Fabre in Sacheon’s Tang Novel - Chapter 139

Chapter 139
As I inscribed the title *So-ryong’s Venomous Creature Chronicles* upon the red silk cover before my father-in-law and the assembled family, a chorus of admiration followed.

“*So-ryong’s Venomous Creature Chronicles*. A volume that records So-ryong’s understanding of poisonous beings. It seems straightforward, but for a man to place his own name upon a book—it demonstrates profound commitment and resolve. It is a magnificent title. Truly superb.”

“Hmm… To risk your reputation on its pages? Audacious. Extremely audacious. You are certainly my son-in-law.”

As anticipated, this sort of bold statement resonated powerfully with the men present.

Naturally, I had my own reasons for naming the book after myself. Much like *Fabre’s Insect Chronicles*, if I was to author a tome, it was only fitting that my name be on it.

However, there was more to it than that. Placing one’s name on a work is an ultimate act of self-assurance.

It is a vow that I will invest my entire being into this project.

If the book were to prove inadequate, my reputation would be tarnished for generations. No one would so readily attach their name unless they were completely certain of its quality.

Therefore, as I smiled and accepted their compliments, the elders reciprocated with approving smiles of their own.

“Yes, I will pledge my name to it and dedicate my everything.”

With that, the naming ceremony for *So-ryong’s Venomous Creature Chronicles* came to an end, signaling the start of my first real rest in a fortnight.

“Well then, since you’ve been sleeping under the stars all this time, go and get some proper sleep, son-in-law. We will see you at the evening meal.”

“Understood, Father-in-law.”

“Son-in-law, I will have the servants prepare warm water for a bath. Be sure to visit the bathing quarters first.”

“Yes, I will. I shall take my leave for now.”

After offering a bow of farewell in the Lord’s Hall, I swiftly exited.

However, I was not headed for the bathing quarters as my mother-in-law had suggested.

I had agreed to her proposal, but my intended destination was different—the Venomous Creature Garden.

Before returning from the valley, I had asked Deputy Commander Gu Pae to prepare something for me at Gujin Gate.

As dearly as I wished for a warm bath and a soft bed after two weeks of arduous travel, this task demanded precedence.

“Is everything prepared?”

I hurried into the Venomous Creature Garden and immediately sought out Gu Pae, who moved aside to show me what he had arranged.

“Yes, So-ryong. Will this suffice?”

Behind him stood a sizable box, its lid perforated with many small air holes.

I did not hesitate to inspect what was inside.

“You’ve drilled the holes correctly. What of the fabric?”

“As you directed, I have prepared black cloth separately. Also, since the finely powdered soil would disperse too easily, I blended it with the crushed remains of the Queen of the Flame Veil, just as you instructed. It solidified rapidly.”

Inside the box was the familiar red earth, packed thickly along the bottom and walls.

I had retrieved this soil from the Queen of the Flame Veil’s nest, using Bini to carry the rocks back. I then ground them into red sand and combined them with termite fluids, mimicking the method termites use to construct their tunnels.

*Tap, tap.*

When I knocked on the hardened surface, it emitted a firm, stone-like sound.

“This should be adequate.”

“Then this will act as the chamber for the Silver Silkworms?”

“Yes.”

My reason for having Gu Pae prepare this was simple—it was for the Silver Silkworms.

I needed to mimic their original nesting environment as precisely as possible.

Unlike mammals, which readily show signs of distress in an unsuitable setting, insects—particularly in their larval stage—are slow to respond.

They do not outwardly show discontent, making it crucial to establish a perfect habitat from the very beginning.

If insects are kept at an incorrect temperature, their development can be stunted or cease altogether. That was an unacceptable outcome.

“Achieving maximum size is imperative. Absolutely.”

In the world of insect enthusiasts, larger is invariably superior.

Even in my previous life, a commonly raised stag beetle might be worth only around 20,000 won at a standard size, but if it surpassed 9 centimeters, its value could climb as high as 10 million won.

That is why, throughout my travels, I had provided meticulous care for the Silver Silkworms.

