Fabre in Sacheon’s Tang

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Chapter 5: The Confrontation

“Boom!”

As we raced down the mountainside at dawn, Chang-ryong, following a step behind Brother Gyu-seong, pointed toward the distant river.

“Huff, huff! That’s the Lan-chang River! Just cross that, and we’re finally in the Central Plains!”

“Finally!”

“It’s not far now. Hoo…”

The mention of crossing the river lit up everyone’s eyes with hope, and Brother Gyu-seong turned to check on me.

“Huff, huff… So-ryong, are you okay?”

After two days of nonstop travel, I knew he was worried about me since my martial arts level was the lowest among our group, and my energy was likely running thin. But having ingested the royal jelly from the Golden Hair Bee King, coupled with Chao’s evolution increasing my efficiency, I felt I could still hold on.

‘And if I can’t hold on, I’ll just die, so I better keep it together.’

“Yes, Brother! Huff, huff…”

I wiped away the sweat trickling down my face, putting on a brave face, but Brother Gyu-seong stopped and spoke.

“We’ll have to charge across the plains at once. Plus, we’ll need to cross the river, so let’s take a breather to recover our energy. Hoo… If we meet enemies on the plains, we’ll have no choice but to fight.”

“Understood, Brother.”

“Got it, Do-ryong!”

As I glanced back to the river, the mountains ended not far behind us, and a vast plain led up to the river in the distance.

With terrain like this, our tracks would be obvious, and crossing the river would leave us vulnerable, requiring us to gather all our strength.

We needed enough energy for that; having raced through the lightness skill until now, traversing the plains seemed risky.

In case we encountered enemies, a lack of energy might hinder our ability to fight.

Turning around, I noticed the fading traces of torches behind us.

For the past two days, the Blood Cult had relentlessly pursued us from two to three kilometers behind, likely trying to exhaust us.

However, it seemed there were no enemies tailing us for a while now, so I decided with Brother Gyu-seong to rest and replenish our strength.

“Whew… I’m exhausted.”

“Huff, huff… Is everyone okay?”

Hearing Brother Gyu-seong’s words, Chang-ryong dropped to the ground, panting.

Checking on Older Sister Seol and Hua Eun in the back, I found them sitting next to a rock, wiping the sweat off their foreheads.

“Hua Eun, are you alright?”

“Yes! How about you, So-ryong?”

“I’m fine. What about Older Sister Seol?”

“I can still hold on. Long, are you okay? Not too tired, right? Your martial arts level is the lowest here.”

“Older Sister, I’m fine too. How’s Yo-hwa?”

-Kish!

Having run quite a distance, I worried about Yo-hwa the most. But seeing her climbing trees and jumping across valleys, she seemed okay.

I checked on the others as well; a headcount is essential during breaks.

“Hyang, Bin, are you two okay? What about Chao?”

-Tsurut!

-Tsururut!

At my call, Hyang and Bin peeked up, assuring me they were fine. Chao crawled out from the bushes and pushed her head between my arms.

-Tsururu.

As I patted her head, she let out a pleased sound.

The three sisters Ogong seemed to be in good shape, prompting me to ask Hua Eun about Seol-i and Bing.

Hua Eun peered down into her skirt, where Seol-i and Bing were hiding.

After checking on them, she nodded.

“Yes, they seem alright.”

-Gukku···.

-Kku···.

Despite hanging around with us, there was a reason for their quiet demeanor.

Lizards typically have slow metabolisms, so as long as they have a suitable hiding spot and feeding environment, they don’t need to be as active as characters like Ogong.

Though centipedes are active at night for hunting, lizards would just lounge around after filling their bellies.

Since Bing-yok was resting on Hua Eun and my wrists, they sometimes crawled up to absorb our energy.

That’s why despite constantly being attached to Hua Eun, they hadn’t made any fuss.

Even in my previous life, I had bred lizards in boxes, as suggested by renowned reptile breeders.

“Alright, we just have a little way to go, so let’s hang in there.”

-Tsurut! -Kish! -Gukku!

After boosting everyone’s spirits, we took a break.

The pause lasted about an hour.

We practiced breath control to restore our energy and searched for water in the nearby stream.

Having lightened our load, we were low on food, so we didn’t eat anything.

“Whew…”

After finishing our energy recovery practice, Brother Gyu-seong opened his eyes and confirmed everyone’s will to fight one last time before speaking.

“Alright, let’s head out.”

Just then, Seol-i stepped forward, seeking permission.

“Ah, wait a moment, Do-ryong.”

“Why do you say that, Sister Seol?”

When Brother Gyu-seong tilted his head at her request, she reiterated.

“I want to call upon the beasts one more time before we depart. If the Blood Cult is tracking us all the way to the Central Plains, perhaps the Southern Barbarian Beast Palace can help. If my father and Mandok God are still at Namna Mountain, they could come here.”

Having come down south and now veering east before moving north, Namna Mountain was barely visible in the far northwest.

She wanted to ask them to come meet us if they were still searching for us.

“Ah, I understand. Young lady.”

Since it was certainly a good idea, Brother Gyu-seong nodded in agreement.

As she said, there are no border markers, checkpoints, or stationed troops here.

So even if we crossed the border, their pursuit could stretch to Yunnan, and having some forces to ensure our safety would be essential.

-Wheeek.

Once more, like an eagle’s cry, her whistle spread across the valley.

-Wheeek. Wheeek.

She called three times in succession.

