Fabre in Sacheon’s Tang Novel - Chapter 258

Chapter 258
“Tell me everything you know about the spirit beasts you’ve encountered here in Yizhou. Describe their appearance and the locations where you spotted them.”

I pressed the man to begin his account without delay.
It was evident that he had knowledge of more than just a single spirit beast.

He paused, then ventured timidly,
“If I tell you… you’ll let me live, right?”
“Well, you see…”
That was the commander’s pledge.
I was on the verge of assuring him that the promise would be honored—but before I could form the words, a boot slammed into him.

–Thud!
“Guaaahhh!”

The pirate took the blow directly to his chest and was sent tumbling backward, colliding with the heap of his captured comrades.

The commander roared in anger.
“You think you’re in a position to negotiate, you filth!?”

“Aaargh, I’m finished!”
The pirate captain writhed on the ground, feigning a fatal injury, but the commander’s voice boomed out again, thick with rage.
“Alright, I’ll end you now! Why is everyone just standing around!? Seize this worthless piece of trash and cut off his head! If anyone else has information on the ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) spirit beasts, let them speak now!”

He shot a look in my direction and offered a knowing smirk—he was clearly acting a part.
Utterly bewildered, the pirate scrambled forward on his hands and knees, begging.
“I-I’ll talk! I’ll tell you everything!”

‘Ah, so it’s the “good cop, bad cop” strategy.’
The commander’s demeanor and actions were a perfect match for the tactic.
Playing along, I adopted a sympathetic expression and interjected.
“Maybe we should listen to what he has to say first.”

“Oh? Well, since you insist…”
“Sniffle… sob…”

As the pirate wept, covering my foot with his tears and mucus,
the commander glowered and yelled.
“You’ve been granted a reprieve! This is your final opportunity! Make it count!”

“Y-Yes, sir!”
He could have simply cooperated from the beginning. Instead, his attempt to bargain earned him a kick.
But the commander’s intimidation proved effective—the pirate began speaking rapidly.

“Around two years back, I think? The pirate ranks swelled suddenly, and Baek Cheong-u and Jin-gyu—both gone now—were constantly battling at the southern port. So smaller bands, like ours, began establishing bases in other places to avoid the conflict.”

It appeared the southern port was a hotbed of tension due to the relentless infighting between Baek Cheong-u and Jin-gyu, and the danger of being forced to pick a side made it untenable to remain.

“We attempted to set up a camp in the woods near the southern port… but whether we angered a spirit beast by invading its den or encroaching on its domain, it assaulted and injured our men.”

‘If it defends a territory, it’s probably a serpent.’
Based on his tale, the creature exhibited strong territorial behavior.
That pointed toward a snake—a type of creature famously possessive of its domain.
‘If this turns out to be a potential mate for Yeondu, that would be ideal.’
I gave a nod, signaling him to proceed.

“Usually, if a spirit beast shows up, you just move on… but the camp was partially finished, and we were reluctant to give it up, so we proposed a deal.”
“A deal?”
“Yes. We sent messengers to the two feuding leaders—we promised to pledge allegiance to whoever managed to slay the beast.”
“And what happened?”
“They arrived as soon as they got the news… but it was a disaster. The spirit beast was savage. It only emerged after dark, using the night for cover to strike. It even killed a few of our capable fighters.”

So the creature was venomous…
The presence of venom strengthened the possibility that it was a snake—precisely the kind of beast I sought.
“Oh! It had venom?”
The pirate’s demeanor brightened slightly at my show of interest.
He likely believed that providing valuable information would improve his odds of staying alive.

“We vowed to destroy the cursed thing, but its poison was so potent we were forced to desert the entire camp. Anyway, that was the first spirit beast I ever encountered.”
“It sounds less like you expelled it and more like it drove you away.”
They were clearly spinning the story to protect their pride—but that was irrelevant. I needed the facts.
“Did you get a look at it? Was it a snake? Or something different?”
“How to describe it… It only moved at night, so I never saw it clearly, but… Ah! It resembled an enormous watermelon…”
“A watermelon?”
“Yes, young master. Since it only appeared after sunset, everyone who glimpsed it started calling it a watermelon…”

Watermelon was the name used in the Central Plains for the fruit.
This was unmistakably not a snake.
There is no such thing as a snake shaped like a watermelon.
I rubbed my head, pondering what kind of beast they might have seen.
‘So it’s spherical, with a patterned skin… could it be similar to Hwayang? Perhaps a frog or a toad?’
A rounded form with markings brought to mind a brightly colored amphibian, like Hwayang.
If that were true, then Hwayang might soon have a companion.
I decided to ask a more targeted question to help pinpoint the creature’s nature.
“Can you tell me about the venom? What did the poison do?”
By studying the effects of a toxin, I can typically determine the source—for someone with my expertise, that is often sufficient for identification.

“Ah, the poison? It had a truly revolting stench…”
“Revolting?”
“You mean the toxin itself smelled foul?”
Bini’s venom also had a sharp, acrid odor, similar to irritant gas. I pressed for more information.
“What happened to those who were poisoned?”
“Um… oh! Their skin became inflamed, as if scalded. Within a day, huge blisters covered their bodies. None of them made it.”
“Blisters?”
“Yes. Some also vomited blood… their suffering was extreme.”

