Fabre in Sacheon’s Tang Novel - Chapter 26

Chapter 26

“Isn’t there another path, So-ryong? There has to be another option, right?”
“So-ryong, are you certain there is no alternative?”
As no answers emerged, every gaze shifted in my direction.
My older sister and Deputy Commander Gu Pae both watched me with hopeful expressions, as if believing I would produce an answer.
As the person in charge, and because I had resolved difficult situations on previous occasions, they appeared to assume it was only logical that I would handle this one as well.
This involved insects, and I had consistently boasted about being a ‘specialist’ ever since my arrival.
“Still, are we truly qualified to manage this on our own?”
“Set your mind at ease, Miss. So-ryong, the authority, is present. Gu Pae has full confidence in So-ryong. You should have witnessed how he trembled back when we were in Haenam.”
“Ahem. It is somewhat awkward to admit, but you need not worry, Hwa-eun. I am here. I am the authority, after all.”
‘This is terrible. I never anticipated a problem of this nature…’
Yet what could I, a specialist in venomous beings, actually accomplish under these circumstances?
They had proposed collecting honey, and my own plan had also relied on employing smoke, so it wasn’t entirely without merit.
The optimal technique for gathering honey is the one practiced by the Tang Clan—using mugwort smoke to pacify the bees. It is the most efficient approach.
One could assume the smoke merely soothes the bees, but the reality is far more scientific.
Its effectiveness lies in appealing to the bees’ deeply ingrained evolutionary instincts.
As explained by biologists, bees that inhabit trees or rock crevices are inherently at risk from wildfires, and over millennia they have developed a particular reaction to smoke.
When bees detect smoke, their primary response is to hurry back to their hive to consume as much honey as they can.
This instinct developed because bees link smoke with fire, and to ensure their survival, they would urgently eat the honey before relocating to a new nest.
Therefore, when smoke is present, the bees instinctively cling to their hive and begin feeding, which is the reason I had considered smoke as a possible solution.
“I suppose I will have to give this more consideration.”
But now, an unforeseen complication had arisen.
With a strained smile, I could only reply that I required more time to devise a plan. The others nodded for the time being, accepting this.
“Well, to formulate a strategy, I imagine some time is necessary.”
“Haha, it appears we were overly eager. Surely, So-ryong will find a way for us.”
“I did not get to witness it during our departure from Haenam, but I hope I will finally see the remarkable method Gu Pae described.”
Nevertheless, it was clear that I needed to develop a solution promptly.
I was being forced into a deeply uncomfortable position.
‘Why did they have to appear at all!’

