Fabre in Sacheon’s Tang Novel - Chapter 476

Chapter 476
Following her confession, Yo-hwa never mentioned it again.
This left my thoughts in complete disarray.
Should I offer a response? Or was she simply content with having expressed her feelings?
Let’s be clear—this guy So-ryong genuinely appreciates insects, reptiles, and amphibians, particularly the venomous varieties.
So yes, I do care for Yo-hwa, but within the confines of considering her a cherished venomous partner. The idea of seeing her as a romantic interest had never crossed my mind.
To be honest, it was only natural that it hadn’t. Who would?
Even in my previous life, there were those drawn to beastmen with fur and animal ears. But insect people? Amphibian people? Reptile people? I can’t recall anyone having such inclinations.
Yo-hwa’s pedipalps so closely resemble human hands it’s difficult to distinguish them, and as a spiritual beast, her intelligence is comparable to that of a human. But as a lover?
It felt like stepping over that line would mean leaving my humanity behind for good.

So I avoided stirring up that hornet’s nest and didn’t revisit the topic. As a result, our relationship settled into a state reminiscent of Schrödinger’s cat.
What does that mean?
It means the answer exists, but remains unknown until the box is opened.
Or put another way, a conclusion has been reached, but it hasn’t been disclosed.
Regardless, we were suspended in that uncertainty. Since Yo-hwa also remained silent, I simply interacted with her as usual throughout the day her new body finished drying.
That single day seemed to stretch on for a year.

“Yo-hwa, notice anything new today?”
— Kissit. 『Ah, I believe I can take that form now, big brother.』
“That form?”
— Kishishi. 『The one from within the mental realm.』
“Oh, really?”
After the martial artists informed me that Yo-hwa had begun moving again post-molting, I went back to the cultivation chamber.
An evolution seemed to have occurred. When I inquired about the changes, she indicated she could now assume the form I had seen in my mind.
“Give it a try, Yo-hwa.”
— Kishi. 『Yes, big brother.』
Not having adopted any specific appearance after her molt, Yo-hwa’s pedipalps resembled an incomplete ball-jointed doll.
At my encouragement, she gradually began altering her face.
Hair started to grow, facial features defined themselves, and color bloomed in her eyes and lips.
It was like witnessing a breath of life animating an inanimate doll.
Soon, Yo-hwa’s pedipalps had perfectly replicated the face from my mental world.
The final form lacked golden facial markings—it was simply the face of an extraordinarily beautiful woman, with cool eyes reminiscent of Tang Hwa-eun’s. She could easily pass for Hwa-eun’s sister.
But as I scrutinized her from head to toe, something felt… unusual when my eyes reached her chest.
Wait a moment? That chest seems remarkably familiar…
The woman Yo-hwa had become possessed a chest I undoubtedly recognized.
Sure, the size might be similar, but the shape too? It was far too familiar.
Looking back at her face, I instantly knew why.
I had sculpted that chest myself. Of course I would know it.
Examining Yo-hwa’s new form more closely—
The eyes were Hwa-eun’s.
The eyebrows were Seol-noona’s.
The lips were Eumbong’s.
The beauty mark beside the mouth matched Eunbi from Baekwolru.
The bone structure was that of Namgung Seol, the Flower King Peony, one of the Martial World’s Three Blossoms.
In short, Yo-hwa had constructed her current appearance by assembling the most attractive features from every woman she had encountered.
It appeared she had selected the most beautiful elements from each and combined them.
Or perhaps it was instinct. Creatures that mimic often choose forms that enhance survival—maybe she instinctively believed this form would aid hers.
As a spiritual beast that absorbs Yang energy, perhaps this is the ideal form for attracting men?
Still, even using only beautiful features, did that make her more beautiful than Hwa-eun?
Not exactly.
Combining the most attractive parts doesn’t automatically create the most attractive whole.
Nevertheless, she was strikingly beautiful—and the combination gave her a distinct individuality.
Until now, she had been using Hwa-eun’s appearance. But now, it felt like she finally possessed a form that was truly her own.
I congratulated her.
It was the first time she genuinely had her own face.
“It seems you finally have your own appearance now, Yo-hwa. Congratulations.”
— Kissit. 『Thank you, big brother…』
“That covers the exterior. Any other changes?”
I asked if there were additional developments.
It seemed unlikely her appearance was the only thing that had evolved.
Her spider face had turned gold, so I assumed other changes had occurred as well.
— Kishi… 『Hmm… I believe I can produce a new type of thread now.』
“Thread?”
— Kishishit. 『One moment.』
In reply, Yo-hwa gently brushed a hind leg against her spinneret and presented something.
At first, I saw nothing and blinked—but upon closer inspection, a faint golden strand glimmered between her feet in the cultivation room’s flickering light.
“Ooooh!”
“Ooooh!”
