Fabre in Sacheon’s Tang Novel - Chapter 322

Chapter 322
–Tzrrrk.
–Pii!
–Tzrut.
–Kku-kku-ooo!
The instant Sister Seol stopped talking, a wave of small, dark forms flooded toward me.
Still sitting with my legs crossed, I was knocked onto my back like a child’s toy.
I could have managed a single one, but their collective weight was overwhelming as they all piled on at once.
On top of that, I had just emerged from my internal realm after days of seclusion—my limbs were heavy and unresponsive.
With my arms and legs still not under my full command, I had little option but to endure the children’s affectionate assault.
“Alright, alright, settle down now.”
As soon as they landed on me, they started licking me all over, like a pack of joyful puppies greeting an owner who’d been away too long.
Drool coated my face, my nose, my neck, my eyes—everything was drenched.
–Kku-kku-gu. 『Father, we were so anxious.』
–Kku-u. 『Yes, Father. We were concerned.』
–Kkyut! 『Grandpa!』
The voices of Seol, Bing, and Dong-i sounded clearly in my mind, a sign the connection was working. Their voices, like their appearances, had a measured, almost grown-up quality to them.
It was almost as if I suddenly had a house full of adult children.
‘I’m beginning to think I should be addressing them as ‘Father’ instead.’
–Tzrrrk! 『You’re back! Why did it take so long?!』
–Tzrut! 『We were so worried! Daddy!』
Just as I assumed they were starting to settle, the worry in their tones made it clear—their anxiety had been genuine and deep.
Even Hwayang, who usually only has food on her mind, was diligently licking my cheek.
Hyang, Bini, Hongdan, Seol, Bing, Dong-i—each had staked a claim on some part of my body.
“I know. Daddy was delayed, wasn’t he? I apologize. Really, I do. Could you just give me a little space—my body isn’t quite itself yet.”
“Alright now, Auntie Seol will give Daddy a massage. Everyone, please move back.”
–Tzrrrk.
–Pii!
As she often did, Sister Seol offered to massage me and asked them to clear away, but the children refused, shaking their heads and instead increasing the pressure on me.
‘What in the world—!?’
I was familiar with cats kneading, but being kneaded by poisonous creatures?
Bini’s legs drummed against my body like a steady tide, while Seol, Bing, and Dong-i used their tails to tap rhythmically on me.
Hwayang held my face down as if applying a face mask, and Hyang rhythmically compressed and released my arms and legs.
‘Although, I must ask, why is Hwayang using her front paw to block my nose…?’
Their intentions were loving, but I needed to get my circulation going before I passed out from lack of air. It appeared my immediate survival depended on reviving my stiffened muscles without delay.
I gradually started to cycle my internal energy, and my joints and muscles began to loosen at a remarkable speed.
The energy flowing up from my danjeon spread through my limbs swiftly, like parched roots suddenly soaking in rain and surging with vitality.
My fingers and toes tingled and flexed, and soon my joints were responding.
“So-ryong, are you alright? Moving too quickly could injure your muscles and bones.”
Sister Seol watched me with a concerned look, probably startled by my rapid recovery. Yet, my body felt unexpectedly agile.
“It’s fine, really. Oddly, once my energy started moving, everything began working smoothly.”
“Is that so? Perhaps your recent breakthrough is the reason.”
As I tested my movement, I thought of the children who weren’t present.
They would have been worried too—it was time to tell them I had returned.
‘Cho. Daddy is back.’
–Tzrrrk! 『Daddy! I’m on my way!』
The moment I reached out to my eldest daughter, her happy voice immediately replied.
She had been keeping watch from the skies, just as she was before I went into seclusion. Hearing my voice, she answered at once and said she was coming.
Next, I reached out to Cheongwol.
She’d been confined to the boat with Yeolbi and Geumdo. She must have been so bored. My message to her was full of remorse.
‘Cheongwol, my training is over. I’m back.’
–Krrng? 『Really? Are you feeling well?』
‘Yes. I’m sorry for making you wait by yourself.’
–Krrrng. 『Oh, it’s fine. The river has been interesting to watch, and Geumdo was here. I wasn’t bored at all.』
‘I appreciate you saying that.’
–Krr. 『You’re… thanking me?』
Cheongwol seemed genuinely flustered.
‘Good, it seems Cheongwol is reassured. Now then… Cheongyu next?’
Just as I finished recovering and sat upright, preparing to contact Cheongyu—
Arms and legs wrapped around me from behind.
They weren’t the limbs of an insect or a venomous creature, but had the color and shape of human arms and legs.
“H-Hwa-eun?”
–Chiring.
