Fabre in Sacheon’s Tang Novel - Chapter 137

Chapter 137
Drawing on the clue provided by Grandfather Mandok Shingun, a startling possibility occurred to me—was it possible for a Heavenly Silkworm to advance into a Silver Silkworm by consuming the Queen of the Flame Veil?

I was so stunned by this idea that my face must have shown it. Grandfather Mandok Shingun cocked his head and inquired,
“Is something wrong, So-ryong? You look like you’ve seen a spirit.”
“It’s… I just had a flash of inspiration…”
“A flash of inspiration? Regarding what?”
“For the moment, we should go to the Lord’s Hall. I wish to talk about this with my father-in-law present. Actually, with every member of the clan’s direct lineage.”
“Everyone? Is it truly that significant?”
When I asked for the whole direct lineage to be assembled, Grandfather Mandok Shingun gazed at me with interest, doubting if it was really needed.
“Absolutely. This is an issue of utmost seriousness.”
“O-oh?”
My grave tone caused Grandfather Mandok Shingun to start slightly.
Yet, he quickly chuckled, dismissing it as another of my odd whims.
“That mind of yours is always churning with peculiar notions, isn’t it? Very well, lead the way.”
As I had asked, Grandfather instructed the nearby guards to call Hwa-eun and my mother-in-law to the Lord’s Hall.
“You two, tell Hwa-eun and her mother to report to the Lord’s Hall immediately.”
“At once, Grand Elder!”
“There, it’s done.”
“Yes!”
From the amused look on his face, he appeared to believe I was exaggerating over a trivial matter. But this was a remarkable finding—a subject too sensitive for casual conversation.
The essential individuals had to be there.
This was, ultimately, a scholarly advancement distinctive to Spicy Fabre.
“This is unbelievable. After being reborn into a world where martial arts form the core of physics, I’ve managed a pioneering achievement in one of the most niche disciplines—venom arts. And more specifically, an even more specialized area: the research of poisonous beings!”
I was so agitated because I had just revealed the process by which venomous creatures evolve.
The hidden means through which poisonous beings—and even spiritual entities—surpass their natural constraints and advance to a higher state.
While documenting their diets and capabilities was useful work, discovering the actual evolutionary mechanism was a much greater scientific accomplishment.
Naturally, it was still only a theory at this stage.
But that only increased its worth.
A theory had been proposed, meaning I could now introduce it before respected experts who also possessed knowledge of venom arts.
“That is why I wanted all the direct lineage members present.”
Who but Spicy Fabre would make a revolutionary finding while pursuing a personal interest and then instantly offer it as a formal theory?
Containing my enthusiasm, I walked with Grandfather while planning how to lay everything out for the family.
“The Heavenly Silkworm ate the Queen of the Flame Veil and evolved into a Silver Silkworm.”
It was a theory, and theories inevitably invite a torrent of inquiries. I had to be ready for that.
“The evolution aspect has good corroborating proof, but they will certainly question this part. Is this what my professors experienced when sharing their studies in my previous life?”
My heart racing, I reached the Lord’s Hall.
When I entered, my father-in-law regarded me with a mildly astonished look.
“You’ve returned so soon?”
“Yes, the location wasn’t distant, so I came back promptly.”
It struck him as strange that I was back so quickly after saying I was hunting for Bini’s hiding place.
But he just accepted my answer without further comment.
“Good that it was close. And I see my father-in-law is accompanying you?”
“Yes, I met So-ryong on my route here due to these mushrooms.”
“I understand. So-ryong, report what you discovered.”
My father-in-law, still ignorant of my news, told me to share my findings.
However, Grandfather Mandok Shingun interjected first.
“Hold on. So-ryong stated he has a matter to address before all the direct lineage members. That is why I called for Hwa-eun and the lady of the clan.”
“Hwa-eun and my wife too?”
My father-in-law looked surprised to learn I had summoned the entire family.
After a pause, he appeared to intuit something and gave a nod.
“Did you locate your objective?”
“Yes, Father-in-law.”
“Then, we shall await them.”
Shortly after, Hwa-eun and my mother-in-law entered.
“Grandfather, I was told you requested my presence.”
