Fabre in Sacheon’s Tang Novel - Chapter 272

Chapter 272
A series of pops echoed from within, as if my bones had been fused and were now breaking apart with every movement.
A low groan escaped my lips before I could stifle it, immediately drawing a chorus of concerned voices.

“So-ryong!”
“Dear So-ryong!”
“Hwa-eun, attend to him!”
“Right away, unni!”
“S-Seol Sister?”

Then, the massage began.
From the touch, I could tell it was Sister Seol and Hwa-eun. Four sets of hands worked over my stiff limbs, kneading my body as if it were stiff clay.
*Pop. Crick.*
With every press and rub, another brittle sound emanated from my unyielding joints.
I attempted to open my eyes, but the light was searing, forcing me to keep them sealed shut. It wasn’t just my body that felt wrong; my vision was affected too.

I kept my eyes closed and concentrated on assessing my condition, until Sister Seol’s voice cut through, thick with anxiety.
“Are you alright, my dear So-ryong? We feared a Qi Deviation was upon you, with your cultivation ascending so rapidly. We didn’t dare disturb you. But this time… it lasted far too long. I’m going to bend your leg now; tell me if it causes pain.”
“Nngh… How long was I unconscious? Nngh…”
*Crick.*
A powerful stiffness resisted as she moved my leg.
My jaw protested audibly when I opened my mouth to speak again, but the answer I received left me stunned.
“An entire month!”
“A month?!”
What in the world—a full month?!
I had only experienced a single day within the inner realm, or so I’d believed. Yet, outside, a vastly longer period had elapsed.
Normally, I return from the inner realm instantly and feel nothing. This time, however, one day inside seemed to have translated to a full month in the real world.
This wasn’t like those chambers from the comics in my previous life where time moves slower. Quite the opposite—time in the mental realm flowed thirty times faster.
I mentally vowed to exit as swiftly as possible next time. My body had already stiffened like a cadaver after just one month. What would become of me if I remained any longer?
‘Note to self: Do not dawdle in the inner realm. This could be fatal.’

As I was berating myself internally, I detected something unusual.
Of the four hands working on me, two were undoubtedly applying more than just therapeutic pressure.
They were pressing with greater intent, as if making a statement.
As if to say: “I am here. Do not overlook me.”
I didn’t need to look. Only one person would be so assertive.
Hwa-eun.
‘Oh no. She’s angry.’
A profound sense of dread washed over me.
Now that I considered it, Hwa-eun had been silent since I awoke, aside from that initial call of my name.
I forced my eyes open and turned toward her.
“Nngh… Hwa-eun?”
“Yes?”
She finally replied—but her tone was level. Chilly. A single, clipped word. She was furious.
I mustered the most contrite voice I could manage.
“I was mistaken, Hwa-eun.”
Her retort was swift and sharp.
“Precisely what were you mistaken about?”
‘Oh no.’
‘She’s using the “You figure out what you did” tactic…’
I went rigid. My mind went completely blank.
In my past life, the online oracles always said this was an emotional trap. No matter what you said, your chance of being correct was zero.
But I had no alternative. I had to attempt one of those pre-formulated responses. One that demanded immense courage and a high tolerance for embarrassment.
‘Please let this be effective. Please let it work across dimensions, too…’
I drew a deep breath and answered:
“For causing Hwa-eun profound… heartache?”
…Then, silence.
I prepared for the inevitable awkwardness—but then…
Her hands abruptly gentled.
Her voice emerged timid, almost flustered.
“H-How can you utter something so shameless so easily…”
‘Wait—DID THAT ACTUALLY WORK?!’
Her tone still held a sliver of annoyance, but her touch was now far more tender.
Not completely pardoned, but it was progress. I released a sigh of relief.
Just then, Seol Sister let out an exasperated sigh.
“Oh, so my presence is irrelevant now, is it? I suppose you’ll begin a passionate embrace right in front of me next.”
“Unni!”
“My hearing is perfectly functional, you know?”
At Sister Seol’s remark, Hwa-eun flushed and rubbed her cheeks. Seol then turned to me with a more earnest inquiry.
“Anyway, So-ryong, why did it take so long this time? What occurred in the inner realm? This has never happened before. Even Golden Crown Death King Cheongyu regained consciousness some time ago. And the others—didn’t they all emerge long before you?”
“Ah, that. One moment.”
Before answering, I sorted through my memories.
‘Let me see what I can recall. So, the Five Venoms Sect spy concealed in Sichuan’s Red Blood Chamber was… wait, what—why is every detail so exceptionally clear?’
I had only intended to remember the crucial parts, but suddenly, I could recollect everything with incredible precision.
Even the sections I’d previously glossed over were now perfectly distinct.
My eyes widened in astonishment.
‘What manner of magic is this? Could it be… that thirty-fold time also multiplied my capacity to remember?’
Sister Seol tilted her head.
“What is it?”
I broke into a grin.
Because, frankly—I was thrilled.
If I told her everything I’d memorized inside, Sister Seol would undoubtedly commend me. And Hwa-eun as well—once she understood its value.
Surely, if a month of distress resulted in me retrieving critical intelligence on the Tang Clan’s greatest enemies… forgiveness would be swiftly granted.
“The instant I entered the inner realm, Cheongyu and the girl—Lady Cheongyu—were there to meet me. It appears they both coexist within Golden Crown Death King Cheongyu. I spoke with her and discovered the locations of the Blood Cult and the Five Venoms Sect, along with all their secret operatives active throughout the Central Plains.
Oh—and I also gained some understanding of the Five Poisons Returning to the Origin Art.”
“What? That woman was inside the inner realm?!”
“Indeed. Because of that, I managed to acquire all this invaluable information.”
“That’s astonishing. They claim she consumed the souls of the deceased… but she was truly within Cheongyu?”
Seol Sister was still in disbelief, murmuring her amazement.
And then… a chill.
‘Hm? Why do I feel a sudden coldness…?’
Was my body still malfunctioning? I shivered slightly—but no. This was a frost of emotion.
A familiar icy sensation emanating from nearby.
‘So-ryong… so you were delayed because you were conversing with that woman?’
‘Oh no.’
‘Wha—wait, no! I wasn’t conversing! I was collecting vital—’
I should have anticipated it. Of course she would see it that way.
I rushed to explain—how I’d remained completely focused, how I was considering the future of the Tang Clan, how I was doing this for her and her family…
But then came her final, devastating point.
‘Alright. I understand that. But then how, exactly, did you depart the inner realm? If both of them were there with you… wouldn’t you need to form a connection with both to leave?’
‘Uh… well…’
I had never intended to mention that the human Cheongyu had kissed my forehead to return me. That was meant to remain a secret.
But she already knew.
Without a single word, she was aware of the entire story. As if a camera had been installed in my mind by Hwa-eun herself.
‘How does she know?! This is it. I’m finished. AAAAAARGH!’

