Fabre in Sacheon’s Tang Novel - Chapter 346

Chapter 346
As dusk settled and the harbor was swallowed by shadow, obscuring all traces of human activity, I made my way to the bow and addressed Geumdo.

“You recall our discussion from before, don’t you? Let’s make our way out of the harbor first, Geumdo.”

-Bugururu.

Acknowledging my instruction, Geumdo slid away from the harbor and into the main current of the Yangtze River.

It had been some time since he had moved with such freedom, and Geumdo appeared to be enjoying himself, churning the water with vigorous kicks of his legs.

Watching Geumdo extend his limbs so effortlessly under the veil of night, I felt reassured that we had chosen the right time to depart.

Naturally, he could have traveled by day, but that would have required a more cautious pace to remain unnoticed, and we would have missed out on this invigorating speed.

By nature, turtles are inclined to remain stationary, yet they also take pleasure in stretching out their legs while soaking up the sun.

In my youth, I would often take delight in observing turtles extend their limbs during sunbathing, as they reminded me of dancers performing ballet.

Amused by the recollection, I saw Geumdo’s tail swaying gently above the water behind us, as though he, too, was content after such a fulfilling stretch.

“Geumdo, once we’ve traveled a short way upstream, take the left branch at the first division in the river. Then make for the initial village in sight. Ah, but keep your distance from the village itself. Halt nearby. I’ll tell you when I see the lights.”

-Buguru.

I had brought Geumdo out under night’s cover to journey to a settlement known as Goaechon, situated along one of the Yangtze River’s tributaries some distance from here.

Reports indicated that a Taoist was conducting his activities there, so I planned to collect information and look into the matter.

To be more precise, rather than a base of operations, it was said the Taoist was idling his time at a giru, indulging in pleasure, so I thought I would explore the vicinity and discover what else I could learn.

According to the intelligence provided by Senior Punggae, starting early this year, villages around Songshan, home to the Shaolin Temple, began experiencing successive infestations of millipedes in great numbers. Then, seemingly from nowhere, a Taoist appeared, traveling from village to village, using talismans to eradicate the millipedes… or more accurately, to conduct business.

The additional task given by Shaolin was straightforward.

They were unfamiliar with Taoist traditions, and even in this day, talismans were viewed within Buddhism as a form of trickery or superstition. But since these talismans were apparently yielding results, they wanted me to confirm whether anything underhanded was occurring.

If the talismans were truly effective due to genuine Taoist mystical arts, that would be acceptable.

However, if it was simply a scheme—hoodwinking and leading the common people astray—they wanted me to inform them.

They explained that they lacked the expertise to assess the situation accurately themselves, so they would entrust the inquiry to a specialist like me, but would handle any disciplinary measures personally.

If this was indeed happening so close to Shaolin, they stated, there was absolutely no way they could let it pass.

From what I heard from Hwa-eun, Shaolin served as a spiritual sanctuary for every martial artist in the Central Plains.

And to think someone would attempt a fraud near such hallowed ground?

Shaolin would not permit it—they were resolved to examine the situation in depth and take action if needed.

“So-ryong, what’s your opinion on this?”

While I was absorbed in contemplation, gazing at Geumdo advancing at the bow, a voice reached me from nearby.

Turning my head, I saw Hwa-eun approaching and gently resting against me.

“My opinion on what?”

“Regarding the Taoist, I mean. Do you believe he truly possesses supernatural abilities?”

Just as I prepared to shake my head, another voice joined in—this time, it was Seol Noona’s.

“Ha-eun, why even ask? He’s clearly a fraud.”

“What makes you say that?”

“They say he eats and sleeps at a giru. No respectable person does that.”

For some reason, her words, while lacking concrete proof, carried a strange persuasiveness.

I found myself nodding in agreement.

“Yes, he’s most likely a fraud. Although my reasoning is somewhat different.”

“See? Anyone who eats and sleeps at a giru is unquestionably a scammer!”

“Well, my reasoning is a bit more specific…”

“What further reason could you need beyond him staying at a giru?”

“But unnie, how would you know about such things when you lived in the Southern Barbarians’ lands?”

