Fabre in Sacheon’s Tang Novel - Chapter 374

Chapter 374
Based on the events and what was just said, the reason for the four warriors guarding the restaurant entrance became perfectly clear—they were undoubtedly the personal guard of the Alliance Leader.
They were aware of my connection to him and had assumed my visit was for an audience.
That much was absolutely certain.
My mistake was believing the restaurant guards had recognized my infamous title in a city known for its martial artists.
If they truly knew my reputation, wouldn’t they have inquired if I was the “Spicy Fabre of All Venomous Creatures,” rather than simply “Young Master So of the Tang Clan”?
I was so flattered by the recognition that I completely missed that crucial detail.
Furthermore, the sight of four armed sentinels should have been a major warning sign. Instead, I saw them and merely thought it indicated an upscale establishment.
It’s common for more luxurious brothels or inns to have guards posted out front, so I mistakenly believed it was a place of that nature. That was my error.
Hwa-eun had likely made the same miscalculation.
‘Well, even if Hwa-eun also misjudged the situation… I’m still in trouble.’
The instant my eyes met the Alliance Leader’s through the gaps in his bamboo hat, I went completely still. I understood precisely how this predicament had come to be.
A low, resonant voice cut through the air.
“Now that you’re here, come and take a seat. You obviously came to find me, so why do you look so astonished?”
“Ah, haha. It’s just… it’s been some time since we last met.”
Snapped from my daze by his voice, I scratched my head in a self-conscious gesture and followed the warrior who had escorted me inside over to the table.
Turning around and leaving with a bow was simply not an option.
I had specifically instructed the Dragon Fangs to keep my presence a secret, only to march directly into the Alliance Leader’s own hands.
The few steps to his table felt like my legs were made of lead and my heart was burdened with an even greater weight.
But there was no avoiding it now.
I had to resort to my backup plan.
And what was that?
‘Alright. Since things have turned out this way… if the subject of martial arts comes up, I’ll just redirect the discussion.’
That was the strategy: if the conversation turned to martial arts, I would deftly change the subject.
As much as humanly possible.
Would it be effective? There was no way to know.
No—it simply had to work.
‘Don’t lose your nerve now, So-ryong. You can do this!’
Fortifying my resolve, I finally arrived before the Alliance Leader.
“It’s… it’s been a long time.”
“Yes, it has been a while, Alliance Leader.”
“I… I am honored to make your acquaintance.”
As Hwa-eun and Unmirang offered their formal bows, the Alliance Leader motioned toward the empty chairs.
“Sit. Things have been rather uneventful lately, so this is a pleasant surprise. Could you have the kitchen prepare some dishes these young people would like? Be certain to include the crab leg noodles.”
“At once, sir!”
The Alliance Leader gave the instruction to the guard who had led me in, much like a patron would order from a server.
The guard hurried downstairs.
As the Alliance Leader moved to pour tea for us from the pot, Unmirang bowed her head and spoke quietly.
“Master, I am only a handmaiden. I will wait over there.”
She had accompanied us out of respect for the Alliance Leader’s stature but now felt it improper to sit at the same table due to her servant status.
In the Central Plains, there is no system of slavery or serfdom.
There are only hired workers—so a handmaiden like her is considered an employee, not a person of “low birth.”
Under normal circumstances, sharing a meal would not be an issue.
But because it was the Alliance Leader, she presumably thought it would be disrespectful.
Then that deep voice spoke again:
“It is fine. Sit.”
“Uh… I…”
Flustered, Unmirang wavered. Hwa-eun gave her a slight, encouraging nod.
“Th-thank you, sir.”
She bowed and finally took a seat. A cup of tea was passed to her.
The Alliance Leader removed his bamboo hat, offered a gentle smile, and said,
“I have heard you have been collecting spirit beasts while also moving against the Blood Cult and the Five Venoms Sect.”
“You—you have heard of this, sir?”
“Indeed. And it appears you have had some fascinating experiences. You are even accompanied by a young woman who seems to have been trained in the palace.”
At that, Unmirang’s eyes grew wide.
Both Hwa-eun and I tensed at his words.
Unmirang’s origins had been a closely guarded secret—even the Embroidered Guards and the Eastern Bureau had ensured it remained so.
And yet, the Alliance Leader seemed to have deduced her background.
Not that he knew the full story—it was more that he had inferred it from subtle hints.
Still amazed, I asked,
“How could you tell?”