***

After a solid hour of explaining that the situation was unavoidable and scarcely obtaining forgiveness, I was finally released.
Despite her obvious irritation, Hwa-eun had continued the massage—I suppose she was still concerned. With my limbs finally loosened, I exited the cabin.
That’s when I spotted it—far off in the distance, a campfire.
The sky was now orange; evening had arrived. The preparation for the evening meal was likely underway.
My joints still complained like old hinges, but I needed to move.
As I cautiously made my way toward the campfire, a few surprised greetings met me.
“So-ryong, you’re awake?”
“Has Young Master So finally come to?”
“Ah, Brother Gwiseong. Yes, just now.”
Then came the sudden assault from my children.
—Ksshit!
—Trrrrrr!
—Kku-kkku!
—Piiiii!
They flew into my embrace without hesitation.
Cho, Hyang, Bini. And also Seol, Bing, and Dong, along with Hwayang, Yo-hwa, Hongdan, Cheongwol, and even Cheongyu, who had departed the inner realm with me.
They all mobbed me—licking my face, clambering over my body.
“Did you miss me, my little ones?”
—Ksshishee!
—Trrrrrrr.
I hugged each one, bestowing head pats… but then I noticed something was amiss.
Two were absent.
“Wait—where are Yeondu and Orange?”
‘And… where is Yeolbi?’
Yeondu and Orange were not to be seen. Nor was that little incendiary beetle, Yeolbi.
As I scanned the area, I felt a pull on my shoulder.
Turning my head, I saw Yo-hwa silently gesturing.
“Over there?”
—Ksshit!
She was indicating the largest of the half-constructed buildings the pirates had left behind. It had a roof, but only two walls were complete.
Curious about the activity, I headed in that direction.
If it were merely Yeondu and Orange by themselves, I would have left them to their devices—but since Yeolbi was with them, I thought I should investigate.
“Yeondu? Orange? Yeolbi?”
I called out as I neared. Orange peeked out from inside the structure.
He hurried over to me, lightly tapping my arms and legs with his tail, verifying I was unharmed.
—Ska?
He seemed to be asking if I was okay, so I nodded.
“Yes, my body is fine. But what were you all doing in there?”
Instead of answering, Orange coiled his tail around my wrist and guided me inside the building.
—Skaaa.
Inside, I was met with a surprising scene.
Several creatures I had never encountered before.
No—more precisely, they were spirit beasts. High-grade mammals and birds.
A mountain goat of immense size, as large as a horse. A white cloud leopard—not an albino, but a genuine spirit beast. A bird resembling a pheasant, with brilliantly colored plumage. And a bat the color of blood, suspended from a tree branch within the structure.
“What’s this? Have you made new friends?”
I asked, wondering if he had found some companions.
But Orange shook his head.
He tapped Yeolbi nearby with his tail.
“Ah… so you’ve brought subordinates? Or perhaps siblings?”
—Skaaa!
I asked again, and this time he nodded.
This fellow—always so perceptive and clever—must have thought recruiting additional members would be of assistance to me. But I had completely misjudged the situation.
“Are these all the spirit beasts residing on Yizhou?”
—Ska!
I asked if there were others, but he shook his head. It was slightly disappointing, but I praised him nonetheless.
Even if they weren’t directly useful to me, Sister Seol might appreciate them.
Not that she was probably unaware of their presence already.
“Well, I do appreciate the effort… but I’ll leave these to Sister Seol. Personally? I have a preference for venomous creatures—snakes, insects, that sort of thing.”
—Ska!?
He looked utterly astonished.
I gave him a reassuring pat on the back.
“You still did very well.”
Eager to ensure he didn’t feel disheartened, I offered ample praise and turned to go.
*Crack.*
“Agh, my knee…”
Indeed. Walking further was not an option. I decided to summon Cho and Hyang for assistance.
『“Cho, could you bring Hyang over here?”
“So-ryong, you transmitted that to the wrong one. That was meant for Cho, not for me.”
—Trrr. (Dad? You want Hyang?)
—Piii! (Food?)
—Trrrrt. (Dad? You called?)
—Shiaa? (What is it?)』
The moment I projected the thought, a cacophony of responses flooded back.
This was followed by a swift exchange among the creatures.
『“No way… Cho? Was that Cho?”
—Trrr. (M-Mom?)
—Trrrrt? (Did she just say Mom?!)
—Grrrrng. (What is going on…)』
Pandemonium broke out inside my skull.
One realization shone through with perfect clarity:
Now that I had reached the Four-Poison State, and my Beast Mind Art had progressed alongside it, I had evidently unlocked… a mental group channel for all of them.