Fabre in Sacheon’s Tang Novel - Chapter 414

Chapter 414
—”Shia!? 『Y-You expect me to put this on!?』”
The following morning, as the villagers presented their gifts, Cheong-yu Sojeo stared in disbelief.
Among the floral wreaths and exotic fruits lay a sari, the customary garment for women of this region.
The issue was the sari’s material.
It was crafted entirely from see-through mesh.
For those unfamiliar, a sari typically includes a fitted blouse, a skirt with a high slit, and a long drape. Here, however, every part was made of transparent netting.
“It appears to be a genuine token of respect. Turning it down might disappoint them.”
—Shiiiii. 『B-But… this is… everything is visible! Even my midriff would be on display!』
“They seriously intend for her to wear that?”
“The local women’s clothing is already revealing, but this is something else entirely.”
“Wow… it’s completely sheer. You can see straight through it.”
In a Confucian-influenced society like the Central Plains, such an outfit would be unthinkable.
The group was speechless—all except one.
“Huh? It’s pretty. I think it’s nice.”
This was Seon-hwa, the swordswoman from the Southern Barbarian Beast Palace.
Accustomed to short sleeves and short skirts, she didn’t understand the commotion.
To her, even if it was mesh, it was simply an outer layer worn over regular clothes.
—Shiaa. 『I… I need to be ready to confront enemies. This sort of attire isn’t… appropriate for combat.』
After carefully weighing the villagers’ goodwill and the significance of their gift, Cheong-yu Sojeo was on the verge of refusing.
But before she could speak, her head gave a slight shake.
It was daytime now—the sun had risen. This meant that Golden-Crowned Death King Cheong-yu had assumed control.
And predictably, her judgment was the polar opposite of Cheong-yu Sojeo’s.
The Golden-Crowned Death King had no grasp of human shyness or propriety.
—Shiiiii. 『The offer is acknowledged, but wearing it personally presents difficulties. Should another don it, I will replicate the form.』
“Replicate it?”
—Shii. 『Observe.』
Tsrrr…
As the Golden-Crowned Death King spoke, her clothing glimmered.
Like a heat haze.
“Ah, that’s right. Right now, she’s merely emulating Cheong-yu Sojeo’s appearance.”
It had seemed so normal that I’d overlooked it—her current outfit wasn’t real. It was just an imitation of what Cheong-yu Sojeo used to wear.
So she wasn’t actually wearing clothes—she was simulating them.
Which made me think:
Hold on. Does that mean she hasn’t been wearing anything at all until now?
‘Then why is this somehow more shocking than being unclothed?’
Still confused, I turned to the women.
“Cheong-yu says she can’t wear it herself, but if someone else models it, she will copy it. Is anyone willing?”
“You want one of us to put that on!?”
“Pardon me!?”
“I’ll do it! I’d love to try it!”
While the others reacted with alarm, Seon-hwa eagerly raised her hand.
After we explained the situation to the villagers, some local women assisted Seon-hwa into the sari. She did a playful spin.
Golden-Crowned Death King Cheong-yu gave a nod of acknowledgment and began to vibrate faintly.
Shrrrsshhhh…
With a sound like rustling scales, her illusory garments transformed into a sari that exuded a foreign and graceful beauty.
While Seon-hwa’s was a vibrant red, the Death King’s was gold and black—colors Cheong-yu Sojeo had preferred in her lifetime.
Still made of mesh, however.
Incredible.
After years of seeing the modest, covering styles of the Central Plains, the vision of two women in saris was a stunning sensory experience—in a very positive way.
Skin truly was… a natural blessing for a man’s eyes.
Just then, Hwa-eun moved to cover my sight.
Her voice was gentle, embarrassed, and full of fluster.
[So-ryong… please don’t stare. If you truly wish to see me in such a thing… I’ll… I’ll acquire one later.]
[You’ll… acquire one?]
[After we are wed. Only once. W-When we are in private.]
[GYAAAH!]
That cry—the hallowed scream I reserve only for encountering truly terrifying poisonous creatures—burst out before I could contain it.
It seemed I certainly preferred my companions without fur.
In any case.
As I was recovering from Hwa-eun’s unexpected promise and thinking, “This journey to India was absolutely the right decision,” a voice echoed in my mind.
