Fabre in Sacheon’s Tang Novel - Chapter 385

Chapter 385
– Zzzrrr! Zzzrrrzzrrr!
That same piercing shriek rang out once more, resonating through the water, muted by the depths as billows of silt mushroomed from the lake floor.
It was a sound of pure distress, as if the being was caught beneath Geumdo’s foot, thrashing wildly to get free but finding itself powerless—so it screamed.
By the tone, it was unmistakably the same creature from earlier.
It was the identical high-frequency cry it had made when it first spotted Cho and panicked.
So it hadn’t disappeared—it had simply concealed itself in the sand, hadn’t it?
The creature had rushed at us, then slipped under our feet and vanished. I had assumed it was some kind of spectral illusion, but it must have either dug into the sediment or flattened itself against the bottom for camouflage.
“Geumdo, be mindful of your foot, okay?”
I issued Geumdo a stern caution.
My reasons were twofold. Firstly, I didn’t wish for the creature pinned under his foot to be harmed. Secondly—and just as crucial—I wanted to ensure Geumdo wasn’t injured either.
The instant I understood something was trapped beneath him, I began to form a hypothesis about what we were facing. And if my guess was correct, it likely possessed a toxic stinger.
“It may have a venomous barb, so take care not to injure it—and make sure it doesn’t injure you.”
– Brgrrrr.
No wonder we couldn’t locate it. But if it’s venomous—this is perfect. What a find.
I still couldn’t see it clearly through the disturbed sand, but I had a fairly good notion of what it might be.
I resolved to descend, soothe it, get a clearer view, and verify its identity.
If it was indeed what I suspected, its coloration would also be significant.
『“Cho, it seems Geumdo has caught it. Let’s go down.”』
– Chrrrt. Okay, Daddy.
“Geumdo caught something? So-ryong?”
“Yes, Hwa-eun. Geumdo must have accidentally stepped on it while walking along the lakebed.”
“Stepped on it? What manner of creature would allow itself to be stepped on?”
Hwa-eun joined the conversation again, her tone brimming with astonishment as she tried to picture the strange scene. As I submerged again, I provided her with a quick summary of events.
『“I have a theory, but I’ll verify it before sharing. We’re going down to examine it now.”』
“Understood. Be cautious, So-ryong.”
Cho and I dove toward the area where the sand was still churning.
The water moved in soft currents, and gritty particles of sand grazed my skin—but then, from within that murky cloud, two luminous blue eyes fixed on us.
– Zzzrrr!
An enraged cry erupted, and I looked to Cho, silently requesting a translation.
Cho nodded and conveyed the message—it was furious. Absolutely livid.
『– Chrrt. Chrrrt. (“How dare you conspire with a human to subjugate a fellow spirit beast! Release me!” That’s what it said, Daddy.)』
At this point, with it struggling so violently, the silt would never clear, and we’d never get a proper look.
I needed a clear view, and I also wanted to understand why it had been overturning the boats. So I asked Cho to try and pacify it.
『“Wow, it’s really angry. Cho, tell it to relax—explain that I’m not an enemy. If we can’t all calm down, we’ll never resolve this.”』
For the time being, the local naval forces had only given a warning to keep boats ashore, but if the situation worsened—with more vessels being flipped—they might send in the navy and initiate a suppression operation.
I had witnessed similar events during the Ho-ye incident.
– Chrrrt. Chrrt. 『Alright, Daddy. Hey, settle down! My father isn’t a bad person!』
– Zz-Zzzrr?
– Chrrt. 『Huh? “How can a human be your father?” Well, my mother told me he was.』
– Zzzrrrzzrr!
– Chrrrt? 『“Your mother? But she was human as well?”』
– Zzzrr. Zzzrrr!
– Chrrrt. 『Yes, but the mother I knew when I was young said Daddy was my daddy. And Daddy called her Mommy, so that makes her my mother.』
– Zzzrr…
– Chrrrt-chrrrt. 『Your head hurts, so you wish to speak with Daddy directly? Why is this so difficult to understand? Daddy, the spirit beast says it desires to converse with you itself.』
From the exchange, it was clear Cho had attempted to outline our complex family history—and, unsurprisingly, it had confused the creature.
To be honest, even most humans would struggle to follow that bloodline.
