Fabre in Sacheon’s Tang Novel - Chapter 304

Chapter 304
A tremor of understanding went through him as he grasped that the Blood-Blossom Dream Illusion Butterfly could cast illusions not merely upon itself, but over everything its scales had touched—and by the time his mind had cleared,
The world around him had become unnervingly hushed and motionless.
‘Ah, so I really am the only one conscious here.’
Since the butterfly’s powder had sent every living thing in the vicinity—people, wildlife, even insects—into a profound slumber, the village had been transformed into a place of absolute silence.
I was the sole individual in the entire settlement who remained awake.
Furthermore, the village—which had moments ago been dyed a deep red by the butterfly’s scales and shimmered under the moon in a fantastical haze—had now reverted to its ordinary, familiar state.
It was as though the breathtaking spectacle I had just witnessed had never happened at all.
‘This is truly incredible.’
That it could expand its power to alter the perception of its environment, not just its own form, much like Yoha can.
Thoroughly fascinated, I ran my hand over the wall beside me.
When I concentrated on the action, I could just barely detect the delicate, powdery feel of the butterfly’s scales.
They weren’t something I could see, and they didn’t cling to my skin, but a faint, granular sensation lingered on my fingertips.
However, the instant my focus wavered even a little, my ability to sense the scales vanished completely—a phenomenon I found utterly intriguing.
‘You can detect it if you really try… that’s remarkable. It’s as if your perception is being clouded without you realizing.’
Then, observing the village that had returned to normal, a thought occurred to me.
The butterfly’s scales were most likely naturally red.
The butterfly itself had appeared crimson under the moonlight, and the dust it shed was a bloody shade of red.
Yet the fact that the village didn’t look blanketed in red dust meant the Blood-Blossom Dream Illusion Butterfly was actively projecting the illusion of a peaceful, unchanged village.
This implied that even though the butterfly had appeared to retreat, it was highly probable it hadn’t gone far and was still close by.
I wasn’t sure of the full reach of its abilities, but I found it unlikely it could sustain such a complex illusion from a great distance.
‘Is it perhaps more wary or nervous than I thought?’
At the very least, we had shared a short, clumsy introduction during our first meeting.
As I was pondering the best approach to earn its trust—running through everything I’d observed about its capabilities and behavior—Hwa-eun’s voice suddenly resonated in my head.
『So-ryong, my apologies. I was in the middle of telling Lady Cheongyu about you and was interrupted for a bit. So-ryong? Why are you so silent? So-ryong?』
Now that she mentioned it, I had previously told them I planned to be non-confrontational and merely introduce myself… and then I’d left without another word.
They must have talked amongst themselves while I was away.
‘I wonder what she told her about me?’
Feeling a spike of curiosity about their conversation, I responded to Hwa-eun’s call.
『Ah, I simply went to greet the Blood-Blossom Dream Illusion Butterfly.』
『So soon?』
–Shia!? (A-Already!?)
Two distinct surges of astonishment hit me simultaneously.
They were clearly taken aback that I had made my move already, and I answered while scratching my head a little awkwardly.
『Yes, just as I mentioned, I only offered a quick hello.』
『It wasn’t aggressive?』
–Sii? (It didn’t fight?)
『It appeared to be quite shy and just flew off.』
Replying with a hint of dejection, Lady Cheongyu pressed for more details.
–Shiaaa? (What about the visions? Are you unharmed? Did you experience anything unusual?)
She was likely concerned I could be caught in a hallucination, so I began to share my deductions.
『I believe there’s no cause for alarm. It isn’t a hallucination caused by poison, but more of an illusion that’s being cast?』
『What does that mean?』
『How should I put this… Ah! Butterflies are covered in “scales”—a very fine dust that comes off their wings. That dust appears to work similarly to Yoha’s power to alter her appearance.
But it isn’t confined to its own body—it can change the look of anything the powder lands on. The entire village shifted to autumn, and then to winter, just like that.』
When I clarified that it used its scales to project false images onto the environment, much like Yoha transforming into Hwa-eun, both of them were astounded.
–Shiaaa. (So it’s not a toxin—it creates illusions with its scales.)
『That’s astonishing, /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ So-ryong.』
To their amazed minds, I continued my explanation.
『Yes, and unlike other spirit beasts that seem to consume Qi, it also appears to drink blood.』
『Blood?』
–Shiaaa? (It consumes blood?)
『Then… wouldn’t that make it a dangerous spirit beast?』
Hwa-eun asked, her tone worried, but if that were the criteria, then nearly every butterfly in existence would be considered a nuisance.
Because the majority of butterflies in the world do drink blood.
『Dangerous? Not exactly. Other butterflies drink blood as well.』
『Wait—other butterflies drink blood?』
『Yes. For instance, after rainfall…』
It may sound strange, but it’s true that butterflies drink blood.
Their primary food source is floral nectar, but that isn’t all they consume.
Unlike bees, butterflies also require proteins, amino acids, and sodium, which they acquire from other sources.
You’ve likely seen butterflies congregating around rain puddles.
Observant people might note they aren’t just resting there—they are actively drinking the water.
Those unaware of this behavior might assume the butterflies are merely quenching their thirst, but in reality, they are soaking up amino acids and sodium.
They extract only the essential nutrients from the water and promptly expel the remainder.
This activity is known to scholars as “mud-puddling.”
Since they frequently assemble around muddy pools of water.
This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.
This conduct—most common among male butterflies—isn’t limited to puddles. They are also drawn to blood, dead animals, damp earth, and even animal waste.
They will also sip moisture from the sweat of people walking by or the tears of creatures. Blood is especially favored because it is rich in protein and assorted minerals.
