Fabre in Sacheon’s Tang

“Is this… a dream!?”

Crying in the middle of a forest, my sister displayed an entirely different demeanor from her usual self. This had to be a dream.

Seeing her weep and address me as her savior made it all the more surreal.

However, my sister shook her head in response to my words.

Wiping away her tears, she replied, “It may seem like a dream, but it is not. Benefactor, I am merely manifesting in your dream temporarily.”

‘What does that even mean?’

As I gave her a bewildered look, she remained prostrate, speaking with gravity.

“I am the mother of the three children you saved.”

“Three children?”

Looking down, I saw the three little girls clinging to me, sucking their fingers.

They appeared to be about four or five years old—adorably cute.

Something about them felt oddly familiar. Shocked by the realization, I muttered, “The only ones I saved… are the O-Gong centipedes.”

The memory clicked. These girls… could it be?

“No way… the O-Gongs?”

“Yes, Benefactor. I borrowed the appearance of a woman who consumed my Neidan to avoid startling you. I am the mother of the three.”

“Wait a minute… the Blue-Spotted O-Gong? You mean… a centipede?”

“Indeed, Benefactor.”

The woman, who resembled my sister, claimed to be the Blue-Spotted O-Gong—a centipede.

And the three girls clinging to me? They were the O-Gongs.

‘Wait, hold on! Were they all female this whole time!?’

Considering the baths we’d taken together, a pang of guilt struck me.

Regaining focus, I asked the woman, “Why have you appeared in my dream?”

Her expression turned sorrowful, and she began shedding bloody tears as she explained.

**“I died a cruel death, leaving my children behind. My resentment reached the heavens, leaving my soul bound to my Neidan.

Unable to pass on or let go, I remained within the body of the woman who consumed my Neidan, cursing her in my rage.

But when you appeared with my children, I saw a chance to release my grudge. Thus, I manifested in your dream.”**

“…I see.”

Her story was tragic—dying and leaving her children behind had filled her with profound resentment.

Thinking back, I realized I had been the one who revealed her location. A cold sweat trickled down my back.

Sensing my unease, the woman shook her head.

**“No, you weren’t aware of my exact location. If I were to hold a grudge against anyone for leading them to me, I’d have to blame everyone in the world. Those who helped you, those who helped them—it would be endless.

I am simply grateful you saved my children. They would have perished without ever seeing the light of day if not for you.”**

Her gratitude eased some of my guilt, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that I had inadvertently contributed to shattering a family.

Thinking of the adorable children growing up motherless, I felt a pang in my chest.

I gently handed the girls over to her.

“Here, your children. At least reunite with them in this dream.”

“Thank you, Benefactor. My darlings…”

Tears streaming down her face, she embraced the three girls tightly.

Watching their reunion, I remained silent, feeling awkward yet touched by the scene.

After their tearful embrace, the woman wiped her face and turned to me with a request.

“If this troubles your heart, may I ask one thing of you?”

Nodding, I replied, “Of course. If there’s something I can do, I’ll do it.”

She clasped her hands together, her expression earnest.

“Could you look after my children until they grow up?”

“Wait, aren’t centipedes supposed to leave their mother after shedding their skin twice?”

I questioned her unusual request. Normally, centipedes leave their mother’s side shortly after hatching.

The woman shook her head.

“That may be true for lesser creatures, but we are different. Please, care for my children until they are fully grown.”

The thought of them growing to house-sized proportions worried me, but considering how intelligent they were, raising them didn’t seem impossible.

Since this wasn’t illegal poaching but more like a reasonable adoption, I readily agreed.

“Understood. I’ll take care of them.”

“Thank you, Benefactor!”

With that, the O-Gongs were officially entrusted to me. It felt less like capturing them and more like an adoption ceremony.

Seeing this as an opportunity, I decided to ask her about raising them.

“What should I feed them? And are there things I need to be cautious of?”

Her expression brightened at my question, and she replied with enthusiasm.

**“As expected of you, Benefactor. It’s reassuring that you care so much for the children.

Before their second molting, they will absorb the energy flowing from my Neidan. After that, they will thrive on the Qi of the world. They can eat other meat, but it is not necessary.”**

Hearing this eased my worries. I had been concerned about feeding giant creatures, but it seemed unnecessary to prepare food for them specifically.

