Fabre in Sacheon’s Tang Novel - Chapter 446

Chapter 446
‘Just a moment—hang on.’
My excitement was building, but it seemed premature to feel let down.
They mentioned the tunnel had caved in, but our group included a spirit beast perfectly suited for digging through such blockages.
Our precious youngest—Bini.
Given that Bini could shatter even termite mounds without effort, it appeared feasible for her to break apart the fallen debris and clear a way for Senior Yeoncheon to enter.
Certainly, for loose soil or minor rocks, Orange would be ideal—but when dealing with unyielding stone? That was Bini’s specialty.
“Senior, I believe we might be able to clear the obstructed path. Would you permit me to attempt it? Or would that be seen as disrespecting the tomb?”
I promptly sought Senior Yeoncheon’s approval, and he inclined his head in response.
[You are claiming you can reopen the sealed passage?]
“Absolutely. Bini!”
I called for Bini without delay, and she hurried over from her resting spot nearby.
Placing her chin on my shoulder, Bini inquired why I had summoned her.
— Chrrrp. 『What is it, Dad? Did you call for Bini?』
I gave her head a gentle pat and outlined the situation.
“They say the tunnel inside has fallen in. I was hoping you could dig through it so Uncle Yeoncheon can go in.”
As Yeoncheon indicated the opening he had emerged from, Bini gave a nod and answered.
— Chrrr. 『Understood, Dad. Bini will give it a shot.』
Bini clicked her mandibles together, radiating confidence that she could manage it without issue. Grasping her meaning, Senior Yeoncheon gave a nod of understanding.
[Ah, I see your plan now. There is no concern about harming the tomb. If we retrieve Hwamu-jin’s inheritance, the tomb is destined to collapse regardless.]
“What? It will collapse? Then shouldn’t we avoid digging? What if it gives way while she’s working? Or… perhaps the passage didn’t merely collapse—maybe the interior is completely destroyed?”
I was alarmed by the mention of a collapse.
If it was designed to fall apart upon retrieving the item, then there was a risk it could happen during excavation as well. Furthermore, three hundred years had passed—it might not be a simple tunnel collapse, but the entire internal structure might have given way.
I had heard that entering through the main gate required navigating trap formations, and if the collapse was part of that design, the formation might have deteriorated over time and caused the failure.
I would never send Bini into a potentially unstable site.
Sensing my trepidation, Yeoncheon responded with a soft laugh.
[The tomb’s collapse is triggered by a mechanism, so you need not fear it crumbling during digging. From what I was told, it only falls apart when the sword is withdrawn.
Additionally, from what I could glimpse through the fissure, the inside does not appear to be fully collapsed.]
“Oh, that is a relief.”
Considering this good news, I turned to instruct Bini to begin, but then Yeoncheon added another point.
[However, according to Hwamu-jin, the inside of this rocky mountain is composed of an exceptionally durable type of stone—so I am uncertain if you will find it easy to dig through.]
“Durable stone, you say?”
[I cannot recall the stone’s name, but Hwamu-jin stated it was exceedingly tough…]
How tough could a stone possibly be?
Bini had already demolished a termite tower—there was no cause for concern.
“Bini can break through something like that without any trouble. Bini, you may begin.”
— Chrrr. 『Alright, Dad.』
At my cue, Bini started crushing the area around the hole Yeoncheon had exited from.
— Kwak! Krak!
Pieces of rock broke away like dry biscuits as the passage grew larger.
Indeed, regardless of its hardness—rock was merely a light snack for Bini.
But then—just as Bini had tunneled approximately halfway into the enlarged passage—
—Ttak.
—Tch. 『Ouch ouch… My tooth…』
A distinct sound echoed, followed by Bini’s abrupt complaint.
Then her voice came, saying her tooth was in pain.
“Wh-what’s the matter, Bini?!”
—Chrrrp. 『My tooth hurts…』
“Your tooth? Why would your tooth hurt? It isn’t as if our Bini could develop a cavity.”
If this were a human child, like Yeong-yeong, cavities from excessive sweets might be a possibility—but Bini was a centipede spirit beast.
I couldn’t comprehend how her tooth could be injured, and as I hastily pulled her partially-embedded body from the hole, she came out with a faintly blue-tinged stone held in her mouth.
I swiftly took the stone and first inspected her tooth.
The very end of one of her fangs was slightly eroded.
Bini’s fangs are sharp and pointed for delivering venom—yet the very tip had been minutely, almost imperceptibly, dulled.
Perhaps by an amount no larger than an ant’s tear?
But nothing gets past the watchful eye of a dad who meticulously monitors his children’s well-being.
Yes, she would eventually molt and the fang would regain its sharpness—but I still cried out in dismay.
Because the most crucial trait for a dad with daughters is a capacity for dramatic overreaction.
“What has happened to my daughter’s invaluable tooth!?”
Bini wiggled her antennae gently, amused by my exaggerated response.
She comforted me, stating clearly that it was nothing to worry about.
—Chrrrp. 『Bini is fine, Dad. But that rock was truly hard. Bini only managed to break off a tiny piece.』
“Really? That hard?”
‘A stone that even Bini finds challenging?’
I accepted the rock from her mouth and examined it.
It was a blue-colored stone, covered in grime.
I wiped it with my sleeve, and as the dust came away, more of a blue sheen became visible on its surface.
“What is this?”
Just as I was puzzling over the unfamiliar stone, Ji-ryong came closer, appearing to recognize it.
“Young warrior, might I examine that?”
“Huh? Ah, certainly. Here.”
I passed the stone to him, and Ji-ryong poured water from his gourd flask to clean it.