For a heartbeat, I thought it was Hwa-eun—but the red string with a bead tied around the ankle told me it was not.
It was Yo-hwa.
“Oh, Yo-hwa. Thank you for guarding me.”
–Kissit.
A silk thread hung from the ceiling, suggesting she had been perched up there, keeping watch the entire time.
While hugging me from behind, Yo-hwa pointed a finger at her own face.
–Kishishi.
“Hm? Ah! Hwa-eun?”
She seemed to be asking if I had spoken to Hwa-eun yet.
I had been so absorbed by the children’s welcome, I had forgotten entirely.
I was thankful to Yo-hwa.
Hwa-eun might have been upset if I’d neglected to contact her after all this time, and Yo-hwa had just prevented that.
I turned to Sister Seol and asked,
“Sister Seol… where is Hwa-eun?”
But as I asked, a sense of unease crept in.
Even without a message from me, someone like Hwa-eun would have remained nearby.
For her not to be here now was strange.
Every other time I had come out of my internal realm, she had always been the first to welcome me.
“Ah, she went to the market.”
“This late?”
It was fully dark outside—the sun had long since set.
It seemed an odd time to go to the market.
“She realized we were out of supplies and left in a hurry just before sunset.”
“I see…”
–Clatter.
Right then, the door swung open, and Yeondu and Cho flew into the room.
–Shaaa.
–Tzrrrk.
I opened my arms, and they both launched themselves into my embrace.
“You were all so worried, weren’t you? It’s alright now. Everything is fine.”
As I was subjected to another round of their fervent, slobbering greetings, I heard Sister Seol speak to Yo-hwa.
“Yo-hwa, now that So-ryong is awake and Hwa-eun will be back soon, would you go meet her? Please help her carry the shopping.”
–Kissit.
The moment Sister Seol finished, Yo-hwa zipped out through the door that Cho and Yeondu had left open.
And then—
–Shiaaa!
Cheongyu’s voice, sharp with urgency, cut through the air.
She burst through the open door, and the moment she saw me, her eyes went wide and she cried out.
–Shiaaa! 『So-ryong! You’re awake! This is a crisis!』
‘Cheongyu Sojeo?’
There was no mistaking that voice—it was Cheongyu Sojeo.
I was just calculating that it must have been around two weeks when her words began tumbling out in a rush.
–Shii, Shia. 『We must leave the mountain immediately! No, wait—get in touch with Hwa-eun! No—since you’re awake, I’ll tell her myself!』
‘Cheongyu Sojeo, wait a moment—’
I tried to slow her down to understand what was happening, but then an astonishing conversation erupted in the group chat.
『–Shiaaa! (Hwa-eun!)』
‘Huh? Cheongyu Sojeo? If the group chat is active, does that mean So-ryong is awake?’
–Shiiiiii! 『So-ryong is awake!』
‘So-ryong!?’
‘Hwa–’
I attempted to reply to Hwa-eun’s voice, but Cheongyu shouted over us—
『–Shiiia! Shii! That can wait! Listen to me! Remember earlier, when the snakes the Golden-Crowned Death King sent out saw people near where Hwa-eun was leaving?’
‘Yes, when I left, I’m sure I saw villagers…’
–Shiiiiia! 『No! If I remember correctly, those were not villagers—they were warriors from the Blood Cult. Be on your guard!』
‘The Blood Cult!? Oh no…’
‘Hwa-eun!?’
‘Hwa-eun!?’
The news that the Blood Cult had been seen was alarming enough—but then, Hwa-eun’s voice cut out abruptly.
Cheongyu and I called out to her in desperation, but only one final message came through the group chat, filled with the sound of her pain.
『‘Ugh… It’s a trap!’』
***
Hwa-eun had a backpack made of bamboo on her back and was carrying a large basket in her hand.
She had purchased meat, flour, rice, vegetables, cooking oil—a considerable amount of goods.
Though she had stuffed most of it into the backpack, the basket was still necessary.
“Is it tasty?”
–Pipi.
She offered Sandan a piece of chopped chicken from the basket, and the little one’s expression became one of pure bliss.
The chicken vanished into Sandan’s mouth, leaving behind only a clean bone.
As Hwa-eun gave her another piece, she felt a swell of satisfaction.
Knowing Sandan would be hungry, she had specifically asked the butcher at the market to cut the chicken into small, manageable pieces.
Just as they were leaving the market and approaching the start of the mountain path—
She glanced up toward the peak. The sun had set completely, and a luminous full moon now dominated the sky.
“Ah… Cheongyu Sojeo must have woken up. I should hurry.”
The full moon’rise meant Cheongyu Sojeo was now conscious.
Hwa-eun quickened her step.
