Fabre in Sacheon’s Tang Novel - Chapter 435

Chapter 435
The hour was late, the darkness profound long after sunset had claimed the day and slumber had taken the camp.
I was roused by the feeling of being shaken awake—blinking my eyes open, I found a pair of golden orbs glowing in the blackness.
It was Cheong-yu Sojeo, rousing me with a soft touch.
— Shia. 『So-ryong, awaken. Do-ryong has come for you.』
“Ah… It must be the middle of the night, then.”
— Shiii. 『That is correct, So-ryong. Please, rise now.』
I rubbed the sleep from my eyes and pushed myself up. Hwa-eun was also getting to her feet, and next to her, Gungbong raised her torso with a drowsy murmur.
We shared a look of shared fatigue before silently preparing to follow our elder brother.
His arrival at this late hour was expected, so it came as no shock.
Being nearest to the tent flap, I was the first to stand and move to exit—when Hwa-eun’s voice stopped me.
“Mmm… You aren’t Gungbong, are you? It’s Soto, isn’t it?”
“Yes, Hwa-eun. I am Soto.”
It had struck me as unusual that Gungbong had woken so promptly, given she typically slept deeply. But hearing them talk, I understood that Soto was the one presently in command.
Gungbong had been the one summoned, yet Soto had emerged in her stead—Hwa-eun let out a soft sigh at first, but then gave a nod of acceptance.
“…Yes. Perhaps this is for the best. Soto, you must explain everything to Gungbong afterward.”
“I understand.”
Watching Soto agree, I couldn’t suppress the thought that Gungbong had it remarkably easy these days.
She offloaded every bothersome task onto Soto, living her life through simple clicks and nods.
“…I have to admit, I’m a little jealous.”
As that feeling of envy, mixed with pity for Soto, passed through me, I was on the verge of leaving the tent when—
— Tssrrrt? 『Daddy? Mommy?』
[Bini, go back to sleep. Daddy and Mommy are only going to speak with Uncle Gyu-seong.]
Bini had awoken, likely stirred by the cold air flowing in as I lifted the tent flap. She inquired where we were headed, so I gave her head a soft pat and eased her back down onto the bedding of dry grass.
Her antennae sagged like a puppy’s ears and she was asleep again in moments.
“Such an adorable little creature.”
In the darkness, Hwa-eun wore a smile mirroring my own as she watched Bini slip back into dreams.
Her hand settled over mine as we gave Bini’s head one final, gentle stroke together.
But just as I moved to step out, a familiar weight encircled my ankle.
Glancing down—I saw it was Hyang, wound tightly around my leg.
For a second I believed she had woken like Bini, but she was still sound asleep—she must have seized me by pure instinct.
Carefully, I unwound her coils and placed her beside Hongdan, who was sleeping in a ball close by.
The instant Hyang made contact with her, Hongdan started to wriggle, half-conscious and slightly alarmed.
I suppressed a laugh and tenderly extracted her.
Then, exiting the tent, we found Elder Brother waiting, and he guided us to another tent—the one belonging to the women.
[Come. We will convene in the women’s tent.]
[Yes, Elder Brother.]
The moment we entered the tent, every face turned to look our way.
It appeared everyone else had already assembled.
Sitting within were Sister Seol, Eumbong, Hu-gae, the interpreter, Monk Jaheo, and Ji-ryong.
Only Tenzin was missing.
This was logical—he was the one person specifically excluded from this gathering.
As we searched for spots to sit, Sister Seol’s voice greeted us.
“You’ve arrived? So-ryong?”
“Sister Seol.”
“Unni.”
“Come, sit here by me.”
She indicated the space next to her, and I took a seat at her right side.
Soto and Cheong-yu Sojeo silently found places behind us.
“Now that we are all present, we can begin.”
Seeing we were settled, Elder Brother’s voice broke the quiet of the night.
Everyone gave a nod.
He scanned the assembled group, gave an approving nod of his own, and went on.
“We will reach Podarlap Palace in approximately three days. I trust everyone is already aware of this.”
“Yes, Elder Brother.”
“Of course, Do-ryong.”
“Yes, Do-ryong.”
Tenzin had informed us that we were three days from our destination.
