Fabre in Sacheon's Tang-Chapter 169: Centipede Venom Fang Claw (2)

After several months away, the grand Nine-Tiered Gates of the Tang Clan finally came into view.

From the First Gate to the Ninth Gate, they stretched deep into the clan’s heart, a towering symbol of power and legacy.

Seeing them again, I felt a strange sensation.

‘This place... actually feels like home now.’

Beside me, Geom-ryong and Kwon-ryong, the two senior warriors accompanying us, also gazed at the gates with nostalgia.

"It’s been a long time since I last saw the Tang Clan."

"Indeed, Geom-ryong. It’s been a while."

Hearing this, I turned to them curiously.

"Have you visited the Tang Clan before, Geom-ryong, Kwon-ryong hyungnims?"

"Of course, Gwang-ryong. That would have been—"

Just as Geom-ryong was about to explain, a sharp voice cut through his words like a blade.

"Hmm? Gwang-ryong? Did I hear that correctly?"

"Hwa-eun, did I mishear that? I could’ve sworn I heard Gwang-ryong again."

"Ack! L-Ladies, it was a mistake! I-I meant Bi-ryong! A few years ago, when you weren’t around, I came here once or twice on an errand..."

Poor Geom-ryong.

He had been speaking casually, looking toward the gates, when he accidentally uttered my forbidden nickname.

The sheer panic on his face resembled that of a man caught sneaking out at night to play games—only to be discovered by his mother.

And for good reason.

After those two had bestowed the ridiculous nickname Gwang-ryong (Mad Dragon) upon me, they had been scolded thoroughly by both Seol-noona and Hwa-eun.

From that moment on, Gwang-ryong had become a banned word.

Though, of course, they didn’t always obey that rule.

"Gwang-ryong?! You’re seriously calling my fiancé that?"

"So you’re choosing to insult my little brother? The eldest son of the Beast Palace?"

The last time those words were spoken in front of them, the response had been ice-cold stares and razor-sharp words.

"A-Ah, no, no! Please, ladies, calm down! You see, it was just a term of affection—"

"Affection? If you call him that twice, does that mean next time it’ll be Lustful Dragon or Perverted Dragon?"

"If you keep insulting my fiancé like this, I might have to formally bring this matter up to the Tang Clan’s elders..."

As a result, the nickname was officially changed to Bi-ryong (Flying Dragon).

Typically, the Bi (Flying) title was only given to those with exceptional Lightness Skill.

Since I had literally flown through the air before crashing into a blazing inferno, it was deemed a more fitting name by the nickname review committee.

Of course, said committee consisted of Hwa-eun and Seol-noona.

Thus, my title was adjusted to Bi-ryong, fully reflecting their preferences, and Gwang-ryong became a forbidden phrase.

But since Geom-ryong had accidentally uttered it just now, he was instantly subjected to Hwa-eun and Seol-noona’s scrutiny.

I could see the panic in his eyes.

‘Serves you right.’

Watching them scold him filled me with a quiet sense of satisfaction.

That is, until I turned toward Seol-noona and Hwa-eun—

And caught their gaze boring into me.

Their expression practically screamed, What are you smirking about?

I flinched, quickly avoiding their eyes, much like Geom-ryong.

Sure, they had helped rid me of my cursed nickname, but it hadn’t come without cost.

After all, when they had reprimanded Geom-ryong and Kwon-ryong last time, I had also been dragged into their lecture.

"This is all because you don’t handle yourself properly, So-ryong!"

"So-ryong, next time, you have to promise us you won’t do anything reckless!"

‘I was the victim! Why am I being blamed?!’

Back then, my execution had only been postponed due to Hyang’s hunger.

But the moment my banned nickname resurfaced, the jury had immediately convened, finding me guilty by association.

After hours of intense nagging from Hwa-eun and Seol-noona, our journey had finally regained some peace.

Now, sensing the familiar tension in the air, I made a firm decision.

‘I need to keep quiet today.’

Peeking to my side, I noticed Geom-ryong thinking the same thing.

We made brief eye contact and silently nodded in agreement.

Just then, a group of Tang Clan warriors rushed out from the Nine-Tiered Gates to greet us.

"Lady Hwa-eun! You’ve returned!"

"So-ryong-nim, you’ve worked hard!"

"It’s been a while, everyone."

"It’s good to see you all again."

As we exchanged greetings, I noticed Gu Pae, the leader of the Venom Blood Squad, stepping forward.

