Fabre in Sacheon’s Tang Novel - Chapter 402

Chapter 402
Bzz. Bzzzz.
The sinking sun painted the fading heavens with deep red light.
A change occurred in the flight patterns of the Golden-Furred Wasp Kings swarming near the ship’s bow.
With night’s approach, none were departing—only arriving.
Their vision was sharp enough for darkness, true, but blossoms close at dusk, rendering trips for nectar or pollen pointless.
Right as the sun disappeared, the final bee touched down at the entrance to the bow.
Its abdomen was swollen, and its legs were matted with pollen.
The instant it landed, weary, Ranghu flew to my shoulder, her wings vibrating with intent.
Bzzzz.
“Is the entire swarm accounted for?”
When I questioned if all had returned, Ranghu gave a proud nod.
Just as the day before, every single one was back safely.
Of course, ordinary bees might be taken by mantises or other hornets, but what sane creature would provoke the Golden-Furred Wasp Kings?
Perhaps only a trained martial artist would be so bold.
Bzz.
Tsrriiip.
『Everyone is back, Dad.』
With Hyang’s mental confirmation against me, I faced Do Sagong and issued the order.
“Do Sagong, make ready to sail. The Wasp Kings have all returned.”
“At once, Lord So-ryong! Raise the anchor!”
“Aye, Do Sagong!”
Clink clink clink.
Following his shout, the crew pulled on the heavy cable, drawing the anchored stone from its lodged position at the stern.
Once the anchor was secure, I signaled to Geumdo.
It was time to proceed.
“Let’s go, Geumdo.”
Brrrrrrr…
Accompanied by the well-known gurgling from underwater, Geumdo stirred and started forward at a gentle pace.
“Okay, Ranghu. You should go in now.”
Bzzzz.
As the vessel got underway, I moved to the bow and looked into the hive, intending to send Ranghu inside.
The Golden-Furred Wasp Kings within were occupied with sorting and packing away the day’s gathered nectar and pollen.
The hive had expanded since our departure from the Tang estate, both in physical space and in honey reserves.
The honey was accumulating rapidly.
Naturally—these wasps foraged every single day.
Ranghu had set aside some honey and comb for the voyage, but that initial store couldn’t possibly last the whole way.
Wasps carry nectar internally to deposit in the hive, but with just a hundred of them, their starting capacity was limited.
That was the reason we halted the ship by day, allowing them to replenish their stocks.
One might wonder why we paused daily, but this routine hardly delayed our progress.
Our vessel had its own unique requirements.
We moved much faster than a conventional ship, but our motive power came from Geumdo herself—a living bio-engine, not a machine.
As a spirit creature, Geumdo could operate for days without sleep, but she still required periods of rest.
She was a living being, after all.
Normally, when Geumdo rested, we used sails or moored by a riverbank. Recently, we had reversed our schedule—resting by day so the bees could forage while she slept.
“So-ryong, are the Wasp Kings all safely back?”
“Oh—Hwa-eun.”
Just as I was ready to send Ranghu in, I heard Hwa-eun’s voice.
I turned to find her next to me, linking her arm with mine.
Since her grandfather’s approval, she had become far more forward with touching.
Simultaneously, a gentle, lily-like aroma reached my nose.
Her scent was once of roses, but it had shifted to lilies after she began associating more with Sandan.
And to be honest, this change was somewhat disconcerting.
I had found her sweet fragrance pleasant—until I learned it was not perfume, but the subtle odor of a toxin.
It usually passed for scent, but when combined with other agents, it produced a slight, addictive quality.
A single breath would make me feel calm… until I recalled its true nature, which instantly snapped me back to alertness.
I scanned the area for any observing members of the Dragon Fangs before replying.
“Yes, they just got back. I was seeing Ranghu off.”
“The evening meal is prepared. Will you come?”
“Certainly. I’ll just finish here and join you.”
Smack.
As I nodded and turned back to Ranghu, Hwa-eun suddenly moved close and placed her soft lips against my cheek.
“Do not be long. T-Today, Seol is dining with the Dragon Fangs, so this evening… it will be only us.”
Blushing slightly, she swiftly turned and went into the cabin.
Only us?
Her emphasis on those words made my hand rise to my cheek without thought.
