Fabre in Sacheon’s Tang

Becoming an adopted son (?)— it reminded me of something from my past life.

The process itself was simple: a single bow in front of the ancestral shrine and sharing a drink. However, the fact that this drink contained each other’s blood made something in my memories flicker, just out of reach.

”Now, drink.”

”Understood, f—father.”

A single red drink was handed to me.

I carefully lifted the cup and poured it into my mouth.

—Gulp.

Immediately, I tasted the sharp burn of alcohol, something I hadn’t had since my reincarnation, mixed with the distinct metallic tang of blood.

As that bloody taste lingered in my mouth, the memory that had been teasing my mind finally became clear.

’Right! This is just like one of those gangster movies.’

It was eerily similar to the initiation scenes from old films—where new members drank blood to become part of the family.

But the more I thought about it, the more it made sense. That was about joining a family, and so was this. The method was just... different.

With that, my adoption into the Southern Barbarian Beast Palace was completed much faster than I expected.

Or, rather, I was officially ”transferred” to the Southern Barbarian Beast Palace.

”You are now a member of our Southern Barbarian Beast Palace, my son. Hahaha! And in our sect, we do not use surnames, so from now on, you are simply So-ryong. A dragon is still a beast, so it fits well. Little dragon... it has a nice ring to it. May you grow into a great dragon.”

”Kehk! I understand... father.”

The massive hand that clapped me on the back nearly sent me flying, but I managed an awkward smile in response.

Then, my newly acquired elder sister, Seol-pyo, gently stroked my cheek and grinned.

”So-ryong, you can call me Sister Seol-pyo, or just Sister Seol. Let’s get along well, okay? Ah, you’re adorable.”

”Uh... Yes, Sister Seol. Please take care of me.”

Before, she had seemed like a fierce, sun-kissed wildcat of a woman, but now that we were family, she was acting like an affectionate puppy.

Her and Father’s delighted expressions made me feel awkward all over again.

’I’ve adopted many animals in my past life, but this is my first time being adopted.’

This was the first time I had ever been taken in as family.

I had always been the one welcoming little creatures into my home—was this how they felt?

’Still... it’s not a bad feeling.’

I could understand why they were so pleased.

From their perspective, I was probably an S-class specimen.

’Yeah, definitely S-class. No doubt about it.’

After all, I had recently eaten the royal jelly of the Golden-Furred Monkey King, so my ”coloration” was excellent, and since I was still young, there was plenty of ”room to raise me.”

I was a top-tier catch.

No wonder they were happy.

After my brief adoption ceremony, a small celebratory feast was held with the Tang family, and it wasn’t until late at night that everything finally wrapped up.

”This will be your quarters, So-ryong. What do you think?”

”It’s... quite extravagant.”

The room I was given was luxurious in a way that contrasted sharply with the more practical and modest atmosphere of the Tang family.

A soft bed covered in leopard fur, plush wolf-skin rugs, and all sorts of cozy furnishings—it was like a penthouse in the middle of the jungle.

”And while you’ll mostly live in the Tang family’s estate, you’ll need a proper place when you come visit.”

”Thank you, Sister Seol.”

”Oh, no need to thank me! Family members don’t thank each other.”

”Ah... right.”

I still wasn’t used to this whole ”being a family” thing, so I gave her an awkward smile.

”Also, wait here for a bit. I need to go get something.”

”Get... something? What do you mean, Sister?”

She gave me a mysterious smile and vanished.

I had just finished changing into comfortable clothes and was about to lie down on my new bed when she suddenly returned.

And she wasn’t alone.

Seol-pyo had brought Hwa-eun with her.

Hwa-eun was wearing a thin, sleepwear-like outfit, her face flushed a deep red.

Meanwhile, Sister Seol looked completely pleased with herself.

”W-why are you two here?”

I was so flustered that I instinctively stepped back.

Sister Seol responded like it was the most natural thing in the world.

”Now that we’re family, we should bond! I suggested we have a sleepover.”