『—Cha-le (Father, when will you emerge?)』
“Ah, were you waiting? I’ll be right there.”
I had concealed the majority of the children in the woods near the settlement to avoid alarming the inhabitants. Only Cheong-yu Sojeo, Yeondu, and Orange remained with us.
I had promised we would begin scouting at daybreak, and it seemed they were growing impatient.
“Very well. Cheong-yu, remain here with Orange and Yeondu. I’ll leave a few behind for protection. We are going to investigate the abandoned temple.”
For the time being, we chose to leave Golden-Crowned Death King Cheong-yu, Orange, and Yeondu behind.
We had not yet verified if the ruined temple was actually connected to the Five Venoms Sect, and even if it was, a full assault would demand extensive preparation.
Additionally, Cheong-yu Sojeo had been conscious throughout the night, so the Death King likely needed some rest.
—Shii. 『Acknowledged.』
“Orange, look after Cheong-yu properly, understood?”
—Sska. 『Naturally. But, Hyung-nim, are you sure you will be alright?』
When I mentioned I was only bringing Monk Ja-heo, Ji-ryong, Eunbong, and Seon-hwa, Orange sounded worried.
I tapped his chest and responded,
“It’s only a reconnaissance mission. We might be facing action soon, though, so be ready to fight.”
—Sskaaa. 『Set your mind at ease, Hyung-nim. Those fellows? I’ll crush them with my standard techniques. Heh heh.』
We exchanged a few more words in front of the cave temple before moving toward the village outskirts—where the chief approached us.
“Might I ask your destination?”
The timing was ideal. I made my request.
“We are going to the sealed temple for a while. Also… as a precaution, could you inquire in the surrounding villages?”
“Inquire… about what, precisely?”
“Check if anyone has noticed any suspicious individuals. Particularly people from the Central Plains. Or, for instance… locusts.”
“Ah, I see. I will dispatch messengers to the nearby villages and have them ask.”
After taking our leave from the chief, we arrived at the bordering bamboo forest.
That’s when the children rushed out to meet us.
—Tsrrt. 『Father!』
—Ksssht!
—Ggggkkk. 『Dad!』
“So, did anything occur overnight?”
As I spoke, Yo-hwa gestured above her, and Hyang climbed my leg to explain.
—Tsrrt. 『Nothing significant. But a cat appeared last night, so Yo-hwa restrained it.』
“A cat?”
I looked in the direction Yo-hwa was pointing, confused—and then I saw it.
A silken cocoon, fastened high up, was gradually being lowered.
Inside the semi-transparent silk was a thoroughly bound…
“A—a Ho!?”
Ji-ryong exclaimed in amazement as the cocoon landed.
Contained within was a tiger, wrapped up as neatly as a domestic cat.
It appeared to be a Bengal tiger. Seon-hwa’s eyes sparkled with excitement.
A furry creature—and the most powerful of all cats? Her absolute favorite type of beast.
“Wait, is that true? A tiger! Did all of you manage to capture that!?”
“How in the world did you pull that off?”
In a tone mixed with surprise, I asked, “How did you even manage to catch a tiger?”
Cho stepped forward and gently patted the tiger’s head as she answered coolly:
—Tsrrt. 『We encountered it during the night. It was likely just a juvenile—it frightened very easily. Paralyzed the moment it saw us, could barely move… even urinated in fear.』
“What?”
Despite Cho’s description, the tiger looked fully grown. But true to her word, when she tapped its head, it shrank back like a scared pup.
It had undoubtedly perceived the aura of a spiritual beast and been completely intimidated.
Seon-hwa, thrilled by the sight of a tiger behaving like a timid kitten, was beaming.
“Hey kids, can Auntie take this one?”
—Tsrurrt. 『Certainly, Auntie may have it.』
“They say you can have it, but…”
“Truly!?”
“But let’s finalize that after we return from scouting, alright? We can’t take it with us now.”
“R-Right. Okay then—everyone, make sure it’s tied up firmly, okay?”
—Kissshht.
We departed, leaving the tiger securely bound.
Not all the children accompanied us on the reconnaissance.
Only Cho, Elder Sister Jeokwol, and Changcheon joined this time.
It was merely a scouting duty—we couldn’t bring the entire group.