I looked at Ranghu.
“Right then, Ranghu—off you go to sleep.”
I had to hurry her along and follow Hwa-eun.
She had said it would be just the two of us.
Bzzzz.
She nodded promptly.
But as she took flight toward the hive, she hesitated, turned back, and did something utterly unanticipated.
Smack.
She flew close and touched her tiny form to my other cheek—the one Hwa-eun had not kissed—in a gesture that felt like a minuscule kiss.
Then, as if embarrassed, she zipped into the hive and was gone.
Leaving me with a single, alarming thought:
If I ever truly kiss Hwa-eun… Ranghu must not know.
Because if she discovered it?
The results were too frightening to contemplate.
I will have to be exceedingly discreet.
***
Although Hwa-eun had been thrilled by the news of Seol-nui’s absence that evening, we were met with the clear truth: even without Seol, we were never completely by ourselves.
Just the two of us?
It was a hope that never had any possibility of becoming real.
“Sigh… I had allowed myself to anticipate that.”
—
Tsst.
『So-ryong, we will be there shortly—who do you intend to have remain with the ship?』
After our somewhat unsatisfying dinner, I walked out onto the deck and was immediately questioned by Cheong-yu Sojeo.
We were approaching our goal, and she was inquiring about who would be left to protect the vessel.
We were headed for a spot near Litang, further up the Jinsha River (金沙江).
The most direct water route to the Maerli Snow Mountains would have been the Nujiang (怒江), but that landscape was all immense gorges, making passage for Geumdo unfeasible.
As Seol-nui had stated, that path was excessively rough and steep. Therefore, we decided to moor Geumdo at a fitting location upstream on the Jinsha and proceed the rest of the journey on foot.
This meant leaving behind a contingent of people and spirit beasts for the ship’s security.
“I will leave Kwon-ryong, Geom-ryong, Geom-pung, and Cheong-ryong. Naturally, Geumdo and Heukjeom will remain. Ranghu and the Wasp Kings cannot join us, so they stay… I believe Hwayang will also remain.”
Tssst.
『I understand. In that case, I will stay as well.』
Cheong-yu’s response was unexpected.
I inclined my head. “Eh? Why? I believed it would be beneficial for you to accompany us so I might see your martial skills.”
She offered a faint, regretful smile.
Tsssst.
『I would also appreciate that, but… this form of the Golden-Crowned Snake Emperor is not suited for lengthy journeys on foot.』
“…What?”
She had not brought up any such limitation before, so my bewilderment was reasonable.
She then elaborated.
Tssst.
『This body is fairly robust, but its endurance is low. Covering great distances walking is genuinely difficult for me.』
“…Is that true?”
I had taken for granted that Cheong-yu, like Yeondu and Orange, had risen above their serpent origins. They were spirit beasts, ultimately.
But it seemed some innate vulnerabilities persisted.
And she was correct—snakes are famous for their lack of stamina.
Their anatomy is the cause: their elongated form demands more effort from their heart to pump blood, causing them to fatigue rapidly during prolonged exertion.
Warm-blooded mammals produce their own body heat and conserve energy more effectively. Snakes are cold-blooded, resulting in very poor energy efficiency.
This is why—despite being venomous and capable of sudden, swift strikes—they can be overcome by small mammals like mongooses, which possess much greater staying power.
Tssst.
『Travel by boat or cart is manageable. But a walking journey… would be excessively strenuous for me.』
Reflecting on it, I saw she had always journeyed using Yeondu, a wagon, or the boat. She had never walked a long way.
She typically depended on Cheongwol’s assistance whenever she needed to move.
That was likely why I had remained unaware—and why she had never mentioned it.
“I see… I did not realize. Should I leave additional companions with you? What of Orange?”
Since Cheong-yu was staying, I was concerned about her being isolated. The other spirit beasts were more solitary and independent. But she possessed a human spirit—and people need company.
Moreover, Yeondu and Orange were known as the “Heaven-Earth Twin Fangs”—the guardian serpents of the Golden-Crowned Snake Emperor.
Tsssst.
『It is alright. Cheongwol, Hwayang, Geumdo, and Heukjeom will be here. Do not concern yourself, So-ryong.