— Kissit! 『No, big brother!』
The instant I reached out, Yo-hwa swiftly grabbed my hand with her pedipalps.
Her movements were significantly more fluid now—a clear sign of evolution.
Startled, I looked up at her, and she let out a relieved sigh.
— Kishishi. 『It is sharp, big brother.』
“Sharp?”
Hearing her describe the thread as sharp, I glanced around.
Near the entrance sat a large bowl with bamboo chopsticks resting on it, perhaps left by Hwa-eun or Grandpa during my absence.
I took one and brought it over.
— Sssht.
The bamboo chopstick was severed cleanly in two, as if sliced by a blade.
Incredible cutting power.
“Whoa. This is…”
I drew my dagger to test Yo-hwa’s golden thread—but attempting to cut it, the blade snagged and broke.
That delicate thread was sharper and stronger than steel.
No question now—Yo-hwa was not a Human-Faced Spider Queen, but a Golden-Faced Spider King.
Here is what I mean—
Last night, while conversing with Grandpa, I had raised a lingering question.
“Grandpa, you mentioned you used to hunt Human-Faced Spiders. Was there a specific method? Those like Yo-hwa have steel-hard bodies and move incredibly fast…”
“Huh? What are you talking about? They are difficult to capture due to their human transformation and bewitching venom mist. But their bodies are not particularly tough.
Some elders even doubted their classification among the Ten Great Venomous Beasts.”
“But Yo-hwa’s body is as hard as steel.”
“What?”
My clan typically studied venom and molts from the spiritual beasts I retrieved, but since data on Human-Faced Spiders already existed, we hadn’t focused much on Yo-hwa.
Thus, the difference had gone unnoticed until now.
Comparing information with Grandpa, we uncovered the truth.
Perhaps the creature originally designated among the Ten Great Venomous Beasts was not the Human-Faced Spider, but the Golden-Faced Spider King, which merely resembles it in its juvenile stage.
Because their appearances aligned, we attributed the fearsome attributes and threat level to the Human-Faced Spider and awarded it the title.
But now it appears the truth is that it was always the Golden-Faced Spider.
In my past life, I often believed I had identified a known species, only to later discover it was actually new.
This would also explain why the Human-Faced Spider was comparatively easier to eliminate.
Seriously, what are the odds?
What manner of fortune is required to encounter a Golden-Faced Spider King?
Whether by fate or Yo-hwa’s own doing, I turned to ask her,
“Yo-hwa, may I touch it for just a second?”
After she agreed, I cautiously pressed my fingertip to the thread—a sharp sting, and a bead of blood welled up.
If she were to weave this thread into a web, anyone caught would likely be dismembered instantly.
So this is why Tang warriors were decimated in the past?
“What in the—Yo-hwa, this is incredible!”
—Kishishi. 『R-Really? If big brother is pleased, then Yo-hwa is happy.』
I praised her with an amazed expression, and, true to form, she radiated joy.
“Yo-hwa, is there anything else?”
—Kissit. 『Uh… I think there may be one more thing.』
“What is it? What is it?”
Eagerly, I pressed her, hoping for another remarkable ability—when suddenly, footsteps sounded from the entrance, and Hwa-eun walked in.
“So-ryong. I heard Yo-hwa’s body has finished drying? Huh? Her look has changed?”
“Oh, welcome, Hwa-eun. Yes, her appearance is different now.”
Hwa-eun approached and stopped short, surprised by Yo-hwa’s new form.
Soon, however, her expression softened into one of slight melancholy.
“I ought to be happy for her, yet I feel somewhat sad.”
“Sad?”
“Yes. Until now, I felt a sisterly connection with Yo-hwa… but with her new appearance, I sense a distance between us.”
Ah. Right.
Yo-hwa had been mimicking Hwa-eun’s appearance until now.
To an observer, the likeness was sufficient to mistake them for twins.
So Hwa-eun likely felt an unconscious bond with a being that mirrored her. Now that the resemblance was gone, that connection faded.
I recall a well-known experiment from my previous life at a prominent university.
Participants were shown an array of faces, including a gender-swapped version of their own, and asked to choose the most attractive.
Most participants selected their own altered face.
Humans are inherently drawn to the familiar.
So even if Hwa-eun initially felt uneasy about a creature imitating her, over time she grew affectionate. Now, with the imitation gone, a sense of unfamiliarity emerged.
Responding to her sadness, Yo-hwa quickly shifted her form.
Hwa-eun stepped forward, gently stroking Yo-hwa’s head.
“It’s alright, Yo-hwa. It was merely surprising at first. No matter your form, I will always care for you.”
—Kishishi. 『Sister…』
“What were the two of you engaged in, anyway?”
“Oh, we were examining Yo-hwa’s new capabilities. Just as Grandpa suggested, the Human-Faced Spider and the Golden-Faced Spider King must be distinct species.”
“She has acquired multiple new abilities?”
