Fabre in Sacheon’s Tang Novel - Chapter 439

Chapter 439
The following day, I commenced my work.

Where?

At the location of the withered tree and its strange fruit.

I termed it “going to work” because my intention was to stubbornly confront this challenge daily until I achieved a breakthrough.

That was precisely why I used that phrase.

‘The tenacious Spicy Fabre never surrenders. This is especially true when dealing with a venomous being.’

Once I fixate on a goal, I pursue it relentlessly.

Isn’t that the very essence of being the Spicy Fabre?

Even the Black Mamba that delivered my fatal bite—I hadn’t located it immediately, but I was resolved to persist, adjusting my plans for as long as necessary until I did.

Retracing my steps from the previous day from memory, I reached my destination and was met by faces I recognized.
“Have you returned, Heavenly Master?”
“Indeed. I appreciate your hard work.”
Dorje had clearly informed them beforehand, as no one obstructed my path, and upon arriving at what seemed to be the Central Sanctum entrance, the monks opened the gates with pleased looks.

They were the same monks who had admitted me the day before.

One of them addressed me again.
“By your demeanor, it appears something agreeable occurred since yesterday?”
It seemed that during my previous visit, my agitation and eagerness for Dorje to reveal the tree and fruit had been plainly visible on my face.

Scratching my head with a hint of embarrassment, I answered. It wasn’t the most stately pose for one called the Heavenly Master.
“Ahaha. Was I that transparent yesterday? Well, the reason for my improved mood is… what is the Buddhist expression for it? Something about the cessation of troubles… Ah, what was it…?”
Since I was to become the Heavenly Master and these were senior monastic figures, I thought it appropriate to use some doctrinal language—at least a little Buddhist terminology.

As I struggled to recall the term, the speaking monk provided a clue.
“Ah, could you mean your vexations have ceased?”
“Yes! That’s the one. Vexations. They’ve ceased.”
Yes, that was the Buddhist term for when mental afflictions or anguish dissipate.

I felt remarkably unburdened.

I had decided to simply embrace the entire Heavenly Master affair, and that decision brought mental calm.
“Hehh. So your vexations have ceased. It sounds as if you’ve attained enlightenment?”
“Enlightenment? Certainly. Let’s call it that. Enlightenment. A sort of realization, you see? If you cannot escape something, you might as well accept it?”
“?”
As the two monks seemed to develop visible question marks above their smooth, shaved heads, I moved past them inside.

I walked on and halted beneath the tree.
“Children, we’ve arrived! Sister Jeokwol, you may reveal yourself now.”
— Sssshh.
“That is the tree.”

At my words, Sister Jeokwol emerged from behind me with a flutter of her wings, while Bini peeked out from within my robes.

Hyang, who was coiled around me, and Hongdan, perched on my shoulder, instantly leaped to cling to the tree.

I had not come alone today—I brought the children with me.
— Tssrr. 『Father, is it that object up there?』
“Yes, Hyang.”
— Kkwoo-kkwoo. 『Ah, that one, Father. I will ascend and inspect it.』
Sister Jeokwol had already positioned herself near the treetop, hanging inverted. The other children were scaling the trunk, moving upward.

Upon reaching the fruit, as we had planned, they began gently tapping it with their antennae or attempting to communicate.
— Tssrr. 『Hello? Can you perceive us?』
— Kkwoo-kkwoo. 『Can you hear me? Is communication possible?』
— Ssshhh.
I had been curious if contact from these spirit creatures might elicit a response.所以他们尝试用触角轻敲并与之交流。

But, as anticipated, the fruit gave no indication of life.

I climbed up and placed my ear against the fruit, but detected no sound from within.

This suggested my initial hypothesis was likely incorrect.
— Tssrr. 『Father, it remains silent.』
— Kkii!
“Indeed… there is no reaction whatsoever.”

The moment I found it, I had considered it might be a gall—an abnormal growth on the tree.

Some tree-dwelling insects induce the formation of such lumps to create their homes. That was my first thought upon seeing it.

So I theorized a spirit beast might be dormant inside—but my investigation now suggested otherwise.

I couldn’t be entirely certain, of course.
“It seems my original assumption was mistaken.”

For the time being, I set that idea aside and concentrated on determining the true nature of the object.

Identifying it was the first step toward reviving it.