“Well, I’ve heard stories too, you know.”

Regardless of his living arrangements, from my viewpoint, this was undoubtedly a scam.

Driving millipedes away with talismans?

That was completely implausible.

To repel millipedes, one would need to employ substances they find repulsive or manipulate their pheromones.

Even in Joseon, talismans were used more as a form of prayer than for any real impact—and besides, millipedes are at the lowest level of the food chain.

Modern science has yet to fully understand millipede communication.

It is only theorized that they use pheromones and hormones to signal readiness for mating.

But with talismans?

Impossible.

There was, however, a remote possibility.

Given my ability to communicate with centipedes, if this Taoist had trained in a martial art similar to mine, it might not be entirely out of the question.

After all, I can interact with beings that normally cannot communicate.

So if he had acquired a skill akin to my own, it could be feasible.

Still, even if his capabilities were genuine, it would not excuse his behavior as a scammer.

“Well, irrespective of whether his powers are real, it’s quite evident he’s exploiting the millipede infestations to extract money from people. You saw the maps Ji-ryong marked earlier, correct?”

“Yes, So-ryong. That was certainly questionable.”

Even if his methods weren’t an outright sham, his actions unquestionably were.

The widespread millipede outbreaks in the villages were unmistakably orchestrated.

When I examined the map prepared by Ji-ryong, who excels at organizing information, which highlighted the villages afflicted by large numbers of millipedes, the pattern was clear:

The occurrences were moving in a clockwise direction around Songshan.

The Taoist was said to drive the millipedes away with talismans and then burn them all afterward, but from my perspective, it seemed more like he was merely guiding them from one village to the next.

‘Just you wait, you Taoist bastard educated in Joseon.’

I was convinced this individual was a Taoist trained in Joseon.

I was determined to uncover every detail about him.

My suspicion that he was from Joseon stemmed from the fact that charms such as “Hyangrang (Perfumed) Lady Thousand-League Swift Move” first appeared in records from late Joseon, though they were thought to have been in use for some time prior.

Additionally, while phrases like “Urgent and Immediate Imperial Command Thousand-League Swift Move” existed in the Central Plains, the specific term “Hyangrang Lady” was not used there.

Therefore, I concluded he must have origins in the Joseon scholarly class.

As I stewed in resolve, I heard Geumdo’s call.

-Bugururu.

“Ah, yes, Geumdo. Let’s halt here.”

Looking forward in response to Geumdo’s sound, I noticed lights beginning to twinkle in the distance.

Since the village appeared to be near, I settled Geumdo in a deep section of the water.

***

Having consumed a large meal of boiled white chicken and using the chicken’s blood to add several more characters to his talismans, the Taoist Taiheo.

I assumed he would finally depart after ensuring the talismans were dry, as he started to collect them, but then Taoist Taiheo unexpectedly laid out bedding in the room and reclined.

“Aigo. I ate my fill. Now, shall I rest for a while?”

“Huh? Ah, you aren’t going to leave now?”

Surprised, Gu-gil inquired, but Taoist Taiheo responded with a confident expression.

“My good man, night is for sleeping. I will proceed at dawn, so set your mind at ease. It is difficult to arrange a talisman formation in the dark, and some might escape. What would you do if more showed up later?”

“Hmm… Very well.”

Since he claimed it was for the sake of thoroughness, what else could be done?

So the night went by, and morning arrived.

Gu-gil, who had slept poorly, hurried to the detached house as soon as the roosters began to crow.

He had stated they would leave early at daybreak, so Gu-gil meant to rouse the Taoist.

An indefinable anxiety pressed on his heart, a persistent feeling of unease he couldn’t quite identify.

Fetching water to cleanse the sword and placing it before the detached house, he called inside, his heart racing.

“Taoist? Taoist Taiheo?”

“Yes, yes. I am coming out.”

The door opened, and Taoist Taiheo came out, fortunately ready to go.

“Let us cleanse the sword and be on our way at once.”

“Yes, Taoist!”

A short time later.

The Taoist, who had caused Gu-gil worry in multiple ways—first requesting three silver coins, then raising it to five, acting as if he would leave immediately only to lie down—finally departed from Gu-gil’s house in the faint light of sunrise.

