Fabre in Sacheon’s Tang

I’d always heard people say how vast the Central Plains were, but experiencing it firsthand was a completely different story. The land truly felt endless.

From Hainan, we took a ship to Qinzhou Port. From there, we passed through Nanning, and after nearly a month and a half of travel, we finally arrived in Sichuan.

Even traveling with light-footed Qinggong techniques, the journey was exhausting.

The clan leader, worried sick about his daughter, pushed forward relentlessly. By the time we reached Sichuan, I looked like a beggar.

We couldn’t even stop at inns along the way and had to camp out most nights. Add to that the fact that I was constantly riding on either the deputy commander or the clan leader’s back, and I often ended up vomiting whatever little food I managed to eat in the mornings.

I suggested we take a break, but as a new recruit, I couldn’t exactly let my fatigue show.

When I insisted I was fine and could keep going, the Tang Clan members praised my “dedication” without hesitation.

“I’m fine! A man can handle this much without breaking a sweat!”

“As expected, you’re a fine addition to our family. Such spirit and determination!”

And so, with my thin and ragged appearance, we finally reached the base of the mountain.

After crossing a river via a long bridge, we arrived at the foot of the mountain, where an unexpected sight greeted us: a massive gate with nine tiers, known as Gujinmun, stood prominently, with a large plaque hanging above it.

It read: Sichuan Tang Clan (四川唐家).

‘Why the hell is there a gate and plaque at the foot of a mountain?’

I stared at the structure, dumbfounded. When I turned to look back, the deputy commander, Gu Pae, smiled and explained.

“This is the Sichuan Tang Clan, young warrior.”

“This is the Tang Clan? But this is just the mountain entrance.”

“This entire mountain is the Tang Clan, young warrior. That’s why we call it Tang Clan Mountain (唐家山).”

“What?!”

Distracted by the gate, I hadn’t taken the time to properly observe my surroundings. Now, as I scanned the mountain ridges, I noticed pavilions and terrace fields scattered all across the landscape.

What I had initially dismissed as just a rural corner of Sichuan turned out to be far grander than I’d ever imagined.

On the journey here, the Tang Clan members had explained terms like the Nine Great Martial Sects and the Eight Great Noble Clans, mentioning that the Sichuan Tang Clan was one of them.

At the time, I’d taken their claims with a grain of salt. Coming from a previous life filled with Internet trolls and exaggerated boasts, I’d developed a habit of doubting anything I hadn’t seen with my own eyes.

But now? Words couldn’t do justice to the grandeur before me.

“So this is the Sichuan Tang Clan…”

As I stood there, awestruck by the sheer scale of it all, Gu Pae gestured toward the mountain and spoke with pride.

“Yes, young warrior. This is our Sichuan Tang Clan. Soon, it will be your Sichuan Tang Clan as well.”

‘Your Tang Clan and mine, huh? I like the sound of that.’

The idea of being part of such an impressive place made my chest swell with pride. I could already imagine myself carrying some weight wherever I went.

Our arrival caused quite the commotion atop the mountain. Soon, people began running—or flying—down toward the Gujinmun gate to greet us.

***

When I opened my eyes, the first thing I saw was my mother’s tear-streaked face.

“Mother… how am I alive?”

“You’ve made it, Hwa-eun.”

Beside her stood my grandfather, his face pale and drenched in sweat from exertion.

“It’s over now,” he murmured weakly.

“Grandfather…”

I had pushed myself too far in my quest to surpass the Ten Venoms Realm (十毒之境) and reach the Hundred Venoms Realm (百毒之境). My greed had led me into a state of Qi Deviation (走火入魔).

I was sure I wouldn’t survive the final hurdle, convinced the advancing poison in my body would end me.

But here I was, with my mother and grandfather looking down at me.

“Ugh…”

Joy at surviving lasted only a moment. Tears streamed down my face as despair took hold.

To survive Qi Deviation often meant losing all martial ability—or worse, becoming a cripple.

I had seen it countless times. Warriors seeking a cure for Qi Deviation would come to the Tang Clan, but no matter what poisons or medicines we used, the result was always the same: they would live, but never move the same way again.

I had grown up witnessing their fates.

Now, it seemed, I had become one of them.

I had wanted to prove myself to the elders of the clan, to show them that I was more than just a pretty face. I had wanted to prove that even though I wasn’t a man, I could achieve greatness and bring glory to our family through martial arts.

But now, I was nothing more than a cripple—a burden.

“I… I’m sorry, Mother.”

My mother, the main wife of the clan leader, had been unable to bear more children after me. Despite the pressure from the clan, my father had refused to take a concubine, and my grandfather had supported his decision.

Even so, the elders and side branches of the family had always been displeased.

I had wanted to show them. I had wanted to prove that even as a woman, I could be of greater value to the clan. I had been so determined to reach the Hundred Venoms Realm, a level of mastery that would mark me as a true grandmaster.

But now, I was useless. Tears streamed down my face, flowing endlessly from my overwhelming despair.

Then I felt it—a warm, firm grip on my hand.

It was my grandfather’s hand, holding mine tightly.

His familiar, gentle voice reassured me.

“You silly child. Are you crying because you feel sorry for making your father and me go through so much trouble? But you should stop crying and be happy now. After all, you’ve reached the Hundred Venoms Realm you wanted so badly.”

“Huh…? What?”

I couldn’t comprehend his words. I had reached the Hundred Venoms Realm?

I blinked, looking back and forth between my mother and grandfather. Both of them were smiling at me.

Confused, I instinctively checked my body.

To my astonishment, my senses were normal. I could feel my entire body, and I could move my fingers and toes with ease.

I quickly closed my eyes and began circulating my internal energy.

The true qi flowed smoothly through my meridians without any blockages.