Our family connections are indeed a little unconventional…
I was on the verge of addressing the creature directly when my lungs began to ache.
I asked Cho to bring us up for air.
My training allowed me to hold my breath for a considerable time, but “considerable” still implies a limit.
『“Cho, let’s go up for a moment. Please ask it to wait for just a second.”』
– Chrrrt. (Understood. Just a moment, okay? Daddy needs to breathe.)
– SPLASH!
“Puhahhh!”
As I broke the surface, I exhaled and drew in a deep, hungry breath of air.
Then I dove back down.
This time, the sediment had finally settled—and there, lying on the lake bottom, the creature was at last fully visible.

Pinned under Geumdo’s foot—right where its tail met its body—was an enormous stingray.
That was its true form.
It measured roughly three meters from wingtip to wingtip. Its nose was tapered, but its body was broadly rounded.
Its base color was white, adorned with a scattered pattern reminiscent of the dark stones littering the lakebed. If one wasn’t paying close attention, it would be virtually invisible.
It called to mind a color-reversed Potamotrygon leopoldi—a premium variety of freshwater stingray that commanded a high price before my death in my previous life.
A rare specimen!
An inverted Leopoldi?
This was an exceptionally uncommon variant.
The typical Leopoldi is black with white spots, and its worth is entirely determined by the symmetry and brilliance of its patterns. The greater the white coverage, the higher the value. At their peak, top-tier specimens sold for more than $100,000, though just before I died, the species had become more common, selling for somewhere between a hundred and five hundred thousand won.
I had even kept a few myself.
Thrilled, I swam down to the lakebed and informed Hwa-eun, who was undoubtedly eager to know.
『“Hwa-eun, the spirit beast creating the whirlpools—it’s a Bun.”』
“A Bun? Don’t those… live in the sea?”
“Bun” is the classical term for a stingray from the Central Plains.
When I identified it, her immediate question was whether it wasn’t an ocean dweller. A widespread misunderstanding.
Even in my past life, most people believed stingrays were solely marine animals.
But outside of colder zones and Europe, stingrays also inhabit freshwater.
They are found extensively in warmer regions—Africa, North America, Australia, Southeast Asia, and South America.
Freshwater stingrays can be broadly grouped into two types:
One has a more angular, classic stingray appearance (found in North America, Africa, Southeast Asia, and Australia), and the other—native to South America—includes rounder-bodied rays like the Leopoldi, famed for their attractive, decorative patterns.
In Southeast Asia, the Mekong River is home to a gigantic stingray exceeding 3 meters in length, officially acknowledged by Guinness World Records.
But this one—this Bun—was a blend of the enormous Southeast Asian rays and the ornately patterned South American varieties. Something I had never encountered before.
『“Ah, that’s not always true. Certain stingrays reside in freshwater as well.”』
“I see. Even so, to think it was a Bun… then what was its reason for capsizing the boats?”
“That’s what I intend to ask. Give me a moment. Cho, assist with translation. Hello, I am So-ryong.”
I asked Hwa-eun to wait and carefully descended to the lakebed. The stingray was already gazing up at us.
I motioned with my hand for Cho to interpret for me.
– Chrrrt. 『My dad says it is a pleasure to meet you. His name is So-ryong.』
– Zzzrr. Zzzrrr!
The creature emitted a sharp cry in reply.
– Chrrrt. Chrrrt. 『“Is this really the time for courteous introductions? So—now that you have me captured, what is your intention? To cut me open and steal my Neidan without even a word?” That is what it is saying, Daddy.』
“And I believed I was being courteous…”
It assumed we were there to take its Neidan. I hadn’t uttered a word of threat, but Cho instantly retorted.
– Chrrrt! 『My dad isn’t that type of person!』
– Zzzrrrrrr!
– Chrrrt! 『And furthermore—it wasn’t my dad who caught you, it was Geumdo!』
I missed the creature’s shouted reply, but from Cho’s reaction, it had questioned why a “good individual” had captured it to begin with.
Seeing Cho so agitated, I instructed him to tell Geumdo to set it free.
If my daughter was placing that much faith in me—how could I not act accordingly?
I absolutely will.
“Cho, tell Geumdo to let it go.”
– Chrrt? 『Truly?』
“Without a doubt. I am a good father, after all.”
