Fabre in Sacheon’s Tang Novel - Chapter 487

Chapter 487
—Bzzzzz. Bzzzzzzzz.
A day had passed.
When I made it back to the ship from the Dianchang Sect around midday, the vessel was alive with activity.
We had journeyed further down the Lanchang River into the warmer parts of Yunnan, and now all the Golden-Furred Wasp Kings that had been dormant in their hive during the colder period were fully awake, buzzing through the air as they collected nectar and pollen.
Earlier, when we first arrived in Yunnan, the chillier northeastern climate had kept the wasps balled up inside the ship, inactive.
It’s typical bee behavior in winter—they cluster for warmth and live off the honey they’ve stored.
But now, in this milder zone, they were bustling with energy.
“Ah, the little ones are up. These are my Golden-Furred Wasp Kings. Be careful not to spook them. They’re very gentle unless they feel threatened.”
“We understand, So-ryong.”
Even though I said it wasn’t necessary, the disciples from the Dianchang Sect had insisted on accompanying me back to the ship, so I gave them a warning. As we approached, the resonant drone of countless wings grew louder around us.
—Bzzzzzz.
Two Golden-Furred Wasp Kings descended from above and stopped to hover right in front of me.
“Hey there. Everything alright?”
I offered a friendly greeting, but their reaction was different from usual.
Normally, they would zoom over and cling to me, buzzing with excitement, but this time they just hung in the air, wings beating in a hesitant, unsettled manner.
—Bzzzzz?
—Bzzz.
Just as I was puzzling over their behavior, Hyang chimed in as if to clarify.
—Tsrurur. 『It’s because Daddy became larger.』
—Bzzzz?
—Tsrit. 『Yes. It surprised me at first too, but they say he just had a growth spurt.』
—Bzzzzzz.
—Tsrurururt. 『I was once a small centipede, and then I grew. The same thing happened to Daddy.』
“Became larger”? What did that mean?
Paying closer attention, I understood—this was the first time the worker wasps were seeing me after my transformation, having shed my previous form to become a young man in his twenties.
Ranghu, as the queen, was robust enough to remain active in the cold and had been at my wedding ceremony, but the rest of the worker wasps had been in hibernation since we reached the Tang Clan estate.
So to them, my new appearance was a sudden change.
I was once Little So-ryong. Now I am a Great Dragon.
Naturally, it was a shock—I had matured all at once.
Cho, Hyang, Bini—each of them had reacted much the same when they first saw me like this.
—T-Tsrit? 『D-Daddy?』
“Yes, it’s me, Cho. I’m your dad.”
—Tsrurur. 『…You don’t look like Daddy.』
“Hey! Of course I am! I just grew a little, that’s all!”
Recalling Cho’s initial response after my change, I grinned and tried to explain.
“Sorry, I should have mentioned it. I’ve grown up. Just like how a larva turns into a full wasp. My voice is still the same, isn’t it?”
My voice was a bit deeper now, as if I’d gone through another puberty after shedding my old body, but I did my best to sound familiar.
The two wasps circled me cautiously, inspecting me.
Then they landed softly on my shoulders, their antennae twitching as they sniffed around, seemingly trying to confirm my identity.
Once their inspection was complete, they let out soft, relieved buzzes and clung to my shoulders affectionately.
—Bzzzz. Bzzzzzz.
Then they took off, flying directly back to the hive.
Just as I got to the ship’s entrance, a flood of wasps suddenly poured out from the hive.
Those two must have returned and spread the news: So-ryong has grown.
—Bzzzzz. Bzzzzzzzzzz.
—Bzzzzzz.
The beating of their wings created a deep, rumbling thunder.
The sight of the sky suddenly blotted out by the immense swarm of Golden-Furred Wasp Kings made the disciples behind me recoil and step back.
One or two had been fine, but a whole swarm clearly unnerved them.
“S-So many of them…”
“A-Are they truly harmless, sir?”
Their reaction took me back to my own childhood—how I once got scared by a dog and would take a different route to school if I saw one.
“They’re harmless. They’re as friendly as little pups. If you befriend them, they might even give you some of their honey.”
“R-Really?”
“Absolutely. I’ve tasted it myself. It even increased my internal energy.”
“Wow…”
Thanks to Geombong’s assurances, the fear on their faces started to shift toward curiosity.
At that moment, the huge swarm suddenly parted, and Ranghu emerged from their midst.
She flew forward, lifted her head with a queenly air, and flapped her wings as if to say, “What is all this unnecessary commotion?”
Instantly, the entire swarm turned and hurried back into the hive.
It seemed they had come out to see the grown-up So-ryong, only to be reprimanded for neglecting their duties.
In a wasp society, idleness is not tolerated.
—Bzzzzzz.
After the last worker disappeared into the hive, Ranghu zipped straight over and attached herself to my head without any hesitation.
She had already seen my adult form, so she showed no confusion.
—Bzzz.
“Uh, h-hey there, Ranghu. Good to see you too. But I have guests with me, so could you maybe give me a little space?”
She made me a bit anxious, but she seemed so delighted that I could only offer an awkward smile in greeting.
When I gently asked her to move, she responded with a flap of her wings.
—Bzzzzzz.
Then, as if on her command, some of the worker wasps that had returned to the hive came flying back out.
Acting on Ranghu’s orders, they briskly set up tables and chairs on the deck and brought out cups.
Their movements were almost human-like in their efficiency.
Once everything was ready, they filled each cup with fresh honey—then Ranghu flew to Hwa-eun’s shoulder and buzzed her wings.
“What is she saying, Hyang?”
Hwa-eun looked toward Hyang, who replied through their mental connection.
『—Tsrit. (Mother, Big Sister Ranghu says she has prepared a welcome for your guests.)』
“Oh my. Ranghu, you did all this to host our guests? Thank you so much! How wonderful!”
Hearing that the wasps had organized a welcoming feast, the Dianchang disciples stared in amazement.
“I knew they could understand words, but to entertain guests? That’s extraordinary, So-ryong.”
“Y-Yes… truly astounding.”
They had assumed the wasps were merely obedient, like well-trained hounds, but witnessing them extend hospitality was on another level entirely.
To be honest, I was just as surprised.
If this continues, will they soon be walking on two legs?
I wouldn’t mind that—but it’s what might follow that concerns me.

