Fabre in Sacheon’s Tang

After the incident with the hamsters, I handed down a unique punishment to the offending warriors: The Companion Venomous Creature Penalty.

What is that, you ask?

It’s a punishment where the offenders are tasked with raising a venomous creature as their companion, fostering a sense of love and care for it.

When I ordered them to go out and catch any venomous creature, the three warriors, clueless about their future, each returned with something in hand.

“All right, let’s see what you’ve caught,” I said as I addressed them, each holding a jar.

The first warrior stepped forward, opened his jar, and proudly displayed its contents.
“I caught a hel (scorpion), Sir So-ryong.”

A scorpion—an excellent choice. Scorpions are easy to breed and care for, making them ideal venomous creatures. I nodded approvingly.
“A scorpion? Very good. A fine choice. Next?”

The second warrior stepped up, grinning as he opened his jar.
“I caught an ogong (centipede), Sir. After seeing you with yours, I figured centipedes were the pinnacle of venomous creatures.”

“Another excellent choice.”

Flattery never hurts, especially when it comes with a solid pick like a centipede.

Finally, I turned to the last warrior, who hesitated, shifting uncomfortably.
“Well? What did you catch? Don’t tell me you came back empty-handed.”

For a Tang Clan warrior to return with nothing was unacceptable. Catching a venomous creature should be a simple task if they put their minds to it.

Even Captain Gu Pae narrowed his eyes and added in a sharp tone,
“I gave you more than enough time. If you failed to catch anything, it means you lack the will. A month of horse stance training should fix that!”

The warrior, his voice barely above a whisper, replied,
“N-no! I caught something. It’s just… it’s not venomous. I caught a seokcheok (lizard).”

“A lizard?”

“Approved!” I declared before Captain Gu Pae could continue his scolding.

Captain Gu Pae looked at me, puzzled.
“But, Sir So-ryong, lizards aren’t venomous.”

He wasn’t wrong. Most lizards aren’t venomous, except for a few species found in the Americas, Australia, Indonesia, and the Komodo dragon. But I happen to like lizards, so I wasn’t about to disqualify this one.

“It’s fine. Lizards have a venomous aura in their eyes.”

“What?”

“Just take my word for it—approved!”

Captain Gu Pae looked bewildered, but this was a matter of personal taste, so I wasn’t budging.

I turned back to the warriors and issued my next command.
“From now on, these creatures will be your companions. By tomorrow, each of you must give them a name.”

“A name?”

“Yes. You heard me. Give them a name.”

The warriors looked incredulous, but I was determined to teach them a lesson.

I vowed to make sure they grew attached to their creatures. When those creatures eventually died, I wanted them to cry their hearts out.

That’s the cruel beauty of this punishment.

As I was dealing with the offenders, my sister suddenly appeared at the Venomous Creatures’ Garden.

“So-ryong, the kids have woken up. I saw them wandering around at dawn,” she said.

I turned toward her voice and saw Cho, Hyang, and Bini perched on her shoulders, happily twitching their antennae.

• Chrr… chrr…

“They’ve finally regained their energy. Come here, you little ones,” I said, extending my arm.

Placing my hand gently on my sister’s shoulder, I allowed the centipedes to climb onto me. One by one, Cho, Hyang, and finally Bini made their way to my arm.

Though I had checked on them occasionally while they stayed with my sister, now that they were back, it was my duty to ensure their health.

This is the proper mindset of a true venomous pet owner.

I carefully examined each of them as they climbed onto my arm.
“Cho looks healthy, and Hyang seems fine… Wait, what’s this? Bini, what’s wrong? Are you okay?”

“What is it, So-ryong?”

Noticing something unusual about Bini, I moved to a spot with better light to take a closer look.

Sure enough, something was off.

“Look here, Sister. Doesn’t Bini look a little different compared to the others?”

