Fabre in Sacheon’s Tang Novel - Chapter 263

Chapter 263The night was cool and wet, shrouded in a dense, heavy mist.
The four spirit beasts moved swiftly through the brush, and Bini, buzzing with energy, began to recount the entire incident to Cho.
– Tsururur. Tsurut… 『Sister, let me tell you what happened before…』
Ordinarily, Bini avoided calling Cho “Sister” because their father used the title for her and it always felt a bit forced. But now, with Cho having taken charge after hearing her younger sibling was injured, it felt unexpectedly comforting.
To be honest, when Bini had cried out to her earlier, she hadn’t expected a real response—she was certain they were all going to get an earful from Mom.
‘Your father explicitly told you not to leave, and you sneaked out anyway? And at night? You children…’
She could already hear her mother’s lecturing tone echoing in her mind.
Just as Bini started to give Cho a full, detailed account—
Before she could even form the first word, Cho answered.
– Tch. 『Unnecessary.』
– Tsurut. 『What? Unnecessary?』
Bini cocked her head at the abrupt reply and glanced at Hyang. Hyang returned the puzzled look, and both turned toward Cho just as her cool voice reached them from behind.
– Tsurut. Tsururur. 『The why isn’t important. All that matters is that my sister was harmed.』
– Tch!
– Tchut!
Bini and Hyang both released soft, awed exclamations.
A sound that rose from a deep place within.
They had always been somewhat irritated that Dad designated Cho as the “Sister,” but in this moment—they began to feel that perhaps the title wasn’t so misplaced.
She was completely correct.
What difference did the reason make?
The crucial fact was that Hongdan had been injured—sprayed with poison, no less.
She was always flitting around with Dad, getting the choicest treats first, and could be incredibly bothersome… but after this? Bini felt a new willingness to overlook her getting first access to the Yeongdan.
As they moved along the path, Cho turned in flight to question Hongdan.
– Tsurut? 『Hongdan, where are you hurt? I was told you were sprayed with poison.』
Her voice carried a weight of reliability.
Sensing this, Hongdan answered in a particularly tiny voice.
– Kkii… 『My antennae still ache, Sister… it stings…』
Hearing Hongdan’s pitiful, whining tone, Hyang and Bini exchanged quiet, amused glances.
Earlier that night, she had claimed she was okay—but now, she was clearly leaning into it for sympathy.
Her voice was dripping with a performative misery.
– Tsururur. 『Allow me to see.』
At Cho’s soft instruction, Bini halted, and Hongdan extended her antennae toward her.
Cho examined the antennae meticulously in the poor light.
She quickly identified a faint reddish discoloration at the very tip—something you would miss unless you were searching for it.
Not fractured, no harm to the exterior—nothing critical.
In truth, after a few more molts, the mark would likely disappear entirely.
But still—if her younger sister claimed it was painful, what else could she do?
Cho spoke with a gentle, comforting tone.
– Tsurut. 『If there is any pain at all, you must inform Father. Do not conceal it. I will remain with you to ensure you avoid serious trouble, understood?』
– Kkiii. 『Understood, Sister…』
Cho tenderly brushed Hongdan’s head with her own antenna before addressing Bini.
– Tsururur. 『We should proceed.』
– Tsurut. 『Yes, Sister』
With the reliable Cho flying above them, the three moved with purpose back to the moist clearing in the woods.
They first reached the swamp’s border and started backtracking to pick up the creature’s trail.
– Tsurut. 『Hongdan reported seeing it in this area, and we pursued her from here, so…』
– Tsururur. 『Ah! There are the grass stems Hongdan severed!』
– Kkii. 『Yes, I cut that grass.』
– Tsurut. 『Then it should be directly ahead.』
The severed stems resembled crushed vines, and shortly after, they found a rounded depression in the foliage.
Hyang leaped from Bini’s head, surveyed the clearing, and started describing the scene to Cho.
This was unmistakably the location where Hongdan had been poisoned.