***

The following day, we opted to travel in a small group.
Our goal was a remote part of the jungle, the arranged site for the exchange.
We had obtained the precise location from our interrogations, so the plan was for Geombong, her disciple Seonhak, Hwa-eun, and me to go, as they were familiar with the area.
“Only the four of you?”
“Yes. A larger group might attract attention. We’ll proceed with the fewest people needed.”
“In that case, you must take me along. This is the duty of the Tang Clan’s Venom Elimination Unit—it cannot be delegated to others.”
However, the head of the Venom Elimination Unit protested my plan, insisting that his unit’s responsibilities were not to be handed over to outsiders.
Why was he so fixated on this?
Does he simply relish killing?
Then again, that is likely why he leads the Tang Clan’s assassination team.
I decided to reassure him.
After all, the main action would begin once we located the enemy’s stronghold.
And I fully planned to provide him with ample targets to… “eliminate.”
“You’ll have your moment to shine when we assault their base, right? For now, let us handle the scouting.”
“Don’t concern yourself—there will be plenty to go around.”
That seemed to work.
I used a line straight out of an old assassin film, and he appeared somewhat satisfied.
“I see. Very well, I shall await my turn.”
Leaving him behind, I went up to the deck for final checks.
“Cho, Yeondu, Sister Jeokwol, Hyang, Hongdan, Moji, Soji—let’s move out.”
Hwa-eun, Geombong, and her disciple Seonhak were ready, and the others were waiting. I gave the order to depart immediately.
Yeondu swiftly slid in, coiling around Hwa-eun and me, then moved toward Geombong and Seonhak.
Having previously assisted with moving Gungbong and Gun Hye-rin, Yeondu had become more comfortable working with humans and accepted the task willingly.
She wrapped around them without any hesitation.
“I’ve never traveled like this before… How thrilling.”
“W-Will it be safe?”
“Certainly. Little So-hyeop always moves this way.”
Geombong, who had always dreamed of flying, accepted Yeondu’s help eagerly. But Seonhak trembled, eyes squeezed shut, as she coiled around him.
Yeondu might have a soft, feminine voice, but her body was far from delicate.
Her main body was thicker than a man’s thigh—if she chose to constrict, it would mean instant death.
“No need to worry. You’ll be perfectly safe.”
I reassured him, and we took off immediately.
Below us, disciples of the Dianchang Sect watched in awe.
“They can fly like that?!”
“Have a safe journey!”
As a precaution, I turned to Sister Jeokwol and made a request.
“Sister Jeokwol, please conceal us now.”
—Chiiiii.
Her voice replied, and as the sunset glow spread behind us, we seemed to dissolve into the evening shadows.

