Fabre in Sacheon’s Tang Novel - Chapter 342

Chapter 342
Elder Eunuch Wi, the director of Dongchang, and General Meng took their leave soon after placing Unmirang in our care.
They looked immensely relieved, as though a heavy weight had been lifted from their shoulders now that Hwa-eun had accepted her with such swiftness.
Even though she was only a low-tier palace maid, it was safest to conceal her as thoroughly as possible should her true background ever come to light. The Tang Family estate was a place people entered but seldom left—making it the ideal location for discretion.
Before going, both men also gave Unmirang a small purse of silver.
Although they were leaving her with us, their guilt was still apparent.
She had ended up in this situation because she aided them, and this was their way of soothing their consciences.
“We’re sorry, girl. Who would have thought helping us would cost you your place in the palace?”
“It’s all right. If this was the last service I could render His Majesty, then I have no complaints.”
True to expectations, Unmirang was remarkably devoted—not a trace of doubt colored her voice. She seemed completely sincere, without a hint of regret.
The two older men each passed her a money pouch.
“A girl like you ought to have stayed in the palace serving the Emperor. The Tang Family will take good care of you, but please accept this from us—keep it for your future, or for your family when you wed.”
“I-I never helped you expecting payment…”
“Now, now, enough of that. Just accept it.”
“Yes, take it.”
“Th-thank you.”
And so, inside the cabin after the others had gone, only Unmirang, Hwa-eun, and I remained.
In the somewhat uncomfortable silence, Hwa-eun motioned for Unmirang to take a seat and served her tea before speaking.
“Your name is Unmirang, correct? I am Tang Hwa-eun, a direct descendant of the Tang Family and daughter of the Tang Clan chief in Sichuan. Please, sit. Let’s share some tea and talk.”
“Thank you, Lady Hwa-eun.”
“Ordinarily, we would ask a few questions before formally welcoming someone into the family. The order is a little backward now, but I want you to answer me truthfully.
Ah, and don’t be anxious—whatever you say, I won’t go back on my word.”
Hearing this, Unmirang balled her hands into determined fists and nodded.
“I understand, my lady. I will be completely honest.”
Pleased with her response, Hwa-eun gave a gentle smile and continued.
These were the standard questions asked before any new recruitment.
“Do you have any family?”
“No, my lady… I lost them all to an illness when I was very young… I was the only one who survived, and I entered the palace on my own.”
“How old are you?”
“I am nineteen, my lady.”
But there was little else to learn about Unmirang.
No relatives, only her age.
Seeing no need to press further, Hwa-eun nodded and said,
“You mentioned you have no family, is that right? From this day forward, the Tang Family will be your kin.”
“Th-thank you.”
At the word “family,” Unmirang trembled slightly, and her eyes grew moist when Hwa-eun declared the Tang Family would now be her own.
She was visibly touched.
But before that feeling could fully sink in, Hwa-eun’s expression turned serious, and she spoke with firm emphasis, as if marking a vital rule.
“However, there is one thing you must never forget: The Tang Family does not abandon its own. No matter what happens, even if it costs your life. Is that clear?”
“O-of course! The devotion I once pledged to the Emperor, I now pledge to the Tang Family!”
Once again, Unmirang replied without a moment’s pause.
Satisfied, Hwa-eun smiled and nodded.
It appeared the informal “interview” had gone smoothly.
Even without deeper knowledge, her very presence exuded unwavering loyalty from head to toe.
To be honest, her special recruitment likely stemmed from her help in disguising me as a palace maid—though I still didn’t fully understand why that alone was such a critical merit…
When the conversation paused, it was Unmirang who spoke up.
“My lady, what will my duties be?”
She seemed eager to know what her new role would entail. Hwa-eun glanced at me with a slight smile before answering.
“Mirang, you’ll be assisting both me and So-ryong. Consider yourself our personal attendant.”
“Ah! I’ll do my very best, my lady! I was previously responsible for the Emperor’s wardrobe!”
‘Please don’t tell me she’s going to have to dress me up again someday…?’
The term “personal attendant” and Hwa-eun’s amused expression made me break out in a cold sweat.
Then, as if recalling an afterthought, Hwa-eun added:
“Oh, and one more thing. Do you enjoy being around children?”
“Children? Absolutely! I adore children. Do you already have little ones? Ah, no—you must be referring to your future children!
I’m also quite skilled at caring for toddlers!”
Nodding at Unmirang’s eager reply, Hwa-eun smiled warmly and turned her eyes toward my chamber.
“Excellent. There may be times you’ll need to watch over them. Come on out, little ones. Greet your new older sister.”
“You have children already? But you both seem far too young… Still, your children must be absolutely lovely and beautif— b-beautif—”
As the door opened and the “children” began to appear, Unmirang went completely still.
Perched on the heads of two giant centipedes were lizards, earwigs, and a stunning butterfly fluttering in from the side. Even a large spider, along with Cheongyu, whose lower body resembled a snake, slid into view.
It was the sort of sight that could short-circuit an ordinary person’s mind.
Hwa-eun proceeded with introductions for the stunned Unmirang.
“This is Cho, our eldest daughter.”
*Tsururur.*
“And this is Hyangi, our second.”
*Tsrrt.*
Slowly, as though still following palace decorum, Unmirang turned her head toward me with widened eyes that clearly said, *You’re actually calling these… children?*
‘Well, I never said they were human.’
But they were undoubtedly our “children.”
Just… not the human kind.
And from the way Hwa-eun spoke, it was clear she had fully embraced my perspective.
Really, when introducing them, she should have given a small warning that they weren’t human.
‘Now she’s truly one of us.’