With our travel nearing its conclusion, we had gathered to address a critical matter before our arrival.
The subject?
Although the people there had shown us kindness, their history was one of opposition to the Murim world.
Should they learn I was not, in fact, the reincarnated Heavenly Master they presumed me to be, their reaction was an unknown.
This meeting’s purpose was to determine how I should conduct myself when I meet their spiritual leader—the Dalroe Lama, or as he is otherwise known, the Dalai Lama.
Tenzin and Dorje had presented me as the Heavenly Master’s rebirth, even comparing me to the Buddha.
But a figure like the Dalai Lama, possessed of profound spiritual insight, would surely discern the truth.
We had to be ready.
Even though I never intended to deceive anyone, the misconception had grown so significant that a revelation of the truth could make me appear a charlatan.
“And though I am certain you all understand our purpose here, allow me to state it clearly.
At Podarlap Palace, they are convinced So-ryong is the Heavenly Master reborn. However, upon meeting the Dalroe Lama, a man renowned for his spiritual power, the reality will probably be revealed. We are here to decide how we will manage that situation.”
Everyone nodded, their expressions grave.
Then all attention shifted to Ji-ryong.
He was typically the most perceptive among us, and now he cautiously offered his opinion.
“When we meet the Dalroe Lama, irrespective of their beliefs, I believe it is optimal for Little Hero So to explicitly state that he is not the Heavenly Master’s reincarnation.
This way, if matters deteriorate later, we retain the ethical advantage.”
His proposal was to deny it from the outset.
That would allow us to claim we had been truthful from the beginning if they became angry later.
It was a sound strategy.
It was an option I had contemplated as well—but I had reservations.
“Ji-ryong, I’ve considered that, but… what if they then deny me the chance to see the withered tree because of it?”
Dorje had spoken of a withered tree located at the very heart of Podarlap Palace.
A tree that produced desiccated fruit—fruit that, Dorje claimed, was dead yet not dead.
Hwa-eun, hearing this tale, had suggested it could be one of the Twenty-Four Venomous Branches—specifically from the Flower, Tree, Grass, and Fruit classification.
In short, it might be a spirit creature.
But if I declared I was not the Heavenly Master and they accepted it, they might never permit me to see it. And that tree was my entire reason for going.
This was the source of my hesitation.
Ji-ryong nodded thoughtfully.
“That is… a possibility.”
Hearing even him concede this point placed me in a genuine dilemma.
Frankly, I would prefer to be exposed as a fraud and slink away in disgrace than to miss the opportunity to see that tree.
“True enough. Better a deceiver than to miss out on that.”
My face must have revealed my internal conflict—but Ji-ryong offered a reassuring smile and said,
“But Little Hero So, you need not be concerned. No matter what you say, their reaction will be identical.”
“…Identical?”
“Yes.”
“What will it be?”
“Verification.”
“…Verification?”
I stared, puzzled.
“Yes. A process to ascertain if you truly are the Heavenly Master’s rebirth. I inquired with Tenzin, and he indicated there is a procedure used to confirm a Tolku—a reincarnated lama.”
“Is that so?”
Naturally, they would not accept a claim of such importance without evidence.
“They may conceal an item and request you locate it, or present multiple objects and ask which you owned in a prior life, or even ask you to identify people you once knew.
Tenzin did not reveal the specific test used for the Heavenly Master, but I am confident one exists.”
I nodded, then asked,
“But in that case… wouldn’t I simply fail the test and still be refused a look at the withered tree?”
Ji-ryong, clever as ever, waggled a finger.
“If they demand a test despite your denial, you can request to see the tree first—as a condition for your participation.”
“Ah…”
He was correct.
If I state I am not the Heavenly Master and they still insist on verification, it gives me leverage to set a term.
If they are the ones requiring confirmation, then I can agree to comply—but only after I have seen the tree.
“Ji-ryong is truly in a league of his own.”
I nodded, feeling impressed.
Following this, we concurred that once we arrived at Podarlap Palace, we would act with caution and never travel alone, staying in pairs or small groups.
As the discussion concluded, Ji-ryong glanced toward Gungbong and remarked,
“Soto, look after Gungbong. We are all immensely grateful to have you with us…”
Evidently, since she had asked no strange questions and merely listened quietly, everyone had presumed it was Soto.