Dressed tidily in his Taoist robes, gripping the talismans securely.

Only then did Gu-gil’s heart relax slightly.

“Please lead me to the heart of the village.”

“Yes, Taoist.”

-Squelch. Squelch.

The red millipedes made a squelching sound underfoot on the path to the village’s central well.

Thankfully, dew had settled, so the odor was not too overpowering. Upon reaching the well, Taoist Taiheo surveyed the area and started attaching talismans to various spots himself.

Hyangrang Lady Thousand-League Swift Move Urgent and Immediate Imperial Command.

Those were the words inscribed on the talismans. After moving about the village to post them, the sun started to climb.

With the growing intensity of the sunlight, the dew swiftly dried, and the stench intensified.

Just as the foul odor threatened to overwhelm the village once more.

The Taoist, having placed all the talismans, returned to the well, stamped his foot firmly, and yelled.

“Hyangrang Lady! Thousand-League Swift Move! Urgent and Immediate Imperial Command!”

“Hyangrang Lady! Thousand-League Swift Move! Urgent and Immediate Imperial Command!”

“Hyangrang Lady! Thousand-League Swift Move! Urgent and Immediate Imperial Command!”

Had he called out three times?

By then, most of the villagers had emerged, attracted by the Taoist’s loud cries, and were observing the event. As his third shout faded, something unusual began to occur.

The red millipedes, dispersed randomly, all at once turned their heads toward a single direction.

“L-look at that!”

“Ooooh! The millipedes are all facing the same way!”

“Isn’t it like soldiers obeying commands?”

Indeed, it was exactly like that.

Like troops following orders, the millipedes uniformly turned to face one edge of the village.

“Why must you be so troublesome! Hyangrang Lady Thousand-League Swift Move Urgent and Immediate Imperial Command!”

As the Taoist shouted once more with force, the millipedes started to writhe and advance together in one direction.

“Oooooooh!”

“They, they’re moving!”

The red-bodied millipedes began to crawl en masse toward one side, twisting across the ground.

From beneath the roof tiles of houses, crevices around the well’s pillars, and fractures in walls, millipedes streamed out, creating a large flow heading toward one side of the village.

While the people stood in awe, watching the display, the Taoist called out to the village chief.

“Light bundles of straw and follow me!”

“Ah, understood! F-fire and straw bundles. Who, who has the straw bundles…”

“Village chief, I will handle it!”

“Ah, yes, the herb gatherer, I leave it to you.”

As the village chief Gu-gil faltered at the sudden demand, the herb gatherer came forward to assist.

The herb gatherer stated he would fetch the straw and burning branches. Soon, his wife and son appeared carrying a bundle of straw and a lit branch, trailing the Taoist as he led the way.

Pursuing the squirming horde of millipedes and the Taoist, they came to a nearby wooded area where the earth had darkened, unlike the surrounding region.

At the center of the spot, heaps of decaying leaves, approximately the size of a small hut, were accumulated and rotting.

“Was there ever a place like this?”

“This is our first time seeing it as well.”

Had there ever been such a location near the village with so many decomposing leaves?

While the villagers shared the same thought, the millipedes started to stream into the leaf piles.

The crawling millipedes dug into the rotting leaf mounds and slowly vanished from view.

“Straw!”

“H-here it is, Taoist!”

Observing the millipedes pushing into the decayed leaf hill, the Taoist called for straw. The herb gatherer indicated the straw bundle his son carried, but the Taoist scowled and shook his head.

“That is insufficient. We require more. We must burn this, and that will not be enough.”

“A-alright!”

At the Taoist’s instruction, all the villagers rushed back to the village.

Shortly after, they returned with enough straw bundles to entirely envelop the rotting leaf pile.

“Hyangrang Lady Thousand-League Swift Move Urgent and Immediate Imperial Command!”

Then, the Taoist tossed the burning branch. The straw and rotting leaves caught fire in a tremendous blaze.

-Fwoooosh.

It was the moment when the villagers, who had endured the stench for more than a month, were at last released from their nightmare.