To that end, I enlisted Hongdan’s aid.
“Let us attempt to sever a piece for closer examination. Hongdan, try cutting here.”
— Kkii!
Inspecting it while suspended in the tree was impractical, so I decided to remove a branch for better access.

That was the primary reason I had brought Hongdan.

I lacked the means to cut it myself, but Hongdan might succeed.
— Chakang!
At my request, Hongdan clicked his tail and focused his pincers on a section of the tree.

But then, just as when I had tapped it with my dagger, a similar metallic resonance sounded.
— Kang.
— Kkii?
Hongdan appeared startled—as if he had expected a clean cut.

Upon reflection, perhaps his mother could have managed it, but Hongdan was not yet fully matured. His pincers lacked the necessary sharpness.

I had hoped to retrieve the fruit for a more comfortable examination, but if the tree itself couldn’t be cut, we would have to identify it in its current location.
“This presents a difficulty.”

Clutching the tree somewhat awkwardly, I studied the fruit again.

The gray fruit that so strongly resembled a tumor.
“If it is not a gall, then what could it be?”
— Tssrr 『What is it?』
“Might it be an egg case or a cocoon?”
— Tssrr 『Is it?』
As Hongdan adorably echoed my words, I patted his head and pondered.

Its extreme hardness suggested it was designed to protect something.

This made an egg case or cocoon more probable.
“Let us dismiss the cocoon possibility.”
I ruled that out.

If it were a cocoon, some reaction—a sound or movement—should have occurred from tapping or speaking to it, even without a verbal reply.

Insects in pupal stages often respond to external stimuli.
‘That leaves an egg case as the sole option.’

Only one possibility remained—an egg case.

Similar to those produced by mantises.

Its gray coloration and attachment to a tree branch strongly supported this.

But if it truly was an egg case, the situation became complex.

I could not simply damage an egg case.

Their purpose is to shield eggs from predators and contamination; slicing it open for inspection was out of the question.

Furthermore, an egg case requires specific conditions to hatch.

Correct temperature and humidity are critical.

Yet now, we were at winter’s onset.

Nothing would hatch in this weather. And if this object had persisted for centuries in this state, who could predict if it would ever hatch?

Remaining like this for hundreds of years implied the necessary conditions had never been met.

I had already partaken of the Heavenly Master’s celebratory soup prematurely, and this was developing into a genuine predicament.
‘It feels as though I drank an entire jar of kimchi brine in expectation, doesn’t it?’

Facing the egg case, I descended into profound thought.

***

“So you believe it may be an insect’s egg case, So-ryong?”
“Yes, Hwa-eun.”
“But the specific type remains unknown to you?”
“Correct.”
“And because eggs demand particular climatic and environmental conditions, its hatching is uncertain, potentially never occurring?”
“Precisely.”
“Perhaps it isn’t a fruit from the Rosaceae family at all? The Tang family records were imprecise, lacking detailed information.”

We had achieved nothing today.

Back in our quarters with the children, I reviewed the day’s lack of progress with Hwa-eun. Her opinion was that the fruit might not even be related to the Rosaceae family.

Honestly, her words carried a tone of rationalization.

Like the fox that repeatedly jumps for grapes, fails, and then declares they are probably sour.

She was suggesting it wasn’t what I believed, simply because awakening it seemed impossible.

But I couldn’t confirm that without seeing proof.
“I haven’t verified it isn’t what I suspect, so it feels premature to conclude anything. Monk Dorje stated time is not an issue, so I wish to continue my efforts.”

When I expressed my desire to persist, Hwa-eun replied:
“In that case, it is acceptable to me. Continue until you are content. You initially stated this would take three days, so the wedding can be postponed. A little. Merely a little. Hehe.”

She offered a sweet smile, yet an inexplicable chill traveled down my spine.

That “it is acceptable” felt entirely unacceptable.

Perhaps I had become socialized enough to detect subtext in others’ words—even as someone fixated on venomous creatures?

Or maybe it was pure survival instinct.

Her emphasis on “a little” was clear—if I continued dedicating all my time here, repercussions would follow. I needed to resolve this swiftly.

I had already far exceeded the original deadline. I had promised to conclude this in three days.

A delayed return to Sichuan would undoubtedly incur a severe reprimand from Hwa-eun.
“Yes, I will endeavor to resolve this with all possible speed.”

