Fabre in Sacheon’s Tang Novel - Chapter 312

Chapter 312
The audacity was unbelievable. My provisions had been pilfered right from under our noses as we slept.
“Which one of you did this?!”
– Tsrrr!
– Kku-kuu! Kkkuuuk!
My furious shout reverberated through the main chamber of the deserted Daoist temple, prompting the children to scramble toward the gap in the corner and start a thorough inspection of the vicinity.
Hyang squeezed through the opening to scout the exterior, while Seol and Bing combed through every inch inside the hole.
Hongdan started aggressively hacking at a nearby stack of reeds.
Naturally, our search turned up nothing.
And even if it had, it would have been pointless.
Whatever stole the jerky had surely consumed it by now—and if it was a wild creature or a rat, it was certainly no longer safe to eat.
‘Rats are known to carry hemorrhagic fever, among other things…’
I didn’t know for sure if that particular illness existed in this world, but it didn’t matter.
Rats are inherently dirty. Discovering the stolen food wouldn’t mean we could reclaim it.
They are breeding grounds for fleas, ticks, and innumerable sicknesses.
“Damn it all, that was our entire supply…”
I gazed emptily at the shredded oil paper that had contained the jerky, my anger giving way to hollow dejection.
We now had absolutely nothing to eat.
This area was a transition between the plains and the mountains, with settlements dotting the lowlands. Consequently, I had packed only the barest minimum of emergency supplies.
A full day’s walk would bring me to the next village, so hauling a heavy load had seemed unnecessary.
Beyond the jerky, I had brought nothing else.
There was no predicting when the downpour would cease, but for the moment, it appeared breakfast was canceled.
I let out a sigh and called to the children, who were still investigating.
“It’s alright. Come back now. We couldn’t eat it even if we managed to find it.”
– Tsrrr! 『Even if it’s inedible, we must discover and discipline the one who took Daddy’s food!』
– Kkkuu!
– Ppii!
The children unanimously sided with Hyang, who maintained this was a matter of principle, not the jerky itself.
But what would punishing a rodent accomplish?
It wouldn’t feel remorse. And we certainly couldn’t make a meal of it.
“Drop it, Hyang. Rats are unclean. Get away from there this instant.”
Furthermore, if one of them bit a rat and contracted something, we’d have a far more severe issue.
Considering that rats traverse the most foul places, I summoned all the children back.
– Tsrrrrr!
– Kkkuu-uuu!
They came back, muttering complaints, but continued to shoot angry looks toward the hole.
Hyang and Hongdan’s antennae were rigidly erect, and the tails of Seol, Bing, and Dong twitched menacingly above their backs.
They remained on high alert.
Witnessing their fierce anger over my stolen meal… I couldn’t suppress a smile.
They were truly looking out for me.
‘What incredible little creatures.’
This must be that swelling sense of parental pride.
While I was immersed in their cuteness and devotion, Hwa-eun’s voice abruptly sounded.
『So-ryong, is your food supply sufficient? It’s raining here as well. I consulted Do Sagong, and he mentioned this season is known for torrential rains.
Occasionally it storms so intensely that one is confined indoors for days. If you’re stranded in that temple, do you possess adequate provisions?』
Had two hours already passed? She was clearly inquiring about our sustenance.
Wishing to spare her any anxiety, I opted for a minor fib.
『Yes, I have enough to last me a few days.』
『Ah, what a relief…』
But then—
Hyang’s shrill cry abruptly pierced the group chat.
『– Tsrrr! (Daddy isn’t telling the truth!)』
‘Gyaaaah!’
I had intended to scream inwardly, but the cry inadvertently transmitted across the group chat.
A frigid silence began to emanate from the group chat and seep into my very being.
As this icy pressure enveloped me, Hwa-eun’s voice, now cold and sharp, posed a question to Hyang.
『He lied, Hyang?』
– Tst! Ts-tsst! (Daddy said being dishonest is wrong! But Daddy was dishonest!)
Back in Yizhou, she had instructed the children that leaving secretly and lying about it was unacceptable.
Evidently, that lesson had been remembered.
