Fabre in Sacheon’s Tang Novel - Chapter 311

Chapter 311
The campfire roared to life as my blood mingled with Hyang’s venom.
Almost instantly, the abandoned Daoist temple began to feel warmer.
Though there were gaps in the walls, no breeze was coming through, so the heat quickly built up inside.
– Crackle. Pop.
Now that the flames were strong and steady…
The smoke was drifting out cleanly through an opening in the roof, so it seemed I no longer had to be concerned about it.
“I ought to gather some of those dry reeds and make a bed now.”
I thought I could take the reeds stacked in the corner, spread them out near the fire’s warmth, and sleep there for the night.
That was when I noticed the raincoat and bamboo hat I had discarded by the doorway earlier.
“Ah, my hat and raincoat.”
Walking over, I picked up the bamboo hat and raincoat from near the entrance and hung them on a broken tree branch protruding from the damaged wall.
I would need them again in the morning, after all.
Since they were crafted from reeds and bamboo, if I didn’t dry them out, they would absorb dampness and rot.
Once I had hung up the hat and raincoat, the children were already hard at work—without any instruction.
They were shifting the pile of reeds closer to the flames.
“Helping your dad out?”
At my question, the kids looked back at me with proud expressions, as if to see if I was pleased.
– Tsrrr.
– Kku-kuu.
– Ppiut.
Hyang was pulling a bundle of reeds tangled around her body, while Hongdan carried a stack using her pincers.
Seol and Bing were each holding a stalk in their mouths, assisting the other two.
Dong had clamped onto a reed leaf larger than himself and was spinning in circles.
When I moved to help, Hyang nudged me down onto the pile of reeds she had already gathered and chirped:
– Tsrut!
Was she telling me to relax and let them take care of it?
I truly felt like my daughter had matured.
It seemed like only yesterday she was a small yellow egg, and now here she was, all grown up and aiding her father.
This is the reward of raising children.
‘Gyaaah.’
As I was lost in my feelings, the five of them bustled about energetically, and before long, a snug nest fashioned from reeds was finished.
The completed nest resembled something a bird might build, and Seol, Bing, and Dong were already stretched out along its edge, near the fire.
They must have been feeling sleepy, soaking in the comforting heat.
When you keep lizards, if you switch on a warm lamp or pad, they shut their eyes and look just that drowsy. They seemed to be trying to raise their body heat after the chill from the rain.
Hyang and Hongdan settled against the wall of the nest, leaving an open, circular space in the middle.
That empty center was likely intended for me.
“Is this spot for Daddy?”
– Tsrrr.
– Ppiut.
The children replied lazily, their eyes shut.
They motioned for me to come over, as if urging me to hurry and join them, but first, I needed to dry my outer garments by the fire.
The kids could simply shed the water, but I had to dry my clothes properly.
I couldn’t undress completely, so I removed my outer robe and trousers and arranged them over the stack of firewood.
Then I crawled into the central space the kids had saved for me and looked toward the wall where the Blood-Blossom Dream Illusion Butterfly (Jeokwol) was resting.
Sister Jeokwol had landed on the wall right after we entered the temple, so I wanted to see how she was doing.
“Sister Jeokwol?”
I glanced at the wall where she had been earlier—but couldn’t spot her.
When I called her name, the wall seemed to glimmer faintly, and she materialized from the shadows.
She was fastened to the wall with her wings fully extended, shimmering in the firelight.
Since her body repelled water, she hadn’t gotten wet, so she was likely trying to absorb some heat.
Butterflies often spread their wings to capture warmth.
“Sister Jeokwol, are you alright? You aren’t hungry or anything, are you? As I said before, we’ll be spending the night here.”
– Chiiiii.
She swayed her antennae gently to indicate she was fine.
She typically fed every two or three days, and today was the third day, yet she claimed she was okay.
I had told her to ask if she grew hungry—we even had the Boheoldan that Grandpa Yak Seon had given us—but perhaps she felt uncomfortable drinking the blood of someone as young as me.
– Chii. Chiit.