Shortly after traversing the bamboo grove, we entered a lush subtropical jungle.
The kind you only see in films—immense trees, countless hanging vines—it was all suddenly reality.
“This woodland is denser than I anticipated.”
“Are we going the correct way?”
“I will ascend once more to verify.”
We had declined the villagers’ proposal to provide a guide, and now we faced the consequences. Lacking clear direction, Cho and I were forced to fly up repeatedly to get our bearings.
We pressed on, using the distant rocky mountain as a reference point.
Just as I believed we were nearing the jungle’s boundary, something came into view—
A stone column, engulfed in thick vines.
It stood tilted, partially ruined.
“What is this?”
“This could be the temple. It seems to be the entrance.”
I had assumed the temple was farther in, hidden within the rocky mountain—but it appeared the temple started here at the mountain’s foot.
My older brother surveyed the surroundings warily.
[From this point onward, caution is essential.]
[We will communicate solely through internal voice. I will ascend again to scout from above.]
[Understood.]
As Cho and I flew upward, I saw that my assumption was correct—this was indeed the temple, and it commenced right here at the base of the mountain.
The stone pillars and faint remnants of a damaged pathway led upward toward the cliff.
In the distance, shrouded in vines, was the outline of a colossal derelict structure—undoubtedly the temple, abandoned for more than a century.
Thick vines with massive roots enveloped the mountain like a giant bonsai. The temple had been hewn directly into the rocky incline, not constructed atop it.
In this jungle environment, plant life quickly reclaims everything. After a hundred years, the location resembled those ancient ruins consumed by rainforest.
Farther in, dilapidated buildings were scattered. There were openings peppering the rock face.
‘Those caves might also belong to the temple complex.’
From the entrance all the way to the crumbled main halls and the artificial caves in the rear cliff—everything indicated this was the temple grounds.
It was an extensive area, offering much to examine.
What drew my notice, however, were those openings at the back.
While the environs were choked with tropical growth, the cave entrances were strangely clear—too clear.
In such an overgrown place, those mouths should have been equally choked with vegetation.
I landed and inquired of Changcheon:
[Changcheon, do you detect anything?]
—Charrk.
—Tsrurr. 『No, Father. Nothing.』
‘Hmm. Could whatever it is be concealed too deeply to detect?’
The caves weren’t excessively far. If any giant locusts were inside, Changcheon should have sensed them.
But he sensed nothing.
I resolved to move closer—with utmost stealth.
And I released my surveillance insect, just as a precaution.
“Elder Sister Jeokwol, can you fly up and monitor the area? Inform us if you notice anyone.”
—Chii!
As a butterfly-type spirit creature, Elder Sister Jeokwol could remain concealed even while airborne.
We proceeded cautiously toward the inner temple grounds.
Hiding behind stones and vines, we advanced inch by inch.
Our progress was slow—painfully slow—but essential to avoid detection.
It took nearly an hour to reach the inner temple gates, and that’s when I heard it—
—Chiiii.
Jeokwol landed soundlessly beside me.
She had discovered something. I whispered:
[Did you spot something?]
—Chii.
Just as Cho prepared to translate her answer, Jeokwol extended her wings fully.
Shimmering dust spread like a fog, creating a spherical shroud around us—making us invisible.
And then—two men emerged from behind a fractured temple wall.
We all held our breath.
It was utterly sudden.
Without Jeokwol’s intervention, we would have been discovered.
At this range, we should have detected their presence. How had they approached so near without our awareness?
As they passed close by, I heard it—spoken in the dialect of the Central Plains:
“What shall we hunt today?”
“A couple of deer should suffice.”
They were using the language of the Central Plains, but that alone didn’t prove they were from the Five Venoms Sect.
Nevertheless, concealed within Jeokwol’s butterfly dust, we observed with strained attention.
The two men walked directly past us, completely oblivious to our existence.
And that’s when I saw it—
On their backs.
Plain as day.
An emblem.
A serpent, a scorpion, a toad, a lizard, and a centipede—each clutching the tail of the one before it.
Unmistakable.
The symbol of the Five Venoms Sect.
Arrogant fools. In a foreign territory, and they still had the audacity to display their insignia openly.
‘Quite bold of you. Any onlooker might mistake you for a respectable and upright sect of the martial world.’
Unforgivable.