***

We hadn’t traveled far south before a mountain came into view. Seonhak indicated we had arrived.
[Just ahead, So-ryong.]
[Is this the spot?]
I asked via mental transmission. Seonhak nodded and gestured toward a specific point.
The sun hadn’t completely set, so the landscape below was still faintly visible.
Our destination was a spot just upstream along a creek flowing from the mountain—near a sizable rock.
[See that large boulder where the stream divides? That’s it. That is Elephant Rock.]
It didn’t particularly resemble an elephant to me, but apparently this was the landmark known as Elephant Rock.
I silently directed Cho and Yeondu.
‘Let’s position ourselves above that rock, kids.’
—Tsrururt. (Alright, Daddy.)
—Shaaa. (Understood, So-ryong.)
Due to Sister Jeokwol’s limited stealth field while moving, Cho and Yeondu were flying in tight formation.
I instructed both to head to the rock, and they adjusted their pace to hold position above Elephant Rock.
—Tsrururt. (Shall we stay here, Daddy?)
“Yes, this is good. Can you manage it?”
—Tsrrt. (It’s simple. No trouble.)
As we held our position above the site, dusk slowly deepened.
And when the sun finally disappeared entirely, the quiet jungle began to stir.
—Chirr chirr.
—Ribbit. Ribbit.
Insects and frogs started their alluring nightly symphony.
“Lovely.”
Approximately forty minutes went by.
We all waited quietly, listening to the captivating sounds of frogs and insects.
—Chirr chir…
—Ribbit. Rib…
Abruptly, all noise around us ceased.
The jungle fell silent the instant the sound of footsteps rustling through dry leaves reached us.
—Rustle. Rustle.
『So-ryong, I believe it’s coming from over there.』
Hwa-eun pointed toward the source of the sound.
I activated Myo-aam Night Sight, and my vision brightened instantly.
But I still couldn’t see who was making the noise.
I half-closed my eyes, switching to infrared—and there, beyond the foliage, a heat-blurred figure approached.
It was a lone, muscular man.
He had a bamboo basket on his back. After ensuring no one was nearby, he clicked his tongue and grumbled:
“Tch. Missing that last shipment lost me half my customers. This is the final batch, and I doubt I’ll sell it all.”
From his muttered complaints, he didn’t seem to suspect anything about the individuals we had already captured.
He likely thought the buyers hadn’t shown up due to delays on his end.
That was fortunate—if he had noticed their absence, it could have made him suspicious.
“Good. That’s a relief.”
I decided to follow him right away.
‘Let’s track him, kids.’
—Tsrururt. (Okay, Daddy.)
—Shaaa. (Understood.)
He was heading away from Dali, in the opposite direction.
Based on his earlier muttering, he had already met with all his contacts and was probably returning to his base.
The coin pouch at his waist clinked with each step as he moved faster, evidently pleased with his profits.
After four hours of pursuit, we reached a deserted brickyard.
The place brought back memories of my old home in Haenam.
A few men were stationed on guard duty.
Geombong, observing from above, sent me a transmission.
[So-hyeop, something’s off. These men practice martial arts.]
She had only glanced over the area but had already detected their inner energy—these were martial artists.
I had sensed the same thing and nodded in agreement.
[Then you two go bring the others—the Dianchang disciples and the Venom Elimination Unit. Hwa-eun and I will maintain surveillance.]
[Understood.]
Truthfully, Hwa-eun and I could likely handle the place on our own, but in case anyone tried to flee—and because I had given my word—I instructed them to fetch the Venom Elimination Unit.
Geombong and her disciple left with Yeondu.
Not long after, from the largest structure in the brickyard, I saw men dragging out something that looked like internal organs.
What in the world was that?
Had they captured some type of shellfish?
I narrowed my eyes, trying to identify the large mass they were hauling.
And then I saw it—an object swinging from the last man’s hand glinted in the moonlight.
A gleaming teal shell and a set of long antennae.
The instant I saw it, my sight washed red with fury.
“You monsters—!”
I leaped from Cho’s back and plunged directly toward them.
—KWAANG!
They had slain a spirit beast.
Every last one of these bastards would be gasping their final breath before the night was over.