Fabre in Sacheon’s Tang

Before dawn had even broken, news had arrived, prompting an immediate meeting at the Tang Clan’s Patriarch Hall.

All of Tangga Mountain was already lit up, glowing like broad daylight.

As I waited inside the hall with Grandfather, my father-in-law burst in, his face a bit disheveled from having just woken up.

Right behind him came my mother-in-law and Hwa-eun—still beautiful even with bed hair—following her father into the hall.

“Father, what on earth has happened?!”

“We’ll talk once everyone’s gathered. Be patient.”

Though Grandfather replied to my father-in-law, telling him to wait, Hwa-eun, seated beside me, gently nudged my arm with her elbow.

She seemed to be saying he couldn’t reveal anything in advance. When I looked toward Grandfather instead of answering, Hwa-eun gave a slight nod.

She had picked up on the fact that this was such an important matter that I couldn’t be the one to speak first.

Once the direct members of the Tang Clan had taken their seats, more people entered through the opened doors: the clan elders, the Five Dragons and Three Peaks, even Sister Seol.

This clearly wasn’t just a clan matter—it had to be something major in the martial world for everyone to be summoned like this.

“Great Elder, what’s the meaning of this before daybreak~”

“What could be so urgent?”

“What’s going on this early in the morning?”

“Hey, have you heard what happened?”

“Sir So, what is it?”

“What’s all this about~”

“If you wait just a bit, Grandfather will explain everything.”

Whispers filled the hall, growing into a mild commotion as the doors continued to open.

When everyone was seated around the large round table, Grandfather rose and raised a hand to silence the room.

Then, what he had instructed the guards to prepare earlier was brought into the hall.

“Unroll it in the center.”

“Yes, Great Elder.”

Two guards responded and unrolled a massive scroll in the middle of the table.

What spread out before our eyes was a large map drawn on tanned leather—a map of the clan’s domain.

It didn’t quite match the one I remembered, but a map nonetheless.

Then, Grandfather picked up a long pointer made of black bamboo and pointed to a specific spot, beginning to speak.

– Tap!

“This morning, while overseeing So-ryong’s internal training, a message arrived from the Sichuan Branch of the Martial Alliance.

The content was this: Ho Gwan Gate, a minor sect near the border of Guizhou and Sichuan, has been wiped out.”

“......”

The initial reaction was silence—cold and stunned.

But then, like a dam breaking, a storm of voices erupted.

“W-Wiped out?!”

“You mean Ho Gwan Gate was completely annihilated?!”

“But they’ve had relations with our Tang Clan for years!”

“With over two hundred disciples and family members, they must’ve had seven to eight hundred people—are you saying all of them are gone?”

“Who did it? Who’s the culprit?!”

The news that Ho Gwan Gate had been annihilated sparked a chaotic uproar.

Once more, Grandfather raised his hand, calming the crowd, and answered only one of the many unfiltered questions that had burst out.

“We don’t know the culprit for sure, but they said not a single drop of blood was left in any of the corpses found.”

Then, almost in unison, a single word escaped the mouths of nearly everyone in the hall.

“...The Blood Cult!?”

As I suspected, everyone was thinking the same thing.

The atmosphere turned grave at the mention of the Blood Cult, and Grandfather and my father-in-law exchanged words.

“Was it from the Martial Alliance in Wuhuan? Or did it come from the Sichuan branch?”

“It came from the Sichuan branch.”

“Then it must be a call for a gathering in Chengdu.”

“Yes, they’ve summoned all the minor sects of Sichuan, including the Tang Clan and Qingcheng Sect.”

“When are they gathering?”

“Immediately.”

Yes—just earlier, a message was delivered through the guards: the matter was urgent, and we were to depart for Chengdu at once.

My father-in-law nodded grimly, then asked again.

“I see. But when did this happen?”

“They say it hadn’t even been a full blood cycle yet.”

“Then...”

Since I’d already heard all this, my attention drifted toward the map, now stretched out in front of me. Something strange caught my eye.

I tilted my head slightly and stroked my chin when a soft voice came from beside me.

“What is it, So-ryong?”

Turning my head, I saw Hwa-eun looking at me.

At her question, I glanced back toward the map and replied.

“It’s just... the location seems a little strange.”

“The location?”

Hwa-eun followed my gaze to the map, stared at it for a moment, then tilted her head as if she didn’t quite understand.

