Fabre in Sacheon’s Tang Novel - Chapter 456

Chapter 456
Having chosen to prioritize the clan’s harmony, I concentrated on the technique to leave the mental realm.
It required focusing my will and harboring a powerful intent to wake—and the instant I channeled that desire to awaken as instructed, a brief wave of lightheadedness washed over me, and the sight of a shadowy ceiling greeted my eyes.
I had clearly returned to the physical world. My gaze swept the area and settled on Hwa-eun’s form near the entrance, seated in a meditative posture and softly lit by the dancing flames of the campfire.
Upon her head, two flowers were fully open, with a third and final bud just about to bloom.
I also noticed Sister Seol resting nearby.
‘It appears not a great deal of time has gone by.’
The fact that Hwa-eun’s rebirth was still in progress suggested only a short period had passed.
—Rustle.
When I pressed a hand to the floor to push myself up, my fingers brushed against dry grass.
Evidently, after I fell, someone had collected grass to make a bed for me—but then I felt a wriggling movement against my chest.
As my robe shifted, Dong pushed his head out.
‘—Kkyut. “Grandpa!”’
Dong’s endearing voice sounded inside my head.
He swiftly scrambled onto my chest and started lavishing my cheek with licks.
—Sluurp. Slurp.
‘Ah, that’s right, Dong. You were looking after Grandpa?’
‘—Kkyuit! “Always! Dong guards Grandpa!”’
‘Thank you. I’m grateful.’
When I gently rubbed under his chin, Dong shut his eyes, savoring the touch.
‘—Kkyuuu. “Love Grandpa…”’
Then Dong coiled around my jawline as if giving it an embrace.
He pressed against my jaw and cheek, a look of pure contentment on his face.
Dong was being especially loving today. I considered that it was likely because he had opened the Third Gate.
It’s known that the connection grows stronger after a spirit beast unlocks its gates.
My other spirit beasts were all mature, so even if their feelings deepened, they weren’t as openly demonstrative. But Dong, still a juvenile, expressed his emotions more freely.
‘—Shia. “So-ryong, you’re awake?”’
Just then, Cheong-yu Sojeo’s voice reached my thoughts.
I turned to see her soundlessly entering the stone chamber from the entrance.
Her being awake likely meant it was night. She spoke within my mind again—probably to avoid rousing the sleeping Sister Seol.
‘—Shii? You opened the Stone Inscription Gate?’
Cheong-yu Sojeo gave a warm smile, watching Dong cover me with affection.
‘Yes, Cheong-yu Sojeo.’
‘—Shiaa. Hwa-eun is human, not a spirit beast, so her breakthrough appears to be having a more immediate effect.’
‘I believe so as well.’
I stretched my shoulders and responded to Cheong-yu Sojeo.
I was referring to the things I had learned within the mental realm.
I intended to talk it over with Sister Seol and Hwa-eun, and naturally, Cheong-yu Sojeo would be included.
‘Also, I found out something new in the mental realm.’
‘—Shi? Something new?’
Cheong-yu Sojeo tilted her head, curious about my discovery.
I went on, with an expression that warned her to prepare for a surprise.
‘Yes, the mental realm was significantly different. A stone panel had lowered from the ceiling and fused back into the wall. I was curious and touched it. And—please, stay calm—
I found I can improve specific parts of the children’s bodies!’
‘—Shia? Improve them in specific areas?’
Because of my previous life spent on online games, I knew right away what “partial enhancement” meant. But for Cheong-yu Sojeo, who had no such background, the idea was undoubtedly strange.
She appeared not to follow, so I elaborated.
‘For instance, when I pressed the engraving of Cho’s fangs on the slab, the character for “tooth” came into my mind, and I understood—Cho’s poisonous fangs have been upgraded. The venom is more powerful, and the fangs are tougher. That’s what I grasped.’
‘—Shii!? So that implies—!?’
‘Correct. Choosing the legs would boost speed; choosing the shell would enhance durability. It functioned that way.’
‘—Shia! Shii? That’s amazing! This isn’t a feature of the Five Poisons Returning to the Origin Art. Is it an influence of the Beast Heart Martial Arts?’
‘I need to consult Sister Seol, but that seems probable, right?’
‘—ShiiShia. So, which part of me can be enhanced?’
Once she understood the concept of partial enhancement, Cheong-yu Sojeo inquired with a hopeful look.
But I could only reply with a regretful expression.
I hadn’t examined hers.
