Fabre in Sacheon’s Tang Novel - Chapter 150

Chapter 150
Sword Mistress appeared completely stunned by my rather extreme approach to separation. Yet, any objections or arguments she might have had died away completely.
The sacred laws of Bota Monastery were inflexible—no men and no male beings were permitted to enter or stay within its grounds, and certainly not to climb Yongbong Peak.
Left with no choice, the young nuns reluctantly bid their goodbyes to Huali, permitting us to depart from the monastery without conflict, taking our new acquisition with us.
“Farewell, Huali. Be well.”
“Take care.”
Their expressions were full of sorrow, yet, oddly, Huali did not appear the least bit upset. The creature seemed to project an air of relief and contentment, not sadness.
And I believed I knew the reason.
Just as Huali was being transferred onto the boat, it spun around and spat a jet of water at the nuns.
“Huali must be heartbroken. It is likely crying tears of water.”
“We will miss you, Huali.”
The nuns mistook the action for a gesture of parting, but next to me, Cho tilted its head, puzzled.
— Tsrrt?
My suspicion was right.
Huali wasn’t sad—it was enraged.
Cho communicated the creature’s feelings to me through our bond.
“It’s furious?”
— Tsrrt!
Evidently, Huali was bitter about being ignored for a full ten years without adequate nourishment.
This was logical. Amphibian tadpoles typically possess a ravenous hunger, eating voraciously before they change. Yet Huali had endured a decade of starvation.
Hoping to improve our rapport, I chose to keep my word and feed it the instant we were underway.
“Right, let’s provide the food as I promised.”
After giving a final respectful bow to Sword Mistress, I entered the cabin, prepared to feed Huali.
However, before I could get anything ready, I saw that a group had already formed around Huali’s tank.
Everyone—from my father-in-law to Hwa-eun and Seol—was leaning over the large container, completely captivated.
Huali swam about in a leisurely manner, its motions strangely mesmerizing and calming.
“Heeey…”
“Observing it makes me feel so calm and drowsy…”
“Tell me, son-in-law, would you say it is a toad or a frog?”
Carrying a lantern and a flask of oil, I walked to the container and answered.
“Difficult to tell. I cannot be certain while it is still in its tadpole stage.”
Despite holding the title of Spicy Fabre, I could not instantly discern if Huali would mature into a toad (蟾蜍) or a frog (蛙).
The difference was not as straightforward as most people think.
Even in my previous life, when scientific classification was highly developed, there was no rigid division between frogs and toads.
Both are part of the order Anura, with toads simply falling under the Bufonidae family.
The main practical difference is that toads generally have dry, warty skin and are more terrestrial, while frogs have moist, smooth skin and are more aquatic.
But these characteristics are not absolute—some frogs have bumpy skin, and some toads live partly in water.
Therefore, identifying a tadpole’s eventual form is next to impossible.
“You mean to say even you cannot identify it?”
“Correct. At this phase, they are virtually identical.”
“But it consumes fire, does it not? Let us observe that.”
My father-in-law moved back, keen to see Huali’s unusual feeding behavior.
I replenished the lantern with oil, ignited the wick, and held it near the rim of the tank.
Instantly, Huali swam towards it, opening its mouth wide.
The moment it drew near, the fire stretched into a thin, twisting ribbon, flowing into its mouth as if sucked up by an invisible tube.
“Oh! It truly does eat fire!”
My father-in-law was amazed.
As he watched in wonder, I took the chance to ask him a significant question.
“Do you have any insight into what type of venomous being this could be?”
He frowned, thinking deeply, then finally shook his head with a doubtful look.
“If it is a toad or frog, a few are named among the Twenty-Four Deadly Beasts or the Top Ten Venomous Creatures, but I cannot be certain. Those texts only detail their adult forms.”
Furthermore, those texts did not mention what these beings consumed, nor did they offer thorough accounts of their juvenile stages.
“So even my father-in-law is unaware… Very well, then.”
There was no immediate method to ascertain Huali’s real nature.
However, raising it for a time would eventually yield the answer.
Though it was a bit frustrating, I saw a chance to gain some favor.
“That only increases the significance of my task.”
“Task? What task?”
My father-in-law raised an eyebrow, curious about my meaning.
I straightened up and announced with determination,
“The So-ryong Venomous Beast Records. I must see to it that beings such as this are accurately chronicled for future generations of our clan to study.”
Hearing this, my father-in-law’s face beamed with approval.
“That is my son-in-law! Even amidst such a moment, you are considering the preservation of knowledge for our family!”
Seeing his pleased reaction, I understood that while I had been an enthusiast for venomous creatures in my past life, I was also fairly skilled at handling social dynamics in this one.
***
Nothing is more aggravating than finding a new species but having no sources to research.
In my former life, books and the internet were so sophisticated that a few quick searches would reveal a creature’s behavior and environment.
But here? My sole reference was the Compendium of the World’s Venomous Creatures.
I could not allow future generations to endure the same irritation I was currently feeling.
Therefore, after feeding Huali until it was satisfied, I resolved to start composing the inaugural chapter of my own compendium.
Back when I was given the blank book, I had only penned the title—nothing more.
‘Very well, beginning with the introduction…’
I started by outlining the importance of venomous creatures, and I added a note for future researchers, encouraging them not to feel as bewildered as I was.
“The aim of this So-ryong Venomous Beast Records is to impart to future generations how remarkable and magnificent venomous creatures are, and simultaneously, to spare others the frustration I have known.”
‘Remarkable… That is deep.’
For the first chapter, the topic was self-evident.
‘Naturally, it must be my daughters.’