Blisters typically indicate inflammation—resulting from friction, infection, or chemical damage. The skin’s outer layer lifts and fills with fluid…
While a common reaction, envenomation can certainly cause blistering—especially from certain venoms.
If the toxin was natural, the skin response—akin to a severe burn or rash—would be logical, as many irritants from creatures work in this way:
secretions from glands that inflame the skin.
Even contact with some caterpillars can raise blisters.
If it was chemically active, then a blistering agent was likely involved.
‘A venom that produces effects like a blister agent? That’s actually quite impressive.’
“So the camp you left behind—does that mean the spirit beast is still there?”
“Yes, young master.”
“And I assume you can show me its location?”
“Absolutely!”
“Ji-ryong!”
“Right here, young master.”
Ji-ryong produced the map of Taiwan I had been refining during our journey.
He unfolded it before the pirate leader.
“You mentioned the south. Which area precisely?”
“Oh, there’s a river to the southeast. If you follow it inland, it’s on the right bank.”
“This river here?”
“Yes, that’s the one.”
“So approximately in this region?”
“It’s about half a day’s travel… I’m not very skilled with maps…”
“Half a day. Then it should be around here. That will suffice for now, young master.”

From this, I deduced the spirit beast’s probable lair was a bit further upriver from our landing site.
For the moment, I classified it as a venomous entity with corrosive properties—akin to Hwayang.

With that information noted, I moved on to inquire about another sighting. However intriguing blister-agent venom might be, our primary goal remained locating a mate for Yeondu.
“Enough on that one. Tell me about the second spirit beast.”
“Yes, young master. The second one resides in the mountains.
Here in Yizhou, there exists a leopard variety known as a clouded panther—their spots resemble cloud formations, unlike ordinary leopards.”
“Clouded panther?”
“Oh, for heaven’s sake…”
The instant he began describing a furry mammal, my interest plummeted.
Still, I thought it might make a suitable gift for Sister Seol, so I resolved to hear more. It would suit her style.
“Go on.”
“Only a handful of us spotted it, and even then, from a distance. But prepare yourself: Among those clouded panthers… there were white ones! Pure as snow—and not just one, but a trio of them! And their eyes were a vivid red… they appeared both majestic and fearsome…”

He went on about these “clouded panthers,” but they were clearly just albino leopards.
In antiquity, white leopards and white crows were often deemed spirit beasts—so he was likely applying that old superstition.
There was a belief that unusual animal births signified impending calamities.
[So-ryong, that is not a spirit beast. Creatures like that are simply born with that coloration. If its eyes are red, it likely has poor vision.]
Sister Seol even sent me a private message to confirm that this was definitely not a spirit beast. She said it wasn’t a portent—just a… creature you might pity and not wish to abandon.
“Hmm… is there anything else notable?”
“T-That’s all I know…”

The disappointment in my voice was palpable, and the pirate’s face fell.
He had obviously hoped his information would impress me, and now realized his fate was sealed.
The commander’s eyes turned steely once more.
“Think harder. Rack your brain!”

But you cannot conjure knowledge from nothing, no matter how loud someone shouts.
The commander flashed me a grin and inquired:
“I take it the information wasn’t particularly valuable?”
“No, it wasn’t…”

A spirit beast with blistering venom would have been acceptable.
But this man had the audacity to offer me a furry mammal—a mundane animal, not even a true spirit beast.
His existing crimes were already punishable by death, but now I felt he had committed a fresh offense:
‘How dare you propose a furry mammal to me, the Venomous Fabre.’

The commander turned to the guards and commanded:
“Take this one away and deliver him to the women!”
“Yes, sir!”
“P-Please! Spare me, sir! Sir!!”
The pirate was hauled off, shrieking.
The women, seasoned coastal dwellers who knew their business, descended upon him like a swarm and began their work.
“Aaaaagh! Aaaghhh!”
His cries carried across the shore as his blood dyed the sand a deep red.

***
Other than the watermelon-shaped spirit beast, no useful information was obtained.
We extended the same offer to the remaining pirates—divulge spirit beast intelligence and live—but none provided anything of value.
The consequence: every one of them was put to death.

Just before her departure, the princess approached me by the bloodied waves to offer her final gratitude.
“Young master So, my thanks once more. Yizhou has never been purged of pirates so thoroughly. Even His Majesty will be grateful.”
“I was happy to be of assistance.”
“To be candid, I believed sinking a few pirate vessels would suffice. But now we must also contend with these fearsome creatures. Should you require any aid, you have but to ask. I will provide whatever support is within my power.”
The princess could be somewhat taxing at times, but I appreciated her direct nature.
At least she spoke with genuine sincerity.
“Thank you. I value that. With your leave—we will remain here to continue the search for venomous creatures in Yizhou.”
“Understood, young master So. Were I not obligated to deliver a swift report to the court, I would accompany you. Until we meet again.”
With a radiant smile, the princess embarked and set sail.
In her wake, the pirate stronghold was consumed by violent flames.
We had chosen to raze it utterly, ensuring pirates could never again use it as a haven.

Watching the fire climb, I addressed my companions.
“Now that the pirates are dealt with… shall we go and discover what this ‘watermelon’ truly is?”
Between the Ji-yeong Snake and this watermelon creature, I felt confident we would capture at least two new specimens.