”S-sleepover!? All three of us!?!”

”Of course! I’ve always wanted a younger sibling, and now I have one. So let’s do this. It’ll be fun, right?”

My head whipped toward Hwa-eun, silently asking, Then why are YOU here?!

Hwa-eun stammered, her face burning all the way to her neck.

”I-it’s a c-custom in the Beast Palace f-for engaged couples to... t-to sleep together...”

’What? There’s such a fantastic tradition?!’

No, no! This wasn’t the time to be impressed!

From what I understood, Sister Seol wanted a sibling bonding experience, but that also meant that if I rejected her proposal...

Then it would just be me and Hwa-eun. Alone.

[Just... just say yes. This is way less awkward than the alternative.]

A desperate voice echoed in my mind.

I turned to look at Hwa-eun.

She was pleading with her eyes.

It was clear—she would rather die than be left alone with me in this situation.

I swallowed hard and asked Sister Seol cautiously.

”S-so... do I have to sleep in the middle?”

”Of course!”

’This night... sleep might not be an option.’

***

Sister Seol had an endless list of questions.

While I sat at the breakfast table, dark circles under my eyes, mechanically popping dumplings into my mouth, she suddenly spoke up.

”So-ryong, I’ll tell you the thing you were most curious about after breakfast, so finish eating and follow me. Got it?”

”The thing I was curious about?”

”Your Oh-gong.”

”Ah.”

After breakfast, Sister Seol said she would help me figure out why I could communicate telepathically with Cho.

I nodded, quickly finishing my meal, and followed her to the base of the cliff behind Beast Palace.

When we arrived, my foster father was already there, waiting for us.

As soon as I sat down, he placed a hand on my shoulder.

”Since we’ve confirmed that the Ohdok Guiwon Divine Art contains traces of our Beast Heart Art, Grandfather Myung has allowed me to examine your martial arts. Try circulating your inner energy.”

”Understood.”

Since my martial art contained the greatest secret of the Southern Barbarian Beast Palace, he wanted to examine how much of it was actually there.

Following his instruction, I sat cross-legged and began circulating my energy through my Ohdok Guiwon Divine Art.

Father placed his hand on my back, carefully feeling the flow of my qi.

When I finished, he nodded in understanding.

”They hid it this well—no wonder we didn’t notice at the time. It’s an imitation of the Beast Heart Art, but... it’s far inferior to the original. I don’t need to discuss this with Grandfather Myung.”

His expression relaxed, as if reassured.

Curious about what made Beast Heart Art so special, I asked cautiously.

”What exactly is the Beast Heart Art?”

Before Father could answer, Sister Seol jumped in.

”I’ll explain. Beast Heart Art is an inner cultivation method that only the direct bloodline of the Southern Barbarian Beast Palace can practice. It allows a warrior to grow alongside their beasts.”

The phrase ”grow alongside their beasts” immediately caught my interest.

I leaned forward.

”Grow alongside them? What do you mean?”

”Well,” Sister Seol said with a teasing smile, ”it has a special function—it lets you feel the hearts of beasts and command them. It’s a martial art that allows you to become one with them in battle.”

”So, when you say ’grow alongside them’... you mean it’s about how well you can command and fight with them?”

”Exactly.”

Feeling the hearts of beasts and commanding them...

I could already command, but I couldn’t feel Cho’s thoughts.

I tilted my head.

”But I can already command Cho... I just can’t feel his heart.”

Sister Seol grinned.

”Just wait.”

—Thud, thud, thud.

As she spoke, a dust cloud rose in the distance.

Then, ten wolves came sprinting toward us.

When they reached the base of the cliff, they immediately bared their fangs at me.

—Grrrrrrr.

Sister Seol scolded them sharply.

”Hey! So-ryong is my little brother now! No growling!”

—Whimper.

The wolves immediately pinned their ears back, tucking their tails and whining at her like guilty puppies.

Sister Seol smirked and gave her next order.

