Fabre in Sacheon’s Tang Novel - Chapter 470

Chapter 470
The instant Gun Hye-rin uttered those words, Hwa-eun and I both went completely still.
My eyes automatically drifted from her face down to her neck and then lower, prompting Hwa-eun to urgently cut into my thoughts to preempt me.
She desperately tried to reinterpret Gun Hye-rin’s statement—forcing the idea of “leg hair” into my mind.
『“L-leg hair! She surely meant leg hair! So-ryong, you may be unaware, but it’s a common concern for many young women.”』
“O-oh… R-right.”
“Naturally. You didn’t take it the wrong way, did you? I mean, what woman would speak of… such a personal thing—regardless! It has to be leg hair!”
“Ah-ha… haha… probably very smooth.”
“So-ryong!”
“Y-yes, leg hair.”
“C-correct…”
We were both absolutely certain it wasn’t about leg hair, but we went along with it anyway.
Acknowledging the truth was simply not an option.
Then, under the weight of Gun Hye-rin’s intensely hopeful stare, Hwa-eun inadvertently let a response slip out.
“Y-yes. A similar physique.”
Gun Hye-rin’s expression seemed to shout, “You’re just like me, aren’t you?”—and Hwa-eun, utterly flustered and her mind short-circuiting, said the first thing that came to her.
As I gaped at Hwa-eun and my eyes began to travel down her form, her mental cry of denial followed instantly.
『“It’s not that! That isn’t what I meant!”』
“It’s not? Then… plush and soft…”
“No! I only said that to appease the Heavenly Demon Cult’s successor!”
I blinked, uncertain if that meant she did or didn’t—and then Gun Hye-rin spoke again, her voice brimming with emotion.
“So it is true! In any case, a martial art that links minds must be exceptionally rare—and you are willing to instruct me in it. I am deeply grateful for your trust. I vow never to betray it.”
Gun Hye-rin shone with happiness at Hwa-eun’s reply.
She had clearly lived a life of isolation due to her origins in the Demon Cult, and now, not only was Hwa-eun extending friendship, but also offering to share a treasured martial art.
To draw a modern parallel, it was like the heir of a crime syndicate, who had never had a friend, suddenly being embraced by the daughter of a martial arts empire and taught her clan’s secret method—how could she not be deeply touched?
But even so, that was one thing—and because Gun Hye-rin’s misconception had been cemented by Hwa-eun’s accidental reply, the entire situation had now spiraled out of control.
So I reached out to Hwa-eun mentally to ask what we should do next.
There was no undoing this.
『“Hwa-eun, what’s the plan? Gun Hye-rin has completely misunderstood!”』
『“W-well…”』
A brief pause hung between us before her answer finally came.
『“…We should just proceed. I mean… she did mention she has no hair. So it should be acceptable, right?”』
“…What?”
I stared at Hwa-eun in pure astonishment—that was hardly the main issue here.
But she deliberately avoided my gaze, looking out toward a far-off mountain peak.
When I turned my head toward the intense stare I felt beside us, I found Gun Hye-rin radiating joy in our direction.
‘We are in serious trouble.’
***
Ultimately, we chose to proceed with registering Gun Hye-rin.
The misunderstanding had already taken root too deeply, and in truth, having her registered would also secure my safety regarding my support for the Heavenly Demon Cult.
If any cult member tried to move against me or tarnish my name, Gun Hye-rin would undoubtedly protect me with all her strength.
And by this point, I thought… perhaps it wasn’t the worst idea to follow Hwa-eun’s reasoning and view this as taking in a venomous creature that exudes magical energy.
‘Yes, maybe it will be alright. I did need a caretaker, after all.’
In reality, I had previously contemplated employing Gun Hye-rin as a nanny.
I had pondered if I could entice her with a martial pill—but upon further reflection, the answer was: too problematic.
To feed Moji and Soji, I required someone possessing magical energy. However, I couldn’t simply have ordinary demon cultists roaming about, leaking magical aura everywhere—it would be equivalent to announcing we were sheltering members of the demon cult.
Only Gun Hye-rin, having attained the Flower Realm, possessed the ability to fully suppress her aura, making her perfect to have nearby—but she was the successor to the Heavenly Demon Cult.
After the current events concluded, she would soon ascend to become the Heavenly Demon herself, making it impossible to keep her with our family indefinitely.
But if she were registered, she would be compelled to obey me. I could simply instruct her to say she was undertaking closed-door training and remain here.
And this had nothing whatsoever to do with hair.
‘How did everything become about hair…’
As I attempted to force the word ‘hair’ from my mind, Gun Hye-rin spoke up.
“So, is an incantation required?”
She asked because we were now all seated in the underground sandpit, alongside the other new registrants, prepared to begin.
“No, merely a drop of saliva will…”
“Blood.”
I started to explain that only a drop of saliva was needed—no elaborate incantations—when Hwa-eun interjected sharply.
Was it because she believed me drinking another’s saliva would constitute an indirect kiss?
