Fabre in Sacheon’s Tang Novel - Chapter 148

Chapter 148
‘What… are you, exactly?’
I wasn’t asking because I lacked knowledge.
I was simply astonished.
No matter the possible variations in shape or hue, I could never mistake this being.
Yet the entity the monks of Botaarm called a Fire Carp…
Its shade.
Its immense scale.
It was beyond any I had encountered.
Even Hwa-eun and Seol, equally stunned, sent me a mental message in shock.
[So-ryong, that is not a Fire Carp by any stretch. It resembles more of a…]
[So-ryong, is it just the size playing tricks, or… is that actually a tadpole?]
So I wasn’t alone.
Even Hwa-eun and Seol, who understood animals better than most, were gaping as if they’d witnessed a monster.
And they were correct.
What rested before us was no koi carp.
It was unmistakably a tadpole.
‘It’s a tadpole, without question. Its color is a soft peach-pink, and while enormous, a quick glance might mistake it for a plump carp. But it lacks pectoral and dorsal fins, and has that small, endearing mouth… It is absolutely the young of an amphibian.’
Tadpoles are the larval form of amphibians—frogs, toads, and their kin.
And as I observed it…
My heart began to race.
It emitted a gentle, peach-colored radiance.
Even in this juvenile state, it possessed such a vivid hue, suggesting it could become a remarkable poisonous frog or toad.
Snakes, centipedes, scorpions, and moths are all excellent venom-bearing beings…
But toads?
Toads are legendary among toxic creatures.
They are charming, and their sluggish, relaxed motions have a strangely soothing effect on those who watch them.
Was this the hidden boon within a setback?
Yeondu might be let down, but the Neidan no longer held any importance.
A gigantic tadpole?
What manner of frog or toad would this become?
I was truly eager to discover.
‘I was almost resentful toward the princess for her deception, but now? I ought to be expressing gratitude.’
Initially, I had been irritated with the princess for failing to mention the absence of a Neidan.
But after witnessing this, I had no grievances.
This was an ideal present.
Before responding to Hwa-eun and Seol, I kept studying the creature idly floating in the pristine mountain-top pond.
And then… it struck me.
I had been so preoccupied with the disguise that I’d ignored multiple oddities.
‘Hold on… there were too many peculiar aspects from the start.’
1. The Unusual Size Comparison
Typically, to describe a fish’s size, people use common references—a hand, an arm, a lower arm, and so on.
But when they spoke of this Fire Carp, they likened it to a human head.
Back then, I assumed it was just an odd turn of phrase.
But no—it was because this thing was genuinely the size of a human head, complete with an extended tail.
2. The Setting
Botaarm is an island.
Fire Carp inhabit fresh water.
Even as a spiritual being, a freshwater carp shouldn’t logically dwell on an island like this.
But I had completely dismissed that fact.
3. The Pond’s Title
This pond was named Moonlit Abyss (月映淵).
That title directly translates to “a deep pool mirroring the moon.”
Ponds are bodies of still water.
That implied a carp couldn’t simply be here unless it descended from the heavens.
For a carp to exist in a mountain pond on a sea-bound island?
It was unfeasible—but my distraction had blinded me to it.
Just as I prepared to address Hwa-eun and Seol—
They abruptly cried out in alarm.
“Choa! What are you doing!?”
“M-Monk!”
Alarmed, they dashed over and seized me, pressing my face into their chests.
So surprised, I tried to shove them away instinctively, but catching their frantic expressions, they shook their heads urgently.
It was as though they were communicating:
“You must NOT see.”
‘What in the world is going on!?’
As I struggled to comprehend the situation, the monk who led us here replied with serene practicality.
“Hm? Naturally—I was preparing to bathe. Now, please disrobe as well.”
“WHAT!?”
Even Hwa-eun and Seol recoiled at that.
The monk went on, unperturbed.
“Since the Sword Empress directed you here, I presumed she intended for you to purify yourselves before departing. This is the Sacred Peak of Botasan, where no males—not even male creatures—are permitted. The reason is that this is a place for bodily cleansing.”
