Fabre in Sacheon's Tang-Chapter 229: Return (2)

“I-I thought you were really gone... I didn’t slap hard enough and you wouldn’t open your eyes... huuh...”

Was it because her voice was resonating from her chest? Or because those words held everything in her heart? The wave of emotion that washed over me hit like a flood.

While Hwa-eun had been that worried for me, I’d still been lying there, afraid I might get scolded. And the whole thing was my fault, anyway.

I’d tried to touch the Ho-ye—and this was the result.

Not that I did it on a whim. Like always, I had a reason.

Obviously.

It had been three days since our ship docked at the nearest harbor to the Tang Clan—Gold Hall.

I’d already sent word to Tang family members to prepare a wagon to transport the Ho-ye. Since we’d have to carry them out of the ship, I wanted to make sure they were used to human touch to avoid any accidents.

Sure, Cho could’ve handled them, but I worried they’d be scared—

So I’d decided to try physical contact myself.

[“You’re going to touch them!?”

“Yes, since we have to carry them to the Tang estate...”

“But what if they shoot out lightning qi?”

“That’s why... I’ll try after learning resuscitation first.”

“I-I’m still not confident enough...”

—“I’m sure you’ll do great. And they’re used to me now. They won’t discharge lightning like crazy anymore.”]

I’d said it with such confidence. But the result? Total failure.

The moment I touched them, something like a tearing bolt of electricity tore through my entire body.

[“Ack...” “S-So-ryong! So-ryong!” “What’s happening!? So-ryong! Wake up!”]

I was trying to keep them from panicking— but in the end, it was Hwa-eun who ended up panicking instead.

Feeling terrible, I managed to mumble an apology.

“S-Sorry... Hwa-eun...”

My voice barely came out, but as soon as I spoke, Hwa-eun—teary-eyed, lipstick smudged, yet still beautiful—gripped my hand and begged.

“So-ryong... Please, no more dangerous stunts. Please, I’m begging you...”

Normally, she’d scold me, but now she seemed so desperate, like scolding wouldn’t work and begging was all she had left.

I couldn’t bring myself to speak. I just gave her a weak nod.

And just then—

When I was still too ashamed to say anything else—

I heard furious shouting in the background.

Turns out the yelling that had started when I collapsed had continued until now, and I could finally make it out.

Lifting my head toward the noise, I saw the Ho-ye being scolded and shaken down by the other kids.

[“Chorururur! Chorurut!” “Ksssh! Ksshshshsh!” “Piii! Pii!”]

Cho, Hyang, and Bini were threatening the Ho-ye with bared fangs, Yohwa was standing off to the side with her arms crossed, tapping her foot like she was ready to chew someone out,

and Hwayang was smacking the rim of the water tank with her little hand, looking utterly displeased.

[“Piii? 『Roast?』”]

She had even lit up the fire she rarely used—

Her back was blazing with flames of fury.

The Ho-ye looked terrified, clearly getting the scolding of their lives. I was half guilty and half proud.

After all, my kids and Hwa-eun had come together out of love and concern for me.

The Ho-ye definitely needed this scolding. They’d almost killed me. And nearly ruined my marriage prospects in the process.

***

The next day, the ones who showed up with wagons from the Tang Clan were none other than Gu Pae and the elite warriors of the Venom Blood Squad.

It had been a while since I’d seen them—and it was a welcome sight.

“So-ryong-nim! My lady!”

“Commander Gu Pae! ...Ugh—!”

“So-ryong, are you okay?”

Commander Gu Pae came charging toward me from a distance, roaring a greeting. I raised my hand without thinking—and immediately collapsed, clutching my ribs.

Gu Pae leapt over with qinggong and helped Hwa-eun lift me up.

“What happened!? Are you injured!?”

“No, just... a little.”

“It doesn’t look like a little!”

This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.

Truth was, I’d probably cracked a few ribs. But that was unavoidable.

You see, CPR sometimes breaks ribs. Hwa-eun had felt awful, but I wasn’t about to blame her.

She’d saved my life. And technically, the damage came from love.

“What’s a few broken ribs in the name of love, right?”

“Don’t worry. I’ll get treated once we’re back at the Tang estate. It’s really nothing.”

“In that case, I’ll escort you straight to the Medicinal Hall as soon as we arrive!”

Seeing Hwa-eun look worried and Gu Pae suspicious, I quickly changed the subject.

“Understood. Also, our family has grown quite a bit this time.”

“Oh? You mean your little ones? I assumed as much when you asked for extra wagons and tanks, but how many are we talking here?”

Gu Pae lit up at the mention of more venomous pets.

I smiled and replied,

“A pretty shocking haul this time, actually.”

“We’ve added one of the Ten Great Venomous Beasts, one Mind-Sync Poisoned Earth Scorpion, and two unknowns whose species we haven’t even figured out yet.”

“Whaaat!? That many!? How do you bring back a top-tier venomous beast every time you go out!?”

Gu Pae glanced around behind me like he couldn’t believe it.

It was the perfect moment to start introducing the newcomers. He was, after all, the captain of our Venom Blood Squad. He’d be taking care of them with me.

Better get them acquainted early.

“Hongdan!”

“Kyii?”

“Come over here.”

When I called for Hongdan, she poked her head out from the cabin and came running toward me with an excited look like a cheerful child. She quickly leapt up and perched on my shoulder.