The next morning, I rose early, breakfasted, and returned to the tree bearing the fruit.

The Hwa-eun alarm was activated—I had to expedite matters.

I needed to utilize every available moment and revive the fruit as quickly as possible.

Yet, whether I clung to the tree pondering deeply or lay beneath it gazing upward, I could devise no method to rouse it.

If it was indeed an egg case, handling it was delicate. And without the ability to interact with it, lacking any ingenious ideas—what then?

Thus, two more days elapsed.

I now even slept beneath the tree to conserve time.

Then one night, a voice stirred me from sleep.
—Shia. 『Sir So So-hyeop, Sir So So-hyeop.』
Upon opening my eyes, I saw the glowing eyes of Cheong-yu Sojeo in the darkness.

As I had been sleeping outdoors, all the children—except for Hwanji and Hwana—were with me. Cheong-yu Sojeo had evidently awakened after nightfall.
“Oh, Cheong-yu Sojeo. Did I succumb to sleep before sunset?”
I must have drifted off while wrestling with the problem of the fruit, prior to nightfall.

Sitting up and rubbing my eyes, Cheong-yu Sojeo appeared regretful.
—Shiaaa. 『I apologize for disturbing your deep slumber. But a thought occurred to me… perhaps the night offers a different perspective?』
“Oh, you are correct.”

Her point was valid.

Perhaps conditions changed at night. I had not yet inspected it after dark, so I sprang up from my spot.

I swiftly climbed the tree and examined the fruit again—but nothing seemed altered.

Descending, disappointed, Cheong-yu Sojeo inquired:
—Shiiiii. 『No change?』
“None.”
—Shii. 『Hmm.』
Noting my disappointment, she rested her chin in her hand, immersed in thought.

Within the entire Central Plains, her knowledge of venomous creatures and insects was likely second only to mine. She was, after all, the former heir to the Five Venoms Clan.

She was sincerely applying her mind to the puzzle.

A moment later, as I began to doze off again, her voice came.
—Shiaa. 『But Sir So-hyeop… are you certain it is an egg case?』
“No. It might not be.”
It was the strongest possibility—but not a certainty.

My guess was based solely on my understanding of venomous creatures.
“It is merely the most logical deduction I can make, drawn from my knowledge of venomous beings and insects.”
—Shia. 『Hmm. I understand.』
“Has an idea occurred to you?”
She seemed to have conceived a thought, so I asked. She nodded.
—Shiaa. Shii. 『I began to ponder… what if it is a venomous creature unknown to So-ryong? Something beyond your consideration?』
“It is inconceivable that I haven’t encountered it…”

The idea that I had never seen a particular venomous creature was absurd.

With spirit beasts, perhaps—but if its basis was a venomous creature, then in my previous life I had exhaustively studied encyclopedias, databases, the internet—everything.

But a combination I had never conceived?

Turning my head, I saw the children nestled together asleep under the tree.

The more I considered it, the more plausible it seemed—it truly could be a hybrid I hadn’t imagined.

Take Sandan, for instance—her basis was a mantis. Yet in my past life, I had never encountered a venomous mantis.

So perhaps this was a bizarre fusion of venomous traits.

An odd combination? A blend I wouldn’t anticipate?

As I sank deeper into contemplation, Cheong-yu Sojeo continued.
—Shiiiii. 『And regarding that roof. It was not present before this tree, correct?』
That was true—I had been told the roof was a later addition.

Even without knowing the fruit’s identity, replicating its original living environment was crucial, was it not?

I called out to Cho.
“Cho!”
—Tssrr? 『Yaaawn. Father, you called?』
I had already granted her permission to use any means necessary.

Pointing at the ceiling, I shouted again.
“Break it!”
—Crash!
Our obedient daughter did not hesitate for an instant. She struck the ceiling without question.

And from the newly created opening in the roof, a sound emerged.
—Rumble.
—Ssssshhhhh.
An early winter rain had begun to fall.

Then—
—Crack. Crackle.
As I looked toward the fruit, I heard the distinct sound of fracturing.

Amid the falling raindrops, I watched pieces of the fruit’s gray shell break away.

Even a dagger tap had only chipped it slightly—yet now, it was splitting apart instantly.

And what was revealed beneath?

A glistening pattern of brilliant red and black.
“Ooooooooooooh!”
Now I finally understood what it was.

A spirit beast I had never once imagined.