She leaned in, squinting.
“You’re right. I couldn’t tell in the dark, but why does it look like that? Is it because I kept them in a dark place? Or maybe it’s because I had to leave them for a while yesterday while greeting guests?”

We both stared at Bini, whose antennae tips were tinged with a faint black color, as if dipped in soy sauce.

‘Damn it. Now everything black reminds me of soy sauce because of those warriors.’

I shook off the thought and examined Bini more closely. Unlike the others, the black tint was distinct, and it wasn’t typical for centipedes to show color changes until after their second molt.

Since Cho and Hyang were still their usual yellow, it was unlikely to be a developmental color shift.

“If it’s not growth-related, it might be an illness,” I said, dread creeping in.

When the Blood Cult elder had attacked, the centipedes had been exposed to rain, mud, and debris. It was possible Bini had contracted something.

Unlike mammals, which show obvious signs when sick, insects are much harder to read. Without careful observation, you might miss the warning signs entirely—and then they’re gone.

And centipedes? They’re even trickier. Only seasoned handlers can tell when something’s wrong, and even then, the most noticeable symptom is often just a lack of appetite.

“Did you notice anything unusual while they were with you?” I asked my sister.

“No, they were just as still as the others. I didn’t see anything strange,” she replied.

“Bini, you’re not sick, are you?”

Bini had always been the most expressive of the trio, once even gnawing on a snake in a pit during a fight. Now, seeing it like this, I felt a pang of worry.

‘Is this how it feels when your child is unwell?’

Both my sister and I were somber, our faces heavy with concern.

‘Why does it feel like I’m the one being punished here?’

***

The Grandfather, the revered Mandok Shingun, returned to the Tang Clan estate accompanied by his warriors. Each warrior carried large, wriggling sacks slung over their shoulders.

“You must be the esteemed strategist,” Mandok Shingun greeted, addressing the military commander from the Martial Alliance, Zhu Jung-hak.

“Mandok Shingun, it has been a long time,” Zhu Jung-hak replied respectfully, offering a slight bow.

Mandok Shingun’s face lit up with a wide smile as he addressed Zhu Jung-hak. “Indeed, it has. It feels like only yesterday you and Sang Yi were roaming the mountains, and now, one is a military commander of the Martial Alliance, and the other has become the head of the Tang Clan. Time truly flies, doesn’t it?”

“Ah, Elder, please, not such stories in front of the younger generation and the Alliance’s warriors,” Zhu Jung-hak replied, flustered.

“Haha, I understand. I won’t embarrass you further. Still, I apologize for not being here to greet you properly. I had to prepare a special gift for your arrival.”

The mention of a "gift" piqued Zhu Jung-hak’s interest, his eyes gleaming with curiosity. Some things never change—whether young or old, people always love the promise of a gift.

“A gift, you say?” Zhu Jung-hak’s curiosity was evident.

Mandok Shingun’s brief absence had a purpose: he had gone to personally oversee the capture of the Ho-ban-yu-sa snakes.

This task, originally planned for my Venom Squad, was meant to be our first official capture mission. However, Grandfather had not allowed me to leave the estate, citing safety concerns. With so many martial sects stationed nearby and the Blood Cult still a threat, he wasn’t willing to risk it. Though it stung to be left out of the mission, I understood his reasoning, especially since I’d only recently recovered from being unconscious for ten days.

“Come inside,” Grandfather said. “So-ryong, the snakes have all been caught. Come to the main hall after you’ve checked and prepared what you need.”

“Yes, Grandfather,” I replied.

The sacks carried by the warriors wriggled with the movement of the captured snakes. We brought the sacks to the Venomous Creatures’ Garden, where we released the snakes into a large wooden enclosure.

“First, separate the healthy and robust ones,” I instructed. “Grandfather needs some venom samples, so we’ll collect venom from a few of them before we start the quarantine process.”

“Yes, Sir So-ryong,” the warriors responded.