The first divine and venomous beings I had met—my three O-gong sisters.
So, the first chapter I composed was about Cheon Pan O-gong.
“Chapter One: Cheon Pan O-gong (青斑蜈蚣).”
But as I was on the verge of writing the first sentence, I paused.
‘Would it not be dull if written in too academic a style?’
If it were too sterile and encyclopedic, future readers might find it tedious and abandon it.
So, instead of just stating facts, I opted for a more captivating, story-like approach—dynamic and suspenseful, similar to a tale.
This method would allow me to present information while also keeping it enjoyable.
I recalled how, in my previous life, I had once worked on educational comics during the height of my profession.
“It was a rainy night when a group of men in robes, marked with the character ‘Tang,’ arrived at the deserted martial hall. One of them came forward and inquired of me…”
I became completely absorbed in writing, moving my brush rapidly—until I heard my name.
“So-ryong?”
I broke from my concentration and looked behind me.
Hwa-eun was standing there, peering over my shoulder; she had apparently been reading what I wrote.
I had been so focused on writing that I had not sensed her approach.
Placing my brush down, I addressed her.
“Oh, Hwa-eun, what brings you here?”
“It is time for dinner already.”
“Already?”
Had I not begun writing just around noon?
Looking out the cabin window, I noticed the sun had already sunk below the far horizon.
“Goodness… It is so late already?”
“Yes. Speaking of which, you were composing the So-ryong Venomous Beast Records, correct?”
“I was.”
I nodded, and she tilted her head with interest.
“May I read it? I am very interested in the book you are creating.”
“You wish to read it?”
“I do.”
I felt somewhat self-conscious about showing her my unfinished work.
But in the end, I would require someone to review it anyway.
I might have errors in my Classical Chinese, so having Hwa-eun amend them would be helpful.
So, I agreed and shifted to give her a clear view.
Her eyes shone as she read through the pages eagerly.
After a short while, she grinned with appreciation.
“This is composed like a story, is it not? It is wonderful. It truly feels as though I am living it myself!”
“Th-That is too kind…”
“Not at all! So-ryong, you possess so many skills! This is the most captivating record about venomous creatures I have ever read!”
It seemed that by adopting an engaging style, I had unintentionally uncovered a hidden aptitude.
‘Wait… might I actually have a talent for this?’
Hwa-eun then proceeded to read out loud.
“Your descriptions of your daughters are also very amusing. Cho behaves as the big sister, constantly looking after her younger siblings—though in truth, she is only feigning maturity. It is quite endearing to watch her emulate adults.
Bin acts aloof, but she truly adores her father the most and conceals her true feelings.
Hyang is so easygoing that she might sleep through being carried off, like a large, sluggish bear. Ahaha…!”
And then—
A shrill cry cut through the air.
— Tsrrt!?
— Tsrurrr!?
— Tst!?
Turning, I saw the three of them standing in the cabin entrance, watching us.
The feeling coming from them was clear—
“What… was that we just heard?”
I had written from an objective, scholarly standpoint, but it seemed the content had displeased my daughters.
All three hurried to my side, then faced Hwa-eun, vocalizing their objection.
— Tsrrt!
— Tsrurrr!
Clearly, they wanted her to read it again.
Hwa-eun gave me an anxious look, then, yielding to their insistence, she reluctantly started to read once more.
“Um… Cho… always takes on the role of the eldest… caring for her younger sisters… but, well… in reality, she is merely… pretending…?”
“Bin… eh… cherishes her father the most, yet… she… acts indifferent?”
“Hyang… is so tranquil that… she might not wake if moved in her sleep, similar to… a bear…?”
The moment she finished, the three crowded in close to me.
Then, Hyang scaled my side, settled on the desk, took my brush in her mouth, and pushed it into my hand.
— Tsrrt!
It was an unambiguous command.
They demanded a revision.
“L-Listen, children… In scholarly work, objectivity is essential… A researcher’s dignity and honesty must be—”
But they were unmoved.
Finally, faced with their persistent demands, I had no choice but to rewrite their descriptions with exaggerated, laudatory flourishes.
‘Curse it… I have been compelled to sanitize my own writing.’
To imagine that, in this life, I would personally encounter “coerced glorification.”
For the first time, I felt a profound connection with the historians of the past who suffered through book destruction and state-sponsored censorship.
***
Following the Great Embellishment Incident, our voyage proceeded without issue towards Sichuan.
The sole disruption was Huali’s immense appetite, which forced us to make two stops to purchase more oil for its feedings.
Then, shortly before arriving in Sichuan—
I detected it.
A small protrusion had emerged between Huali’s head and tail.
Upon closer inspection, I understood…
“It is starting to grow back legs.”
“Truly?!”
“I am eager to see what it becomes!”
The emergence of developing limbs confirmed that Huali was at last starting its transformation.
I had been concerned that a decade as a tadpole might have irreversibly hindered its development, but fortunately, that was not so.
But that evening—
Something unusual occurred.
After the evening meal, I began to feel uncomfortably warm.
“It is growing hot… Do you all feel it as well?”
“Hot? Here? But Sichuan is far cooler than Bota Monastery.”
Just as I sensed something was amiss, a blue fire suddenly burst from my mouth.
— Fwoooosh!
“Ugh…!”
“So-ryong!”
“So-ryong, are you all right?!”
Something was unquestionably wrong.
My father-in-law hurried over, examined me, and then his expression turned grave.
“You have been poisoned.”
At his words, everyone’s eyes instantly shifted to Huali, swimming guilelessly in its water tank.
If I had been poisoned…
It must have been because of that creature.