Fabre in Sacheon’s Tang Novel - Chapter 164

Chapter 164
At this stage, my experience was limited to hand-holding and the occasional embrace. In stark contrast, Ji-ryong had seemingly consumed a full container of my handmade rouge through kissing alone—and without any lip irritation, a testament to my natural recipe.

A wave of pure irritation surged within me, but I manufactured a stiff grin and responded to his inquiry.
“Heh… That was a rather sizable quantity, and you’ve finished it already? Well, I require pearls to produce more. After I get back to my clan, I’ll have a new batch made and dispatched to you.”
“Ah, such measures won’t be necessary.”
“Pardon? It’s really no bother—”
“You misunderstand. Actually, once this affair is concluded, I intended to pay a visit to the Tang Clan personally. Would you object to us making the journey together?”

My initial assumption was that he was merely being formal, refusing once as a courtesy before accepting. However, he was utterly sincere. Ji-ryong truly planned to accompany me back to the Tang Clan.

I couldn’t suppress the thought—was he experiencing cravings because he’d been deprived of kissing someone?
‘Has it really been so long since his rouge supply was exhausted? Is his desperation that profound? Why does every person I encounter these days appear so terribly deprived?’

Then, detecting a presence over Ji-ryong’s shoulder, I looked past him. I saw Authority Dragon and Sword Dragon—Kwon Ryong and Geom Ryong—nodding in quiet unison.

I tilted my head and asked, “You two are also coming?”
“Correct.”
“Naturally, we will be joining you.”

Even Eunbong and Gungbong, positioned farther away, were gazing our way, making their collective intention to follow perfectly clear.
‘But are we truly on such familiar terms that I would invite them all to my home?’

Certainly, I addressed them as “brothers” as a form of respect, but that was largely a ceremonial title. I wouldn’t characterize our relationship as one where a personal invitation would be expected.

Just as that thought crossed my mind, Sword Dragon offered a smile and said, “Ji-ryong requires further treatment, and Eunbong will not be comfortable until he receives it.”
“Ah… Yes. That is a valid point.”

Now that I considered it, hadn’t the Heavenly Poison Deity—Ji-ryong’s grandfather—stated that the treatment regimen was not complete?
I recollected him explaining that mercury poisoning necessitates extended care. He had even instructed Ji-ryong to return for subsequent sessions.

Concurrently, the group recuperating at Yunnan’s Beast Palace would likely be mobile again soon. Once they recovered their strength, they had also arranged to travel to the Tang Clan.
Bringing Ji-ryong’s group with me and allowing them to reunite with Peng-hyung and the others seemed a sensible plan.
I remembered how concerned Ji-ryong had been for Peng-hyung’s group during our initial meeting.

“Very well, let’s proceed with that.”
“Thank you for permitting us to travel with you, So-ryong.”

Ji-ryong appeared genuinely delighted by my agreement.

At that moment, I observed warriors from the Martial Alliance disembarking from a vessel behind him in a steady stream.
‘Ah, yes. I must speak with the commander.’

“So, who is leading this operation?”
The question had only just come to me after Ji-ryong’s distraction over the rouge. Now, however, I needed to confer with the person in charge.
I had to provide a detailed account beyond my letter’s contents, lead them to the mountain fortress, and deliberate on what to do with the remaining goods inside.

Ji-ryong smiled and replied, “Ah, that would be me.”
“…You?”
I stared in bewilderment.

The Martial Alliance possessed numerous senior officers, yet Ji-ryong was commanding?
Even with the Blood Cult preoccupying them, the Alliance still had one chief strategist and two deputy strategists.
Regardless of Ji-ryong’s intellect, the alliance employed three individuals whose sole duty was strategy. It was astonishing that someone without an official post like Ji-ryong had been given command.

He evidently noticed my perplexity, for he continued with an explanation.
“The chief strategist is currently engaged with an envoy from the imperial court. One deputy is commanding a field operation, and the other is managing supply lines. None were able to abandon their posts.”
“I… understand.”
“Therefore, in circumstances such as these, a member of the Zhuge family, which has historically managed strategic affairs for the Alliance, is called upon to assist. As I was present at headquarters, I assumed this duty.
It is merely a cleanup operation, after all.”