‘It seemed too inappropriate. I was interested, but still…’
You see, with Hwa-eun, who is already my partner, I felt no hesitation exploring the slab, but with Cheong-yu Sojeo, it somehow felt like I would be improperly touching her form. So I refrained.
‘To be honest, I looked into it for everyone else… but I skipped Cheong-yu Sojeo…’
‘—Shii? Why? Why did you skip me?’
Cheong-yu Sojeo’s eyes widened as she repeated her question.
‘Well, you have to touch the slab all over to investigate. I know it’s only a stone… but it felt equivalent to touching your body, so…’
As I gave my reason, Cheong-yu Sojeo’s cheeks flushed, and she waved a hand before her face.
‘—Shi, Shia. S-So that’s it? B-But it’s j-just a slab, yes? I-I want you to examine it next time… completely. I mean—not in that way!’
She tripped over her words, flustered by what she had said, and swiftly moved on.
‘—Shii? S-So then! What did you enhance for the others?’
She was asking which parts I had chosen for the others.
Perhaps she thought I had already done it for everyone.
‘No, I planned to talk it over with Hwa-eun, you, and Sister Seol, and also listen to the children’s preferences. That’s why I returned.’
‘—ShiiShia. So you came back out without doing it?’
‘Well, I did perform one for Hwa-eun, but… oh, I shouldn’t have said that!’
‘—Shiat!? You enhanced Lady Hwa-eun!? Which part!?’
Because of Cheong-yu Sojeo’s earlier use of “thoroughly,” I became nervous and misspoke.
But the words were already out. I could only glance around in alarm—
—Fwoosh!
Abruptly, a brilliant flash of light burst from where Hwa-eun sat.
I turned to see the three flowers on Hwa-eun’s head now completely bloomed, shining with a golden radiance.
“Oh! It’s beginning!”
Seeing this as ideal timing, I hurried to Hwa-eun’s side. Just then, Sister Seol, jolted awake by the sudden light, exclaimed.
“She succeeded!”
The brilliant glow gradually dimmed, until only the three perfect flowers remained.
But soon, those three flowers also slowly receded into her consciousness.
Then a new manifestation appeared above her head—five Orbs of the Five Rings.
Arranged like interconnected rings, five luminous spheres hovered over Hwa-eun.
“Five Qi Gathering at the Origin!”
This was surely the sign of reaching the Five Qi Gathering at the Origin realm.
Simultaneously, Hwa-eun’s hair began to shed, one strand at a time, with new hair growing in its place.
Then her skin split and peeled away like a spirit beast molting its skin, falling to the ground.
“To actually see a true rebirth with my own eyes!”
Sister Seol’s voice was shaking with reverence.
I too was deeply moved by the spectacle.
Though my reasons differed somewhat from Sister Seol’s.
‘A person can truly shed her skin!?’
Above all, Hwa-eun had become the living image of the woman I cherished, and a powerful wave of feeling and happiness rushed through me.
Of course—molting was something reptiles or insects did, wasn’t it?
And yet, here she was, shedding hers. How could I not be profoundly affected, seeing her transform into everything I ever desired?
‘Gyaaaak!’
As I shouted internally with exhilaration, a dark liquid began to seep from Hwa-eun’s molting skin.
Sister Seol, observing this, explained as if she had read my thoughts.
“That is the turbid energy accumulated in her body throughout her lifetime. It may have an odor.”
As she mentioned, an unpleasant smell started to permeate the air. After about the time needed to drink a cup of tea, the five shining rings above Hwa-eun’s head slowly dissolved back into her mind—and she opened her eyes.
Her skin was now as smooth as an infant’s, her lips a rich red as though tinted, and her eyes held the clarity of still water.
‘Incredible.’
Flower King Peony was often named the foremost beauty among the Three Blossoms of the Martial World—but those rankings were from before Hwa-eun’s rebirth.
Anyone seeing her now would agree without dispute: the most exceptional of the flower beauties was undoubtedly the Rose.
‘I don’t recall performing any great deeds in a past life?’
I merely followed my interests, so how did I end up with the most beautiful wife in the entire Central Plains?
While I was still internally repeating “incredible,” Sister Seol inquired,
“Hwa-eun, are you awake?”
Hwa-eun’s lips parted slowly, and her voice emerged like water droplets in a cavern.
“Yes… the Flower Realm…”
Her face was filled with deep emotion.
And for good reason. As a woman, she had endured continual oppression from her clan.
She had devoted herself to martial arts and even suffered Qi Deviation because of it.