***

Unmirang turned out to be the type who couldn’t tolerate a single particle of dust.
She cleaned and scoured with such intensity that the boat looked brighter than it had before she came.
Although her first encounter with the children had shocked her, she adjusted more quickly than anticipated.
After three days, she was already calling them by the right names and didn’t appear disturbed by them.
Actually, it wasn’t that she was unbothered—more that she seemed… intrigued?
She even began trying to make physical contact with them.
– Tssrrr!
“My apologies! It was an accident. Could you move over just a bit, Miss Cho? I need to sweep this spot.”
– Tssrt.
Cho had responded with some irritation when her body was touched, but Unmirang promptly apologized and respectfully asked her to shift.
Then Cho, with an air of mild annoyance, shifted aside.
Unmirang went on cleaning, though she kept glancing subtly in Cho’s direction.
She was definitely attempting to sneak in touches while pretending to clean.
Even Eumbong and Gungbong were still too afraid to approach Cho and Bini—the two enormous centipedes—so this was fairly unexpected.
Still, it was better than fear. So I calmly went on making entries in my Venomous Beasts Log by So-ryong.
A while later, I heard Unmirang call my name.
“So-ryong.”
“Yes? What is it?”
When I turned, she had finished cleaning and was standing near me.
The children had all withdrawn to avoid her, and Unmirang looked genuinely concerned as she asked:
“Um… how can I get closer to the young ladies? I want to care for them properly, but they get upset even at the slightest touch. They’re all avoiding me now…”
Her expression showed she truly wished to look after them, but the children rebuffed her attempts to touch them, and it saddened her.
To be fair, the only person they allowed to touch them freely was Sister Seol.
Under normal circumstances, it wouldn’t be an issue, but Unmirang was now their officially assigned attendant. So I knew I had to help.
I thought they would gradually grow closer on their own, but even Cho’s earlier reaction was a bit strong.
‘Hmm… What can I do? Bonding often comes through touch, but… ah!’
As I pondered how to help her connect with the children, an idea surfaced: physical contact.
Closeness often grows through touch.
Didn’t some old Japanese show from my past life say that when strangers kissed three times, they ended up feeling closer?
Unmirang was already emotionally receptive to the children—if she could touch them, surely they would open up to her as well.
“How about… helping me bathe the children?”
“A bath? But the young ladies are already so clean, aren’t they?”
It was true. The children groomed their own antennae and bodies and had no animal odor.
As spiritual beings—whether lizard or centipede—they typically had noticeable scents, but ours didn’t carry any.
“Even so, one of them tends to gather a bit of dust.”
“Ah, you mean Miss Bini? She does have a few spots where a little dust settles, though it’s hardly noticeable.”
Most people wouldn’t see it, but Unmirang had clearly been observing closely—likely in her attempts to get nearer—so she knew.
As she said, Bini’s glossy black body wasn’t dirty, but a dust speck could sometimes catch the light.
So while I didn’t exactly bathe her, I sometimes wiped her down with a dry cloth to keep her shining.
Centipedes lack mucous membranes, so water isn’t suitable for them.
This felt like a safe way for Unmirang and me to work together.
The others didn’t require it, but whenever I wiped Bini, the rest would come over and ask for cleaning too—it was the perfect chance for gentle physical interaction.
“I occasionally give Bini a wipe-down. Would you like to join me? If she becomes familiar with your touch, you might grow closer.”
“Oh, I would be delighted!”
Unmirang’s face brightened at the idea.
I asked her to bring Bini and two clean cloths.
“Then please fetch Bini and two clean cloths.”
“Right away, So-ryong!”
A short time later, her voice carried from outside.
“Young lady, So-ryong says it’s time for your cleaning!”
– Tssrrrt.
Bini made her way into the room.
Unmirang entered behind her, holding two white cloths.
I took one and walked toward Bini.
“Bini, today we’ll clean you together—with Mirang.”
– Tssrt!?
Startled, Bini ducked behind me.
She let out a spoiled squeal in Unmirang’s direction—almost like a child sticking out her tongue.
– Tssrrrr. 『Yuck…』
“I can do this well, young lady! Please believe in me!”
Just as Unmirang seemed about to cry, Hwa-eun entered, tilting her head curiously.
“What’s happening here?”
“Well, you see…”
– Tssrrr! 『Mommy, that lady tried to touch me!』
Bini rushed behind Hwa-eun and complained about Unmirang.
After I summarized the situation, Hwa-eun softly patted Bini and said:
“Bini, remember how Daddy looked like Mommy the other day? You said he was very pretty, didn’t you?”
– Tssrt!
“This lady is the one who helped him look that way. If she helps clean you, you’ll become pretty too.”
– Tssrrrt!?
Bini froze for an instant, taken aback… Then she flicked her tail once toward Unmirang.
As if to say, *Alright then, go ahead and make me pretty.*
– Tsst.
So typical of Bini.