“This is Hongdan, one of the Twenty-Four Venomous Beasts, the Black Whale Crimson Delight. As you can see, she’s a gusoo. If she grows up, she can get as big as an ox, and her pincers are strong enough to crush boulders. She’s the Crimson Happiness of the Twenty-Four Venomous Beasts.”

“Oooh! A gusoo! Her pincers are absolutely magnificent!”

“Hongdan, come now. Greet the man properly.”

—Kkreeet!

“Oooh, yes. I’m Gu Pae. Nice to meet you.”

I guess he’s fully one of us now. He looked totally mesmerized by Hongdan’s pincers, but when she greeted him, he lit up with delight.

While Gu Pae was staring at Hongdan with sparkly eyes, I stepped to the side and tapped a massive rock and spoke.

“This one ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) may look like a rock, but she’s Cheongwol. She’s one of the Ten Great Venomous Beasts of the Central Plains—known as the Ten-Thousand-Year Stone Armored Scorpion.”

“Whaaaat!? T-this is the Ten-Thousand-Year Stone Armored Scorpion!? I was wondering why there was a boulder on the ship! To think the beast you brought back, no, the one you honored us by bringing... is Cheongwol herself!”

“Cheongwol doesn’t like to be touched, so please be cautious.”

“Ah, understood, Sir So-ryong!”

At Gu Pae’s fuss, Cheongwol lazily cracked open an eye to glance at him.

—Krrr. 『Can I come down now?』

“Yeah, just wait a little. I’ll clear the space once everyone’s off.”

—Krrt. 『Got it.』

After telling her to wait just a bit longer, I led Gu Pae over to the cabin and showed him the last two.

“These two are called Hoye. They’re spirit beasts that release lightning from their bodies.”

“Just as I suspected—a spirit beast that directly wields electrical energy! You’ve truly outdone yourself, Sir So-ryong!”

“If you get hit by their lightning, it can stop your breathing immediately, so do not touch or approach them.”

“Ah, yes. I’ll make sure to warn the other warriors!”

After I’d introduced everyone, a sharp whine sounded from the side.

—Tsrut!

When I turned my head, I saw Hyang glaring at me from atop the bed with a seriously crooked expression. She had several of her forelegs folded near her face and her head tilted in a pouty angle.

‘Did our Hyang get upset?’

For a second, I thought she was going through a rebellious phase, but no—it was jealousy.

Why hadn’t I introduced her?

Why was she the only one left out, when she also looked so cool now?

It seemed she felt a bit left out. But there was a reason I hadn’t introduced Hyang to Gu Pae just yet.

‘Hyang-ah, I was saving your grand entrance for when we meet with the elders. Imagine how shocked they'll be when they see you coiled around your dad like a gleaming crimson armor?’

A son-in-law returns after leaving home, bearing the Ten Great Venomous Beasts and many more—he needs to arrive in full victory armor, doesn’t he?

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Honestly, sure, I left without permission and was gone for quite some time, but I deserved to be praised for this.

Not only had I secured one of the great treasures—the massive fire spirit—but also one of the Ten Great Venomous Beasts of the Central Plains, the Ten-Thousand-Year Stone Armored Scorpion, and one of the Twenty-Four Venomous Beasts, the Black Whale Crimson Delight.

And lastly, I obtained a spirit beast with lightning powers—Ho-ye.

This was all definitely praise-worthy.

It wasn’t like I was bringing back all these accomplishments just to avoid getting scolded or anything.

「Tsrut?」

That doubtful tone from Hyang—she clearly didn’t believe me.

But why was her faith in her dad wavering?

『That’s right. Everyone will be shocked when they see your sparkling body wrapped around me.』

「Tsrut! 『R-really?』」

With Hyang now looking a little proud again, I set out with her toward the Tang Clan over the next two days.

It’s normally a one-day trip, but we only moved at night to avoid being seen by others.

When we finally saw the Gujin Gate of the Tang Clan in the distance, I climbed onto Cheongwol’s back and instructed her to enter full cool-mode.

『Hyang-ah! It’s time!』

「Tsrut!」

At my signal, Hyang immediately slithered up my body and coiled around me.

“Hwa-eun, climb up.”

“I’ll come too.”

“Yes.”

From atop Cheongwol’s back, I approached the Gujin Gate with Hwa-eun and Hyang, now proudly wrapped around me like crimson armor.

A beautiful woman holding hands with me, dressed in crimson glory atop a massive living boulder—who wouldn’t be moved by that?

If anything, it was the triumphant return of a son-in-law-turned-hero.

—Piiiieeek!

Our approach startled the Tang Clan’s watchers, and sound-flag messengers shot into the sky.

When the warriors at the gate saw my imposing figure, their eyes widened.

I turned toward Cheongwol and spoke.

“Cheongwol, this is our home. It’s called the Tang Clan.”

From Cheongwol, a voice filled with excitement flowed back.

—Krrr. 『This is my new home? Sounds fun.』

From up high at the Tang residence, I saw my father-in-law, mother-in-law, and the Ten Thousand Venoms God-Grandpa soaring toward us with lightness skill.

The looks on their faces weren’t any different from the other warriors.

Shock. Amazement.

‘See? The Tang Clan really lucked out getting me as a son-in-law.’

This clan was truly a blessed one.