I finally grasped why men were barred from the Sacred Peak.
This was essentially a communal bath for the nuns.
That explained everything.
No wonder men were strictly prohibited.
Flustered, Hwa-eun quickly attempted to clarify.
“Ah—well! The Sword Empress must have omitted that detail! We only came to see the Fire Carp!”
“Oh? I see. I simply thought you were here to cleanse. But now that you’re here, why not bathe? It’s uncommon to have daytime access, and this water leaves the skin remarkably soft. You must be weary from your travels.”
“E-even if we are all women, we can’t possibly bathe together upon first meeting!”
“Y-yes, exactly!”
From their agitated state, the monk was still undressing.
I could sense the warmth emanating from both of them.
But the monk answered with composure, as if stating a universal fact.
“This form is merely flesh destined to decay. Embarrassment is a matter of viewpoint. Come, let us bathe.”
‘Wait—that sounds like a line a rogue would use to coax someone!’
This felt less like enlightenment and more like a smooth-talker’s pitch.
Still, Hwa-eun and Seol stood firm in their refusal.
“N-no! We truly only came for the Fire Carp!”
“T-that’s correct!”
“The water is truly pleasant, however…”
Despite the monk’s efforts, they did not yield.
Finally, the monk sighed and relented, freeing my obstructed view.
With the bathing incident concluded, the monk smiled and indicated the tadpole.
“Is it not adorable? It manifested here roughly ten years past, following a great storm. Since then, we have called it Yeongyeon, after the pond.”
“…Ten years?”
“…Ten years!?”
Just when I believed I could not be more amazed—
I learned this being had been a tadpole for A FULL DECADE.
‘Ten years!? How can that be!?’
No amphibian can stay a tadpole for ten years.
Certain toad species in deserts do have unusual reproductive patterns, remaining dormant underground for years until rains prompt breeding.
Similarly, some frog tadpoles overwinter—remaining in larval form for months, hibernating in chilly water before maturing in spring.
But that is different.
Those instances involve adults hibernating or tadpoles postponing change for a season.
Not a full ten years.
By all reasoning, this should have been an adult long ago.
With that thought, I moved quickly to the water’s edge and dipped my hand in.
If this was truly a spiritual entity, perhaps its surroundings were inhibiting its development—trapping it in prolonged dormancy.
Tadpoles are not typically active, but even in hibernation, they exhibit slight movement.
To an inexperienced eye, it might be hard to distinguish dormancy from wakefulness.
‘It’s not particularly cold…’
The water lacked the chill of hibernation.
And the tadpole?
It was swimming with energy.
‘Yes… this is not dormancy.’
I subtly pulled Hwa-eun’s sleeve, signaling her to question the monk.
We needed to move this being safely to the Tang Clan, which required learning all we could about its living conditions, diet, and strange biology.
And, crucially—why it remained a tadpole after ten years.
[Hwa-eun, ask the monk if they provided it any food. Learn if its size has changed over time. We must know its diet to take it with us.]
[Understood.]
“Choa, might I pose some questions?”
“Certainly. What do you wish to know?”
“Well, concerning the Fire Carp—that is, the being in the pond…”
While Hwa-eun conversed with the monk, I began a swift circuit of the Moonlit Abyss, examining the environment.
‘Time to reveal the secrets of this creature’s nature.’
***
That Evening – Guest Rooms of Botaarm
After the evening meal, I convened with Hwa-eun and Seol in one room to review our discoveries.
We had asked to remain a few days to study the creature’s behavior, and as Botaarm rooms housed three or four, we shared quarters.
It was slightly uncomfortable initially, but with Seol present, I had grown accustomed to such arrangements.
Seated by the low table, I started relaying my observations.
“The area around the pond was ordinary. The water was neither warm nor cool.
It primarily collects from rain, with some seepage from rock, but nothing out of place.
It wasn’t mineral-rich or tainted—simply pure, clear water.