– Tsurut. Tsururur. 『We were in pursuit and closed the gap here. Hongdan moved ahead to demand its name, but it released poison on her. She retreated, and while we were attending to her wound, it disappeared.』
– Tsururur? 『It disappeared?』
– Tch! 『Yes, vanished entirely!』
Hearing this, Cho started to scrutinize the surroundings.
If it vanished so abruptly, she needed to seek other evidence.
She had conducted many similar searches with Father, so she already had theories based on their story.
If it disappeared that quickly, it either possessed immense speed or dug into the earth.
However, after a careful ground inspection, Cho decided it likely had not burrowed underground.
Beyond the trampled grass, there were no other indicators.
That left two options—it was exceedingly fast, or it could fly.
Cho, expanding her search area, directed her sisters.
– Tsururur. 『We will search the vicinity. I will go by myself. You three must remain together, yes? For safety.』
– Tchut! 『Agreed!』
The thick fog made seeing difficult, so Cho ascended to a low altitude.
From the ground, Bini called up with a question.
– Tsurut. 『But Sister, what is the plan if we locate it?』
Cho looked down to see Bini’s head tilted in curiosity.
It was a valid point. They couldn’t communicate mentally as they did with Father.
After a moment’s consideration, Cho responded.
– Tsururur. 『If we could share thoughts like with Father, that would be ideal—but since we cannot, simply cry out. I will be nearby.』
– Tch. 『Alright, Sister.』
– Tsurut. 『Understood, Sister.』
Cho felt a quiet satisfaction hearing her younger sisters address her as Sister with such sincerity.
It was not their usual habit, but tonight they were being remarkably compliant.
Initially, Cho, Hyang, and Bini had all believed “Sister” was merely a casual name Father used.
But he had once clarified that it signified the one who leads and cares for her siblings.
This finally made sense to Bini and Hyang, who had perpetually been annoyed by the term.
But now, with Cho heading the mission to exact justice on the one who hurt Hongdan, they were fully supportive.
Feeling a small surge of pride from her sisters’ newfound deference, Cho acted with resolve.
If she could locate this creature and discipline it, perhaps her siblings would continue to show this level of respect.
She was committed to demonstrating the true meaning of being a Sister.
***
They combed the swamp through the night but found no sign of the creature that had sprayed Hongdan.
The fog only grew heavier, reducing visibility to almost nothing.
From the air, Cho saw no clues and eventually descended back to the ground.
She faced Bini.
– Tsururur. 『Bini, can you detect any tremors in the soil?』
– Tsurut. 『Not in this place, Sister. The ground is too saturated to sense vibrations.』
Hoping to utilize Bini’s sensitivity to earth tremors, Cho asked—but Bini shook her head.
The excessive moisture here made it impossible.
At Bini’s answer, Cho muttered in frustration.
– Tsururur… 『Tch. Why did this fog have to arrive now, of all times…』
She didn’t know what that thing was, but her plan had been to find it, teach it a lesson, and force an apology in front of her sisters to demonstrate her capability as a Sister.
That now seemed out of reach.
Just then, Cho detected a subtle shift in the ambient light.
Dawn was approaching.
Her antennae clearly sensed the altering light.
– Tsurut? 『Is it morning already?』
Hyang approached Cho, who was still surveying the area, and gestured toward the sky.
The sun was rising—and once it was up, Mother and Father would awaken. They needed to return swiftly.
– Tsururur. Tsurur. 『Father and Mother will soon be awake. We need to hurry back, Sister.』
– Tch. 『You are correct, Sister.』
Responding to Hyang with a note of reluctant acceptance, Cho then heard Bini add with a grumble of frustration,
– Tsurururrr. 『Ugh, that creature got fortunate. Without this fog, we would have found it and delivered justice. Sister, further searching is pointless now, correct? We still need to clean up before Mother and Father see us…』
Bini was clearly stating the search should be called off—for today.
Likely because they had ventured out secretly. Being discovered meant severe reprimands, and the prospect of a lengthy scolding wasn’t worth the risk.