The Wasp Kings are excellent lookouts. They will notice any intruders early, and I can also establish protective arrays.
Ah—and please take Orange with you. He will become despondent here waiting for Yeondu to come back.』
“Is that so? But should not one of them remain? They are both meant to be your protectors, are they not?”
Tsssst.
『That is correct. However, I am not without company—others will be here as well.』
She was insisting that I take both of the Twin Fangs.
It caused a flicker of unease, but with the Dragon Fangs, Cheongwol, and Hwayang present, our security was sound.
So I agreed.
“Very well. It is a pity you cannot accompany us.”
Tssst.
『Hehe. I am certain another opportunity will arise.』
Just as our discussion concluded—
“So-ryong-nim, we have arrived,” Do Sagong announced.
“Geumdo, stop!”
Brrrrrrr.
We had reached our stopping point. It was time to act.
***
After days traveling west, the land began to climb steeply.
We went over successive highlands, where only low grasses grew, until we were eventually ascending and descending mountain trails.
It was logical—we were moving into the Himalayas.
Continuing west would eventually bring us to Everest.
And indeed, remarks about the thin air began to circulate.
“I have not ventured this far previously, but indeed… each breath is noticeably harder here.”
“I concur, Lady Seol. The change is perceptible with every inhalation.”
“I feel it as well.”
Bhutan was not distant from our location, and the elevation here was nearly 2,000 meters.
Our group consisted of experienced martial artists, so we were largely unaffected, but I still offered a warning.
“These are high mountains. Inform me at once if you experience dizziness or head pain.”
“Understood, So-ryong.”
“What of the rest of you? Are you well?”
Tsst.
Hisss.
Chirp chirp.
With everyone reporting good health, we continued.
When the white-capped summits finally became visible past the broad canyon of the Nu River, Makgok of the Hu-gae group came to me.
“We are near. Just past that mountain ridge—that is where the locusts were initially seen.”
Our interpreter, who was also acting as guide, indicated the western line of peaks.
The moment had come.
“Good, let us start our reconnaissance. I will survey from above with the little ones.”
“Acknowledged.”
If the previous swarm had emerged from past that ridge, some might have already come to this side.
“Yeondu, Cho—with me.”
Tsst! 『Yes, Dad!』
Shaaa. 『Understood, So-ryong!』
With them flying alongside, we rose into the sky. The air grew distinctly thinner as we ascended.
My internal energy cultivation allowed me to regulate my breathing effectively—but I remained vigilant.
Then, something below drew my attention.
Or more precisely… an unusual color was visible.
“Here, let us investigate that.”
We dropped down toward an expanse of parched, brown grass—save for one area that held a noticeable reddish hue.
On closer approach, I saw tiny crimson shoots breaking through the earth.
“…Incredible. A windfall.”
That term came to me instantly—a windfall.
I was searching for locusts and found this bounty instead?
I stepped cautiously from the patch, took out a knife, and started carefully excavating one of the sprouts.
What came up was a thin red stem connected to something below the surface.
Yeondu and Cho drew near, interested.
Tsst? 『Father, what is that?』
Shaaa? 『What have you found, So-ryong?』
Smiling, I answered as if I had made a great discovery.
“This? This is Cordyceps.”
Indeed—I had found an entire field of wild Cordyceps.
Now that I considered it, the Himalayan area is among the world’s most abundant natural sources of Cordyceps.
And this field? It was filled with them.
And they are immensely valuable.
Tsst? 『Cordyceps? What is that?』
Shaaaa? 『Cordyceps? Truly?』
“Yes. Wait—I will show you.”
To explain properly, I needed to remove the earth from around the bottom.
Gently, I cleared the soil away from the lower section of the shoot.
Rustle rustle.
“Let us see… what insect was the host?”
Cordyceps resemble plants above ground, but their foundation is the mummified body of an insect.
As more dirt was removed, a pair of round eyes and a fixed mandible became visible.
The legs were absent, but I knew at once what it was.
“A locust?”
I looked over the rest of the field.
Shoots protruded everywhere like tiny, sharp spikes.
It was easy to deduce what lay buried beneath them all.
A portion of the missing swarm was here—deceased, subterranean, and now sprouting Cordyceps.