”Ferocious Wolf Chain Formation!”

At her command, the wolves charged Father.

—Awooooo!

The way they attacked in unison was breathtaking.

Two of them lunged at the same time, while four others leaped from different directions, their strikes flowing seamlessly, like gears in a finely tuned machine.

Even as a martial arts novice, I could tell—this formation could tear through most experts.

Yet Father didn’t even let them touch his clothes.

After a few rounds of attacking, Sister Seol raised a hand.

”Stop.”

Panting heavily, the wolves immediately trotted back to her and nuzzled her for praise.

—Whimper, whimper.

”Good job. Did you see that, So-ryong? That’s how it works.”

”Amazing! Controlling all ten at once!?”

She had complete control over ten wolves as if they were her own limbs.

Pleased by my admiration, Sister Seol smiled proudly.

”If you master Beast Heart Art, you can control five hundred, maybe even a thousand at once. But be careful—if you overreach, all their emotions will flood into your mind, and you’ll go insane.”

I was barely managing one, and she was talking about a thousand.

I looked at her with newfound respect.

”How... how can I feel their hearts? And how do I command my other Oh-gong too?!”

Father and Sister Seol both smiled at my enthusiasm.

Father spoke first.

”From what I observed, the Ohdok Guiwon Divine Art forces your body to adapt by absorbing poison. That places an enormous burden on you, which is why your power depends on the number of poisons you endure.”

”But Beast Heart Art doesn’t require poison,” Sister Seol added.

”Then... what does it require?”

I was eager to gain the ability to speak with my pets instead of just commanding them.

But their answer shocked me.

”Blood.”

”What?! Blood?!”

They had talked so much about cherishing animals... but now they were saying I had to absorb blood?!

My shock must have been obvious, because they both chuckled.

”Only a single drop. And not just blood—saliva works too. That’s why you can command Oh-gong—because you absorbed their poison.”

”Oh... that makes sense!”

So, as long as I took in a small amount of fluid, I could bond with my pets!

That was perfect—it meant I wouldn’t have to endure more poisons to reach the level of a true Beast Master.

I was already on the poison path, so I’d still need to strengthen my toxic cultivation, but...

The fact that I could bond with all three Oh-gong made me grin.

”Please teach me the Beast Heart Art!”

”Of course! You’re my son—it’s only right. Sit down, and I’ll teach you properly.”

”Thank you, Father! Thank you, Sister!”

The words Father and Sister flowed out of my mouth awkwardly, but somehow... naturally.

As soon as Father began modifying my Ohdok Guiwon Divine Art, I felt several new energy channels open in my head.

And then...

I felt it.

Cho’s emotions surged into my heart.

’This is...!’

Cho’s feelings overflowed into my mind.

Infinite love and affection for his dad.

At this very moment, he was staring at the ”big man” touching my head, wondering if he should bite him.

I could feel Cho’s internal struggle so clearly.

’Cho...!’

I was moved.

Now that my martial art had been adjusted, Father spoke again.

”Now, hand over all your Oh-gong and lie down.”

”But they might bite...”

”Don’t worry—I’ll use protective qi. And you can tell them not to bite, can’t you?”

Father asked me to give him my Oh-gong.

I had never handed them over to anyone except Sister Seol, but I trusted Father’s expertise.

I mentally commanded Cho to keep his siblings in line before passing them over.

”Go to Grandfather for a bit.”

I lay down.

And then...

”Now, open your mouth.”

”My... mouth?”

Darkness covered my vision.

Father held my Oh-gong above me.

”Now, you three, give your master a single drop of saliva. So-ryong, circulate the Beast Heart Art and feel the energy of their saliva entering your body.”

I suddenly realized why he had me lie down.

He was about to drip their saliva directly into my mouth.

”Wait, w-wait, Father!”

”What is it?”

”Isn’t this... weird?”

”?”

Father and Sister Seol both tilted their heads in confusion.

To them, this was perfectly normal.