But Cho felt differently.
How could she simply forgive something that harmed her sister?
She needed to find it. Needed to punish it.
It was the only way to truly show what it meant to be a Sister.
Father had mentioned that Moji and Soji were still encased in their cocoons and that they should maintain quiet for now.
Which also implied… they had a few more days before their activities would attract significant notice.
Cho turned to her sisters and announced with determination,
– Tsururur. 『Surrendering is not an option. We will find it without fail and see it punished. I do not pardon anyone who injures my sister.』
– Tch!
– Tchut!
Hearing Cho’s declaration, the eyes of Bini, Hyang, and Hongdan once again shone with admiration.
***
Those little rascals who defied me and went out roaming last night…
Hwa-eun was displeased with my lenient scolding, but I was confident: affection alone was sufficient for their lesson.
Just observe them now—so peaceful and silent this morning. It was evidence of my method’s success.
“They comprehend completely with just a mild reprimand, see? Look how motionless they are. No requirement for severe discipline—love is the solution…”
Chewing on grilled meat from a skewer during breakfast, I boasted to Hwa-eun about my enlightened, affectionate parenting approach. She dismissed me with a shake of her head.
Hwa-eun maintained that the children were calm because she had given them a proper scolding afterward.
“That is solely because I reprimanded them correctly afterwards.”
But she was mistaken. Entirely.
Didn’t the sun prevail when it competed with the wind to see which could make the traveler remove his cloak?
“It is not that. It is my martial… I should say, parental philosophy…”
“No, no, it is definitely because I scolded them.”
At that moment—
Nui, who was chewing on a rather large crab skewer next to us, pointed at the children and remarked,
“So-ryong… don’t they appear not contemplative… but asleep? They seem to be sleeping.”
“Eh? Asleep? Impossible. They rest at night!”
“They are asleep.”
“Surely not.”
They were nocturnal once, true, but since living with me, they had adapted to being active during the day.
They might sleep late occasionally, but by this hour they should undoubtedly be awake and active.
Yet… their slack antennae drew my attention.
It couldn’t be.
After bragging so emphatically to Hwa-eun moments ago, if they were asleep, I would appear ridiculous. Frankly, we both would.
Because it would mean we were both incorrect.
I softly approached Bini and gave her a slight nudge.
“Bini?”
“……”
Her antennae lay limp against my hand.
I moved my finger near her mouth—and she began to suckle on it gently in her sleep.
Yes. Without question.
They had undoubtedly been up to something last night.
And today, they were just a tad… mortifying.
GyaaAAaaaAAaah!
***
Cho, Bini, Hyang, and Hongdan persisted in their search for three full days, but the relentless fog prevented any discovery.
The haze was too thick to search from above, compelling them to scour the ground—but the visibility was so terrible they could scarcely see their own feet.
Then, on the third night.
Nut, who had slept the entire day, finally awoke.
And witnessed it—clear stars glittering in a sky free of clouds.
– Tsururur! 『At last!』
For the first time in nights, the full moon glowed brilliantly, and the stars illuminated the firmament.
After verifying that Dad was still asleep and evading the uncles on patrol, Nut hurried toward the swamp.
She positioned Bini at the same location where they had first met the creature, and then Cho took to the air with Hyang and Hongdan.
They required an aerial view—three pairs of eyes were superior to one.
High in the sky, sweeping the area with their keen, hawk-like sight—
Hyang noticed motion below.
Something round was wriggling in the grass.
– Tsururur! 『Sister! There! That is it! That is the creature!』
– Tsurut!? 『You are certain that is it!?』
– Kkii! 『It is! That is the one, Sister!』
With her sisters’ confirmation, Cho instantly relayed the discovery to Bini and dove like a bolt from the sky, landing directly before the creature.
Hovering just above it, maintaining a safe distance, she shouted down with rage in her voice,
– Tsurururur! 『You are the one who poisoned my sister, are you not?!』