– Tsrut. Tsrrr. 『She says if she gets hungry, she can hunt for a deer or a wild boar. Daddy.』
It sounded like she was speaking, so I requested Hyang to translate—and indeed, she said she would find animal blood if needed.
It was a relief she didn’t rely solely on human blood.
‘That makes sense, doesn’t it? She probably survived on wild animal blood when she lived in the mountains.’
The kids were enjoying the fire, the nest was ready, and Sister said she was fine.
That meant we could settle in for the night just like this.
“Then I suppose it’s time for bed. Ah, it’s so warm… Oh, that’s right, I need to reach out to Hwa-eun.”
Lying among the children, I recalled I needed to contact Hwa-eun. I pulled over the leather pouch I had set aside and peered inside.
I was also feeling a bit peckish—a small bite to eat for dinner wouldn’t hurt.
I just wanted something to nibble on while talking to her.
I rummaged through the pouch and found something wrapped in oiled paper.
Opening it revealed jerky.
It wasn’t like ordinary jerky—it was more partially dried than completely cured.
I selected a stick from the firewood pile, speared the jerky, and held it over the fire, rotating it slowly.
After a brief wait, the rich aroma of melting fat began to rise.
I took a small flask, sipped some water to moisten my throat, and then, with the jerky in my mouth, I directed my thoughts to Hwa-eun.
『Hwa-eun.』
‘So-ryong. How much progress have you made?’
The instant I reached out to her mentally, her warm voice replied immediately.
She was inquiring about my journey, but I had to inform her I was far behind schedule.
‘Uh… I haven’t made it across the river yet, Hwa-eun.’
‘Not yet? Why?’
Hearing I hadn’t crossed the river, she sounded somewhat surprised, so I explained promptly.
‘There’s been heavy rainfall here. The river swelled and submerged the bridge.’
‘Ah, so that’s why the water level rose here as well. It’s pouring where you are? Where are you now?’
‘They mentioned an alternate path, so I’ve been traversing a mountain. The sun set, so I chose to rest at an abandoned Daoist temple.’
‘Have you eaten dinner?’
This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.
‘Yes. I’m roasting some jerky over the fire at this moment.’
‘Well then…’
I conversed with Hwa-eun for a while, grilled a few more pieces of jerky, and added more wood to the campfire.
Then I inspected my clothes—they were fully dry and warm from the heat.
I put them back on, curled up among the kids, and Hyang, seeking warmth, burrowed into my arms.
And just like that, I fell asleep, thinking about our time living on Haenam Island.
***
– Ppiut! Ppiut! Ppiut!
Dong’s alarmed cries pierced through my drowsiness.
“…What? What is it?”
– Kku-kuu!
– Tsrrr!
The chorus of sounds persisted, and I rubbed my eyes with both hands and sat up.
I blinked my eyes open to total darkness.
The rain was still falling heavily outside, and in the quiet moments, only the sound of burning embers remained.
– Ssshhhaaaaaa.
– Tap. Crackle.
And in the blackness, Dong’s calls continued.
– Ppiut! Ppiuuu!
I waited, expecting Hyang to explain the situation. But instead, she slid out of my embrace and headed to a corner of the abandoned Daoist temple.
After examining the spot, she stood there and reported:
– Tsrrrut? 『Dong says something was over there, but there’s nothing there now.』
“He said something was there?”
– Ppiut, ppiut!
‘Did he spot a rat or something similar?’
I took a bunch of dry reeds from the bedding and threw them into the glowing remains of the campfire. Blowing on it with my mouth—whoosh—the flame leaped up again.
I added more firewood to it, then took a burning stick and walked over to Hyang.
In the corner where she was, there was a hole approximately the size of a person’s head. Hyang had already put her head inside to look, but she confirmed there was no trace of anything.
– Tsrrrut. 『There’s nothing here, Daddy.』
“Jeokwol, did you see anything by any chance?”
– Chii.
– Tsrut. 『She says she was sleeping and didn’t see anything, Daddy.』
Just to be safe, I had asked Jeokwol as well. But since she had traveled during the day despite being nocturnal, she must have been sound asleep.
No matter how carefully I searched, there was no evidence of anything having come through. It was likely just a field mouse that had wandered in through the hole.