Now, she had achieved the Flower Realm. How could she not be stirred?
“Congratulations, Hwa-eun.”
“So-ryong… I owe this all to you.”
Overflowing with happiness, Hwa-eun moved to hug me—but Sister Seol swiftly caught her sleeve, stopping her.
“Hwa-eun, wait!”
“What?”
“Your body… it’s still covered in turbid energy.”
Hearing Sister Seol, Hwa-eun glanced down at herself—and her cheeks gradually reddened.
“I-I hadn’t noticed…”
“We should go clean up immediately. Now that you’ve gained Cold-Heat Immunity, you can bathe in the river without issue.”
“I see.”
Upon reaching the Flower Realm, one acquires Cold-Heat Immunity—the capacity to be unaffected by temperature.
So Sister Seol was recommending she bathe in the cold river.
Hwa-eun agreed and moved forward—but then paused abruptly, adjusting her arms and armpits as if something felt unusual.
“Is something wrong, Hwa-eun?”
Sister Seol asked about her odd behavior, and Hwa-eun murmured quietly,
[It’s just… my chest feels somewhat…]
[Your chest?]
[Yes. It feels… different.]
Both Hwa-eun and Sister Seol looked down at Hwa-eun’s chest. With a confused expression, Sister Seol whispered,
[They seem… a little larger? How strange. Usually, the chest reduces somewhat after rebirth to facilitate martial arts movement?]
[True?]
As a martial artist myself, I could overhear their hushed exchange.
And I couldn’t suppress a proud grin.
It indicated the enhancement had been successful.
That comment about the chest typically reducing after rebirth only emphasized how well my enhancement had worked.
‘Excellent!’
While I cheered inwardly, their quiet discussion went on.
[Well, perhaps your new form is better suited to your martial arts. It’s likely just a temporary adjustment period after the rebirth.]
[You think so?]
[Yes. For now, let’s go and wash.]
[Alright, Sister.]
With that, the two left the stone chamber.
Then, Cheong-yu Sojeo drifted closer and murmured in a confidential voice:
—Shia. “I… I would like that as well.”
She had undoubtedly deduced which area I had enhanced.
I, feigning deafness, turned to look at the flickering campfire outside.
Ahem.
***
—Crash!
Within an ornate hall decorated with symbols of five poisonous beings, a loud impact reverberated.
A new fissure now marred the recently installed blue steelstone table.
The Lord of the Five Venoms Sect had struck it in fury—and before him, a man hunched on the floor, clutching his stomach and contorting in pain.
“Guhhh…”
The man’s lower abdomen quivered violently from a dual-core reversal.
He was the Head of the Financial Division—tasked with creating revenue for the Five Venoms through trade under the guise of Daewol Nation merchants.
But their dealings with the Central Plains had gone severely wrong, and he was now suffering the consequences.
“M-My deepest apologies—AAARGH!”
His eyes were wild with agony, but the sect lord spoke icily,
“Twenty years in this trade, and you failed to identify counterfeit silver!? Do you comprehend the shame I faced before the nobles of Daewol!?”
“Gahhh… it was a forgery unlike any we’ve seen…”
—Thud!
With a last convulsion, the man’s stomach ruptured—and he perished instantly.
The sect lord then addressed the elders assembled around the broken table.
“Have you identified the culprit?”
One elder answered with care.
“Yes, Sect Lord. We followed the trail through the Beggars’ Union and discovered the silver was moved from Sichuan.”
“Sichuan?”
“Yes, sir.”
“That boy again?”
“It is not yet confirmed, but…”
The reference to Sichuan all but confirmed his suspicion—it must be that youth.
The elders appeared to think the same.
The sect lord’s hand struck once more.
—CRASH!
The blue steelstone table gave way entirely, and the sect lord growled,
“And the locust affair as well… This will be repaid, whatever it takes…”
They had endured too many insults. He would not remain passive any longer.
At that moment, another elder lifted a hand and presented fresh news.
“While observing the Sichuan area, I heard a curious piece of gossip.”
“A curious gossip?”
“Yes, Sect Lord. There are murmurs that the youth is being married into the Tang Clan.”
“A marriage?”
“Yes, Sect Lord. It is said he is summoning important individuals from Sichuan.”
“A marriage, I see…”
The Sect Lord of the Five Venoms gave a frigid smile.
“Understood… then we must dispatch a wedding present.”
At that exact moment, the crows perched on the eaves outside the open window beat their wings together and flew off into the dark night.