Fabre in Sacheon’s Tang Novel - Chapter 457

Chapter 457
Refraining from boosting Hwa-eun’s intellect had, upon reflection, proven to be a masterstroke.
I had opted for heart enhancement instead, and as a result, her disposition had grown… overwhelmingly warm. The scent of her skin had also transformed, carrying an extraordinarily sweet and rich fragrance.
Simply being in her presence felt like stepping into a dense mist of perfume—the potent, sugary aroma would overwhelm my senses. When I took her hand, her skin was impossibly smooth and tender, like an infant’s, damp and sleek, as if it molded to my own like soft rice dough.
She was plenty sharp as it was—had she gained any more wit, I would have undoubtedly spent my remaining days utterly dominated, without a moment’s peace. So, without a doubt, the correct decision.

The following day, we exited the stone chamber and embarked on the nearby moored boat, setting a course for the Tang Clan estate.
Yet, as we traveled the river and conversed about selectively enhancing the children, Hwa-eun instantly deduced that I had performed an enhancement on her. What might have occurred if her mind had been any keener?
‘I would have perished immediately.’
Gliding along the water, we neared the Tang Clan’s lands.
Seated upon Geumdo’s head and gazing into the current, the events of a few days prior replayed in my mind.

「“You mean… you can improve parts of the children’s bodies, individually?”
“That’s right, Hwa-eun. Enhancing their legs would grant them greater speed. Boosting their antennae would heighten their senses. Things of that nature. I felt I should talk it over with you, their mother.”
“Oh! How wonderful! Absolutely. A mother’s input is essential for such matters. Hehe.”」

Shortly after we set sail, I had started sharing all my findings with a thrilled Hwa-eun.
But then, she abruptly inquired about her own stone slab, and I faltered.

“So, who shall we begin with…? Perhaps Cho, our little one—hold on. You did say my slab is also in the mental realm, correct?”
“Eh? Ah… yes, it is.”
Hearing my reply, she glanced downward toward her chest, then raised her head, a radiant smile spreading across her features.
It was a smile more beautiful than any blossom—yet the instant I saw it, a chill sweat beaded on my back.
Then her voice came, laced with understanding.
“So-ryong, isn’t there something you wish to tell me?”
“W-What? Something to tell you? I-I don’t believe so?”
‘Curse it!’
The second I spoke, remorse washed over me.
It was a clear mistake.
The response itself wasn’t the issue. The issue was… my nervousness in that moment.
It’s the worst reaction when under suspicion—to show panic. It’s as good as a criminal flinching at their own crime.
Why is it that when a woman asks a man, “Do you have something to say?” his mind invariably goes utterly empty?
It must be etched into the male genetic code, a legacy from countless generations of husbands ensnared in identical predicaments.