“It was probably just a field mouse. There’s no need to worry, Dong.”
Dong was still positioned on top of the reed pile, his body inflated as he gazed fixedly toward the hole.
It was the typical defensive stance lizards adopt when they sense a threat—to appear larger.
To soothe him, I stroked his head and reassured him, but he stayed rigid, like a tiny sentry, his eyes locked on the hole.
The fire was rebuilt, and if I hoped to depart tomorrow, I needed more rest. So I gently petted Dong and drew him into my arms.
“Come on now, let’s go back to sleep, Dong.”
Even as I held him, he kept peeking out from my arms, watching the corner as if something still seemed wrong.
Only when I covered his eyes did the night grow peaceful again.
***
– KWAHHHHH.
– RUMBLE. CRASH!
I was awakened by tremendous crashing noises. Morning had arrived, but outside, all was mayhem.
The rain, which I had hoped would lessen, was now coming down as if the sky had split open.
Lightning and thunder were also raging outside.
In these conditions, departing was impossible.
“What in the—why is the rain coming down even harder?”
It must have been the monsoon or rainy season in this area. With the thunder, lightning, and relentless downpour, we couldn’t possibly leave until the storm subsided.
“It seems we’re stranded here until the rain stops.”
– Tsrrr.
– KUGUNG!
As I stood at the entrance of the main hall, gazing out at the rain, a loud crashing noise came from behind.
Some dust billowed upward, only to be swiftly beaten down by the rain. I hurried back to investigate.
Behind the main hall, a structure had given way under the rain’s weight. As the dust cleared rapidly in the heavy downpour, a large flower garden became visible.
Like many structures in the Central Plains, this temple appeared to follow a quadrangle design, with a main hall, a rear building, and a garden beyond the wall.
The flower garden, left untended and overlooked by people, was abundant with wild lilies blooming gorgeously even in the rain.
White and pink flowers, growing thickly and dotted with small spots—utterly breathtaking.
“Wow, Hwa-eun would certainly love this.”
Although she adored martial arts and poison, Hwa-eun was still a lady of nobility, and she had a great fondness for flowers too.
That’s why I believed she would be enchanted by a view like this. And right then, I sensed her voice in my mind—I suppose being a conventional lady isn’t her destiny after all.
『So-ryong, are you awake? Wait, have you already departed?』
I hadn’t left at all. In fact, I was trapped until the rain eased. I told her this, and she seemed anxious.
『How intense is the rainfall?』
‘It’s not merely rain—it’s as if the sky is emptying buckets. One of the structures here even collapsed because of it.’
『What?! Then isn’t your location dangerous as well?』
‘Uh… I believe I’m safe where I am…’
But upon hearing her concern, I realized I might have been better off not mentioning it. So I included a small untruth for comfort.
‘No, no. The building that fell was already deteriorating. The section I’m in is in good condition and still sturdy, so there’s no cause for alarm.’
『Even so, be cautious, So-ryong. Should I come to get you with Cho and Yeondu?』
Hwa-eun proposed fetching me, evidently worried.
But having her come in this rain would only be an inconvenience, so I declined.
‘If we wait a while, the rain should lessen. I’ll monitor the situation, and if it appears risky, I’ll inform you ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version).’
『Alright… Then message me every two hours—no, every four—no, just message me every two hours, agreed? Promise?』
Oh dear… They say if you were involved with an overly possessive person in a past life, you’d have to check in with them every few hours. And it seems that person is Hwa-eun.
But she wasn’t typically like this—only concerned at the moment. So I consented.
‘Understood, Hwa-eun.’
I could sense her easing up slightly through her reply.
Time to freshen up and have something to eat.
As I returned along the eaves of the main hall, the children asked where I had been.
– Tsrrr?
– Kku-kuu!
“Oh, I heard a loud noise, so I went to investigate.”
I explained the event and washed my face using rainwater dripping near the entrance.
Then I went to find the jerky—but it was missing.
No, truly—gone.
I had left it right by the fire, but the oiled paper was ripped, and all the jerky inside had vanished.
“What?! My jerky!”
At my exclamation, everyone looked toward the corner Dong had been monitoring the previous night.