Fabre in Sacheon’s Tang Novel - Chapter 147

Chapter 147
Just as I finished speaking with my father-in-law, Seol, still munching on dried ginger, turned to me and inquired,
“Crunch… So, Ryong. Where is this Fire Carp, exactly?”
“It’s at the Sacred Peak of Botasan.”
Hearing this, Hwa-eun and Seol both looked at each other in surprise, their eyes growing wide.
“The Sacred Peak?”
“If it’s the Sacred Peak, then…? I recall my father saying Botaarm is usually a convent for nuns and entirely forbidden to men. They very rarely allow specific guests, but the Sacred Peak itself… Absolutely no men are permitted, ever! How do you intend to get inside? Will you simply request that the nuns bring it out to you?”
‘Hold on, what? So it’s like an all-girls martial arts academy or a women’s college?’
When the princess initially brought up the Sacred Peak, I believed it was just that specific area that was restricted. Now I discovered that the entire Botaarm was already a women-only establishment.
I hadn’t explained the crossdressing plan to them yet, so Hwa-eun and Seol were both gazing at me, their expressions insisting on a proper explanation.
“The Fire Carp is as big as a person’s head. How could the nuns possibly move it while it’s still alive? They’ve likely never dealt with a live fish. The only people who could pull that off would be from our Tang Clan, perhaps—but certainly not anyone from Botaarm.”
The Fire Carp was said to reside near the Sacred Peak of Botasan.
And what I needed to obtain was a carp the size of a human head.
True, our Tang Clan was accustomed to capturing all sorts of venomous animals—pufferfish included on occasion—but to expect a order of nuns to catch and carry a large, living fish?
That was simply impossible.
This era didn’t have portable water tanks. And I seriously questioned whether they understood the principles of how fish breathe.
“…So what is your strategy?”
“Yes, So-ryong. What exactly is your plan?”
Both Hwa-eun and Seol fixed me with intense stares, demanding a straight answer rather than an evasion.
Seeing no alternative, I shut my eyes tightly and confessed,
“Th-the princess instructed me to… to wear women’s clothing. She mentioned she would send a letter ahead to the leader of Botaarm to let them know…”
“…Dress as a woman?”
“…You’re going to wear a disguise?”
At my admission, Seol and Hwa-eun looked at one another, their eyes round with astonishment.
Then, at the same time, they both broke into wide grins.
“That sounds amusing.”
“That sounds very amusing.”
‘Why?!’
I couldn’t comprehend what was so funny about this predicament, and their response completely confused me.
***
We moored our ship at the biggest island in the Zhoushan Archipelago before switching to a smaller vessel that would carry us to the island housing Botasan.
“That over there is Botanaga Mountain.”
“Botanaga Mountain? I thought it was just Botasan?”
“Because Naga Mountain and Botasan are linked, most people call the whole area Botanaga Mountain.”
It was a distinctive two-island structure, reaching a height of about 300 meters.
As we drew near, the woman rowing the boat looked over the three of us—me, Hwa-eun, and Seol—and spoke with a playful smile.
“I assume none of you are men, correct? If I brought a man over, I’d be in deep trouble. Haha, but judging by how lovely you all look, I’m sure that’s not an issue.”
Hearing this, Hwa-eun and Seol shared a look of self-satisfaction, obviously delighted with the outcome of their efforts.
Since daybreak, they had been pushing me into various garments, doing my hair, and sculpting me into this “creation.”
Based on how effortlessly the ferrywoman accepted my appearance, it appeared their work was disturbingly effective.
‘Then why do I feel so awful?’
Perhaps it was the Royal Jelly I’d consumed earlier that had made my skin soft, but I had to concede—I resembled Hwa-eun’s little sister.
The instant we arrived at the small pier, two long-haired nuns descended using qinggong and greeted us with pressed palms.
“May the compassion of Guanyin be with you. Who are you, and from where do you journey?”
“We are Tang Hwa-eun and Tang So-eun of Sichuan’s Tang Clan, and this is Seol Pyo of the Southern Barbarian Beast Palace.”
“Ah, sisters of the Tang Clan and a maiden from the Beast Palace? What is your purpose in visiting?”
Just as we had arranged, Hwa-eun presented me as her younger sister, and the deception went entirely unnoticed.
‘Should I be relieved by this… or not?’