“What about the location seems strange?”

“Well... it might be nothing, but that place looks like it’s right on the border between Sichuan and Guizhou.”

“Yes, that’s right, So-ryong. Ho Gwan Gate is built on a riverside slightly away from Inhui. That river divides Sichuan and Guizhou.”

Though I couldn’t be completely certain—the map was far too ancient—Hwa-eun’s answer confirmed my suspicion.

I nodded and continued.

“Some species—whether beasts or insects—tend to claim territory as their own.

And when those beasts or insects mark their territory, borders naturally form between each domain. Just like the boundaries between Sichuan, Guizhou, and Zhongjing.”

“Ah... but then?”

“Well, when borders form, we may not know who owns the land,

but to the creatures that get eaten—those beasts and insects—those borders are the most dangerous zones. Because...”

Hwa-eun was listening with bright, curious eyes—but suddenly I noticed a strange silence.

Looking around, I saw that everyone in the room was staring at me.

Startled, I quickly bowed to the elders.

“M-my apologies, Grandfather. Father-in-law.”

I’d tried to keep my voice low, but it seemed I’d ended up interrupting the important meeting.

My father-in-law smiled and spoke.

“No, go on. Sounds like you have an interesting perspective.”

Behind him, Grandfather, the Heavenly Poison Deity, also nodded.

It seemed everyone had been listening.

“Yes, share your thoughts with us.”

What I’d intended as a passing comment now felt like it was snowballing.

I scratched my head, worried I was overstepping.

“It’s nothing really, just something to brush aside. Where was I again...?”

“So-ryong, you were saying that for prey animals or insects, the borders are the most dangerous places.”

“Ah, right. Thanks, Hwa-eun.”

This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.

Hwa-eun helped me pick up the thread, and I continued, retracing my thoughts.

“Right, so—what I was trying to say was—if a creature marks a territory, then the beasts or insects within that territory tend to patrol it regularly.

Which means that border zones are especially dangerous, since that’s where two predators from neighboring territories might meet.

If you cross through a single territory, you only have to watch out for one predator, but if you move along or across a border, you have to beware of both.”

Looking at the map, the place called Inhui lay right at the boundary between Sichuan and Guizhou, and was also near Zhongjing—barely a stone’s throw away. And it wasn’t far from Yunnan either.

Whatever the reason, launching an attack in a place like that would draw attention from all directions—Sichuan, Guizhou, Yunnan, and Zhongjing.

Why would anyone deliberately strike such a location? That’s the thought I was having, ha ha...”

As I scratched my head and let out an awkward laugh—

Clap! A sharp sound rang out, followed by a voice.

“Great Heavenly Poison Deity, may I offer an opinion?”

I turned my head and saw Ji-ryong, holding his fists in salute toward me with an expression of impressed curiosity.

It seemed he had something to say. Ji-ryong, after all, was famous across the Central Plains for his intelligence.

Despite his youth, he often handled major matters for the Martial Alliance.

He was the kind who’d be dispatched as an advisor whenever serious incidents occurred—so of course Grandfather granted him permission to speak.

“We had intended for you to attend the Chengdu conference anyway. Let’s hear it—who would reject the wisdom of Ji-ryong?”

“Yes, Elder. First of all, I must say—this Ji-ryong is impressed by Sir So’s insight.”

Hearing such praise in front of this many people, I felt my face flush with heat.

But Hwa-eun seemed to like it. Without a word, she reached out and quietly took my hand.

To grab someone’s hand so boldly in public... Is intelligence the true key to a woman’s heart?

As I glanced over at her, wondering about that, Ji-ryong continued.

“The shocking news of Ho Gwan Gate’s annihilation had eclipsed everything, and I too forgot something crucial—but thanks to Sir So’s words, I’ve gained new clarity.

Ho Gwan Gate lies right on the border of Sichuan and Guizhou, and has maintained close ties with martial artists from both provinces.

And as he pointed out, it’s not far from Zhongjing or Yunnan either. Martial sects in all four provinces will have no choice but to take interest or conduct their own investigations.”

“Yes, indeed. Considering that the Sichuan branch of the Martial Alliance has already called a meeting, I’d expect an investigative unit to be assembled within days. They’ll want to inspect the site and track down the killer.