That should be enough to lure the creatures of the Southern Barbarian Beast Palace nearby.

However, even after her cries echoed far and wide, there was no response from the beasts. Just as Seol-i was about to give up and ask to leave,

“Maybe it’s still too early for the birds to be awake?”

-Buung. Buung.

A hooting sound echoed from somewhere.

As people gazed toward the southern horizon seeking the source, a massive owl flew down from the mountainside, landing on Young Lady Seol’s wrist.

“You’re here!”

After petting the creature several times, she grabbed the hem of her skirt, tied it to the creature’s leg, and whispered.

-Swoosh!

“Go and fetch the people from the Southern Barbarian Beast Palace, okay? You should check that mountain first!”

-Buung.

Seol-i urged it repeatedly, knowing that ordinary beasts didn’t think as clearly as Ogong, Yo-hwa, or Seol-i and Bing, and they might forget commands.

It would be safer to send Chao, but I couldn’t send her off knowing she’s an asset in case of danger.

Thus, after sending the creature off into the sky, it began flying in the direction of Namna Mountain as dawn approached.

“Alright, let’s go!”

After confirming the creature’s disappearance into the sky, Seol-i insisted on departing.

Looking up at the horizon, it seemed daylight was about to break, prompting Brother Gyu-seong to charge ahead, shouting.

“Let’s go!”

It was best to cross the plains before the sun rose completely.

Just as we set off, about to enter the plains after surpassing the foothills, a figure emerged from behind a cluster of stones at the mountain’s edge, rising in anger.

With a furious voice, it shouted immediately at Brother Gyu-seong.

“Your escape ends here! This Elder of the Blood Cult, Blood Wind Flying Snake, will take you on personally!”

“Everyone, be careful!”

Brother Gyu-seong held his blade sideways and clashed with the being, releasing an explosive sound.

-Bang!

With the blast, Brother Gyu-seong was sent flying backward, crashing into the bushes.

“Kuh!”

“Brother!”

“Do-ryong!”

Then came Hua Eun’s urgent voice.

“They’re chasing us!”

Turning my head at her shout, I saw men in brown leather clothing, distinct from the usual red battle robes, racing down from the ridge toward us.

The Elder was stalling for time while the pursuing group closed in.

“Are you alright?”

“Cough! They’re fast!”

Brother Gyu-seong, blood trickling from his lips, managed to rise with Chang-ryong’s help, gripping his sword again as he shouted.

“Poison Flower, use it!”

The reason Brother Gyu-seong could charge in despite facing the Blood Cult’s Elder was that we had a poison effective against them.

Hitting just once could neutralize them.

Thus, Kumbong and Chang-ryong fell back in line behind Brother Gyu-seong, while Hua Eun began preparing to unleash nine flying needles.

Meanwhile, I called Chao to request she delay the men in brown before they caught up.

“Chao! I’m counting on you!”

Judging by their chasing speed, even if we dealt with the Elder, they’d surely catch us shortly, so we needed to deal with them first.

While Brother Gyu-seong, Chang-ryong, Kumbong, and Hua Eun clashed with the Elder, Chao sprayed poisonous needles on the approaching warriors.

-Swoosh.

As Chao unleashed a spray of poison from the sky.

“Dodge!”

Yet the warriors in brown leather swiftly dispersed at their leader’s command, effectively avoiding Chao’s poison.

Even those struck by it showed little sign of distress.

“What the!?“

When Chao tried releasing poison again but found them dodging effortlessly, I suddenly heard a clear cry of victory from behind.

“How dare you! Die, lowly punk!”

-Crack!

“Cough! Poison Flower!”

“Got it!”

While Brother Gyu-seong was impaled in the side, he managed to grab the enemy, and Hua Eun buried a couple of poisoned needles into his shoulder.

But things weren’t looking too great.

At that moment, Chang-ryong lay collapsed, bleeding, while Kumbong lay near him with a broken sword.

Yet, the enemy was now poisoned.

Hua Eun cried out to Older Sister Seol.

“Elder Sister, we need to end this! That one from the Blood Cult can’t use their energy anymore due to the poison! Soon, they won’t be able to harness any energy!”

“Understood!”

While it wasn’t like the previous Elder who had absorbed a massive quantity of the poison directly, as Hua Eun unleashed more flying needles to confirm the poison effect, the enemy pulled out a small vial from their chest, dodging the projectiles.

With a sinister smile on their face, they drank from the vial and proclaimed,

“How long do you think you can endure the poison from the Hoban Yusa? Hahaha! The antidote is already complete, so you’re all dead now!”

“An, an antidote!?”

“You actually managed to develop an antidote!?”

The enemy was shouting about developing an antidote when our expressions turned to shock.

Neither the Tang Clan had made one, nor had we in the past, aside from the blood serum, yet here was this guy boasting about creating an antidote.

Hua Eun and I exchanged glances and burst into laughter.

“Hahaha!”

“Hehe…”

The mocking creature sounded confused.

“What’s so funny? Have you lost your mind contemplating your imminent death?”

Not getting why we were laughing, I shouted back.

“Your death is what’s coming! Let the poison begin to spread, and then you’ll try to activate your energy!”

As I teased him, he calmly followed my suggestion and began to channel his energy.

The bewildered voice immediately erupted from him.

“W-Why can’t I use my e-energy after drinking the antidote?”

Of course, he was confused.

Even though he drank the antidote, he still couldn’t tap into his energy!