“Father-in-law, for what reason was I called?”
Both seemed confused as they came in and asked about the purpose of the summons.
Grandfather Mandok Shingun and my father-in-law just grinned and glanced at me.
“It wasn’t me; it was So-ryong who asked for you.”
“If your husband summoned you, please be seated first.”
At their words, the two looked perplexed but finally sat down.
Once I saw that everyone was settled, I inhaled deeply to steady my thrilled nerves and rose with the most earnest expression I could manage.
I was, after all, preparing to propose a theory.
“I have brought the four of you, the direct lineage of the family, here because I have discovered a matter of critical importance.”
“A matter of critical importance?”
Hwa-eun posed a question before I could even begin my explanation.
As the timing was poor, I gave an uncomfortable smile and responded,
“Please hold your questions until later.”
“…?”
Hwa-eun blinked, appearing both bewildered and somewhat hurt.
I did feel somewhat apologetic, but interruptions were not appropriate now.
“First, allow me to describe why I went to examine Bini’s hiding spot today. My goal was to identify how Bini became a Mukhyeon Phantom Centipede.”
“If I could comprehend the cause of Bini’s change, I might contrast it with how Cho turned into a Bi-cheon Shin-sa. In doing so, I could potentially infer the method by which a Heavenly Silkworm evolves into a Silver Silkworm.”
“Hoo…”
“Oh…”
My reasoned account made the family members nod thoughtfully.
With a slight smile, I went on,
“So, I brought Bini and followed the trail back to its hiding place. It emerged that Bini had concealed itself in the very cave where I leapt when the Blood Cultists arrived. The identical cave overrun with Ho-ban Yusa warriors.”
“It was that nearby?”
“That creature was so close to us? No wonder we failed to find it—we were scouring distant areas while it was practically next to us… We sent the warriors on a needless effort.”
“Bini… Ah…”
Understanding Bini’s proximity, both my father-in-law and mother-in-law were clearly amazed.
Meanwhile, Hwa-eun, who had been scolded earlier, attempted to speak but instead covered her mouth.
Although their astonishment briefly broke my presentation, it wasn’t a direct question, so I continued.
“Yes. As Bini described, it ingested the yin energy that had gathered in that cave, which led to it becoming a Mukhyeon Phantom Centipede.”
“Cho ate the Bi-cheon Shin-sa’s Neidan, while Bini consumed the yin energy from the cave.”
“That is remarkable. To imagine that even the lingering energy from slaughter could be absorbed.”
“Without a doubt. This is a truly incredible revelation.”
Once more, my explanation was cut short by their comments. But by now, I resolved to simply carry on.
Reflecting on it, this was likely their first time participating in such a discourse.
I did feel somewhat remorseful for correcting Hwa-eun earlier.
“I feel a little guilty now.”
Setting aside my regret, I continued to explain the heart of my theory to the family.
Building on the information I had collected, I presented my deductions in a coherent way.
“This is my belief. Cho ingested the Neidan of the Bi-cheon Shin-sa and became a Bi-cheon Wugong. Bini absorbed the yin energy remaining in the blood-drenched cave and changed into a Mukhyeon Phantom Centipede.
Therefore, while I cannot claim this is universal for all venomous creatures, I maintain that when spirit-type poisonous beings consume a vast quantity of energy, they experience an evolutionary shift.”
As I concluded outlining my central theory, my father-in-law and Grandfather Mandok Shingun both nodded in comprehension.
“Ohh, I see. As they are spiritual entities, it is logical that taking in a massive amount of energy would trigger a transformation, akin to a rebirth.”
“Precisely. When a form is saturated with tremendous energy, it changes. If this holds for spirit creatures too, then your concept has validity.”
Hearing two respected martial masters endorse my idea from a combat perspective bolstered my assurance, and I declared my conclusion with certainty.
“Yes. Building on this, my final analysis is that the Heavenly Silkworm must have eaten something to become a Silver Silkworm. And when Grandfather Mandok Shingun revealed that mushroom to me, an idea hit me.
That mushroom may be worthless to humans, but imagine if the Queen of the Flame Veil, a being that has existed for more than fifty years, consumed it daily?