I demonstrated her shape-shifting and the golden thread.
Hwa-eun was astonished.
“This thread is remarkable. Unlike Yo-hwa’s previous silk, it lacks elasticity—yet it is exceedingly sharp, correct?”
“It appears so.”
“It could be hazardous to manage, but with proper skill, it might serve as a projectile weapon.”
In that short time, she had already noted the absence of stretch and was intrigued by its potential as a trap or tool.
Then, despite the winter season, the warmth of the cultivation chamber attracted another spider to Yo-hwa’s shoulder.
Rounded abdomen. Colorful patterns.
A spider I knew well.
From the orb-weaver family—specifically the common house spider. About a centimeter long. The type that spins irregular webs in room corners.
Yo-hwa lifted a finger, and the spider crawled onto it. She brought it to her mouth.
Startled, I feared she might consume it—but instead, a droplet of golden liquid fell from her lips onto the spider.
A glistening golden drop landed on her finger, and the house spider began to drink it.
“What in the world—?”
“What is that?”
Hwa-eun and I stared wide-eyed at the peculiar sight. Yo-hwa smiled.
—Kishishi. 『Big brother, this is another of my new abilities.』
“A new ability?”
“She says it’s a new power.”
Initially, nothing happened. I wondered if it was some feeding behavior. But this was Yo-hwa—no ordinary creature.
As we both watched the spider on her hand, a golden light suddenly emanated from the orb-weaver.
It wasn’t a massive flash given the spider’s size—but then its body swelled, molted, and expanded to the size of a fist.
“Wooooaaah!”
“It—it grew!”
Molting naturally involves growth, but this surpassed all normal limits.
It was now the size of a tarantula I had kept as a pet in my former life.
“Astounding…”
I gaped at the transformed spider. Yo-hwa offered it to me.
—Kishishishi. 『It is more resilient now. Swifter. More intelligent. And its venom is more potent as well.』
“Truly?”
—Kishi. 『Yes.』
The name Golden-Faced Spider King, assigned arbitrarily by the Tang Clan, now truly suited Yo-hwa.
After all, even the Golden Crowned Spider Monarch, which shared a form with Cheong-yu Sojeo, commanded servant beasts, did it not?
If those beasts were young, they could be nurtured into powerful protectors. A trait befitting royalty.
If Yo-hwa could elevate ordinary spiders into monsters—perhaps not spiritual beasts, but still dangerous to humans—then yes. That is a power worthy of a monarch.
Gyaaah!
It had been some time since my trademark So-ryong exclamation surfaced.
I gazed at the spider, half-dazed with wonder, and Yo-hwa pushed it toward me.
—Kissit. 『I am giving it to you, big brother.』
“Really? You’re giving it to me?”
—Kishishishi. 『It will remain near and protect you always.』
“Seriously?”
Truthfully, I missed keeping ordinary spiders. I’d been surrounded by spiritual beasts for so long.
But this? An enhanced version? Even better.
Certainly, it wouldn’t match a spirit beast in strength, but as a guardian?
I cautiously extended my hand, and the spider climbed onto it.
It scurried up my arm and settled on my shoulder. Then Yo-hwa spoke again.
—Kissit. 『Through that spider’s eyes, I can see you no matter the distance.』
A thought occurred to me.
Yo-hwa, isn’t that essentially stalking?
It felt like she was establishing a means to watch over me—or spy on me.

***
In summary, Yo-hwa’s three new abilities were:
She could now imitate the most beautiful aspects of women she had seen to craft a unique form.
She could spin a golden thread sharp enough to cut like a razor.
She could transform ordinary spiders into monstrous entities—if not spiritual beasts, then certainly fearsome creatures.
This must be the true significance behind the name Golden-Faced Spider King coined by the Tang Clan.
I was in the process of updating Yo-hwa’s entry in the So-ryong’s Venomous Creature Compendium when I heard Hwa-eun’s voice from outside.
“So-ryong.”
It was late. I wondered why she was still awake.
“Come in, Hwa-eun.”
She entered, and the little ones huddled near the brazier hurried over to welcome her.
As she made her way through them and came closer, I asked,
“Why are you up so late?”
“I… I simply cannot sleep.”
“Care to talk for a while before resting? Have a seat. I’ll finish this shortly and join you.”
Since we had always shared sleeping quarters during our travels, she merely nodded quietly.
Tomorrow was our wedding day. It was no surprise she was restless.
As I arranged some straw for her, a random thought drifted through my mind.
How did parents in the past manage to have children while living in a single room?
I glanced at Hwa-eun, who had entered wearing her lightweight sleepwear, and her outline was… impossible to overlook.
For a moment, I considered the idea of storming the Great Wall tonight—essentially moving our wedding night up by a day.
But, unfortunately, the children were everywhere.
Tonight… I feel a pang of envy for the laborers who constructed the Great Wall.