Fabre in Sacheon’s Tang Novel - Chapter 1

Chapter 1

A soft hiss of rain pattered against the crumbling entrance of a forsaken Taoist temple, buried deep in the tropical jungle. Rampant plant life choked the ruins, its wild overgrowth contributing to the lonely, mysterious atmosphere of the secluded spot. Unexpectedly, the evening’s quiet was broken by the approach of roughly thirty men.

Their apparent leader stepped to the front and offered a polite, clasped-hand salute.

“Young hero, might we take refuge here for the night to wait out the rain?”

I blinked, surprised by the sudden appearance of so many strangers. A swift assessment of their respectful demeanor and expressions eased some of my immediate wariness. Despite my youth, they had addressed me with courtesy, as if I were the guardian of these decaying grounds.

“I’ve only been living in this abandoned temple for a few years. Please make yourselves comfortable anywhere you like, but I use that pavilion over there. It would be best to steer clear of it.”

“We are most grateful. Such fine manners in one so young—truly impressive. You all heard the young hero. Avoid the pavilion and find another place to rest. Understood?”

“Yes, Master!”

The large Tang (唐) character stitched on their robes and the way they addressed him as “Master” marked them as members of a single, significant family. Though curious about their mission, I simply gave a small bow to the middle-aged leader and hurried back to my pavilion. It was time to feed my “children.”

“Almost late, wasn’t I? Is everyone hungry?”

Inside my room, I lit the oil lamp and began preparing their meal. I lifted the lid of a big earthen jar, pushed aside the leaves inside, and grabbed a handful of crickets, their squirming legs tickling my palm.

Next, I opened a larger jar and peered in. There it was—a creature with a broad body and velvety legs, its slightly yellowish color glinting in the light. The sight never failed to quicken my pulse.

I tossed in several adult crickets and watched the tarantula seize its prey with blinding speed, stuffing its mouth greedily.

“Eat well, Blackie. If it weren’t for all of you, I would have lost my mind in this solitude.”

Blackie was a Black Earth Tiger Tarantula, a species native to Hainan Island that can grow up to 20 centimeters. I had caught this one myself, and after two molts, it was nearly 15 centimeters—my absolute pride and joy.

Once I was sure Blackie was eating, I turned to my other “kids.” I opened an old medicine cabinet to greet its inhabitants—Bawangling Cave Geckos. These lizards, with their brilliant yellow body stripes and unique white-striped tails, are another species found only on Hainan.

“In my last life, importing you would have been a major ordeal, but here? You’re practically everywhere. Life is strange, isn’t it?”

I dangled a cricket by its leg near one of the geckos, teasing it playfully. It lunged, snapping the treat from my fingers.

“Hey! Ouch! Not my finger!”

After feeding each of the creatures in the cabinet, a voice called from outside.

“Young hero, are you inside?”

It was the middle-aged man from before. I wiped my hands, shut the cabinet quickly, and stepped out.

The man stood there with a genial smile. “Thank you for your hospitality. I was hoping you might join us for our meal? We managed to hunt some venison.”

“Venison? You mean deer meat?”

“Exactly. We took down two deer on our journey here and thought you might appreciate a share.”

Deer meat. The words alone made my mouth water.

In my previous life, the idea of eating reptiles and snakes was off-putting. But here, they were my only reliable source of protein. Venison—proper meat from a four-legged animal—was a luxury I couldn’t possibly turn down.

“Thank you! I would be delighted to join.”

As I followed the man, I threw a guilty look toward the patch of earth where I’d buried the bones of the snakes and lizards I’d consumed. Sorry, everyone… Your big brother has to survive, too.

We reached the largest pavilion in the temple complex. A fire crackled beneath its broken roof, casting a warm glow on the walls. The air was rich with the scent of roasting venison, and I swallowed a mouthful of saliva without thinking.

The man noticed and chuckled, gesturing for me to sit beside him. Flushing with embarrassment, I quickly sat down, trying to ignore my growling stomach.

“The meat needs just a little more time,” he said warmly. “While we wait, would you mind if I asked you a few questions?”

“Please, go ahead,” I replied, considering it a fair trade for such a meal.

He began with the predictable questions. “You live here all alone in these mountains? How old are you?”

“I believe I’m around fourteen or fifteen.”

“Fourteen or fifteen?” His puzzled look made me scratch the back of my head awkwardly.

“I… I have no memory of my past, so I can’t be completely sure.”

“Ah, I understand. That is truly unfortunate.”

The sympathy in his eyes stirred a twinge of guilt, since the memory loss was a complete fabrication. I hadn’t lost anything—this was a reincarnation.

In my former life, I’d been a streamer with over a million subscribers. My channels on platforms like YouTube, Switch, and AmericaTV were dedicated to showcasing reptiles, spiders, and venomous creatures. My nickname was Spicy Fabre, a tribute to the famed entomologist Jean-Henri Fabre.