Then I focused on my dantian, where I felt an overwhelming surge of energy—a massive force.

I completed a small circulation (Small Zhou Tian), but even that wasn’t enough to fully grasp the depth of my internal energy. I immediately performed a Large Zhou Tian, confirming the incredible power within me.

As I opened my eyes, wide with disbelief, my grandfather patted my head and said with a smile, “Satisfied now? You’ve built up enough internal energy to step into the Thousand Venoms Realm (千毒之境) whenever you gain the necessary insight. You’ll soon reach the mastery you’ve longed for.”

“H-How is this possible?”

I had collapsed due to Qi Deviation. How had I acquired such immense internal energy? Enough to approach the Thousand Venoms Realm?

My grandfather chuckled, his tone playful.

“Of course, it’s thanks to the precious Neidan of the Blue-Spotted Centipede.”

“The… the Blue-Spotted Centipede?”

“Yes, Hwa-eun. Your father and I nearly died capturing it. That little creature gave us quite the chase. Ha! I must be getting old; such a long journey is no easy task anymore.”

The Blue-Spotted Centipede—an enormous centipede said to be the size of a house, described in the Secret Compendium of Venomous Creatures.

It wasn’t a martial arts text, but I’d once read the entry out of curiosity.

“The Blue-Spotted Centipede… the one that’s supposed to live for hundreds of years? You… you really caught it?”

“That’s right, silly girl.”

If the tales were true, consuming the Neidan of such a creature could elevate even someone on the verge of death to new heights.

Finally, I understood.

I realized how I had survived, how I had not only escaped death but gained immense internal energy.

“T-Thank you, Grandfather!”

I shot out of bed and threw my arms around him.

Even though he smelled of sweat and hadn’t had the chance to bathe, I didn’t care.

“Haha! You’re this happy, huh?”

“Yes! But… where’s Father?”

Only then did it occur to me that my father was absent. My grandfather had mentioned they’d captured the Blue-Spotted Centipede together.

“Only now do you notice your father isn’t here?” my grandfather teased, making my cheeks flush with embarrassment.

After checking my pulse one more time, he began to recount their journey.

“Your father stayed behind. We decided to invite the young warrior who helped us as an official guest of the clan.”

“An official guest?”

“Yes. Without him, we would have never found the Blue-Spotted Centipede. He is not only a benefactor of the Tang Clan but your personal savior as well.”

“I see. Then I’ll make sure to treat him with the utmost respect when he arrives. I’ll honor him as our clan’s benefactor.”

“That’s my granddaughter! That’s how a true Tang Clan woman behaves.”

I resolved to treat the mysterious young warrior not only with respect but with genuine warmth. After all, he hadn’t just saved me—he had made my dream a reality.

***

“Haa…”

The joy of achieving the Hundred Venoms Realm and gaining the internal energy needed to reach the Thousand Venoms Realm was fleeting.

Tang Hwa-eun now sat in a bath, her face clouded with worry.

Scattered across the water were petals of Guihua flowers, and beneath the surface, various aromatic herbs released their fragrance into the bath.

It wasn’t evening, but early morning—yet here she was, soaking in the herb-filled bath. The reason?

For some inexplicable reason, ever since she had recovered from Qi Deviation, a strange, acrid stench began emanating from her body.

It wasn’t sweat—it was far more pungent, an odd odor that clung to her and made anyone nearby grimace.

Even though she hadn’t exerted herself, the bizarre smell seeped from her pores, unpleasant and offensive.

Despite showing her condition to her grandfather and the clan physicians, they could find no abnormalities in her body, nor could they identify the source of the odor.

To make matters worse, the stench seemed to intensify over time, leaving Hwa-eun feeling increasingly distressed.

Having achieved the Hundred Venoms Realm, she had intended to dedicate herself fully to advancing her mastery of the poison arts and striving toward the Thousand Venoms Realm. Instead, she now found herself scrubbing her skin multiple times a day, achieving little except wearing out her patience.

As she sighed and continued her ritual bath, she heard a commotion from outside.

“My lady! The clan leader has arrived! Please, come quickly!”

“Father? He’s back?!”

It had been almost a month since her grandfather returned to the Tang Clan.

Hearing that her father had finally arrived, Hwa-eun hastily finished washing, threw on her clothes, and darted out using Qinggong to reach the Tang Clan’s grand gate, Gujinmun.

When she arrived at the gate, the first thing she saw was her father’s face, clearly marked by the toll of his arduous journey.

“Father!”

“Hwa-eun! You’re alive!”

“Father, I’m so sorry!”

“It’s all right. You’re alive—that’s all that matters. Thank goodness…”

As she rushed into her father’s arms, gratitude and guilt overwhelmed her, and tears streamed down her face.

After their tearful reunion, her father smiled and stepped aside, speaking warmly.

“Hwa-eun, there’s someone I’d like to introduce to you.”

Hwa-eun immediately thought of the mysterious young warrior her grandfather had mentioned. She quickly wiped her tears and straightened her posture, preparing to meet her benefactor.

Even if he was just a young boy, a savior was a savior. She resolved to greet him with the utmost respect.

As she composed herself, a scruffy-looking boy stepped out from behind the deputy commander.

He was thin, pitifully so, and his ragged appearance made him look like he’d been through hell. Shuffling awkwardly, he approached her, and then her father’s voice rang out.

“Ah, So-ryong, this is my daughter, Tang Hwa-eun. You said something about her smelling like… grass? Herbs? Ah, that’s it—weed! Yes, this is her, Weed Girl!”

“Wha—?!”

“What?!”

Hwa-eun’s father smiled mischievously, leaving both Hwa-eun and the young warrior staring at each other, wide-eyed and flustered.