He bowed and greeted me respectfully.

"You’ve returned, So-ryong-nim!"

"It’s been a while, Gu Pae Da-ju. How’s the Venomous Beast Garden?"

"Everything is in perfect condition! Once you’ve greeted the clan leader, would you like to inspect it yourself?"

He seemed eager to show me how well he had maintained the place.

However, before I could do that, I needed to escort our guests, the Three Dragons and Two Phoenixes, to their accommodations.

It was basic etiquette in the martial world—hosting guests properly, offering them food and tea, and ensuring their comfort.

"No, let’s take some time to rest first. I’ll visit the garden this evening."

"Understood! I’ll make sure everything is ready for your inspection tonight."

As I followed Gu Pae toward the clan leader’s residence, I heard a hesitant voice from behind.

"So-ryong-nim, um... About that thing on your head... What is that...? It looks like a particularly dumb-looking toad."

"Hmm? My head?"

Blinking, I glanced up—only to feel the soft squish of Hyang’s belly pressing against my scalp.

I had gotten so used to her sitting up there that I had forgotten all about it.

Turning to look at the Tang warriors, I noticed their gazes fixed on Hyang with varying expressions of curiosity and bewilderment.

With a smirk, I straightened my posture and gave Gu Pae a patronizing look.

"Heh... Gu Pae Da-ju, it seems you still have a long way to go."

"Huh?"

He tilted his head, confused.

Sure, I had also doubted Hyang at first, but now...

I raised my hand and gestured confidently.

"How can you judge a venomous creature merely by its appearance? The exterior is nothing but a shell."

"...?"

"Prepare to be amazed. The creature sitting atop my head is none other than the Azure Fire Magma Toad. One of the Ten Great Venomous Beasts, the ruler of all toads."

A stunned gasp echoed around me.

"W-What?! The Azure Fire Magma Toad?! One of the Ten Great Venomous Beasts?!"

"““Azure Fire Magma Toad!””"

As soon as I revealed that the dumb-looking creature on my head was actually one of the Ten Great Venomous Beasts, the warriors of the Tang Clan recoiled in shock.

They stared at Hyang with their mouths agape, as if unable to comprehend how such a goofy-looking creature could hold such a grand title.

Smirking at their reaction, I reached up and gave the little bulge of Hyang’s belly a few satisfying pats.

This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.

—Slap. Slap.

‘Damn, this thing is bouncy.’

—Peep? 『Food?』

At the unexpected pats, Hyang stirred, groggily waking up and immediately asking if it was time to eat.

I sighed.

At some point, I really needed to teach her some vocabulary beyond just food.

‘No, Hyang, not that. Light up some flames for me. Let’s show off a little. I’ll give you plenty of food later, I promise.’

『Food!』

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Her answer was still food, but I could feel the acceptance in her tone.

—Fwoosh!

A second later, the flames ignited on her back.

A deep blue fire flared upward, drawing gasps from the gathered warriors.

They stared at me like I had just summoned a divine beast.

"H-Holy... The toad’s back is on fire!"

"R-Report this to the clan head immediately! S-So-ryong-nim has brought back another Ten Great Venomous Beast!"

"““Uwaaaaaaah!””"

Truly, this place was paradise.

Where else could a man be showered with praise just for indulging in his hobby?

Tang Clan’s Flying Dragon had made his grand return, greeted with nothing but cheers.

***

After escorting our guests to their rooms, I made my way to the clan leader’s residence to report my arrival.

Standing before the doors, I spoke.

"Grandfather, it’s me, So-ryong."

"Come in."

As I stepped inside, I found Grandfather seated at his usual place, reading a scroll.

With my father-in-law leading a group of warriors to assist the Murim Alliance, Grandfather had been handling clan affairs in his stead.

He hadn’t gone to the front lines himself, of course, but he was working with the local government to hunt down any remnants of the Blood Cult hiding within Sichuan.

"Have you made sure the guests are settled in?"

"Yes, Grandfather. Hwa-eun and Mother-in-law are handling refreshments and other hospitality matters."

"Good. Sit down. I knew you would come to see me."

The moment I sat, Grandfather immediately cut to the heart of the matter.

He gazed at me thoughtfully before nodding.

"Your qi has changed. You’ve reached the Realm of Dual Venoms, haven’t you?"

I hadn’t even mentioned it yet, but Grandfather had already noticed.

Nodding, I reached up and gave Hyang a light pat.

