eyes closed in contentment.

It was a serene scene.

It reminded Hyang of how their mother used to pour water from the well to wash them, an action that had greatly pleased Cheongwol.

Its big sister was drying herself in the sunlight.

Hyang scurried up to her and spoke.

— Churur. 『Big sister Cheongwol, how can I become stronger?』

Its mind was filled with thoughts of the wound left on their father’s waist.