During the day, I carried them on my shoulder.

At night, I settled them inside a warm pouch crafted from Yo-hwa’s silk.

Now that I was back with the Tang Clan, it was time to provide them with a permanent residence.

If I was to raise them, I desired for them to achieve their greatest possible size.

And since I possessed only two of them, failure was not an option.

“Very well, let’s place them inside.”

I took the two larvae resting on my shoulder and set them onto my palm.

Their texture remained as sleek and soft as I remembered.

Savoring the velvety sensation for a moment, I lowered my hand into the box.

Even though I intended to keep the box in my room, I wished to see if they approved of their new surroundings.

But the instant I placed them down—

Both larvae instantly stretched out their small legs, fastening onto my fingers.

“Huh?”

One seized my thumb, the other my pinky.

For larvae that had previously displayed almost no reactions, this was an exceptional response.

“Alright, let go now. This is your home.”

Casually, I attempted to loosen their grip and withdraw my hand.

But at that moment—

“So-ryong, their horns!”

At Gu Pae’s startled cry, I turned my hand to see.

The bases of their delicate, leaf-like antennae had turned entirely black.

“Gasp!”

I recognized this occurrence.

This was the darkening reaction.

It was the very same thing that had happened when the first Silver Silkworm I hatched discharged its heavy stagnant energy.

There was no doubt—this was a manifestation of displeasure.

Alarmed, I quickly soothed them.

“Hey, hey, no! I am not leaving you behind!”

Fearing they might begin to release stagnant energy like the first one had, I hastily reached out again.

Just as before, they both clung firmly to my fingers and crawled back onto my palm.

The moment they did, the blackness in their antennae gradually receded.

“Whew… that was far too close.”

As I wiped the sweat from my brow, I suddenly observed something unusual.

A faint light had started to shine from my palm.

“This… This is…!?”

Startled, I looked down.

A soft, warm radiance was emanating from the base of their golden antennae.

Like the flame of a birthday candle, the tiny light flickered gently.

Simultaneously, a comforting coolness spread across my palm.

Gu Pae inhaled sharply.

“Th-That’s refined energy!?”

It was now evident—when these creatures were distressed, they released stagnant energy.

But when they were content…

They emitted refined energy.

“Quickly! Go and bring Grandfather Mandok Shingun and Father-in-law!”

“A-At once!”

Gu Pae rushed off, and I remained there, gazing at the two larvae in astonishment.

Their leaf-like antennae swayed gently, clearly happy.

Feeling the soothing energy spreading through my fingertips, I instinctively sat down and commenced a meditation cycle.

As the refined energy permeated my body, my depleted internal energy was swiftly restored—

As if I had connected to a divine energy source.

The realization sent a shiver down my spine.

“These little ones… They are healers!”

Bright energy when happy, dark energy when displeased—like a priest of dual nature.

No… more akin to a hybrid of light and dark priests.

Why had I not considered this before?

If the first one could selectively expel stagnant energy, should I not have contemplated the possibility that these two could perform the reverse?

The Heavenly Silkworm and the Silver Silkworm were the same species, yet fundamentally distinct.

And now, I had confirmation that their capabilities extended well beyond what I had initially imagined.

When I opened my eyes, fully rejuvenated, I found my father-in-law and Grandfather Mandok Shingun staring at me in stunned silence.

“This… What is this?”

“So-ryong, explain this immediately!”

And so, I found myself pondering—

Should I simply tell them I have acquired healers?

***

“Did everyone sleep well?”

Chirrup.
Chirp.
Kukku!

Rubbing my eyes and rising from the straw bedding, I checked on my little companions.

The two larvae clinging to the wall were, naturally, my primary concern.

“Moji, Soji, did you two sleep well?”

At my question, the faint light at the base of their antennae flickered briefly before fading.

Yesterday, I had verified that these two could restore internal energy and release refined energy that assisted in meditation and energy circulation.

Due to these precious abilities, the elders had insisted they receive formal names without delay.

Thus, somewhat hastily, the two Silver Silkworms were officially named.