***

I resumed my study of the Golden-Fur Bee King (금모봉왕) the following day, using the need to devise a new method as my justification.
I required more information about the Golden-Fur Bee King, though truthfully, my own interest lay in obtaining a few specimens of the deceased bees while I had the chance.
The average life of a honeybee is roughly five to seven days.
While most bees perish away from the hive, those that die inside are removed by their fellow bees.
So I believed I might be able to collect one or two dead bees as samples if I waited patiently.
The Golden-Fur Bee King was a newly discovered species, and I had heard it was classified as a mid-level poisonous entity, so I was resolved to acquire one if possible.
‘This isn’t solely for my benefit. It is for the clan as well. Imagine mounting one as a display in the Mandok Hall. How commanding would that appear? Just consider—guests would be astounded.’
Perched atop the stone.
As I concealed myself beneath the broad leaves of a tropical plant, watching the bees fly to and from the hive, a noise came from above, followed by a hushed voice.
[So-ryong, the little ones have finished their meal. They wouldn’t stay still, so I brought them to you.]
I raised myself from behind the tropical foliage to see my sister lying on her stomach beside me, looking in my direction.
The O-Gongs were moving from her body over to mine.
I had requested that she feed them earlier, and now that they were done, they were making their way to me, crawling across her.
The O-Gongs slipped into my sleeves, coiling around my arms and waist.
I waited briefly for the O-Gongs to get settled before my sister spoke again.
[Have you thought of any solutions yet?]
The moment the O-Gongs had transferred over, my sister inquired if I had conceived any promising ideas.
[I… believe I need to arrange my thoughts a little further.]
[Very well. I apologize if I am pressuring you. So-ryong, please take all the time you require to think it over.]
[Of course, no need to hurry, Hwa-eun.]
My sister’s words, advising me not to rush despite the urgency of our circumstances, left me pondering how to interpret her meaning.
Just as I was reflecting on this, my sister abruptly pointed toward the cliffs where the Golden-Fur Bee King’s hive was situated.
[Look over there!]
I followed her pointing finger and noticed several creatures descending the rock face.
[Monkeys.]
‘Monkeys?’
I lacked the refined inner power to discern details as my sister could, but I could make out several shapes clambering down the cliff.
They appeared to be monkeys, and their chattering calls reverberated as they scaled the rocky surface.
Ukkikikiki.
The loud cries of the monkeys filled the air, and as the monkey family neared the edge of the cliff, several loose stones broke away and tumbled downward.
Thud. Thud-thud.
As the monkeys moved past, dislodged rocks fell from the cliff, and one sizable stone struck a rotted tree.
Thunk!
Instantly, a sweet aroma began to emanate from the vicinity of the decayed tree.
[Hmm? What is this delightful fragrance?]
[Ah, this smell? Where could it be coming from…?]
The sweet scent, which seemed to have wafted in from some unknown source, caused me to forget to keep my voice low as I called out to my sister.
The alarm in my mind was already blaring bright red.
“Hwa-eun, we must leave this area immediately! The bees will attack any moment!”
“What!? We need to retreat!? Understood!”
At my urgent warning, my sister, moving with the fluid grace of a seasoned martial artist, promptly tucked me under her arm and launched into the air.
As we leaped toward the brush beyond the decayed tree, the sound of violently whirring propellers began to resonate behind us.
Whoooooo!
Whooo-whooo! Whooo!
We plunged into the dense undergrowth, and the sky rapidly grew dark.
The family of monkeys stood petrified like mice before a cat, while a countless swarm of Golden-Fur Bees materialized in the sky above.
The bees instantly descended upon the monkeys.
[Oh my!]
Soon, the monkey family was completely overrun, their shrieks echoing as they were stung repeatedly by the bees, their bodies swelling into bloated forms before being cast aside.
It was a gruesome spectacle, a clear testament to the bees’ furious rage.
As I brushed my chest in relief, I checked on my sister to see if she was unharmed, hoping she wasn’t too badly shaken.
Although, in truth, I was likely more startled than she was.
“That was too close. Are you alright?”
My sister, perhaps alarmed by the bees’ sudden ferocity, wiped the cold sweat from her temple and let out a deep sigh.
“Phew… I suppose the monkeys provoked them. But you knew they would attack like that, didn’t you?”
“Eh? Yes, that’s correct.”
“Then how did you predict it? You warned me to evade before the sound even started. I sensed nothing with my abilities.”
My sister asked how I had foreseen the bees’ violent onslaught.
I pointed to my nose and answered.
“It was the scent.”
“The scent?”
“Yes, well…”
As I began to explain about the aroma, my sister tilted her head in puzzlement.
“Oh, do you mean the fragrance of the Hamsuhwa? I thought I detected it nearby, but was it not that?”
“Hamsuhwa?”
“Oh, perhaps it is not Hamsuhwa, but Bacha? Their scents are so alike, I must have mistaken them.”
My sister seemed to recognize the scent, so I quickly seized her arms, eager to learn more.
This felt like the crucial element needed to resolve our current predicament.
“Hwa-eun, where have you encountered this scent before?!”
“Wait a moment. So-ryong, please calm down. I will tell you. Ugh… I am your elder, you realize…”
‘Huh? What is this… Ah!’
I suddenly understood what she meant.
Startled, I immediately released her arms and offered a swift apology.
“Sorry, sorry. I became overexcited for a moment.”
“Excited!? You mean that sort of excitement!?”
“No, not that kind of excitement…”
After a moment, we both settled down.
My sister, her cheeks still flushed, wiped them with the back of her hand and spoke.
“There is a flower that carries that exact fragrance. A friend of mine adores it, so I know it well. And the fruit of the Bacha also shares the same scent.”
My sister had encountered the scent from two distinct plants before.
I smiled brightly and pressed further.
“Bacha and Hamsuhwa? Do you believe we can locate them in this area?”
“Yes? Certainly, Bacha grows abundantly in the jungles of Yunnan, so it should not be difficult to find… Hamsuhwa, if we search, we should find it as well. Why do you ask?”
My sister, curious about my sudden line of questioning, looked at me intently.
Smiling, I responded.
“If we can find those, I believe I might be able to perform an act that would please you, Hwa-eun.”
“Something that would please me?”
My sister tilted her head, wondering what I could mean.
“Yes, Miss.”
“Something I would like? What is it?”
“Cleaning.”
“Cleaning?”
‘Ah, yes. Sister… human cleaning.’
If we could locate those plants, I thought perhaps I could provide her with a proper ‘cleaning.’