However, I couldn’t help but point out a glaring issue.

“But I don’t have a Neidan.”

She thumped her chest confidently.

“That’s no problem. The woman who consumed my Neidan can provide for them. The Qi emanating from her body will sustain them.”

“…But that means I’ll have to stay close to her while raising them, doesn’t it?”

To feed the O-Gongs, I’d need to keep them near my sister. Given our current awkward relationship, it didn’t seem like an easy task.

Sensing my hesitation, the woman smiled warmly.

“I have a plan. It will allow me to repay your kindness, feed the children, and even help you win the heart of that woman. Would you like to hear it?”

Her words promised a solution that would leave everyone happy. My curiosity piqued, I asked eagerly, “Really? What’s your plan?”

“Of course, Benefactor. You see, the woman is currently under my curse.”

The woman explained that my sister reeked of a foul stench due to her curse. The grudge from leaving her children behind had led her to curse the woman’s body, ensuring no man would come near her.

“So, if I lift the curse, I’ll be able to get closer to her, and the children will naturally absorb the Qi from her Neidan?”

“Exactly, Benefactor.”

Though it made sense, the idea didn’t sit right with me. It felt manipulative, as if I’d be exploiting her plight for personal gain.

“I’m not comfortable with that. It feels like taking advantage of her difficult situation.”

As a man, I couldn’t allow myself to resort to such tactics. If I were to win her over, it had to be on genuine terms. After all, I was a romantic at heart.

Hearing my response, the Blue-Spotted O-Gong nodded, a gentle smile on her face.

“You truly are an honorable person, Benefactor.”

“No, I’m just… a bit foolish, that’s all.”

“Still, without sufficient strength, winning her heart will be difficult.”

“That may be true, but with this ‘Ten-Poison’ limitation, I don’t see how I could grow stronger.”

As we pondered, an idea struck me.

“Wait, what about those ‘Ten Great Poisonous Beasts’ you mentioned earlier?”

The mention of the Ten Great Poisonous Beasts sparked inspiration.

“I think I have a good plan. Leave it to me.”

“A good plan?”

“Yes, just trust me on this. It’ll feed the children and handle everything else too.”

It seemed I’d have to strike a deal with my sister tomorrow.

***

The day after So-ryong realized he was limited to the Ten-Poison Body (십독지체), he requested a meeting with Tang Hwa-eun, leaving her slightly surprised.

She had expected him to remain dejected for a while, considering how disheartened he had seemed.

But now, the very next morning, not long after breakfast, he was asking for her.

“He said he’d be waiting at the gazebo in the garden?”

“Yes, young lady.”

“I understand.”

Tang Hwa-eun made her way to the gazebo, her heart weighed down with guilt.

No matter the reason, she had undoubtedly hurt him. She couldn’t help but feel uneasy, as she had seen similar expressions countless times from others who came to the Tang Clan, seeking to become martial artists, only to face their own limits.

‘Because of my selfishness, I’ve ended up hurting such a young boy…’

With a heavy heart, she approached the gazebo, where So-ryong was seated in the same position as yesterday.

As soon as he spotted her, he smiled warmly and greeted her.

“Thank you for coming. I’m sorry to have called you out like this.”

“No, it’s fine, So-hyeop. And… I’m sorry for yesterday.”

“You only spoke the truth. There’s no need to apologize.”

“Still…”

Even though he was only fifteen, this strange boy had a way of catching her off guard and making her feel flustered.

After taking a seat across from him in the gazebo, Tang Hwa-eun finally asked, “Why did you want to meet?”

What she heard next was completely unexpected.

The secret she desperately wanted to hide slipped from So-ryong’s lips.

“By any chance, since consuming the Blue-Spotted O-Gong’s Neidan, have you noticed a strange smell coming from your body?”

“H-how do you know about that!?”

Only her grandfather and a few select individuals knew of this secret.

She glared at him with wide, disbelieving eyes. There was no way her grandfather or father would share such an embarrassing truth, so she demanded, “How… how do you know that?”

“Would you like to treat it?”