***

The Mirang Beauty Salon was fully booked today—not with people, but with a crowd of venomous creatures.
Word had gotten around since she polished Bini yesterday, and now the spiritual beasts were queuing up.
As Mirang gave Bini’s shell a final buff with the white cloth, a sleek, glossy shine appeared.
Pleased, Bini let out a cheerful chirp.
– Tssrrr.
A very satisfied customer.
Mirang wiped her forehead and glanced behind her—then sighed with amused helplessness.
Cho and Hwayang were next in line.
“At this point, I won’t have any time left for actual cleaning…”
– Tssrrr!
Cho chirped back insistently, making it clear that cleaning could wait until after her turn.
Mirang released a contented sigh.
“Alright, alright.”
It truly felt like tranquility had been restored.
Cho took Bini’s place on the mat, and I returned to savoring the quiet, making more notes in So-ryong’s Venomous Beasts Log.
Then a voice called from outside.
“So-ryong. Are you in?”
I put down my brush and stood at once.
It was the voice I’d been anticipating—my brother’s.
“Brother!”
I opened the door. Outside stood my brother and Yang Seong-hu.
I had sent them to the Shaolin Temple, and now they were back—likely with news.
“How did it go?”
“I obtained permission. You’ve been granted an audience with the head abbot himself.”
“Wonderful! You’ve done excellently!”
I was overjoyed—now I could finally inquire about my karmic destiny.
But my brother hadn’t finished.
“There is, however, one condition.”
“A condition?”
“More of a favor, actually. There’s a Taoist nearby stirring up some unusual trouble. They’ve asked us to look into it. The Beggars’ Union mentioned… you might be the most suited for the task.”
“?”
That was a rather unexpected request.