Fabre in Sacheon’s Tang Novel - Chapter 413

Chapter 413
“Naga, O Serpent God!”
“Naga Naga!”
“Naga Naga!” (original: Hindi)
“What are they chanting?”
The entire assembly of villagers, all bowed low in devotion, were repeating the same phrase in a unified chorus. Intrigued, I inclined my head—prompting the interpreter to quickly lean close and murmur softly into my ear.
[It translates to ‘Naga, the Serpent King.’]
“I see.”
So these were words of praise for the Serpent King.
They repeated it incessantly, like a mantra. It seemed that at Podarlap Palace, and indeed anywhere in India, the Golden-Crowned King Serpent was worshipped as the universal King of Snakes.
No complex explanation was necessary—her appearance alone was enough.
‘Honestly, that’s fair. One look at her, and no further justification is required.’
In the Central Plains, we referred to her as a spirit beast—the Golden-Crowned King Serpent—but judged by the standards of ancient myth, the divine entity that Cheong-yu Sojeo shares her form with ought to be considered a goddess. Her likeness is nearly identical to Nüwa from Chinese folklore.
Yet, for some reason, only in the Central Plains is she classified as a mere animal—her status noticeably reduced.
Beyond the Central Plains—here in India and at Podarlap Palace—she is viewed as a divine or semi-divine being. A Naga.
Therefore, it was no shock that all three cultures worshipped her as a deity.
‘Even so, with this sunset and the overall ambiance, it truly feels like the descent of a god.’
As the chanting persisted, the deep red glow from the sun resting on the mountain peaks washed the world in a scarlet light, establishing a profound mood.
Villagers tossed red petals into the air, creating a gentle rain of flowers.
Then there was Cheong-yu Sojeo herself—possessing a formidable, otherworldly presence that remained undiminished even after her transformation into the Golden-Crowned King Serpent.
Set against this surreal backdrop, she emanated a powerful, supernatural allure.
Bathed in the crimson twilight that set her scales aglow, she raised her head a fraction—and her voice resonated inside my mind.
『—Sia. (They truly… they are worshipping me? I couldn’t bring myself to believe it…)』
It must have been nearly sunset—the time when the consciousness typically shifts between the Golden-Crowned Serpent and Cheong-yu. Recently, even the slightest hint of dusk was enough for Cheong-yu to emerge.
『“Well… you are a god to them…”』
I was on the verge of responding when a piercing shriek erupted from the edge of the crowd.
“Kyaaaah!”
“Sānp!”
“Yeh ek sānp hai!” (original: Hindi – “It’s a snake!”)
From the back of the assembly, people began to pull away, creating a path as if cleaved through the sea.
‘What in the—!? Muslims!?’
My heart leaped. Had the Muslims finally shown themselves?
Tenzin, our guide and a fully ordained monk, had previously scouted the village and found no trace of such a threat. Perhaps the situation had changed.
There was no cause for such a disturbance while a deity was present—unless it was something grave.
Then I discerned it—a very recognizable sound, hidden within the panicked Hindi and the screams of women:
—Ssshhhk!
‘Hold on… that’s a snake’s defensive hiss.’
I pivoted toward the disturbance—the path forming through the crowd—and saw them.
Three huge snakes were sliding forward through the gap the villagers had made.
—Ssssshh!
They hissed again, expanding the hoods of their necks as they advanced. Then, with a fluid grace, they halted before Cheong-yu Sojeo.
And lowered their heads in respect.
‘Incredible—!’
Three large Monocled Cobras had just offered their homage to Cheong-yu Sojeo, their hoods fully extended, their heads bowed in veneration.
They had likely sensed her presence from the village outskirts, an area they probably frequented due to the plentiful small rodents.
‘They’re fully mature… This is unbelievable!’
Each was over two meters long, their famous hoods displayed wide. These were the very creatures I had hoped to encounter in India—Monocled Cobras, known in Korean as Dan-angyeong Cobras.
They are called Monocled due to the single, eye-shaped pattern that appears on their hood when expanded—a hallmark of their species. But they are also known by another title:
Spitting Cobras.
This was why I had come.
These serpents do not merely bite—they project their venom. Similar to an infuriated older sibling spitting through gritted teeth.
They can eject venom for a distance of up to three meters.
And they target the eyes directly.
It was once believed this trait evolved to deter larger predators, but newer research proposes a different theory.
Current findings suggest spitting cobras developed their venom-spitting ability specifically as a defense against humans.
Why? Because the timeline of this evolutionary adaptation aligns perfectly with the ascendancy of humankind.
Their venom’s trajectory? Precisely adjusted to the average height of human eyes.
‘Heh. Ideal. What incredible luck. I’ve found them immediately upon entering India.’
Certainly, I desired them for their scarcity and venom composition—but the primary reason was utilitarian.
With Allok and Dallok injured, I required a temporary substitute to perform the final three techniques of the Venomous Snake Life-Seizing Hand.
Until I obtained a genuine spirit beast, these snakes were the perfect stand-in partners.
Engaging in close combat risked harming them, but if I carried them on my arms and commanded them to spit venom from a distance?
There was no superior option.
No need to get near. I could incapacitate foes from afar.
Spitting cobra venom contains three-finger toxins—a potent neurotoxin that induces burning agony upon eye contact.
Without prompt treatment, the venom can damage the cornea, cause ulcers, and ultimately lead to perforation and blindness from secondary infection.
‘Perfect. These will do excellently until my spirit beast arrives.’
Smiling to myself, I called them over.
[Come here, little ones.]
—Ssshhh! Ssshk!
They slid over without delay and wound themselves around my arms and waist.
And just like that, the reverence being shown to Cheong-yu Sojeo was extended to include me.
“Naga. O Serpent God!”