“Is there… a way? Of course, I want to cure it!”

“There’s a way… but…”

“But?”

So-ryong hesitated, his expression apologetic.

Seeing his reluctance, Tang Hwa-eun cautiously asked, “Are you asking for something in return? Is that why you’re hesitating?”

She couldn’t help but worry he might demand something unreasonable, perhaps even her hand in exchange.

But to her surprise, So-ryong frantically shook his head.

“No, not at all, young lady. I don’t want anything from you. I will help you, free of charge.”

“H-huh? Why?”

Tang Hwa-eun stared at him with wide eyes, more surprised by his response than she had been by his earlier knowledge.

Smiling gently, So-ryong replied, “How could I take advantage of someone in a difficult situation? That would be dishonorable.”

Thump.Her heart skipped a beat—again.

This was the third time.

First, when he had smiled despite her rudeness. Second, when he had unwaveringly believed in her integrity. And now, this.

This fifteen-year-old boy was making her heart race.

Feeling embarrassed, Tang Hwa-eun apologized quietly.

“I’m sorry, So-ryong… You’re so honorable, yet I doubted you…”

“Not at all. It was my hesitant way of speaking that led to the misunderstanding. I was just unsure how to explain the treatment.”

“Treatment…? What do you mean?”

Tang Hwa-eun blinked in confusion as So-ryong reached into his robes and called out.

“O-Gongs, come on out.”

Chrrr.Three long, yellow centipedes crawled out, their striking coloration oddly charming.

Although Tang Hwa-eun knew they were Blue-Spotted O-Gong hatchlings, she instinctively recoiled in surprise.

Noticing her reaction, So-ryong smiled awkwardly and explained, **“The smell is caused by the energy from the Blue-Spotted O-Gong’s Neidan lingering in your body. These little ones survive by absorbing that energy.

So, if you keep them on your body, they’ll naturally consume the energy, and the smell will disappear.

Of course, it doesn’t need to be constant. You only need to carry them a few times a week until they shed their skin twice.”**

“You want me to… keep them on me!?”

“Yes.”

The centipedes wiggled their heads, as if nodding along to his words.

Tang Hwa-eun stared at him, unsure how to respond.

Despite her hesitation, she couldn’t ignore the sincerity behind his actions.

This boy had saved her father, offered her comfort, and now presented a solution to her problem—one no one else could provide.

Her voice trembled as she spoke.

“I understand… I’ll do it. But I can’t just keep accepting your kindness without giving anything in return.”

She hesitated before continuing, her voice growing softer.

“You seem like… a truly wonderful person. So, I’ll consider what my father said. Maybe… maybe there’s something more valuable than potential. If you can prove that to me, I’ll…”

So-ryong smiled, standing up and taking a step closer. Looking up at her, he spoke confidently.

“This is perfect timing. I came here thinking the same thing. So, will you give me a chance? If you do, I’ll prove myself to you.”

“A… chance?”

“Yes. A chance.”

Her curiosity piqued, she tilted her head. “What kind of chance?”

So-ryong’s gaze shifted to the horizon as he continued.

“I thought a lot about it yesterday. I have the Ten-Poison Body, capable of absorbing only ten poisons. They say it’s the highest limit for someone without talent, right?”

“That’s… true.”

“So, I came up with an idea. If my body can only hold ten poisons, why not fill it with the poisons of the Ten Great Poisonous Beasts of Zhongyuan?”

“The Ten Great Poisonous Beasts!?”

“Yes. If I can obtain and absorb the poisons of the Ten Great Beasts, wouldn’t that make my Ten-Poison Body stronger than even a Ten-Thousand-Poison Master?”

His idea was audacious, reckless even. Yet, in theory, achieving the Ten-Poison Realm with the Ten Great Poisons could surpass even the strongest poison masters of the Tang Clan.

So-ryong’s declaration carried a clear message: “For you, I will become the strongest in the world.”

Hearing such a bold confession, Tang Hwa-eun’s heart began pounding uncontrollably.

No one had ever said something so audacious to her before. No man had ever dared.

Though his words were foolish and grandiose, they were sincere, and they stirred something deep within her.

For the first time, she found herself captivated by the reckless promise of a boy five years her junior.