I demonstrated the method for extracting venom from the Ho-ban-yu-sa. Unlike other snakes, their venom glands are located further inside the mouth. I gently pressed a small vial against the snake’s upper jaw, ensuring its fangs were properly positioned inside the vial to extract the venom efficiently.

“Careful! Make sure to handle them gently and keep the injured ones separate,” I reminded them.

Once the venom was collected, Captain Gu Pae handed me a small ceramic bottle. “We’ve filled this about halfway, Sir.”

“Thank you. I’ll leave the rest to you. Grandfather is expecting me,” I said, taking the vial and heading to the main hall.

As I approached the main hall, I could hear voices inside. Grandfather and Zhu Jung-hak were engaged in conversation.

“Oh, as I thought,” Zhu Jung-hak was saying, “the mysterious young man Mandok Shingun encountered in Hainan is indeed this young So-ryong?”

“Yes,” Grandfather replied, clearly proud. “He’s now the pride of the Tang Clan. What do you think? Isn’t he a treasure?”

“Indeed, a remarkable individual! And raising the Golden Wasp King? That alone is astonishing.”

“Haha, it surprises everyone who enters the Tang Clan for the first time.”

Hearing their words, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of pride swell in my chest. Adjusting my expression to appear modest, I announced my arrival.

“Grandfather, it’s So-ryong.”

“Ah, come in, my boy,” Grandfather called.

I entered the room, where Grandfather and Zhu Jung-hak were seated, sipping tea. Without waiting for further instructions, I placed the ceramic bottle on the table.

“Did you bring it?” Grandfather asked.

“Yes, it’s here,” I replied, sliding the bottle across the table toward him.

Grandfather pushed the bottle toward Zhu Jung-hak with a smile. “Here’s a little gift from my grandson-in-law to you.”

“A gift?” Zhu Jung-hak asked, picking up the bottle and examining it curiously. “What is this?”

Grandfather’s expression turned serious as he made a subtle gesture, and I felt an invisible barrier settle around us. “This is gi-mak,” he explained. “It ensures no sound escapes this room.”

‘So gi can do things like this too,’ I thought, impressed by the versatility of martial techniques.

With the gi-mak in place, Zhu Jung-hak’s demeanor shifted to match the gravity of the moment. “What could require such precautions?” he asked, studying the bottle.

Grandfather’s eyes gleamed as he spoke. “It’s San-gong Poison.”

“San-gong Poison?” Zhu Jung-hak repeated. “That’s a common poison. Surely it doesn’t warrant this level of secrecy?”

Grandfather smiled knowingly. “It’s not just any San-gong Poison. This is a version that works on the Blood Cult.”

Zhu Jung-hak froze, his expression one of disbelief. “A San-gong Poison that works on the Blood Cult? Is that even possible?”

“It is,” Grandfather confirmed. “My grandson discovered it. During the recent attack, he used it to weaken a Blood Cult elder, allowing us to defeat him.”

“Truly remarkable!” Zhu Jung-hak exclaimed. “If this is true, it’s an incredible breakthrough. The Blood Cult has always been immune to conventional poisons. This discovery could turn the tide against them!”

Grandfather’s pride was evident as he added, “Indeed. And the one responsible is standing right here.”

Zhu Jung-hak turned to me, his eyes wide with admiration. “So-ryong, you have not only courage but also unmatched brilliance. This is no small feat. The Martial Alliance owes you a great debt.”

His words were sincere, and I felt my face grow warm under their praise.

“To show our gratitude, I will ensure the Alliance rewards you appropriately. Is there anything you wish for? Speak freely, and I will personally ensure your request reaches the leader of the Alliance.”

Though I initially hesitated, Grandfather encouraged me. “So-ryong, this is your chance. Don’t hold back. You’ve more than earned it.”@@novelbin@@

After a moment of thought, I nodded. “If that’s the case, there is something I’d like…”

I trailed off, a plan forming in my mind. If the Martial Alliance leader himself was offering a reward, why not use this opportunity wisely?