“She comports herself with the grace of one schooled in palace decorum. There is a particular poise and demeanor unique to those reared within the imperial walls.”
“Ah…”
Incredible. To perceive something like that from behavior alone.
I suppose a man of his standing—one of the “Three Sovereigns of the Martial World”—can detect the most nuanced differences in a person’s carriage.
It served as a stark reminder that we needed to be far more cautious about who saw Unmirang.
Just then, the Alliance Leader inquired,
“So, would you be willing to share your tale? I have heard fragments, but hearing it from you directly would undoubtedly be far more engaging.”
He plainly wanted to know about my exploits.
One might interpret this as simple curiosity, but to me—it was a chance.
Why?
Because if I began recounting all the incredible events I’d lived through, we might never even touch upon the topic of martial arts.
Truthfully, one could listen to my stories for three days and nights and still not hear the end of them.
My thinking was that if I talked long enough, the time would pass, and I could politely say, “Ah, it is growing late, I shall call again another time.”
My initial plan was to deflect if he mentioned martial arts—but this approach promised an even higher chance of success.
‘Excellent. This might just work.’
My adventures were like a thousand and one nights—if anyone could compete with Princess Scheherazade, it was me.
Feeling encouraged, I launched into the tale.
“How much are you already aware of, sir?”
“Begin from after the incident with Ji-ryong.”
“You are referring to the poisoning?”
“Correct.”
That poisoning event—that was truly from a different era.
I had a tremendous amount to recount.
I vowed to myself I would tell everything—even if it lasted the entire night.
“After treating Ji-ryong, I assisted Master Swift Walker… though that is difficult to speak of, so I will start with what followed.”
“Ah, you mean Swift Walker’s appeal. I have no need to hear of that. Yes, begin from when you went to aid the princess. I caught whispers of it… You are the one who handled that insect—ahem, that matter, correct?”
“Yes, then I shall start with how I came to help the princess. Well, it began like this…”
***
“…And then it occurred just as we were navigating the Three Gorges of the Yangtze River.”
“Alliance Leader, the meal is ready.”
Just as I was reaching the part about Hwayang, having started the story before the food came, the dishes began to arrive.
The warriors themselves hurriedly brought them up from the kitchen below.
Presumably because they were tasked with the Alliance Leader’s security, they did not employ the regular servers and carried the plates themselves. As dish after dish was set before us, the Alliance Leader smiled and said:
“Let us eat as we converse.”
“Understood, Alliance Leader.”
“The rest of you, go eat downstairs as well. Do not remain posted by the door until we depart.”
“Yes, Alliance Leader.”
“Now then, please, eat. This establishment serves only dishes from my homeland in Jiangxi Province. Everything on this table is traditional fare from that region. Please, enjoy.”
“Thank you, sir.”
“Thank you very much, Alliance Leader.”
So, this restaurant specialized in the flavors of the Alliance Leader’s native Jiangxi.
Intrigued by the taste, I picked up my chopsticks. Then the Alliance Leader spoke once more.
“They have truly prepared a generous spread for our guests.”
I turned to him and saw that before the Alliance Leader was a single, simple bowl of noodles.
He gestured toward the identical dish placed in front of me.
“That is crab leg rice noodles. I always come here to eat it when I feel homesick.”
“Ah…”
So that was the dish he had specifically requested earlier. A taste of home.
Evidently, this was his very reason for coming here.
“A specialty of Nanchang, in Jiangxi.”
Crab leg rice noodles.
A renowned spicy noodle soup from Nanchang, the capital of Jiangxi Province.
With a broth made spicy from crab legs, it was a warming, substantial dish. Unmirang’s eyes watered and she sniffled as she ate, but for Hwa-eun and me, it was simply a delicious, spicy noodle soup.
Rather like having noodles in a rich crab bisque.
“Ugh, it’s… far too spicy…”
“Not accustomed to it, I see? Having lived in the palace, it likely does not agree with your palate. The spice of Jiangxi is not easy for those unaccustomed to it. Perhaps those from Sichuan can manage it.”
Jiangxi and Sichuan are famous in the Central Plains for their pride in spicy cuisine. Hwa-eun, hailing from Sichuan, was used to it, and I, having been a lover of spicy food in my previous life and from my time in Sichuan, could appreciate it.
Unmirang, however, had to switch to Yangzhou fried rice—another regional specialty.
***
“…And that is how we succeeded in driving back the Blood Cult’s ambush.”