No unusual flora or trees grew nearby, either.”
After I concluded, I glanced at Hwa-eun, who nodded and took over.
“When the monks first found it, they attempted to offer small food portions, but it rejected them.
In time, they ceased trying and concluded it needed no nourishment as a spiritual being.
Regarding size… they mentioned it has enlarged a little over the years, but not significantly.”
I frowned.
‘Not eating? That can’t be.’
The monks were unaware of its consumption.
Based on my experience with spiritual creatures, it must be ingesting something—it had to be drawing some form of sustenance.
Its slight growth was evidence of that.
‘It has to be consuming something… but what?’
Earlier, I had even requested Seol to sense the Qi in the area, considering it might absorb energy like Cho, Hyang, or Bini.
But like the Sword Empress, she detected no Neidan.
So, I pressed Hwa-eun further.
“And?”
“Well… it seems the monks frequently visit the pond at night with lamps for cleansing rites.
When they do, the Fire Carp—the tadpole—approaches them with enthusiasm.
Some mention their lamp oil depleting faster, but that likely means little.”
“…Yes, that seems unrelated.”
Neither of us had found anything of great use.
Without knowing the tadpole’s diet, taking it would be futile.
As we pondered deeply, Seol expressed her worry.
“So-ryong, I inquired during supper… and the monks are deeply fond of the tadpole.
They spoke of it endlessly.
Even if the Sword Empress permits us to take it, won’t they become upset and protest?”
Coming from someone devoted to pets, Seol feared the monks might weep if we removed the tadpole.
But that was not a concern.
Even if the Sword Empress denied us, and the monks lamented, I had devised a certain method to acquire it.
“That will not be a problem. I have a plan.”
“…You do?”
“Yes.”
“Hmm… if you insist.”
After agreeing, Seol looked toward the window, where dusk was falling.
Then, she proposed something intriguing.
“Well, let’s speak with the Sword Empress, and after dark, return to the mountain.”
“At night?”
“Creatures often act differently after sunset.
If we wish to understand, we should observe it at night.”
“Oh… you’re correct!”
Most frogs and toads are night-active.
Seol was truly fit to be my sister—a genuine child of nature.
“A sound plan. We’ll do it.”
***
Midnight – Moonlit Abyss
After the monks completed their nightly bathing, we three retraced our path, bearing lanterns back to the Moonlit Abyss.
Our free movement after dark was permitted because this was merely a bath area, not a secured zone.
As anticipated, the pond’s surface shimmered under the moon, living up to its name.
Approaching with our lights, the tadpole swam toward us eagerly, as Hwa-eun had described.
“Little one, what sustains you?”
Before inspecting the area, Hwa-eun knelt, reaching out to the tadpole, which allowed her touch.
At that instant—
Yeondu burst from my robes, staring at the tadpole, its expression disappointed.
“Shaaa…”
Its tone conveyed that Yeondu had finally acknowledged the truth—this was no Fire Carp.
Feeling remorseful, I stroked its head.
“I will find a genuine Fire Carp for you later. I give my word.”
“Shaaa… shaa.”
Yeondu released a resigned sigh, but nodded, showing its gentle nature.
Then—
Its eyes widened in alarm.
ShaaaaA!
Yeondu emitted a sharp, urgent cry.
Startled, we all turned to it.
“What? What is it, Yeondu?”
Even as Hwa-eun and Seol searched around, nothing seemed amiss.
No monsters, no concealed dangers—nothing to justify Yeondu’s reaction.
“What’s wrong? Yeondu appears to have spotted something, but I see nothing.”
“True, there’s nothing here…”
‘Spotted something? …Wait.’
Abruptly, a realization dawned.
I had overlooked a vital fact—Yeondu perceives infrared.
Meaning…
It had detected something related to heat.
I hurried forward, snatching Hwa-eun’s lantern and bringing it near the water.
Then, I witnessed it—
The small blue flames above the oil lamp elongated into fine strands…
And were gradually drawn into the tadpole’s mouth.