– Chrrrr. 『See? I told you my dad is kind. Just a moment!』
– Zzzrr?
Cho shot toward the surface, brimming with pride and victory.
Geumdo carefully lifted his foot, and the stingray was free.
Once released, the creature blinked in astonishment and stared at me.
Cho swam back, his expression one of smug satisfaction.
As if to say: See? Didn’t I tell you my dad is amazing?
Isn’t my dad terrific?
Something along those lines.
I observed the creature’s tail had a venomous spine—exactly as I had suspected.
Stingrays with poisonous tails possess a modified vertebra that functions like a serrated saw, which they lash at threats. This saw-toothed barb inflicts deep, bleeding wounds and simultaneously delivers venom.
The venom itself is a mixture of proteins and enzymes that induces severe pain, paralysis, and tissue death. It interferes with cellular functions and destroys flesh.
It is neurotoxic, hemotoxic, and cytotoxic—all simultaneously.
Even in my previous life, there existed no antivenom for stingray poison.
And this was a spirit beast, meaning it was undoubtedly more potent.
『“Cho, please ask if we can converse above the water. Explain that I require air.”』
– Chrrrt. 『My dad asks if we can talk on the surface? He is human, so he needs to breathe.』
I offered the creature a friendly smile as Cho spoke.
The stingray nodded and led the way.
Evidently, being freed unconditionally had made a significant impact.
“Puhah!”
Breaking the surface, I took a long, clear breath of fresh air. Geumdo swiftly swam over and raised me onto his back.
Witnessing this, the stingray also surfaced—and its eyes opened wide in surprise at the sight of Geumdo.
– Zzzrrr.
– Brgrrrrr.
– Chrrrt. 『It said “How peculiar.” I told it Geumdo is trustworthy.』
“Aha.”
So that was their discussion.
I gave Geumdo a few grateful pats, then turned to the stingray.
“Might I ask—why did you continue to overturn the boats?”
– Zzzrr. Zzzr. Zzzrrrrr.
It spoke for some time, then rolled over to expose its underside.
And there it was—a pattern on its belly that resembled a smiling face.
Near its gill slits, something metallic gleamed.
I looked closer.
A rusted fishing hook.
Cho elaborated:
– Chrrrt. 『Fishermen persistently threw waste into the lake. That is how this occurred.』
The creature was not originally from this lake. It had come here several years prior, only to be greeted by continual rubbish and abandoned nets.
Eventually, it attempted to depart—but a hook became embedded in its gill.
So before leaving, it decided to impart a lesson to the humans by flipping their boats.
Perfectly understandable, really. This sort of contamination occurs incessantly wherever humans reside near bodies of water.
Refuse in its habitat? No surprise it was angry.
I nodded with empathy.
“Yes, I would be furious too. Allow me to remove that hook.”
– Zzzrr?
– Chrrrrrr.
Its eyes widened in shock at my proposal.
Cho cast another proud glance at the stingray, as if saying, See? That is my father.
The creature rolled over again to reveal the embedded hook.
I examined it closely.
Fishing hooks are crafted with barbs—once they penetrate, they do not extract easily. Yanking them out rashly causes greater harm.
Usually, the optimal technique is to push them entirely through.
The hook had pierced the delicate gill tissue. It certainly had a barb.
I warned the creature it might be painful and proceeded with care.
“This will sting a little. Please endure it.”
– Zzrt.
The instant I pushed the barb through, the stingray shuddered.
A faint stream of crimson blood welled up, but it ceased swiftly.
“Finished.”
– Zzzrrrrrr.
The stingray inclined its head in gratitude.
The atmosphere felt appropriate—so I extended the invitation.
“Listen, would you like to join us? It isn’t only these two—I have other companions as well. Spirit beasts coexisting, supporting one another.”
– Zzrt.
But it shook its head.
Thankful, but declining.
“What? No? Seriously—at least consider it. I am a genuinely good man.”
A rare, venomous spirit beast—right before me—and I had to simply let it leave?
I tried once more. Delivered my most persuasive appeal.
But the stingray was resolute.
– Zzzrr.
– Chrrrt. 『It says no, Daddy.』
What? Is this how it concludes?
For the inaugural time in the storied chronicles of Spicy Fabre… I was on the verge of departing empty-handed from a toxic creature.