The same goes for the officials—Zhongjing will move, and the Dianzhang Sect of Yunnan won’t sit quietly either.”

“Yes, Elder. That’s right. The martial factions of all four provinces will be on the move like a swarm of bees.”

Everyone nodded at Ji-ryong’s explanation.

Just as he said—though the incident happened at a minor sect, this wasn’t some trivial matter. It would spark a massive investigation.

“Yes, and thirty years ago during the Blood Cult Massacre, those bastards started by quietly targeting remote mountain villages.

So why now would they strike a border region between Guizhou and Sichuan, one sure to provoke a massive response from the martial world?”

“You’re saying there’s a hidden motive.”

“Yes, Elder. I believe this was a deliberate attempt to draw attention from across the martial world.

Just as the authorities are pouring resources into rooting out the Blood Cult, this incident appears like a declaration.”

“They’re clearly trying to divert our attention while planning something even bigger.”

I hadn’t thought they might be scheming something deeper—but Ji-ryong’s explanation made a lot of sense.

Everyone’s expressions turned grim.

Each person seemed to be pondering what kind of plan would justify a strike like this.

But even with a clue as striking as the attack on a border sect, it was impossible to tell exactly what the enemy was plotting.

As silence fell and no one offered further thoughts, my father-in-law spoke.

“There’s only so much we can figure out here. So, Son-in-law—and Ji-ryong—prepare yourselves.

We depart for Chengdu at once. With more minds in the room, perhaps we’ll find our answer.”

“Understood, Elder.”

“Me as well?”

I tilted my head slightly in surprise at being included.

My father-in-law smiled and said,

“The idea started with you, so of course you’re coming along.

We don’t know how many days this will take—make sure you’re ready.”

Wait, what?

The word “days” lit up like a warning sign in my head.

Turning toward Grandfather, I gave him the most regretful look I could muster.

“I was supposed to continue my martial arts training... but it seems I’ll have to step away for a few days. Hah, I really wanted to keep training...”

Nailed it.

***

As the stench of blood clung to her, Mae So-yeong, commander of the Blood Flame Unit, crossed the river out of Ho Gwan Gate and immediately turned to her vice-captain.

“How many did we lose?”

“Thirteen. The gate master and a few strong disciples resisted fiercely...”

As soon as she heard the report, she bit her lip in fury.

“Damn those filthy Five Venoms bastards!

Our Blood Flame Unit should’ve been the ones to bathe the Central Plains in blood, and we got tangled up with trash like this!”

And understandably so—this attack hadn’t even been Blood Cult’s own doing.

The Blood Cult’s new holy land in Daeyue had been contaminated with a poison—Scattering Qi Venom—that was lethal only to its members.

And the Five Venoms Clan had barged in and subdued them all, turning the remaining cultists into slaves through Gu poison.

This raid hadn’t been the Blood Cult’s will—it had been commanded by their new masters: the Five Venoms Clan.

And how many cultists had died crossing borders in secret, only to get caught and executed by Central Plains martial artists?

Originally, they’d planned to attack various places throughout the region—but that plan had been scrapped.

Now, all they could do was strike this one location: Ho Gwan Gate.

“We’ll get our chance eventually. Until then, we must endure with calm hearts. Let’s go. If we escape through Guangxi, we can return to Daeyue quickly.

The martial world will be swarming here soon.”

The vice-captain tried to calm the enraged Mae So-yeong, pointing to the southern escape route they’d prepared.

But Mae So-yeong stared north instead, then shook her head.

“No. We’re heading north.”

“What? If we go north—”

“We go to the Sichuan Tang Clan.”

The vice-captain’s eyes went wide.

“What?! The Tang Clan? In Sichuan?”

“At this rate, we’ll be hunted like dogs and die one by one. So we aim for their Mugoyonghwadan—the Parasite-Dissolving Pellet.

Everyone who took antidotes from elsewhere had their heads explode,

but maybe the Tang Clan’s medicine can work.”

“But... Commander, it’s the Tang Clan! With our numbers—”

“Who said we’re attacking them directly? That’s the last resort.

We’ll lie in wait nearby and kidnap someone important—then we negotiate.”

Mae So-yeong led the Blood Flame Unit northward.

Only one month remained before the parasite’s full ❀ Nоvеlігht ❀ (Don’t copy, read here) flare-up.

They had to find a way—any way—before that happened.