Fabre in Sacheon’s Tang Novel - Chapter 50

Chapter 50

The reason for my sister’s and my confusion was straightforward. The Martial Alliance soldier, Elder Zhuge Hu, had told us this cave would be lit from above and overflowing with exotic, lush flora—a hidden paradise, unlike anything in the ordinary world.

He had spoken of a mystical and wondrous place, but the reality was starkly different.

Light did indeed stream through a high circular opening, casting a brilliant pool of illumination at the cavern’s heart. Yet the surrounding areas were cluttered with desiccated, dead plants, and even the vegetation within the lit circle appeared listless and sapped of strength.

“This isn’t quite what the soldier described, but we should move forward carefully and look around,” I suggested.

“Agreed, So-ryong,” my sister answered with a nod.

For her, the surroundings were secondary. Her true purpose here was to confirm the presence of the blue lizard.

We advanced warily toward the center of the cave where the sighting had occurred, with the Peng Clan head taking the lead.

Based on the soldier’s account, the lizard had rushed at him without warning. Though the soldier seemed more clerical in nature, my father-in-law had vouched for his skill, placing him on par with himself—so he was no novice. If even he had been startled, extreme caution was necessary.

“Over there—that rock formation shaped like the character for ‘person.’ Is that the spot?” the Peng Clan head inquired, gesturing ahead.

“Yes, Clan Head.”

As we neared the rock structure, a menacing noise abruptly echoed around us.

*Kyaaah!*

The warning cry of a lizard resonated through the chamber, amplified by the dome-like rock walls as if through a speaking trumpet.

The Peng Clan head drew his large blade with a sharp *shring*, adopting a defensive posture. As I had asked earlier, he kept the blade flat to prevent injuring the creature.

“There’s definitely something here. The soldier did advise caution, correct?”

“Yes, Elder.”

“Understood. Stay directly behind me. Everyone else, remain vigilant.”

“Yes, Clan Head!”

“Yes, sir!”

We shifted into a single-file formation, moving like a snake toward the rocks ahead.

*Kyaaa!*

*Kyaaa!*

The lizard’s threatening calls grew louder and more hostile the closer we got. Though we couldn’t yet see it, the sound alone conveyed a fierce and territorial nature.

‘You’re quite spirited, aren’t you?’

My heart began to pound, not from anxiety, but from anticipation.

Lizards typically fall into one of two temperaments: reclusive ones that flee from any contact, and belligerent types like this one, which threaten before attacking.

While the shy ones are easier to handle and keep, the defiant ones possess a unique appeal.

There’s a particular charm in a creature that remains aloof and proud while showing resistance. It’s the same reason people are drawn to cats for their arrogant and independent nature.

When we finally reached the edge of the dome-shaped rocks, two shining eyes glared at us from the darkness beneath.

*Kyaaa!*

The creature revealed itself, positioned on a smooth stone roughly three zhang (about 9 meters) away.

Its body was approximately one cheok (30 centimeters) long, with vivid yellow eyes, a dazzling blue body the color of a clear sky, and a white stripe running from its head down to the tip of its tail.

And the crowning feature—a plump, rounded tail that it held aloft, swaying it above its head like a mesmerizing lure.

‘This is unbelievable! It’s almost exactly a fat-tailed gecko!’

Though larger than average, its appearance was unmistakably that of a fat-tailed gecko.

A common misunderstanding is that all geckos are wall-climbers, but they are actually a diverse group of lizards defined by specific traits. The name “gecko” itself comes from the sound of their call.

As I admired its elegant form, my sister voiced my very thoughts.

“What a beautifully colored blue byeokho,” she said, marveling at the animal.

‘Byeokho? A wall-climbing tiger? I suppose that’s their term for a gecko here,’ I thought, nodding in agreement.

“Yes, it resembles a Bimisaekcheok—a fat-tailed lizard. It’s truly magnificent.”

“Bimisaekcheok? That means a lizard with a plump tail, right?”

“Yes, ma’am,” I replied.

My sister, who had already shown interest in the O-gong centipedes we raised, seemed just as captivated by this gecko.

*Kyaaa!*

*Kyaa!*

It hissed again, baring its pointed teeth while its fat tail swayed above its head, mimicking the motion of a viper.

As we watched from a safe distance, staying cautious, the Peng Clan head suddenly made a startling observation.

“Hmm? There’s another one deeper inside.”

“Another one!?”

One plus one. Two geckos.

This likely meant they were a breeding pair.

Thrilled, I immediately concentrated my internal energy to sharpen my vision, a skill I had been practicing.

‘Direct energy to the eyes…’

As I intensified my anryeok (eye power), my sight grew clearer, and a faint shape materialized in the shadows behind the assertive gecko.