Predictably, my uneasy demeanor appeared to confirm her suspicions. Hwa-eun turned to Unmirang, who was attending to Bini, and the other children present.
“Unmirang, would you excuse us for a while?”
“Pardon? But I haven’t completed Lady Bini’s attire…”
“I need to speak with So-ryong… privately. Alone.”
“A-Alone? U-Understood!”
Unmirang sprang to her feet as if jolted by the words *just the two of us*.
“Shall I take the young ladies and the other spirit beasts outside too?”
“Yes, children, would you please step out for a bit? I need a word with your father. In private.”
—Slrrrp. 『Understood, Mother. Everyone, let’s go. Sisters, come along.』
—Kkyuut. 『Is Grandfather in trouble once more?』
—Tsst. 『Hush! Act oblivious. Auntie told us not to get involved when this occurs.』
“Kids? Unmirang? Really, it’s alright, you can remain…”
At Hwa-eun’s soft yet firm instruction, the children promptly disappeared.
They would battle to the death against martial artists, yet in a situation like this, they vanished in a heartbeat.
Truthfully, this seemed far more perilous than any martial arts confrontation.
‘You all claimed you loved your Dad! Said you loved your Grandpa!’
As I lamented their betrayal inwardly, I heard a distinct sound—
—Creak. Click.
Hwa-eun had locked the door after the departing children.
She turned back to me, offering that smile again.
It was a cold smile. Excessively cold.
I had been seated at the dining table, but I rose without thinking. As she advanced, I reflexively retreated.
—Step. Step.
She stepped forward—I stepped back.
Before long, my back was against the wall. There was nowhere left to go.
Hwa-eun moved nearer. Far too near.
The tension was palpable—both emotional and physical.
“Khh… H-Hwa-eun?”
Trapped between her and the wall, her dizzying scent engulfed me.
Then her whisper came—feather-light and syrupy sweet, close to my ear.
“Are you certain… you have nothing to say?”
Eyes clenched shut, I told her everything.
I had no alternative—she obviously already knew.
‘Molting clearly boosts one’s intelligence as well…’
“I-I apologize! I-I enhanced you! If I chose legs, muscles would develop and they’d appear too thick. If I chose hands, poisonous claws might sprout and look unattractive! Enhancing the arms would also add bulk!
The sole remaining option improved skin texture and fragrance… so I selected that… I’m sorry for not asking you first!”
As I finished my plea, Hwa-eun glanced down at her chest between us and stated,
“But that doesn’t fully account for this, does it?”
“Um, well…”
Her eyes demanded: Why is my heart so full? Tell me.
But I couldn’t form the words.
How could I outright state I picked it because I have a preference for full-hearted women?
As I wavered, Hwa-eun started to persuade me.
I averted my gaze, and then felt her hand tenderly caress my cheek.
“If you are honest, I won’t be cross… I am not upset.”
Her words, combined with her touch, were a deception. I recognized it from my previous life.
My own mother employed the same tactic, and the instant I confessed:
“So you’ve been keeping secrets from your mother!?”
“Y-You promised to forgive me!”
“That was if you told me everything!”
And yet, in this life as well, I walked into the same snare. Ultimately, I disclosed everything—even the desires I had attempted to suppress.
“The final untouched part on the slab… was, err, the chest… and it mentioned… it could also increase somewhat… I believed that was preferable to the other choices…”
“You selected it for that reason?”
Eyes shut tight, I exclaimed—
“Y-Yes! I chose it because it is my preference!”
Then, quiet.
I prepared for the reprimand. Just like in my past life, I anticipated an outburst.
But when I timidly opened one eye, I saw it—
A contented smile on Hwa-eun’s face.
Why was she smiling…?
Then it dawned on me—she loves me, and now she embodies my preference. She was delighted, thinking I would adore her even more.
“So, this is the me that So-ryong prefers above all?”
“Yes…”
“Hehe…”
“W-Weren’t you going to reprimand me?”
“Scold you? I said I wasn’t angry. And now that I am someone you cherish even more deeply—why would I scold you?”
Then she embraced me gently.
Indeed. This had unquestionably been the correct choice for the welfare of the clan.」

Just as I was affirming to myself that my decisions had spared our entire household—
—Vrmmm.
A vibration came from Geumdo’s head beneath me.
Puzzled, I looked down—and despite the daytime sun, the river had grown dark.
No—more accurately, the water had become a thick, muddy slurry.
“A mudslide…?”
I scowled in bewilderment at the water.
The river flowing past the Tang Clan was renowned for its clarity, yet now it resembled the choked, silt-laden flow of the Yellow River.
Struggling to breathe in the murky water, Heukjeom surfaced next to Geumdo.
—Splash!
“Heukjeom, are you alright?”
—Chiii.
It was clearly unpleasant, but he didn’t seem to be in respiratory distress.
Conversely, Hwanji and Hwana—who had been following behind—appeared greatly relieved.
It was logical. To remain inconspicuous, they had been fully submerged with only their nostrils above the surface. But with the water now opaque, they could emerge without concern.
—Shii. 『Ahhh, at last I can move freely.』
—Shooo. 『Indeed.』
I promptly called Cho and sent him skyward.
I required an aerial perspective to grasp what was happening.
Flying high, we followed the river’s path—until we located a huge construction site.
Scores of workers were diligently excavating the riverbank before the Tang Clan.
The work seemed nearly complete. It soon became evident: they were widening the river to make room for Heukjeom and Geumdo.
“Everyone!”
As this was Tang Clan territory, I could reveal Cho openly.
I landed and called out loudly.
The startled martial artists looked up and erupted into joyful cries.
“It’s Master So-ryong!”
“Master So-ryong has returned!”
“Inform the Clan Lord! Master So-ryong is back!”
Moments later, figures began pouring from Tangga Mountain—likely alerted by those who had scaled the rooftops using their light-foot skills.
Behind Geumdo, Hwanji and Hwana surfaced and showed their heads. I stepped down onto Hwanji’s crown.
And then—Tangga Mountain exploded with noise.
“W-Wowww!”
“Master So-ryong brought another spirit beast!”
“A t-two-headed serpent!”
They may not have been as stunned by the other children, but the presence of Hwanji and Hwana was in a different league.
The wedding hadn’t even occurred, yet the Tang Clan was already in a festive uproar.