As I quietly wrestled with a personal dilemma, Hwa-eun passed the princess’s letter to the nun.
“Princess Guando has dispatched this letter. Could you please see that it reaches the Sword Empress?”
“The princess!?”
The two nuns clearly started at the name of the princess.
One promptly took the letter and sped off toward Botasan using her lightfoot skill, while the other remained with us.
“Please wait here for a short time. A reply will arrive soon.”
It was clear that not only were men barred from entry, but all visitors were subject to strict inspection.
After a wait lasting roughly half the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the nun came back and delivered the message.
“With Guanyin’s grace, you three are permitted to enter. Please come ashore and proceed up to Botasan. The Sword Empress awaits you.”
Inside a hall within Botaarm, a very severe-looking middle-aged woman was waiting for us.
Her face was far from friendly.
“…That problem child has surely stirred up trouble again.”
She released a heavy sigh, clearly weighed down by the letter’s contents.
Motioning toward the letter, she murmured,
“…Ah, introductions should come first. Amitabha. Young maidens… and young master.”
She seemed weary, but she made an effort to be courteous. Then, she focused on one of us and stated,
“But before that… I must verify something. This letter states you aided the princess. You, young master, please elaborate.”
I was preparing to respond—
But then I saw something strange.
She wasn’t looking at me.
Her gaze was fixed on Seol.
Seol instinctively put a hand to her chest, as if checking if she was the one being spoken to.
The Sword Empress gave a nod.
“Yes, you. Explain.”
Seol’s eyes opened wide in shock.
Then, understanding her error, the Sword Empress offered a regretful smile.
“…Ah, your legs are exposed, so I thought you were a man. Hahaha. In that case, the actual young master must be… you?”
This time, her gaze fell directly upon Hwa-eun.
Hwa-eun and Seol, who had been relishing my humiliating situation, suddenly frowned.
‘Why am I also feeling irritated?’
I didn’t understand why, but I felt truly insulted by this mistake.
The letter contained the full details of the princess’s scheme for a false marriage and her desire to become the Sword Empress’s heir.
Evidently, this was the Sword Empress’s first time learning the complete plan.
That day, I learned that even masters of martial arts can be brought to the brink by shock.
Because the moment I nodded to confirm it was true, she visibly swayed on her feet.
“This… this is absurd…”
But there was no taking it back.
With a sigh of resignation, the Sword Empress whispered,
“…So this is destiny…”
Yes, it was probably best to see it that way.
After massaging her temples for some time, she finally collected herself and spoke to us again.
“Well… regardless, I thank you for helping my disciple. Since you have played a part in securing my successor, I owe you a reward. However, I must offer an apology.”
“…For what?”
For a second, I was alarmed, thinking she was going to deny us the Fire Carp.
But her next words took me entirely by surprise.
She told us that—
The Fire Carp possessed no Neidan.
“The Fire Carp that Jiryeon wishes to give you in thanks… I believe they thought it contained a Neidan. But it does not. It is not yet mature enough.”
—Swoosh!?
‘Wait, WHAT!? I went through all that crossdressing for THIS!?’
From within my clothing, Yeondu emitted a shocked sound, as appalled as I was.
It was like asking for a filled bun and receiving an empty one—or purchasing a pastry shaped like a fish, only to discover it contained no fish.
After all that effort and embarrassment, to learn there was no Neidan left me utterly dumbfounded.
Nonetheless, I quickly gathered my wits and managed a courteous reply.
“I-it’s alright. I wasn’t actually seeking the Neidan. I merely have a passion for keeping exotic animals, so I wished to acquire it.”
Even without a Neidan, I had come to observe its environment—and if I took it back and cared for it well, perhaps one would form in time.
However small, there was still a possibility…
The Sword Empress nodded with approval.
“I understand. If that is so, then it should be permissible. Transporting it will be difficult, but you should see it for yourself first. Choa, take them to the Moonlit Abyss on the Sacred Peak.”
“Yes, Sword Empress.”
Accompanied by the young nun, we climbed to the Sacred Peak, where a large pond came into view.
After learning the Fire Carp had no Neidan, Yeondu had been brooding inside my robes, so my expectations were low.
But the instant I saw the thing gliding in the water—
I stood frozen in amazement.
“Th-this is the Fire Carp!?”
Because this was not a typical Fire Carp.