Hearing the word “blood,” Gun Hye-rin tilted her head and inquired,
“Blood? That seems more akin to a mystical pact than a martial technique. Understood.”
Then, with swift efficiency, she drew a dagger and pricked her fingertip.
A single droplet of vivid red blood welled up.
I promptly collected the blood on my finger and, using my other fingers, placed them into the mouths of Baekhwa and Heukhwa, who were waiting patiently beside me.
The preparations were finished.
Now all that remained was for me to place the fingers in my own mouth and circulate the energy of the Beast Heart Art.
Just as I indifferently put all three fingers into my mouth at the same time—
Gun Hye-rin’s voice rang out, sharp with alarm.
“Hold on! Is this—!?”
‘What in the world?’
Her cry was one of shock—and in that very moment, my sight swam and Baekhwa, Heukhwa, and Gun Hye-rin all collapsed to the ground simultaneously.
***
The world within the mind was a desert.
Identical to the one we had seen upon arriving here.
A blistering sun and oppressive heat.
With windswept sand rushing over the dunes.
“It’s unbearably hot in here.”
Even though this was a mental construct, the desert’s warmth felt utterly authentic. I swiftly employed my light footwork to leap onto a high dune, and in the distance, I could make out an oasis.
A lake shaped like a crescent moon, much like Yueyachuan.
Based on my prior experience, that was most likely my goal.
I launched myself into the air using light footwork and sped toward it.
—shfft, shfft.
The only sound was the grit of sand under my feet as I raced across the desert.
After a considerable sprint, I reached the oasis.
Although this was the mindscape and I produced no sweat, the moment the sun’s intensity became too much, I retreated into the shadow of a nearby tree.
—splash.
A sound came from the water’s edge, and I looked over to see two women wading in the shallows, their robes still on.
One had hair white as snow and skin like porcelain, the other possessed black hair and a rich, sun-kissed complexion.
Each wore a robe that mirrored their hair color. They carried an aura of refinement, somewhat distant and dignified.
Their faces perfectly matched their way of speaking.
“Baekhwa and Heukhwa?”
It had to be them.
I used light footwork to alight nearby, and as they became aware of me, they gave a slight toss of their heads and emerged from the water.
– Kisha. “So-ryong, you’re here? We were merely cooling ourselves in the water on Heukhwa’s account.”
– Shaki. “The heat was stifling, so we took a brief soak. Even in the mindscape, the sensation of heat persists.”
Despite residing in the desert, they had built their home underground, so it appeared they weren’t especially tolerant of high temperatures.
I gave a nod and posed a question to them.
“The Heavenly Demon Cult’s successor?”
– Kisha. “That woman? We haven’t encountered her.”
– Shaki. “We have not seen her.”
She was supposed to be here with us. Finding it strange, I informed them,
“I will search the vicinity in case she is close by.”
– Kishat. “Then we shall assist in the search.”
– Shaki. “Agreed. Time moves swiftly here, does it not?”
Before we entered, Cheong-yu Sojeo had already provided them with a basic overview.
That time would accelerate once we were inside this place—making it imperative we complete the registration promptly.
Naturally, the two consented to collaborate in the search.
I nodded and resolved to begin by inspecting the area surrounding the oasis.
“Understood. Let’s proceed.”
So the three of us separated and started combing the area for the Heavenly Demon Cult’s successor.
It was then that I noticed an opening in the earth not far from the oasis.
“Hm? What is that?”
It bore a resemblance to the entrance to the Heavenly Demon Cult’s sacred grounds.
I hurried over and glanced inside the opening.
What I saw looked exactly like my first view of the sacred ground’s entrance—a doorway fashioned from sandstone.
As I advanced cautiously, a passageway materialized once more.
I had a strong suspicion that Gun Hye-rin was likely within, so I continued down the hallway.
Sure enough, past the tunnel was a chamber.
It was similar to the inner chamber of the sacred grounds, but this place was entirely distinct.
The real sacred ground glowed with an enigmatic light, sand drifting from the ceiling like enchantment—but this location was engulfed in absolute darkness.
There was no indication of anyone present.
As I moved into the chamber and scanned my surroundings, I was on the verge of calling out to see if the Heavenly Demon Cult’s successor was there when—
A figure burst from the shadows and slammed into me.
“Ugh. Ack. Gh—”
A glimpse of blonde hair obscured my vision for an instant.
It resembled Gun Hye-rin’s golden hair, so I assumed I had located her.
She had probably been frightened by her sudden arrival in an unfamiliar place, leading to the attack.
But after we tumbled several times in the sand and finally halted, Gun Hye-rin’s voice reached me, thick with accusation.
“Why did you not inform me beforehand!?”
“What? Inform you of what?”
“This is not merely a connection of minds, is it!?”
Now that she mentioned it, I recalled her shouting something right before we entered the mindscape. It seemed that, as a master of the Flower Realm, she had perceived something even then.