***
A formal introduction for the newest family members.
I was genuinely beginning to fear for the elders’ cardiovascular health.
“A twin-headed serpent of this magnitude!?”
“These are Hwanji and Hwana. They are Red-Sunring Serpents, and as a pair, we call them the Twin-Headed Red-Sunring Serpent.”
“Twin-Headed Red-Sunring Serpent! A fitting name indeed.”
“And this one is Changcheon. He is the Black-Wood Locust King.”
“T-The Locust King!?”
“These here are Azure Steel Immortal Ants.”
“Another of the Twenty-Four Venoms!”
With every new companion I presented, the elders reacted as if on the verge of fainting from exhilaration.
“And this is the Crimson Poison Harpoon Snail. It belongs to the Hwaho Grass Division. It lacked a name, so I gave it one.”
“Ooohh, astonishing!”
“These two are a mated pair—Yeoncheon and Yeonji.”
[A pleasure. I am Yeoncheon.]
[And I am Yeonji. We look forward to your hospitality, and thank you in advance.]
“Th-The spirit beasts… can speak!?”
“They mentioned being close companions of Senior Hwamu-jin.”
“Hwamu-jin!?”
“You mean to say… they are spirit beasts from Hwamu-jin’s time!?”
“Ah, with their assistance, I located Senior Hwamu-jin’s tomb…”
“The tomb!?”
“I managed to retrieve his martial arts legacy and his shattered sword from within…”
“S-S-Senior Hwamu-jin’s martial arts and sword!?”
Upon hearing of the recovery of Hwamu-jin’s techniques and broken blade, the elders clutched their chests or pressed their hands to their brows, trembling as they tried to compose themselves.
“Is… is there anything remaining that could possibly astonish us further?”
“There is… one more thing.”
“One more?”
My future father-in-law, looking quite lightheaded, gulped.
“What… else could there possibly be?”
None had yet noticed that Hwa-eun was still missing.
And so I mentally summoned the day’s headline attraction.
‘Hwa-eun, it’s time!’
‘Must I really?’
‘Yes. We agreed on this days ago, remember?’
‘But… it’s so humiliating…’
She claimed shyness—but Hwa-eun was never one to avoid something merely due to embarrassment.
From where Geumdo was positioned, a streak of green shot into the air.
Or more accurately—Yeondu soared up, coiled around Hwa-eun.
Then Yeondu, cradling Hwa-eun within, descended gracefully toward us.
She landed softly amidst the gathering and offered a martial salute.
“Grandfather, Father, Mother—I have returned.”
Only then did the three elders realize Hwa-eun had been absent. Appearing slightly abashed, their eyes widened in stunned disbelief.
“Our son-in-law’s surprises made us completely forget our dear Hwa-eun. Our Hwa-eun…”
“Let me see you—what!?”
“Good heavens! Hwa-eun, what in the world has happened to you!?”
They started back in amazement at Hwa-eun’s transformed appearance.
Just as I moved to explain she had undergone a complete rebirth—
“Rebirth…”
Hwa-eun, her face flushing, answered their question.
“S-So-ryong… is responsible for this…”
“Our son-in-law!? Goodness!”
“So-ryong did this!? What!?”
“Oh my! Oh heavens! Oh my!”
A torrent of thrilled exclamations burst from the three elders.
“Son-in-law! Could you not have waited until after the wedding!? I am overjoyed at the prospect of being a grandmother, but if her chest expands any further, we will have to adjust the wedding gown! My, my, our Hwa-eun must be the type to show early in pregnancy, hmm?”
“Ahahaha! So the true wedding gift was something entirely different! Splendid work, So-ryong!”
“Splendid work indeed! We must schedule the wedding for this very month—if we delay, her condition will become apparent!”
Seeing the new fullness of Hwa-eun’s heart, the three elders had evidently… misconstrued the situation entirely.