If Cheongyu Sojeo was awake, she would probably have news about So-ryong’s state.
Even without So-ryong there to interpret, they could still exchange written messages.
But just as she began walking faster—
A voice she didn’t expect to hear right now—Cheongyu Sojeo’s—echoed in her mind through the group chat.
『–Shiaaa! (Hwa-eun!)』
It sounded somewhat rushed, but the fact that Cheongyu Sojeo’s voice was in the group chat could only mean one thing: So-ryong had awakened.
Her heart leaping with joy, Hwa-eun responded.
『‘Huh? Cheongyu Sojeo? If the group chat is active, does that mean So-ryong is awake?’』
–Shiiiii! 『So-ryong is awake!』
‘So-ryong!?’
Just as she called his name in her thoughts, the voice she had missed so deeply, the one she had ached to hear, finally reached her.
『‘Hwa—’』
At that first syllable of her name, her heart soared—
But Cheongyu Sojeo’s urgent shout interrupted him.
『–Shiiia. Shii! That isn’t important right now! Pay attention! Do you remember when you left earlier, and the snakes from the Golden-Crowned Death King reported seeing people in the area?』
What could be more pressing than So-ryong?
Still, compelled by Cheongyu Sojeo’s intensity, Hwa-eun carefully searched her memory and answered.
『‘Yes, when I was leaving, I did notice some villagers…’』
It was true; the Golden-Crowned Death King had drawn figures on a leaf to show her. Hwa-eun had believed they were merely local villagers passing through.
But Cheongyu Sojeo’s next words sent a chill down Hwa-eun’s spine.
『–Shiiiiia! No. If my memory serves me, those were warriors from the Blood Cult. Be very careful!』
‘The Blood Cult!? Oh no—!’
And in that exact instant, a piercing noise ripped through the night air.
–Shiiing. Shiiing. Shiiing.
Hwa-eun flung her basket aside and threw herself to the side, but an arrow still grazed the hem of her skirt, tearing the fabric.
『‘Hwa-eun!?’』
『‘Hwa-eun!?’』
The voices of Cheongyu Sojeo and So-ryong cried out together as a hail of projectiles suddenly showered down toward Hwa-eun.
–Shiiing! Thwack-thwack.
『‘Kgh… Ambush!’』
***
She abandoned her jukbaeru and sprinted in the direction of the house, but—
Weapons were flying at her from the shadows in overwhelming numbers.
–Thwack-thwack.
She contorted her body, narrowly avoiding arrows and concealed blades multiple times, but her body had not yet fully acclimated to the power from her Three Flowers Gathering.
She had successfully absorbed the internal energy, but her physical reflexes had not yet caught up to its new strength.
Ultimately, her foot caught on a hidden root in the darkness, and Hwa-eun lost her balance, tumbling down a grassy incline.
–Shaaak.
As she fought to get up, more hidden weapons shot toward her.
She rolled out of the way, but then her back struck something solid.
Glancing over, she saw her body had come to rest against a large rock concealed by the high grass.
“No…”
It was too late to avoid them. The next volley was already upon her.
Resigned to being hit, she began gathering poison-based internal energy as a defense and yelled to Sandan.
“Sandan! Hide behind me!”
–Piiiii!
But instead of retreating, Sandan shot forward, placing herself directly in front of Hwa-eun.
She jumped from Hwa-eun’s head and now stood as a tiny shield between her and the incoming attack.
“Sandan!”
Witnessing her small child courageously protecting her with that miniature frame, Hwa-eun felt tears spring to her eyes.
How could these children be so fiercely devoted, so overflowing with love? It was no wonder both she and So-ryong were utterly captivated by them.
Just as Hwa-eun moved to pull Sandan back and cover her with her own body—
Sandan stretched her front legs and wings out to their full extent, and then moved in a blur, hurling herself at the incoming missiles.
–Badadadadak!
Although her main body stayed close to Hwa-eun’s stomach, her afterimages multiplied until they enveloped her completely.
It resembled a field suddenly covered in a blanket of lily flowers.
The shower of darts continued—but not one touched Hwa-eun.
Every single weapon was captured in Sandan’s swift forelegs.
–Shiiing. Shiiing.
More hidden blades came, but none could penetrate Sandan’s defense.
Regardless of their angle or origin, they were no match for her incredible speed and perception.
–Pii!
As Sandan’s cry resounded under the night sky, her shimmering form dominated Hwa-eun’s view—it looked like a form of combat.
The precise way she intercepted each projectile with movements of her upper body and forelegs, the powerful, explosive thrusts of her legs…
Her nimble footwork and strikes faster than the eye could follow.
If it had a name, it would be the Mantis Fist.
The Fist of the Mantis.