***

Five days had elapsed since our arrival in the jungle near Mokri to collect the honeycomb of the Golden-Fur Bee King.
The leaders of the Wind Plains Sect (풍원문), the Yuan Hou Sect (원후문), the Overlord Dragon Hall (패룡각), and the White Jade Ghost Slayer Sect (백옥귀살파) were holding a drinking feast that evening, having been provided with deer meat hunted by their subordinates.
Since the Tang Clan had been inactive for several days, they had decided to procure alcohol from Mokri, which was not far away.
“Heh… this is quite good. Speaking of which, when do you suppose the Tang Clan will finally act?” one of the sect leaders queried.
“I am uncertain. Three days ago, they were scouting everywhere, but now they have gone silent. I suspect they will attempt something soon, however.”
“Truly? Are you sure the bee’s honeycomb is truly that valuable?”
“Heh, have you been unaware? The wax from the Golden-Fur Bee King’s honeycomb is an exceedingly rare commodity, reserved solely for the royal family. So we should simply divide it among the four of us, correct? The Tang Clan will likely just take the honey and depart. And if they fail and perish… well…” The leader from the White Jade Ghost Slayer Sect concluded with a dark chuckle.
The other three sect leaders exchanged glances and then broke into laughter.
If the Tang Clan were eliminated, they would simply collect their remains and profit handsomely.
“Hahaha!”
“Hehehe.”
“Heh heh heh.”
“It would be most agreeable if that occurred. By the way, we should also remain vigilant for the poisonous flower. We must acquire it, yes? Who knows, one of us may even become a son-in-law of the Tang Clan. Hehe.”
“That is not a poor notion. That girl’s figure… heh heh.”
The four leaders were sipping their wine, envisioning the beautiful poisonous flower rather than focusing on their meal.
Just as they were slicing the roasted deer meat, ready to take a hearty bite, the atmosphere changed.
“Sniff sniff. Do you detect that? Something smells quite pleasant.”
“Indeed? It is a sweet fragrance carried on the breeze. This must be the scent of the poisonous flower. Hehe.”
A delightful floral aroma seemed to envelop them, as if blessing their ambitions.
As the four sect leaders inhaled the fragrant smell, they continued to drink, and by the time they had nearly finished the meat they started, the sky began to darken.
Whoooosh. Whoooosh. Whoooom.
An ominous droning echoed as the sky grew increasingly dim.
The four sect leaders, frozen in place, looked upward to see the sky filled with Golden-Fur Bees.
Clank. Rattle, rattle.
The leaders of the four sects dropped their bowls in sheer horror.
“What! Wh-what is this!?”
WEEEEEE!
Their panic appeared to trigger the assault, as the swarm of bees, blackening the heavens, began to dive toward them.
A hail of bees fell from the sky.
The sect leaders scattered in every direction, desperately seeking an escape.
“AAAAAH!”
The air was filled with the terrified screams of the sect leaders as they fled the incoming swarm.