Moji and Soji.

In the language of the Central Plains, these names meant “Thumb” and “Pinky,” respectively.

Since every time they crawled onto my hand, they invariably seized those fingers, I thought the names were rather appropriate.

“My talent for naming is exceptional, is it not?”

Despite their remarkable abilities, the elders were still somewhat doubtful about their practical use.

For one, their energy output was confined to a single individual at a time—effectively a single-target healing.

Furthermore, I had not yet discovered how to prompt them to use their abilities on command.

I would never manipulate their emotions merely to activate their powers. Some ruthless individuals, like those in the Five Venom Clan, might entertain such a notion, but I, Fabre, would never engage in emotional manipulation.

With ordinary pets, I could scratch their heads or rub their bellies, but Moji and Soji were larvae.

I could not really pet them, nor was I certain that a simple touch would be sufficient to stimulate their energy.

For the time being, I resolved to raise them to adulthood and study them further.

“Alright then, let’s wash up and get some breakfast.”

With Moji and Soji positioned on my shoulder and Hangi coiled around me, I stepped outside.

I left behind Bini, who had grown increasingly listless after her evolution, as well as Cho, who was too large to bring along.

By now, the servants should have prepared the water for washing.

*Creak.*

As I opened the door and stepped out, I was met with an unexpected sight.

It was Hwa-eun.

“Hwa-eun?”

Normally, the household servants would be attending to me, but she stood there holding a towel instead.

Seeing my confused expression, Hwa-eun responded with an awkward look.

“The maids… They are too frightened to come here. They say the number of venomous creatures keeps growing, and it is terrifying.”

What foolishness! My little ones were the most gentle creatures in existence!

Clearly, the next time we hired new servants, I needed to recommend selecting more broad-minded candidates.

As I completed my washing, a warrior from the Lord’s Hall ran up and delivered a message.

“So-ryong, before you eat, you are asked to come to the Lord’s Hall.”

Being summoned to the Lord’s Hall first thing in the morning…

I had a suspicion this concerned Moji and Soji’s unique capabilities.

I nodded in reply.

“Understood.”

After finishing my morning preparations, I proceeded to the Lord’s Hall—

And encountered an unexpected visitor.

“Wait… Why is the King Beggar here so early?”

It was none other than Elder Geolhwang.

I offered a slight bow in greeting.

“It has been a while, Elder Geolhwang.”

“Indeed. Have you been keeping well?”

“Yes. But what brings you here at such an early hour? Was it you who summoned me?”

I had presumed my father-in-law had called for me, but seeing Geolhwang present made me think again.

Sure enough, he nodded.

“I needed to speak with you urgently concerning a matter with the Martial Alliance.”

“The Martial Alliance?”

At the mention of the Martial Alliance, I straightened up and listened carefully.

This involved the intelligence I had previously delivered to the Martial Alliance.

According to Geolhwang, after examining the data, the Alliance had identified two locations where the Blood Cult (Hyeolg gyo) may have set up bases.

One was beyond the Great Moon Kingdom, which was anticipated.

The other, however, was within the Central Plains—close to the border of Guangxi Province.

Or rather, it was in a zone where territorial boundaries were unclear.

Since borders were not sharply defined in this era, it was essentially unclaimed land.

The Martial Alliance had intended to conduct a covert raid on the location.

However, the authorities (Gwan, the government) had interceded.

Despite an unwritten rule of “non-interference between the government and the martial world,” the heightened movement of private martial forces had attracted the government’s notice.

Consequently, an official warning had been issued, compelling the Martial Alliance to hold back.

But then, an incident happened in Yueyang (Ak-yang).

A strange sequence of deaths—“Guai-si”—had occurred.

“If we can determine the cause or settle the affair, the authorities have consented to overlook our operations.”

“Guai-si? And why do you require me for this?”

Hearing of unexplained deaths, I could not help but question why they were approaching me.

That was when Geolhwang smirked.

Then, without even seeking permission, he appropriated my own characteristic line.

“Because this is your specialty.”