Yet another lesson in being mindful of what one says around children…
Damn it.
‘Where is this cold coming from…?’
Her aura felt like my heart had been cast into a frozen star. I needed to clarify. Immediately.
It was only a small falsehood! I explained that the jerky had been taken by a rat, but I hadn’t wanted to concern her, so I’d claimed we had food remaining.
『Regarding what exactly did he lie, Hyang? Relate everything to me.』
– Tsrrr. (Yes, Mommy. A rat took all the food, but Daddy claimed we still had some!)
‘H-Hwa-eun, please allow me to explain. There was a package of jerky, but exactly as Hyang described, I awoke to find it completely gone.
I wished to avoid worrying you, hence I stated I still had some…’
Perhaps because it was such a minor untruth, or maybe my justification was adequate, Hwa-eun’s tone became marginally warmer.
『So-ryong, you must not tell falsehoods like that again. The children are observing your behavior.』
‘Yes, I understand. I won’t, Hwa-eun.’
『Nevertheless, what is your plan without food? Should I bring something with Yeondu? Or perhaps I should fetch Cho as well, and we can all return together?』
The immediate danger had passed… but the core issue remained: we had no food.
Hwa-eun coming to retrieve us, as she proposed, would be ideal—but with thunder and lightning raging outside?
Cho might possess a resistance to lightning, but Hwa-eun and Yeondu did not.
『The lightning outside poses too great a risk. I believe it is unsafe for you to travel here presently.』
『Then what will you do? Are you not hungry?』
『Skipping a single meal is manageable. If it seems we will be confined here longer, I will attempt to forage for anything available nearby.』
Following a brief silence, Hwa-eun responded.
『Very well. However, you must inform me of all developments there.』
‘Understood, Hwa-eun.’
That appeared to resolve the matter—until she addressed Hyang again in the group chat.
『Hyang, I appreciate you informing me. Keep a close watch on Daddy and notify me if he locates anything to eat, understood?』
– Tsrrr. (Understood, Mommy!)
Naturally. Hwa-eun never overlooks a single detail.
***
Approaching midday, the rain continued unabated.
It was falling with such force that concerns of flooding arose, and left with no alternatives, I resolved to search for something edible.
It looked like we were spending another day confined here, and we required sustenance.
The thunder had retreated into the distance, with lightning flashing far away, so I judged I could venture out for a brief hunt.
I donned my raincoat and bamboo hat and attempted to recollect the landscape I’d observed on my journey here.
‘Now, let me think… What did I notice before…?’
The initial thought was the stream.
Streams often contain crayfish, shrimp, or sometimes fish.
But I promptly dismissed that notion.
The watercourse was undoubtedly swollen by now—venturing into it would inevitably result in being carried away.
One simply does not approach a stream during a deluge like this.
‘That would be inviting disaster.’
If not the stream, then hunting was the only option.
But what could I possibly hope to catch in this weather?
Just then, I heard Jeokwol’s soft chirp from the wall.
– Chii.
As I got ready to leave, Hyang—who had climbed onto me—interpreted Jeokwol’s message.
– Tsrut. 『She says if you are hunting, you should follow her.』
“Follow her?”
I looked at Jeokwol, feeling a twinge of concern. In this rain, wouldn’t her butterfly powder be ineffective?
Yet she appeared self-assured—as if she had a strategy.
I gave a quick nod and chose to trust her guidance.
“Hyang and I will return. The four of you remain here and maintain the fire. If it seems to be fading, add one stick at a time. Understood?”
– Kku-kuu!
– Pii!
There was no reason for all of them to become drenched, so I departed with Hyang, leaving the others behind.
– Flap.
Jeokwol lifted from the wall and sailed toward the temple’s main entrance.
Through the open door, she ascended into the stormy air, circling as though seeking something.
Despite the pouring rain, she moved as if gliding through a clear sky.
Then, just as the rain obscured my sight, I observed her descending smoothly toward one side.
‘Has she found something?’
I trailed cautiously, maintaining a distance to avoid disrupting her. She had landed on the trunk of a tall tree.