And then, suppose the Heavenly Silkworm ate that Queen?
Would that not suffice for it to metamorphose into a Silver Silkworm?”
“Eating that mushroom every day for fifty years… And then the Queen of the Flame Veil, after eating it for fifty years, was consumed by the Heavenly Silkworm?”
“A compelling notion. If accurate, then the clan will gain another of the Ten Great Venomous Creatures.”
The elders nodded in appreciation at my theory.
And then—
Hwa-eun tentatively lifted her hand and asked,
“C-Could I ask my questions now?”
Just as I was feeling remorseful, I promptly nodded.
“Certainly.”
She seemed to ponder for a second before posing the exact question I had foreseen.
“But wait, didn’t you previously explain that in colonies of Ma-ui (ant-like beings), there is just a single queen? If the Queen of the Flame Veil had been eaten, then when we unsealed the nest, shouldn’t there have been no queen remaining?”
“Oh, that’s correct. You did mention that earlier when handling the Army Ants.”
Unanticipated questions can sometimes disrupt your flow, but when you’ve already anticipated the query, a grin naturally appears.
I smiled at Hwa-eun.
Many presume an ant colony has a sole queen, but that is not invariably true.
Certain ant varieties host multiple queens.
And termites, which are more related to cockroaches than ants, possess an even more distinctive characteristic.
Termite colonies include secondary reproductive groups—princesses who act as substitute queens.
Although they are named princesses, they still produce eggs. There are even male termites that help manage these princesses, operating like consorts.
What is even more intriguing is that several of these princesses are genetic duplicates of the queen herself.
And there is a basis for this.
Unlike ants, termites cannot preserve sperm from one mating for their whole lives. They must mate regularly. This is why termites uniquely have kings coexisting with their queens.
But if the queen perishes, the princesses must assume control.
If a princess mates with the king, it results in inbreeding.
To prevent genetic decline, the queen provides her own clones as replacements.
Thus, even if one queen dies, an exact duplicate is prepared to assume her role.
“…So inevitably, another Queen of the Flame Veil would have assumed its position.”
“What an unusual species.”
“Truly, the Flame Veil beings are quite distinct…”
“Oh, that is logical.”
After elucidating these details, my family nodded in agreement.
Then my father-in-law, wearing a entertained smile, questioned,
“But that remains only your theory. Naturally, you will have to confirm it, correct?”
“Heh, just as I’d expect from my father-in-law.”
With his broad medical expertise, he instantly recognized the subsequent step.
Of course, once a theory is formed, the next phase is testing.
And what superior method to validate a theory than through direct experiment?
Luckily, demonstrating my concept was straightforward.
We merely needed to give a Queen of the Flame Veil to a Heavenly Silkworm.
“Naturally.”
The following day, Xintu, who had been residing with the clan in his quest for the Heavenly Silkworm, complained as he accompanied us.
***
For the test, we seized one of the already-hatched Heavenly Silkworms from a deserted colony and put it into a separate nest containing a queen.
We deliberately selected a nest where the prior queen and king had perished, guaranteeing that a new queen was ascending to power.
We excavated into that colony, removed the new queen, and set it before the Heavenly Silkworm.
Chomp.
The instant it detected the queen’s stout, baguette-like form, the Heavenly Silkworm immediately plunged its mandibles in.
The queen flailed in shock, but the moment the Heavenly Silkworm’s golden antennae emitted their characteristic sweet aroma…
Miraculously, the queen ceased resisting.
It stayed perfectly motionless until every drop of its fluids was consumed.
And when only its desiccated shell was left—
The Heavenly Silkworm started to molt, disclosing a glistening silver shape underneath.
A third-instar larva.
“It… It actually worked!”
“This… This is the Silver Silkworm!”
Everyone in the party was mesmerized.
As we headed back to the Tang Clan after finishing our investigation, I looked down at my shoulder.
Two freshly hatched Silver Silkworms, having enjoyed their inaugural meal of a queen, shimmered as they perched on me.
“Hah, now… what should I call these little ones?”
If I nurtured them to full maturity, I would formally possess one of the Ten Great Venomous Creatures of the Central Plains—the Silver Silkworm Moth.