Fabre in Sacheon’s Tang Novel - Chapter 293

Chapter 293
I was still nursing a small wound from Sister Seol’s tale about the bat.
My sworn brother raked his fingers through his hair with an uncomfortable look and started to speak, his tone hesitant.
“So-ryong, there’s something I need to ask of you…”
“A request, brother?”
“You see, it’s like this…”
I was blinking at this unexpected appeal when Sister Seol nudged me in the leg.
I glanced at her, and she made a slight motion with her chin toward a specific spot.
There was Yak Sosso, a young woman who appeared even younger than me.
She was looking right at me, and at that moment, Hwa-eun’s voice sounded inside my head.
‘Because Peng Gongja is leaving to battle the Blood Cult and the Five Venoms Sect, Miss Sosso has declared she will be joining him…’
‘What?’
‘This is the situation. You recall that Peng Gongja was out of contact for a very long time, correct?’
‘I do?’
‘Well…’
According to her explanation, even though that man had been absent for years on a mission to hunt Yin cultivators, he was now abruptly departing again to confront the Five Venoms Sect and the Blood Cult. Unable to deter him, she had instead resolved to accompany him.
‘To be honest, I might have done the same in her position.’
While my brother struggled for words, Yak Sosso released a quiet sigh, stepped forward, and spoke for him, her voice careful.
“Haah… Young Lord So. I am aware this is rather brazen, but I wish to request permission to join your group.
After all this time, he reappears only to say, ‘I am going to fight the Blood Cult and the Five Venoms Sect—can you wait several more years?’ What am I to make of that?
If some misfortune befalls him, what becomes of me? So I beg you… please allow me to go with him.”
‘He actually said that?’
Not a brief absence for a fight, but years?
I gaped at Peng Gongja, stunned that such words could have truly come from him.
He finally has a marriage arranged, and now he’s behaving like a rooster that won’t perform its duty.
Furthermore, he isn’t exactly young anymore. Is he saying that if he doesn’t succeed in wiping out the Blood Cult and the Five Venoms Sect, he simply won’t wed?
‘Have you lost your senses, you fool?’
I responded with a understanding smile, showing I fully empathized with Yak Sosso’s position.
“Naturally, you must come with us. Should I arrange a shared cabin for the two of you?”
“What!?”
Yak Sosso started, her eyes going wide—but then a frantic, hushed message reached my mind.
[Pl-Please, Young Lord.]
“Young Lord,” the term ‘Soya’ used for a young master.
Since I was the sworn brother of her intended, she likely deemed it a proper form of address. I was just glad she was taking some initiative.
As it was a plea from my future sister-in-law, I decided I ought to prepare a cabin fit for a honeymoon.
***
Following two days of travel against the current, our goal—Bojung—appeared on the horizon.
As the outline of the distant city grew clearer, the boatman proposed we moor at that point.
“The settlement you see ahead is Bojung, Young Lord. I advise we bring the… turtle, I mean, the vessel, to a stop around here.”
“Very well.”
Bojung was a moderately sized city, comparable to Taean, and possessed a harbor of similar scale. We were anchoring farther out, however, for one obvious reason: Elder Geumdo.
We had currently camouflaged the bamboo structure on Elder Geumdo’s shell to resemble a raft by surrounding it with bamboo poles.
A lengthy rope connected the stern of our actual boat to the bamboo house on Geumdo’s back, so we were effectively towing it.
To an observer, it seemed our boat was pulling a simple bamboo raft.
In truth, however, it was Geumdo propelling the boat forward.
Naturally, the disguise wasn’t flawless—patches of sand would occasionally become visible, which could draw suspicion. Therefore, we chose to anchor both the boat and Geumdo a considerable distance from the city.
“Cho-ya, instruct Geumdo to stay near the bank. That area beneath the willow trees seems suitable.”
—Tssrrrk. Tssrrt! 『Understood, Dad. Geumdo, move toward the shade there!』
The moment I directed him toward the line of willow trees along the shore, Cho translated without delay.
Bubbles surfaced as Geumdo gradually shifted toward the riverbank.
—Bwooorrgh.
Shortly after, the boat made contact with the land, and the Dragon Fangs leaped ashore.
Behind them, the Immortal of Medicine and the Immortal of Herbs collected their belongings and disembarked.
“Hwa-eun, this has been a true pleasure. I will visit the Tang Clan later with your elder brother.”
“Travel safely, Grandpa Yakseon. It was wonderful to reunite with you.”
“Until we meet again, Hwa-eun.”
“Goodbye, Immortal of Medicine.”
Hwa-eun followed them off the boat, exchanging parting words.
The reason Hwa-eun and Sister Seol were bidding farewell was that they would be remaining here.
While I observed Hwa-eun saying goodbye to the two elders, I gave myself a silent commendation.
‘Last night… I must have been inspired. How did I think that quickly…? In all of Spicy Fabre’s broadcasts—no, in my entire previous life—that was the quickest thinking I have ever done. Truly.’
I still hadn’t made a final decision about going to the Peng family estate to learn the technique that dulls awareness during rituals, but I was inclined to refuse.
Cheongyu had counseled me against it multiple times, and luckily, Hwa-eun and the children had been less active in the group chat recently.
Ever since I mentioned I would be assisting Geum Gi-ryung, Hwa-eun had instructed the others not to bother “Dad while he’s working,” and the activity in the group chat had diminished significantly.
Now they only used it when I was clearly at leisure, which meant I felt less besieged—and consequently had less urge to acquire new martial arts.
Therefore, I was nearly decided on committing to the Five Poisons path sooner.
Still, because I aided my brother’s courtship, he insisted I absolutely must visit his home—and I was certainly going to Unghyeon, the destination of the two elders.
I was uncertain about a trip to my brother’s residence, but Unghyeon was essential. New venomous creatures might be found there.
The actual problem was that I would have to leave the larger children behind: Geumdo, Cheongyu, Cheongwol, Cho, Bini…
Although Geumdo, the giant turtle modeled on the Asian Giant Softshell, could endure a few days out of water, his enormous size was an issue.
On land, his colossal form and distinctive coloring made it impossible to remain inconspicuous, forcing me to leave him behind.
The same was true for the other large ones.
From this location to my brother’s home in Bukgyeong, there were too many towns and villages linked by exposed flatlands—no place to conceal them.
Thus, someone needed to stay to look after the children—and the most obvious candidate was Hwa-eun, as she could converse with them via our group chat.
She was the individual closest to both me and the kids.
「‘It seems I will have to remain behind again, doesn’t it?’
‘Yes, that appears to be the case.’」
When I had voiced my thoughts last night, Hwa-eun had consented.
Hearing her reply, I couldn’t suppress an inner smile.
Because finally, a taste of freedom was coming back to me.
Being mentally tethered to Hwa-eun, I craved moments like this intensely.
A valuable interval where the connection weakened just a little, even if it was only a physical separation.
‘Ahh… All hail So-ryong’s liberation!’
Just as I was inwardly rejoicing over this—my delight at being apart from Hwa-eun…
Right then, I overheard Hwa-eun and Sister Seol conversing.
“I feel somewhat anxious. Please look after So-ry