Then, inverted, she started to descend the tree.
Beneath the dense canopy overhead, only sparse droplets reached the forest floor. There, Jeokwol dispersed her butterfly powder.
The faintly crimson-tinged powder glimmered slightly as it descended—then disappeared before touching the earth.
She seemed to have rendered it invisible intentionally.
When she finished, she flew over and directed one antenna toward me.
– Chii.
Even without Hyang’s interpretation, the meaning was clear—follow me.
I moved toward the base of the tree she had indicated.
There, nestled in a shallow hollow under the tree, a small brown form lay curled up.
I unsheathed my dagger and advanced warily—discovering a slumbering young deer.
“Incredible…”
So this was her hunting method.
You remain completely unaware as a sleep-inducing powder descends upon you from above?
Escape would be impossible.
As I admired Jeokwol’s hunting prowess, she pointed her antennae at the deer.
– Chiiii.
Hyang translated for me: Jeokwol was indicating that I should take the meat first.
But she hadn’t eaten for three days—I couldn’t possibly take precedence.
If I butchered it now, the creature would perish and its blood would begin to thicken. She required it alive to properly consume the blood.
Moreover, I was a product of Eastern courtesy.
“Please, you first, Jeokwol. I can wait. You should drink while the blood is still fresh—if I cut it now, the animal will die and the blood won’t flow correctly, isn’t that so?”
– Chii.
She seemed satisfied with my response, her antennae curling softly into a semi-circle.
She was undoubtedly in a pleasant mood.
Then she attached herself to the deer and began to feed gradually, inserting a delicate tube into its neck.
After she finished and the young deer—approximately the size of a medium dog—was entirely drained, I cut its throat and commenced butchering.
I had no prior experience with deer, but I possessed some from butchering lizards in Haenam. Plus, I had witnessed the process done by others recently.
I eviscerated the deer, discarded the entrails, and retained only the heart and liver—the rest would have been too difficult to prepare properly.
As I carried the meat back, Hyang submitted her report in the group chat.
『– Tsrrr. (Mommy, Daddy successfully hunted a deer!)』
She had remembered to report to Hwa-eun.
Such a thorough child.
She undoubtedly inherited that trait from her mother.
***
With the deer acquired, the evening meal became a banquet.
I sliced the meat into portions, impaled them on sticks, and roasted them over the fire.
There was no salt, yet the flavor was remarkable.
“Damn, this is delicious.”
Back in Haenam, I would salivate whenever I saw a deer or stag.
Now, here I was, consuming one with gusto.
The deer wasn’t enormous, but I still consumed half of it immediately.
‘This isn’t fried chicken, yet I just ate half a deer in one meal…’
After eating, I fashioned ropes from reeds, secured the remaining meat, and suspended it from a high beam.
For added security, I had sealed the hole from the previous day, suspecting rats might infiltrate.
Yet the following morning—every piece of meat had disappeared.
The remainder of the deer had vanished without leaving a clue.
“What in the world is capable of this?!”
Jeokwol had been in a deep sleep after her substantial meal, and none of the children had witnessed anything.
I assumed I would need to hunt again.
Especially after Hyang promptly sent another message to her mother about the stolen meat.
But today, the lightning was still flashing close by.
Venturing out was unthinkable.
As I conversed with Hwa-eun about it, she proposed a useful suggestion for food.
『You mentioned wild lilies are blooming nearby?』
‘Yes, a large patch. It’s quite beautiful.’
『Then excavate the roots and roast them over the fire. Lily roots are edible—they are sometimes used in dishes.』
‘Is that true?’
『Yes.』
The lily roots were roughly the size of a fist and resembled large garlic cloves. Once roasted, they were unexpectedly palatable.
They had an aromatic taste and a consistency similar to Chinese yam.
But that night, after I had consumed the roasted lily roots—an unusual sequence of events began.
– CRASH!
Roof tiles abruptly plummeted from above. Doors inexplicably gave way. Bizarre occurrences unfolded throughout our surroundings.
“What… in the world is happening?”
For an instant, I pondered—could this place be… haunted?