So that was how Ji-ryong came to be in command.
Truthfully, I felt relieved. I preferred liaising with Ji-ryong, whom I knew, rather than an unfamiliar superior.

Nonetheless, I was intrigued by the mention of the imperial envoy.
“Oh? Then this is quite convenient.
But wait… You said an envoy from the imperial court? I was under the impression the government was barred from interfering in martial matters?”

From Ji-ryong’s words, it seemed the troublesome princess’s fabrication had been remarkably effective.
But wasn’t there a statute prohibiting imperial powers from involving themselves in the martial world’s affairs?

At my question, Ji-ryong’s lips curved into a cunning smile.
“The royal court has denounced the Blood Cult as a heretical sect after learning of the princess’s alleged assault. They have outlawed its worship among the populace, condemning it as a corrupting doctrine that leads people into depravity.”
“Oh… That is quite a clever exploitation of a loophole.”

The imperial court may lack jurisdiction over martial affairs, but religious matters were entirely separate.
By classifying the Blood Cult as a religious sect instead of a martial organization, the emperor wielded absolute authority to suppress it.
It seemed those Blood Cult villains were in for a period of significant difficulty.

Ji-ryong and I shared equally sly smiles before he gestured toward the ship from which he had come.
“This discussion will require some time. Shall we continue inside? I wish to hear your full report and may require your assistance further.”
“Understood. Then, lead the way.”

With a nod, I followed him aboard the ship.
***
Drip.

Upon entering what seemed to be Ji-ryong’s cabin, I was met by the aroma of tea and a formidable mountain of paperwork.
Ji-ryong motioned for me to sit, and Eunbong served tea to us both.
“Here you are, both of you.”
“Thank you, Eunbong.”

I was not particularly fond of tea—I preferred chilled water, honestly—but my time at the Tang Clan had taught me proper tea etiquette, thanks to Hwa-eun.
As I appreciated the scent, Ji-ryong’s voice broke the silence.
“To think the Kissing Bugs were so large and perilous… When we read your report and inspected the preserved samples you provided, everyone in the Alliance was thoroughly astonished.”

I had suspected that written descriptions alone would be insufficient to persuade them.
Hearing about something a hundred times cannot compare to seeing it once.
That is why I had dispatched two meticulously preserved specimens as proof. Their reaction indicated it had been entirely effective.
Their haste in sending an investigation team was evidence enough.

“Yet for So-ryong to have resolved the situation single-handedly… We were immensely relieved. Ah, the Alliance Leader also asked me to express his gratitude.”
“Thanks are unnecessary. I simply did what was required.”

I offered an uncomfortable smile at Ji-ryong’s compliment, raising my teacup for a sip before placing it down again.
Praise was acceptable, but it was time to address practical matters.

The first item was the Boheoldan.
“Now that we are concluding matters, what has been decided regarding the substantial cache of Boheoldan left in the fortress?”
“The Alliance has consented to buy all of it. Given the continuing conflict with the Blood Cult, they have a desperate need for Boheoldan, so this was a most fortunate discovery.”

As anticipated.
I had proposed selling the Boheoldan to the Martial Alliance, reasoning they would pay a high price, and indeed, they were eager to acquire the entire stock.
The notion had occurred to me because I recalled the vast quantity of Boheoldan I needed after having my blood drained by that Blood Cult elder.
With their war against the Blood Cult ongoing, the Alliance could never have an excess of it.
‘Huh. Perhaps I possess a talent for commerce as well?’

Among breeders of rare creatures, a common saying is that when someone wishes to buy from you, you provide a little extra as a courtesy.
In this instance, the Martial Alliance was essentially eager to purchase, so I decided to offer a gesture of goodwill.
“You may arrange transport for the Boheoldan first, and you can negotiate payment directly with my father-in-law, the head of the Tang Clan.”
“Oh? Are you certain of that?”
“Yes. We lack the space for it on our own vessels in any case, and the Alliance requires it urgently.”
“Understood. The Alliance Leader will be most appreciative.”