I couldn’t very well tell her that I had omitted the details fearing her refusal, so I scratched my head and started to formulate a response.
“Well, you see—”
– Kisha. “What is the meaning of this?”
– Shaki. “How dare you assault So-ryong?”
A voice, sharp with anger, reverberated from the entrance.
Gun Hye-rin and I both turned toward the sound—Baekhwa and Heukhwa stood there, arms folded, their gazes fixed upon us.
“Im-impossible!”
Gun Hye-rin recognized them and recoiled in alarm.
The two stepped forward and assisted me to my feet.
Although the registration was not yet complete, their allegiance appeared remarkably firm. But then I understood the source of their anger:
– Kishat. “You dared to attack someone under Hu’s protection. Shall we administer punishment as we have before?”
– Shakit. “Yes, unni. I believe punishment is warranted.”
It wasn’t loyalty to me personally, but rather that I belonged to Cheong-yu Sojeo, and Gun Hye-rin had the audacity to be aggressive toward me.
Gun Hye-rin retreated further, shocked by their words.
As Heukhwa pushed up her sleeves and advanced, Gun Hye-rin flinched and cried out, her words tumbling over one another.
“This is not the moment for that! Do you even comprehend what is happening here!?”
Heukhwa tilted her head, then glanced at Baekhwa. Baekhwa nodded slightly, as if granting permission to elaborate.
Gun Hye-rin continued, her voice urgent,
“This is not simple mind-linking! This is a binding of souls and spirits utilizing blood and bodily essences! It forges a permanent bond between those involved!
Why did I not recognize it the instant you said blood!?”
‘Wait, that’s the actual nature of the Beast Heart Art?’
I had been equally unaware of what Gun Hye-rin was describing, so her words stunned me as well.
So that was the fundamental principle behind the Beast Heart Art?
Sister Seol had mentioned that if a beast connected through the art died, the practitioner could experience mental harm—but I hadn’t realized this was the reason.
Simultaneously, I began to fear that Baekhwa and Heukhwa might also reject the registration—but the moment Gun Hye-rin finished, an unanticipated retort came from Baekhwa.
“What of it?”
“…What?”
“What is your point?”
“A-as I said, it signifies we are tied to one another!”
“The implications hold no interest for me. If Hu issues an order, I comply.”
It seemed that while the two were permitted to voice their views to Cheong-yu Sojeo, a direct command was absolute and unquestionable.
Gun Hye-rin exclaimed,
“T-then… I refuse! Release me!”
She declared she would not participate and demanded to be freed—but a significant problem existed.
“There is no known method to extract only the Heavenly Demon Cult’s successor from this condition.”
“…What?”
I had been taught how to exit the mindscape previously—but not during the active registration process.
To my knowledge, the sole means of departure was to see the process through to its end.
Gun Hye-rin appeared dumbfounded by my reply, and then Baekhwa posed a question.
– Kishaat. “So-ryong, Hu instructed us to make haste. Can we truly spare time for this delay?”
She was questioning whether we could afford any further postponement.
“Well… I am somewhat concerned, yes…”
– Kisha. “And the sole exit from this place requires all three of us to complete the registration, correct?”
“To the best of my knowledge, yes…”
The accelerated passage of time here was a genuine worry, exactly as Baekhwa indicated.
Hearing my confirmation, Baekhwa pushed up her sleeves.
– Kit! “Then we must proceed swiftly. Heukhwa, with me!”
– Shaki! “Understood, unni!”
“Eeeek!”
“H-hold on!”
I attempted to intervene, and Gun Hye-rin struggled as well—but I had already been told that Heukhwa alone was a formidable opponent. Gun Hye-rin stood no chance against both of them combined.
Furthermore, Baekhwa radiated a pure energy infused with a purging force—a natural adversary to magical energy.
She was not skilled with her hands, fighting exclusively with her legs—yet Gun Hye-rin was immediately subdued and forced down before me.
“Guhhh…”
– Kisha. “Proceed. Do it now.”
But it felt excessively coercive, so I (from ❀ Nоvеlігht ❀ – do not copy, read at the source) instructed the two to withdraw and spent a moment speaking earnestly with Gun Hye-rin.
“You have my word. I will never undertake any action that jeopardizes the Heavenly Demon Cult or causes you injury.”
“…Truly?”
“Yes. Hwa-eun’s fondness for you was sincere; she merely wished to be your friend. Her intentions were pure.
It is only that… maintaining contact openly would be risky, so we viewed this as the most viable solution.”
Gun Hye-rin seemed slightly reassured by my explanation.
After a moment’s reflection, she voiced a careful plea.
“It seems there is no alternative… You are the anchor of this mental realm. If I were to kill you here, I might break free—but dealing with those two is impossible…
Please… honor your vow. They may label us the Demon Cult in the Central Plains, but every member there is my cherished family.”
“Without a doubt.”
Beginning with Gun Hye-rin, I gently kissed each of their hands in succession.
My vision distorted—and then I was looking up at the dark ceiling of the underground chamber.