"Yes, Grandfather. Hyang was originally a tadpole. While helping her reach maturity, I was poisoned and had no choice but to adapt."

After I explained the circumstances, Grandfather stroked his beard, nodding in approval.

"Then it couldn’t be helped. You must have suffered greatly in the process, but you handled it well. I must commend you—bringing back the Azure Fire Magma Toad was an excellent achievement. I’m proud of you, So-ryong."

"You flatter me, Grandfather."

Grandfather then narrowed his eyes slightly.

"You didn’t come here just for praise. Is your internal energy unstable?"

He assumed I had sought him out because my qi hadn’t fully settled yet.

I quickly shook my head.

That wasn’t the issue at all.

The real reason I was here... was my fingernails.

After reaching the Realm of Dual Venoms, they had all fallen out, and I had no idea why.

"No, my internal energy feels perfectly stable. My dantian is balanced—my two venoms are rotating in harmony, almost like a Taiji symbol."

"That means your foundation is solid. Then why are you here?"

Instead of answering, I simply held out my hand.

"Because of this."

Grandfather’s brows furrowed as he took a closer look at my fingers.

"Your nails fell out?"

"Yes. Just like this."

I spread my fingers so he could see the freshly regrown nails.

Grandfather immediately stood up and walked over, grasping my hand.

He studied them carefully for a long moment before speaking.

"This is peculiar. I’ve never heard of such a thing before... This isn’t bone-reforging rebirth, nor is it any kind of known transformation. Let me circulate some qi into your fingertips. Stay still."

"Understood."

Closing my ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) eyes, I focused as Grandfather infused energy into my fingertips.

A strange sensation spread through my hand.

A warm, ticklish feeling traveled from my fingertips, up my wrist, through my arm, and into my dantian.

And then—

"What in the world...?!"

Grandfather’s voice was filled with shock.

He tightened his grip on my hand, looking at me seriously.

"So-ryong, since reaching the Realm of Dual Venoms, have you practiced Centipede Venom Fang Claw?"

Crap.

I had promised Grandfather that I would train diligently even while traveling...

But, honestly, I hadn’t trained once.

Or rather, I had chosen not to.

Reflexively, I scratched my head—

Which led to Hyang shifting in response.

She lazily lifted her leg and thwacked me on the back of the head.

—Thwap, thwap.

"A-Ah, well... I was, um, too busy traveling to find the time..."

Prepared to be scolded, I lowered my head apologetically.

But instead of reprimanding me, Grandfather simply nodded.

"That’s fine. Try executing Centipede Venom Fang Claw now."

"Here? Inside the residence?"

"Yes. Do it."

There was an urgency in his voice.

Curious, I activated my internal energy and channeled it through the Five Poisons Returning to the Origin Art, directing it into my fingertips according to the technique’s mnemonic.

The energy moved far more smoothly than before.

Centipede Venom Fang Claw strengthened my fingers and nails with internal energy as part of its core function.

As soon as the energy reached my fingertips—

A strange sensation shot through my fingers.

They tingled differently than before.

Startled, I hesitated, but Grandfather urged me on.

"Don’t stop. Keep going."

Following his instruction, I continued channeling my energy—

And at that moment, my fingernails shifted.

My partially regrown nails suddenly extended forward, growing slightly longer.

Meanwhile, my fingertips turned a deep emerald green, matching the color of Cho’s venom.

"Th-This is...?!"

Startled, I withdrew my internal energy, and my fingernails immediately reverted to normal.

Grandfather, still holding my hand, murmured in awe.

"It seems... your fingertips have adapted to Cho’s venom."

‘Wait...!’

Did that mean—?!

If I used Centipede Venom Fang Claw, my nails would function like Cho’s venomous fangs—allowing me to coat my strikes with poison?

I can attack with venom now?!

My mind reeled.

Seeing my stunned face, Grandfather chuckled.

"You must be surprised by the change in your body. Understandable. Your fingernails now function much like the mandibles of a centipede."

He thought I was shocked by my transformation.

But he was wrong.

I wasn’t just shocked—

I was ecstatic.

Loving something and becoming that something was the ultimate dream of any enthusiast.

A man who adores elves wants to become an elf.

A man obsessed with venomous creatures wants to become Spider-Man.

I was living the dream.

My hands trembling with excitement, I immediately called out to Cho.

『Cho! Dad—no, your partner—wait, what’s the word for soulmate in Central Plains dialect?! Whatever, listen! I GREW VENOMOUS CLAWS!』