The others all nodded in shared agreement.
***
“Heavenly Master!”
Having had our sleep interrupted once in the night, we had all slept a little later—so the booming voice outside jarred us awake.
My children peeked through the tent opening before turning to wake me.
—Tssrrr. 『Father, it is that man from earlier.』
“That man?”
I rubbed my eyes, rose, and looked outside the tent—and there he was. A face I recognized.
It was Dorje.
Dorje, from whom we had separated earlier, had come to our camp accompanied by over a dozen monks.
“Hooooh… A magnificent two-headed Naga King!?”
“Sir Dorje, this is even more impressive than the Naga King you described!”
“Truly… I have never witnessed such a sight… hoh…”
Dorje and the monks were gazing in wonder at Hwanji and Hwana.
I adjusted my clothing and stepped out. Dorje greeted me with a beaming, joyful expression.
“Heavenly Master, it is a privilege to see you once more!”
“Dorje, it has been some time. How fares the individual we treated previously?”
“They lived, entirely unharmed, owing to your divine grace, Heavenly Master.”
So the person we had aided had survived. I smiled faintly in relief.
“What brings you to us here?”
“Word reached us that you had entered the domain of Podarlap Palace, and we came to provide an escort.”
Had we encountered nomads the previous day? Perhaps they had sent a message. Or maybe it was Tenzin?
Regardless, they clearly possessed efficient means of communication.
Dorje continued.
“From this point, I shall personally guide you to Podarlap Palace. The Dalroe Lama eagerly anticipates your arrival.”
So Dorje himself would take us there.
We gathered our things and commenced the journey to Podarlap Palace under Dorje’s leadership.
The trail curved around the mountain, and after roughly two days, just as Tenzin had predicted, the unmistakable form of Podarlap Palace emerged in the distance—its outline vast and majestic, seeming to scrape the heavens.
“That is Podarlap Palace.”
It resembled a fortress, yet overall exuded the holy atmosphere of a temple.
Its golden roofs shone dazzlingly in the sun.
Humbled by the vision, we trekked for several more hours before reaching the edges of the city that surrounded the palace.
A huge archway decorated with traditional Tibetan motifs marked the entrance, flanked by stone towers that appeared centuries old.
Prayer flags snapped in the wind above them.
When we entered the city, children gaped and murmured in astonishment.
The adults, however, dropped to the ground in full prostration.
Their stares—particularly those aimed at me—were saturated with veneration and wonder.
It seemed the decision to bring all my spirit beasts for a show of strength had been effective.
“Ooooh, it is true! The Naga King, protector of the Dharma! He must be the genuine Heavenly Master!”
“Heavenly Master!”
We moved through the crowd and came to a stop before the main hall of Podarlap Palace.
From the instant we reached the entrance, we were immersed in the powerful aroma of incense.
The scent saturated the air, rich and sharp, wafting down from the great palace constructed atop the high hill.
Then came the stairs—stretching upward toward the summit.
As we drew near, Dorje turned back to address us.
“Heavenly Master, this is Podarlap Palace. The great hall where the Dalroe Lama resides is at its core.”
We started to climb, and when we were halfway up the steps, lines of monks materialized.
“O-wae-e-oh…”
They welcomed us in unison, hands pressed together, reciting sutras in a low, resonant cadence.
The sound echoed across the entire hillside with a powerful solemnity.
Finally, we attained the main palace grounds.
proceeding into the inner courtyard, we beheld it—a magnificent white structure with massive golden doors, embellished with elaborate carved reliefs that emanated authority and grandeur.
On each side of the doors crouched enormous lion statues, their paws set upon ornately sculpted lotus bases.
We moved a little farther, and then Dorje halted before the golden gates and turned to face us.
“Heavenly Master, the White Palace, where the Dalroe Lama waits, lies directly past these gates. I shall announce you.”
“Very well.”
So the highest authority of Podarlap Palace was just beyond those doors.
I steeled my resolve, reminding myself that I must negotiate skillfully—no matter the outcome, I needed to see that withered tree.
As we awaited the return of the messenger from within, a voice called out from inside.
“He expresses regret that his aged form finds movement challenging… and asks your indulgence for not greeting you personally. He bids you enter.”