『‘…So it’s actually not that unusual.’』
–Shiaaa. (I didn’t know that. Butterflies drink blood?)
『See? As I said, I’ve occasionally noticed them around puddles after a storm, but this is incredible, So-ryong.
But if they are ingesting things dissolved in mud or blood, what is their reason for doing so?』
–Shia. (I am also curious about that.)』
Since explaining it as “nutrients” was complex, I had described it as butterflies absorbing beneficial elements from water—which led Hwa-eun and Lady Cheongyu to ask for the reason.
And I always enjoyed teaching inquisitive students, so I smiled as I provided the answer.
『‘Male butterflies present a gift when they mate. They pass on the nutrients they’ve collected into the body of the female—so the developing young can use them to become healthy and robust.
That is why they gather those nutrients beforehand.’』
The butterflies that typically engage in mud-puddling are males, and as I told Hwa-eun, they transfer the collected minerals and amino acids to the female during reproduction.
This aids in the development of the eggs inside the female.
As I relayed this, I detected flustered reactions in my mind.
『M-M-M-M-Mating…』
–Si, Siat… (A… A present…)
Abruptly, I sensed a surge of warmth emanating from their thoughts.
‘Oh no.’
I’d become too carried away and forgotten that Hwa-eun has no resistance to these topics.
And it seemed Lady Cheongyu was equally susceptible.
But really, this was about insects, not people, wasn’t it?
I feigned composure and kept speaking.
Eventually, even our own companions might have offspring—they needed to be informed.
『‘Yes, it is a crucial process for fostering the future generation.’』
Struggling to sound calm herself, Hwa-eun stuttered a response.
『‘S-so it’s comparable to… transferring cultivated energy… for the benefit of the next generation.’』
『Ah, I suppose that’s one way to view it.』
–Shia. S-So it is a form of External Qi Transmission.
Following a short, uncomfortable pause, Hwa-eun inquired,
『‘Then do you believe the Blood-Blossom Dream Illusion Butterfly is male?’』
『It’s possible, as is common with butterflies, but I cannot be sure.』
It was easy to presume it was male due to its blood-drinking, but I couldn’t be certain.
Because, based on my experiences, I was starting to comprehend why so many spirit beasts, including our own, are female.
And the explanation was fairly straightforward.
Spirit beasts are exceedingly uncommon; there are only a handful across the whole Central Plains.
Yet almost every one I’ve met has been female?
That seemed too lopsided to be a simple coincidence—even for someone with my level of fortune.
There had to be a logic behind it.
Consider the facts—spirit beasts are incredibly scarce in this enormous territory. And whenever news of one surfaces, martial artists swiftly begin to hunt them, seeking their Neidan.
Therefore, it was reasonable to arrive at this inference:
It is almost unfeasible for spirit beasts to find mates on their own.
They are so few across this expansive land, and moreover, predators are always lurking.
In a domain this size, it is challenging enough for males and females to locate one another. Add to that their centuries-long maturation periods and the perpetual threat from humans…
Natural breeding is next to impossible.
So, unless it is a special twin-born kind or a rare exception like Seol and Bing, most descendants would likely be female to allow the species to persist.
Some types can even reproduce through parthenogenesis when no males are present.
Thus, while I couldn’t confirm if the butterfly’s consumption of minerals was for breeding or simply for sustenance, I had to avoid assumptions.
‘I do hope it’s female, however.’
Naturally, I wished it was female—perhaps it could even reproduce without a mate.
I was already envisioning how wonderful it would be to care for its offspring, when Hwa-eun’s voice returned.
『‘But So-ryong, even if drinking blood is normal for butterflies, and you claim it isn’t a malicious spirit beast—it is currently causing harm to people, correct?
If this becomes known, it could be destroyed, so we must either capture it or relocate it to an unpopulated area.’』
She was right. Even if blood-drinking isn’t abnormal…
This one was presently feeding on human blood and inducing sleep in villagers.
As Hwa-eun stated, I needed to apprehend it and resolve the situation swiftly.
‘Whether we form a bond or I move it elsewhere… no, if I relocate it, ill-intentioned individuals might discover it and cause it harm. I must form a friendship with it. That is the only solution.’
My resolve firm, I gave a determined nod and replied to Hwa-eun.
『‘Yes. I absolutely must catch it soon—or more accurately, befriend it.’』
『Shall I fetch Yoha, then? Isn’t a spider the ideal hunter for a butterfly?』
Hwa-eun proposed bringing Yoha.
If this were a typical butterfly or a random beast, I might have agreed.
But this location was effectively the butterfly’s lair at this point.
Its scales were dispersed everywhere. No matter which creature I brought here, it would be futile.
Because to capture it, I would have to lay in wait—meaning I would be coated in its invisible scales. And anyone covered in them would succumb to sleep.
Since Hyang—also an arthropod—was already asleep, Cho, Bini, Yoha, Cheongwol, and others of their kind would also be affected.
Even reptiles like Cheongyu, similar to Seol and Bing, had fallen asleep—so she would be vulnerable too.
『‘This place is currently its stronghold. To succeed, I must remain alert through the night. But the instant anyone steps into this village, they will fall asleep. Therefore, I believe bringing Yoha would not be advantageous.’』
『Ah… then what is the plan?』
Hwa-eun was asking for a solution—but in truth, what options remained?
This daring Fabre would have to proceed alone, without assistance.
I had to catch a enormous butterfly capable of camouflage and crafting illusions—by myself, without support from any other spirit beasts.
‘What is my strategy? The son-in-law of the Sacheon Tang Clan, Wei Su Long, handles it personally.’
The solo match between this bold Fabre and the spirit butterfly was on the verge of commencing.