The reason I ended up in this body? A bite from a Black Mamba.

I’d been filming a special to celebrate hitting a million subscribers, featuring the world’s most lethal snakes. While returning to a shabby African hotel after the shoot, a Black Mamba had slid out from behind the refrigerator and bitten me. The venom killed me in under twenty minutes.

“So, you truly live here by yourself?”

“Yes, I survive by catching snakes and selling their skins. I don’t have any other skills to depend on.”

“Young hero, catching snakes at your age? That is far too dangerous a trade…”

His gaze was full of pity, and I couldn’t help but sigh inwardly. I sometimes felt sorry for myself—I could only imagine what others must think.

As we spoke, a steaming cut of venison was placed before me. My eyes widened in surprise as the man who delivered it smiled kindly.

“Master, I’ve brought the cooked portions. The young hero seemed quite hungry earlier.”

Flustered, I felt my cheeks grow warm again, but I wasn’t about to let shyness keep me from such a generous offer. I bowed slightly and accepted the meat gratefully.

“Thank you. It has been so long since I’ve tasted meat from a four-legged animal.”

The moment it was in my hands, I began to eat.

*Crunch.*

How long had it been since I’d had real meat? Snake meat had its qualities, but it was nothing compared to the richness of proper game. Juices dripped down my chin, and the savory fat melted on my tongue, bringing a powerful wave of pure bliss.

Yes. This is what happiness feels like.

In my past life, I might have found the grease overwhelming, but here, it was a dearly missed delicacy. I stripped the bone clean, savoring every bit, and even found myself sucking on it to get every last bit of flavor.

Just as I finished, an elderly man brought over a large rack of venison ribs and handed it to me with a grandfatherly smile.

“You have a hearty appetite for one so young. Here, have some more.”

“Thank you, elder.”

“Ha ha, you remind me of my own granddaughter back home.”

I was still gnawing on the ribs, enjoying the fatty goodness, when the middle-aged man—the one called Master—spoke again.

“Young hero, while you eat, let me ask you something. Have you seen anything unusual in this area lately?”

I licked the grease from the back of my hand and asked, “Unusual? What exactly do you mean?”

The man hesitated, clearly considering how much to say, when the elder beside him smiled gently and interjected.

“Master, the young hero was kind enough to give us shelter. It would do no harm to tell him, especially as he could be in danger if he remains unaware. He lives alone up here—it’s not as if he has anyone to tell.”

The middle-aged man nodded. “You are right, Father.” He lowered his voice and turned back to me.

“We are searching for a centipede with blue markings. Have you encountered one in these parts? We’ve been looking for several days without any luck.”

“A centipede with blue markings?”

“Yes, a very large one. It is called the Blue-Spotted Centipede (청반오공). If it is fully grown, it is large enough to… well, it could likely swallow someone of your size whole.”

“What?!”

A centipede big enough to eat a person? Is this some ancient version of reality, or am I in a completely different universe? I need to see this creature for myself.

The thought of such a massive specimen sent a thrilling shiver through me.

The elder seemed to mistake my reaction for fear, because he patted my shoulder reassuringly. “Do not worry, young hero. We are here to capture it.”

Capture it? There are people in this time who share my passion?

My excitement at meeting potential fellow enthusiasts instantly outweighed my nerves. If these men were hobbyists like me, perhaps I could find a community with them—exchange breeding advice, share locations, maybe even show off a little.

After all, sharing a passion is one of the greatest joys of any interest.

“You intend to capture it alive?” I asked eagerly.

The two men exchanged amused looks before bursting into laughter.

“Capture it alive? What an amusing young man you are,” the elder chuckled.

“Indeed. No, we plan to use it for medicinal purposes,” the Master explained.

And just like that, my enthusiasm vanished.

Ah. They’re just another set of believers in old superstitions. In my past life, centipedes were often ground up into useless remedies for back pain and other ailments, with no scientific proof they worked. Poor things…

I sighed inwardly, already imagining this rare specimen meeting a senseless end. Still, I decided to ask more. If there was any chance such a creature existed, I needed to find it first.

“Centipedes don’t actually have any medicinal value,” I said carefully.

The elder’s expression turned grave, and his voice took on a sorrowful tone.

“That may be so, but my granddaughter is deathly ill. We are convinced the core of this centipede is the only thing that can save her.”

His granddaughter? That would make her the Master’s daughter. I glanced at the middle-aged man, whose strained smile revealed the depth of his fear.

I see… This isn’t about logic or proof. When someone you love is dying, you will try anything to save them.

I could understand that. In my past life, I’d once spent 500,000 won on vet bills to save a dying lizard I’d bought for only 20,000 won.

Though I felt sorry for the centipede, I couldn’t disregard the kindness these men had shown me.

“I haven’t seen the centipede myself, but I might know where to look for it,” I said finally.

If it truly existed, it was destined to end up in the palm of Spicy Fabre sooner or later.