With that, the largest portion of the supplies was settled.

Regarding the fortune left in the fortress, I had already allocated half to Lee Chae.
A third of the village had been destroyed by fire, and many had perished, so I viewed it as a charitable act.
Naturally, I provided them with an unequivocal warning—nothing in this world comes without a price.
“This is not merely a gift.”
“T-then what is it?”
“First, you must never harm anyone again. If I hear otherwise, you will not evade the fury of my creatures. Is that clear?”
“Y-yes, absolutely.”
“And I understand the Three Rivers Alliance collects various rumors. Is that accurate?”
“Yes, So-ryong.”
“Then from now on, I want you to gather a very particular type of rumor for me.”
“What kind?”
“Rumors concerning venomous beasts and poisonous insects.”

A small request to support my hobby.

With that resolved, I had also reserved a portion of the funds for my own use.

That left two final issues to address.
“The fortress itself—what are the plans for it? And what of the remaining Kissing Bugs?”
Leaving the site untouched meant it could be occupied by others.
And although the Kissing Bugs would perish within a year, it was unsafe to simply abandon them. Someone could stumble in and be killed. At a minimum, a guard would need to be posted.

Ji-ryong smiled.
“I plan to resolve both issues simultaneously.”
“Simultaneously?”
I cocked my head, curious about his meaning.

Then he said something so outrageous I doubted my hearing.
“We will ignite the mountain.”
“…What?”
I stared in stunned silence.
Did he just propose starting a wildfire?

Ji-ryong continued, utterly composed.
“If we incinerate the fortress along with the forest, we will eliminate concerns about both the bandits and the Kissing Bugs.”
‘Is this the mentality of the Central Plains? Simply set the entire mountain aflame?’
The longer I pondered it, the more logical it seemed.
The Zhuge family did possess a legacy of arson, after all.
‘Well, didn’t they burn down half of Red Cliff? I suppose the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.’

True to form, those with experience in a matter perform it best.
Ji-ryong did not simply start a fire haphazardly.
Instead, he meticulously charted sections of the mountain, dispatched Sword Dragon and the warriors to clear trees and underbrush along the boundaries to contain the blaze, and even tasked Gungbong—who was attuned to wind patterns—to observe air currents from the summit for several days.
A genuine professional.

“Only this specific mountain and its adjacent areas will be burned,” Ji-ryong clarified, indicating a topographical map.
“Based on So-ryong’s information, the Kissing Bugs could not traverse the river. Therefore, we have already felled trees along this watercourse and past the ravine.
The fire will be initiated from four distinct locations encircling the fortress and will converge at the peak, burning out on its own.”
‘Pyromancy can be a precise craft, it seems.’

With the final preparations complete, I nodded.
“Alright. Proceed.”
Ji-ryong turned to Gungbong.
“Signal the commencement.”
“Understood.”

Gungbong pulled back his enormous bow and aimed skyward.
*Creeeeak.*
*Fwooosh!*
The signal arrow shot toward the mountain peak.
The instant it burst in the sky—
Smoke began billowing from four separate directions.

Within the time it takes to eat half a meal, the entire mountainside was engulfed in flames, roaring like a colossal pyre.
Even from our ship, we could feel the intense heat.

As I watched the conflagration consume the fortress, a voice cried out from our deck.
“Hwayang!?”

I turned to see Hwayang gripping the ship’s railing, mouth wide open, gazing in wonder at the burning mountain.
And in that moment, a realization hit me.
‘Wait… Isn’t this the ideal opportunity for Hwayang to achieve its final form?’

Even after ingesting a considerable amount of fire recently, Hwayang had not yet completed its transformation.
But this—this was a wildfire.
If this was insufficient to catalyze its evolution, I didn’t know what would be.

I instantly employed my light footwork technique to vault over to my ship and approached Hwayang, whose eyes shone with the reflection of the raging fire.
“Hungry?”
Hwayang turned its gaze to me, then gave a slow, deliberate nod.
Without a second thought, I gathered it into my arms and sped toward the burning mountain.