As the dirt washed off and he polished it with his sleeve, the dried surface revealed a consistent blue color.
The entire stone had a translucent blue quality—and when sunlight struck it, it glimmered.
Ji-ryong and the others let out amazed exclamations.
“Y-yes! I was certain!”
“It’s Azure Steel Stone!”
“Wait—does that suggest the entire interior is made of Azure Steel Stone!?”
“Bini, are there many of these stones inside?”
At Hwa-eun’s question, Bini nodded.
—Chrrrp. 『Yes, Mom. Once I dug a little way in, it was all this kind of stone. I would need to inspect the rest more closely.』
Bini’s reply caused Hwa-eun’s face to light up with excitement.
“Oh my! Then this entire rocky mountain housing the tomb must be a treasure trove! I must inform Grandfather to purchase all the surrounding land!”
Hearing her discuss acquiring real estate, I couldn’t help but think, Yes, unmistakably the heiress of a rich family.
But I also comprehended why she said it.
Even I was familiar with Azure Steel Stone.
Azure Steel Stone—a resilient, bluish, jade-like rock, as hard as iron. It was frequently used to craft tables for martial artists.
It is notoriously difficult to work with, but if someone struck it with their palm during a intense discussion and left an impression—or even a crack—they would immediately be acknowledged as a genuine master.
I had heard it could only be shaped or fractured using inner energy, and that only internal force could mark it. So Bini’s damaged tooth now made sense.
After all, Bini does not utilize inner energy.
If breaking off a small fragment stressed her tooth, proceeding with the excavation was not advisable.
Absolutely not. I cannot allow my daughter to harm her valuable fangs.
Truthfully, a part of me wanted to simply return home and expedite the wedding Hwa-eun desired, but seeing the hopeful expression on her face, I couldn’t propose abandoning the mission.
So I inquired of Senior Yeoncheon once more.
“This spot appears to be a dead end. Are there any other places we could attempt to dig?”
[There are two other locations, but… they are merely ventilation shafts. Even I was unable to squeeze through.]
I scanned the area for other potential entry points, assuming these were the vents. We attempted one, dug a little, but again encountered solid Azure Steel Stone. The other had a heap of soil blocking it.
“Is this one blocked as well?”
As I stood before the final opening, I thought—it must be sealed by earth.
There was simply a massive amount piled up.
[We may as well proceed with the Nine-Gate Trial.]
With no other options remaining, Senior Yeoncheon proposed heading to the main entrance.
Even I was beginning to feel that the time for shortcuts was over, and we would have to use the official gateway. So I asked him,
“Senior, is the Nine-Gate Trial challenging?”
I wanted to assess if we were capable of tackling it ourselves.
During the journey here, the Dragon Fangs had informed us that many who attempted to explore these tombs met their end.
Senior Yeoncheon thoughtfully placed his foot on a rocky ledge and, after a pause, provided a general description.
[If my memory serves, the first six gates test one’s fundamental attributes. The last three determine if the challenger is worthy of inheriting Hwamu-jin’s martial arts.
Mu-gyeol did not like to see people harmed, so it is probably not lethal.]
He claimed it should be safe—but honestly, I place little trust in what martial artists deem “safe.”
What was life-threatening to me was likely “a mere scratch” to them.
Looking upward, I could see the enormous boulder marking the tomb’s entrance—exactly as Senior Yeoncheon had detailed earlier.
It reminded me of an experience from my previous life, when I traveled to China to gather specimens and ended up ascending the Changkong Cliff Road on Mount Hua.
It was reputed to be the world’s most dangerous path, and I climbed it simply out of curiosity.
I ended up weeping alongside my companions.
They say a man cries three times in his life—and I wept twice on that single path.
The initial segment was a farce—brief and with safety rails—so we ascended laughing.
But from the second part onward, it became terrifying.
You had to climb down using iron bars embedded in a sheer cliff face, followed by a section of planks nailed to chains—some boards present, others missing.
The cliff above us now? It emitted that same Changkong Cliff Road atmosphere.
I could fly up on my centipede, sure, but the others? They were facing a harrowing ordeal.
Nevertheless, just to be thorough, I approached the last vent-like opening for a final inspection.
—Rustle.
As I stepped across the mound of soil—
My foot pressed on the edge of the pile, and the earth gave way. Larger lumps broke free and struck the top of my foot.
And then—those lumps of soil felt unusual.
Huh? This is odd…
Within the dry earth were pellets that were still damp with moisture—all uniformly sized.
Most people would have missed it, but not me—Spicy Fabre. I knew something was amiss.
These were small balls of soil, each about the size of a chestnut.
I picked one up and was examining it in my palm when Hwa-eun approached and asked,
“What are you doing, So-ryong?”
“There’s something strange here.”
“Strange?”
“Strange, Ryong?”
“Yes, this soil—it’s shaped too uniformly.”
“Soil pellets? Now that you mention it… they do seem like they were formed on purpose.”
The dirt was arranged in a funnel shape around the opening.
The vent was approximately as wide as my forearm, and peering inside, I could see a neatly cleared, hollow space.
Abruptly, this tomb-raiding endeavor, which had held no interest for me, sparked an intense curiosity.
I wasn’t interested in looting tombs—frankly, I didn’t care. But this tomb… this one demanded a comprehensive examination.
Because only one kind of creature creates such consistently shaped soil pellets.
A creature adored by all insect enthusiasts.
The very first insect that anyone keeps.
The foundational species of insect husbandry—
Ants!
And not just ordinary ants—these were evidently large ones, sizable enough to produce chestnut-sized dirt balls.
Which meant they had established their colony inside.
This was no longer optional.
This excavation was now officially underway.