“It’s just lying there?”

My sister’s voice broke my focus. She had noticed it before I had.

Unlike the first, the second lizard was completely motionless, eyes shut. The dim light in the shaded area made it difficult to see clearly, but its faded colors suggested it was either weary or ill.

I tapped the Peng Clan head’s shoulder. “Clan Head, let’s withdraw for now.”

“Withdraw? Why not seize it now?”

“We can’t capture them yet.”

“Why not?”

He looked puzzled, clearly not grasping my reluctance.

But taking them now would be a error. I wasn’t here to collect trophies; I planned to raise them. Without knowing their diet or natural habits, bringing them back would only endanger them.

If I were already familiar with their care, it would be one thing. But with an unknown species, observing their environment and behavior before capture is crucial.

“I want to raise these animals, but if we take them now, we won’t know what they eat or what environment they require. A wrong guess could kill them quickly.”

“Can’t you just experiment with different foods?”

“No, creatures like this are fragile. An improper diet can be fatal immediately.”

“Tch, such finicky little beasts. Alright, we’ll fall back for now,” he conceded reluctantly.

As we slowly retreated, the aggressive gecko, perceiving less danger, lowered its body and began tending to the other behind it, gently licking it.

***

-*Tap. Tap.*

The rich smell of jerky roasting over the fire rose up, tickling my nostrils.

Then, my sister’s voice called from below.

“So-ryong, come down and eat.”

“Yes, ma’am,” I replied.

I had been stationed on an overhanging rock ledge, observing Bing and Seol, the two lizards, but I promptly hopped down to the ground.

As I descended, Gu Pae, the unit leader, began climbing up to take my place. We passed each other midway, and I gave him instructions.

“Gu Pae Daeju, I’ll leave this to you. Please inform me if anything changes.”

“Of course! Leave it to me!”

We were taking turns watching the two lizards, Bing and Seol, whose behaviors I had been studying. Now, it was my time to eat.

Sliding down the sloping rock face, I reached the base where my sister offered me a bowl of soup with boiled dried rice cakes and a skewer of grilled jerky.

“Here, So-ryong.”

Perched on her shoulder were our three O-gong centipedes, their antennae waving in eager greeting.

‘Is this what it’s like to be welcomed home by your wife and children?’

For an instant, I imagined the O-gongs as daughters and my sister waiting like a spouse. Shaking off the daydream, I accepted the food.

“Thank you, ma’am. I’ll eat well.”

This was our modest evening meal.

I wasn’t deeply educated in martial arts customs, but I’d heard of Byeokkokdan—a pill supposedly used by warriors to stave off hunger during long travels. When I asked, my sister explained it was primarily used by Taoist ascetics. For most, simple provisions like dried rice cakes and jerky were standard.

The jerky was grilled over the flame, while the rice cakes were boiled in a ceramic pot. Sometimes, everything was combined into a single stew.

“How are things? Any change today?”

The Peng Clan head, already chewing on a piece of jerky, turned to me and asked about the lizards.

“They haven’t moved at all.”

“When I watched them for two straight nights, they didn’t leave that spot either.”

“All living things need to eat. It’s peculiar.”

“It is,” he said, shaking his head.

At night, the Peng Clan head, with his exceptional eyesight, monitored the lizards, while I took the day shift. After three days of this, neither lizard had ventured from the shaded rock.

Lizards, particularly fat-tailed geckos like these, can survive days without food. Their thick tails store nutrients, allowing them to live for weeks without eating.

But under normal, healthy conditions, they feed daily or every other day. Their refusal to eat was worrying, especially since the lizard lying still in the back seemed unwell.

‘If it’s sick, this is bad…’

“What are you thinking about, So-ryong?”

My sister’s voice pulled me from my thoughts. I took a bite of jerky and replied, “I’m concerned about the one that hasn’t moved.”

“Ah…”

After answering, I grew quiet, weighing my options. Should I wait longer, or act now?

The more I considered it, the less wise waiting seemed. A thought occurred to me—the aggressive behavior of the first lizard might not be purely territorial.

What if it was guarding the sick one?

The soldier reported the lizards charged anyone approaching the rock. Now, one stood watch while the other lay still in the shadows. If the hidden one was ill, this made perfect sense.

I made a decision. I needed to assess the condition of the motionless lizard.

“I believe we should examine the one that hasn’t moved,” I announced.

“Examine it? You mean catch it?”

“Not right away. Capturing it might make them more defensive, but I must determine if it’s sick. If we prompt them slightly, they might become hungry enough to eat later. Peng Clan Head, could you assist by distracting one of them for a short time?”

The Peng Clan head stretched his arms with a broad grin.

“Ah, I’ve been eager for something to do. Let’s see what this little creature is made of. Haha!”