“Naga Naga!”
Hearing these chants once more—now clearly directed at me—I looked at Tenzin with a confused expression.
“W-what’s happening?”
“Naga are depicted with human torsos and serpent tails… but they are also said to assume fully human forms. Witnessing you command the snakes in such a manner—they now believe you are a Naga.”
“Ah…”
I should have been more cautious. I was so thrilled at finding the spitting cobras, I didn’t think about the impression it would create.
Now I was being grouped with Cheong-yu Sojeo as a divinity.
At that moment, a frail elderly man approached with deep respect and gave a slight bow.
“I am Arjun, the village chief. Since Naga speaks the language of the Central Plains… would you honor us by visiting our temple?”
“Your temple?”
“Yes, O Naga.”
To find any clues about the Five Venoms Sect villains, I needed to speak with the chief.
This village was directly west of our intended path; if they had witnessed the locust swarm pass through, it meant the Five Venoms were located beyond here. If not, we would have to search the area between the village and the mountains—a section we had missed when we detoured.
So I nodded and followed him to a cliff face at the village’s edge.
More accurately, it was a cave carved into that cliff. Stepping into the sizable cavern, I saw many stone statues.
This was unmistakably the temple.
The statues appeared expertly made, hewn directly from the cave walls—but one detail was glaring: all their faces had been shattered.
‘What on earth? Why craft them with such skill, only to destroy the faces?’
Bewildered, I glanced at the chief, who noticed my look and provided a regretful explanation.
“It is a disgrace, O Naga… This was the doing of the accursed Muslims.”
“Ah…”
Naturally. Hinduism embraces many gods and icons, including detailed statues. But Islam prohibits the creation of any images of God or divine beings, so in both this life and my last, I had heard of statues being vandalized or demolished.
It is even said the Sphinx’s face in Egypt was destroyed for similar reasons.
As Cheong-yu Sojeo and I moved to the front of the temple, villagers approached with floral garlands and placed them upon our heads.
And the moment the garlands rested in place—
—Ssshhh! Sssshhh!
‘Another Spitting Cobra?’
That was my initial assumption.
But then the sound of the warning shifted.
—Shhhhheh… shheeeeh!
It wasn’t the typical, breathy hiss snakes make with an open glottis—this was lower, more menacing, almost a rumbling growl.
‘W-wait… that sound…!’
A cold shudder ran down my back.
I recognized this sound. I had heard it countless times in documentaries and videos.
A serpent’s growl—a haunting, ancient noise that instills deep fear in the listener.
It could only be one creature.
King. A King Cobra.
And then it appeared—its immense, six-meter-long body sliding out from among the damaged statues at the rear of the cave.
It wove in and out of view within the flickering torchlight as it came toward us—a gigantic snake.
A King Cobra.
‘By the—… I think I might pass out.’
This was not the moment for my usual exaggerated “Gyaaaah!” response.
First the Spitting Cobras… and now this.
My mind felt on the verge of overloading.
Six meters long, with a broad, flattened hood.
Black stripes decorated the front of its expanded hood.
It was the longest venomous snake in the world, and one of the top ten most sought-after in my past-life quest concerning venomous creatures.
A King Cobra—able to kill an elephant, ranked alongside legends such as the Black Mamba and Russell’s Viper.
Its sheer presence was staggering.
‘This is paradise.’
We had only just crossed into India—and already venomous creatures were coming to welcome me.
This bachelor trip was exceeding all my expectations.
***
The atmosphere inside the temple was now rich with the aromatic smell of curry.
The chief had arranged a meal for us.
‘Wow… genuine Indian curry. The difference in flavor is remarkable.’
As I relished the deep, complex tastes, I received anxious mental messages from Hwa-eun and Sister Seol.
[So-ryong, c-can you actually eat that?]
[Yes, it’s very good.]
[So-ryong, are you sure you’re alright eating that?]
[Without a doubt. It’s wonderful.]
[Every mouthful makes my nose burn with spices… I have no idea how you’re managing it.]
I adored authentic Indian food and had visited specialty restaurants several times in my previous life, so this posed no difficulty for me.
But for them, the intense burst of spices was clearly agonizing.
Indian food offers incredible depth once you acquire the taste—but acquiring that taste demands considerable time and dedication.
‘Is this… saffron rice? The fragrance is extraordinary.’
While I was delightfully absorbed in the Indian cuisine, the others appeared to give up on the meal and turned their attention to investigating the locust swarm.
“So, to be certain—you have observed no locust swarms in this area?”
“That is right, O attendant of Naga.”
Everyone besides Cheong-yu Sojeo and myself was addressed as our attendants, but the message was clear: no swarms had traveled through this village.
“Then… have you noticed any outsiders? Any people from the Central Plains, or anyone acting suspiciously?”
“One moment, please. I will inquire of the villagers. Has anyone seen a person from the Central Plains or any suspicious individual near the village?” (translated from Hindi)
“Chief, I saw a suspicious figure near the ruined Shiva temple” (translated from Hindi)
The chief turned and asked the villagers. After a brief pause, a man timidly raised his hand and spoke in Hindi.
At his words, the faces of both the interpreter and Tenzin lit up.
Tenzin turned to me and explained with enthusiasm:
“Oh! Someone reports seeing a suspicious person—near a ruined Shiva temple?”
“It lies to the northwest of here. It was once the grandest temple in the northern territories, but it was ravaged over a century ago by the Muslims.”
“It seems that is where we must begin.”
If the individuals occupying that temple proved to be Five Venoms filth…
Well, I had already enjoyed my share of Indian curry—and it would be time for them to sample something themselves.
A spicy special from the Spitting Cobras. Aimed directly at the eyes.
It would make for a perfectly symmetrical reckoning.