“A remarkable feat.”
“Do you truly think so?”
“Without a doubt. To eliminate so many of the Blood Cult in a single engagement—how could that not be remarkable?”
“Well, truthfully, it was the creatures who were remarkable. Ah, excuse me while I refresh my throat.”
“By all means.”
—Gulp, gulp.
I raised my cup and drank the tea to cool my burning throat after concluding the part about the Blood Cult pushing all the way to the Tang Clan.
How many cups had I consumed by now?
When I resumed my tale after dinner, I never imagined it would extend to such a length.
I had thought I would eat, talk a little, and then make a quiet exit—but I found myself trapped by the Alliance Leader’s interest.
“Goodness, it is completely dark outside already. I must be detaining you—”
“I am perfectly fine, so if you are also fine, please continue.”
[Young Master, do keep going. It has been an age since we have seen the Alliance Leader so entertained.]
Earlier, after the meal, I had intended to gradually withdraw from the conversation.
But when I attempted to, the Alliance Leader stated he was enjoying himself and had no objections.
Even the warriors, who had returned after the restaurant closed for the night, added their encouragement.
With them also urging me to stay, I had no avenue for escape.
“Ah, w-well, in that case…”
As I placed my teacup down, I noticed Unmirang had nodded off.
The hour of the Ox was long past—it was likely somewhere between 2 and 3 in the morning.
It was only natural for someone without martial training like Unmirang to be exhausted.
Then, the sound of bells echoed.
—DONG. DONG. DONG.
The tolling from a nearby temple, marking the Hour of the Tiger.
Unmirang jolted awake at the sound.
She hastily wiped the drool that had trailed from her mouth.
—Sluuurp.
She glanced out the window toward the source of the bells, then wiped her mouth in embarrassment.
Witnessing this, the Alliance Leader looked regretful.
“It seems I have been too absorbed in my own enjoyment.”
“M-my apologies!”
“There is no need.”
‘Well done, Unmirang.’
She looked utterly remorseful, but for me, this was the perfect opportunity to exit.
I would have to thank her later.
The Alliance Leader then spoke again.
“Your narrative is so captivating… I lost track of time. My apologies.”
“Not at all. I have enjoyed it as well.”
“When do you depart?”
“I intend to leave at first light.”
I had originally planned to stay for three days, but I told him I would be leaving at dawn. He nodded and said:
“Then allow me a brief moment before you go.”
“I beg your pardon? A moment for what?”
That was when he delivered the thunderclap.
“Your martial arts, naturally. I estimated you would appear around this time. If you had been training diligently since we last met, you would likely be approaching a bottleneck by now. Is that not why you came?
Although I did not accept you as a formal disciple, you still inherited my technique. It is only right that I offer guidance if you are struggling.”
‘NOOOOOOOOO!’
I screamed inside my mind as the warriors surrounding us nodded with clear approval.
Even Hwa-eun, who knew my true situation, looked visibly alarmed.
If I had known it would end like this, I should have brought up martial arts first and gotten it over with. Now he had exhausted me with all that storytelling—only to mention martial arts now?
There was no avoiding it.
So I closed my eyes and opted for stark honesty.
Any further evasion would only make the situation worse.
“The reality is… I, well, have not practiced it with great consistency…”
The Alliance Leader fell silent, and the expressions of the warriors grew stern.
He asked again.
“You have not trained properly?”
“Yes… Alliance Leader…”
Wringing my hands, I gave my reply. The Alliance Leader nodded slowly.
“Come here and demonstrate what you can do. It seems you are behind, but I will guide you toward a more productive path.”
Fortunately, he did not seem displeased or angry.
Feeling a pang of guilt, I stepped forward and activated the Iron Shell Technique—the unique martial art I had inherited from him.
Just as I summoned my energy and sheathed my body in the Iron Shell…
“Hmm!?”
“Is that—!?”
“So-ryong?”
Exclamations of surprise rang out around me.
Fearful they were reacting to its weakness, I prepared for the worst.
But the Alliance Leader looked astonished.
“Were you merely being humble? You have already attained the stage of externally manifesting your hardest surface? That is extraordinary—truly worthy of my successor.”
I had no clue what he meant.
Glancing down at my body, I saw the skin on my forearms was unnaturally smooth.
I was dumbfounded.
No wonder—my exposed forearms now displayed a muscular texture nearly identical to Cheongwol’s armored carapace.
‘What in the world is this…?’