Fabre in Sacheon’s Tang Novel - Chapter 501

Chapter 501
Upon hearing the phrase “thousands of them,” the eyes of both Hwa-eun and Sister Seol flew open in shock.
Yet, their subsequent questions were measured, as though they had forcibly calmed their racing hearts.
“Surely there is a method, though?”
“You do have a plan for this, don’t you, So-ryong?”
As was their habit, they gazed at me with the familiar hope that I would produce an answer—but on this occasion, I found it difficult to respond with any confidence.
Eradicating a full-blown infestation of stickyworms was not a straightforward endeavor.
Even in my previous life, numerous teams of biologists had dedicated years to researching large-scale stickyworm outbreaks, attempting to devise a solution, yet they ultimately arrived at nothing.
Some might mock the effort—Aren’t pesticides designed for this very purpose?
However, when confronting a mass emergence of any species, the established protocol is to first pursue an ecologically sound eradication method before resorting to chemical agents.
It is akin to deploying ladybugs in a field overrun by aphids—a natural remedy. Synthetic insecticides could be effective, but their broader impact on the ecosystem is difficult to gauge immediately.
Consider DDT—a horrifying neurotoxic agent that exterminates insects by overwhelming their nervous systems.
There was a time when DDT was celebrated as a miraculous chemical for eliminating nuisances such as bedbugs. However, its poisonous residue accumulated in apex predators, causing devastating declines in species like bald eagles, vultures, and pelicans.
This is precisely why the initial strategy is invariably to find a natural predator. But stickyworms? They possessed none.
They multiplied at an alarming rate and were poisonous, rendering them virtually invulnerable in their natural habitat.
Their bodies contained tetrodotoxin—what sane creature would willingly consume such a thing?
Only a few species resistant to the toxin—such as pufferfish, blue-ringed octopuses, certain sea snakes, and California newts—could potentially eat them. Yet, even these animals showed no particular preference for stickyworms.
With more palatable options available, there was no incentive to pursue such a toxic meal.
Furthermore, these specific stickyworms flourished in brackish water. They could transition between fresh and saltwater environments, which also eliminated osmotic shock as a viable method of extermination.
“Why are you silent?”
“Hold on… could it be that this is beyond even your capabilities, So-ryong?”
They pressed me further, and I gave a slow nod.
“Indeed. These creatures may seem like insignificant pests, but they exist without any natural enemies…”
And to be perfectly honest, I did not possess a miraculous solution.
Even dedicated teams of scientists had failed to crack this problem. What could I—the so-called all-knowing Spicy Fabre—possibly accomplish?
“What!? Then what are we to do?”
“Just so—what happens now?”
I took a moment to collect my thoughts. Luckily, the circumstances were not yet dire.
There was only the potential for a major outbreak—it had not yet come to pass.
“The situation is still within our control. If we can capture at least one of the two before they breed, we should be fine.”
If they had already multiplied into a vast swarm, then truly—there would be little anyone could do.
But we had not reached that point.
Which meant there was still an opportunity.
And the answer? It was almost simple.
Eliminate both—or at the very least, one—before they could reproduce.
Operation: Deny Them the Sky.
I might have repeated it endlessly, but the core principle is to prevent the creatures from mating. They require a view of the stars to procreate, correct? Without sight of the sky, they are rendered impotent.
The stickyworm had been almost completely severed by Gun Hye-rin’s strike.
It had fled while dragging its lower section, meaning its body was likely cleaved into two parts.
While this seemed alarming, it also presented us with a benefit: the division of its body meant each segment now required time to regenerate.
With the body split, both the section containing the head and the section containing the tail would need to heal independently.
Even if some restorative art had been used to accelerate the process, it was evident the segment lacking a head would need more time to recover.
Recall the basic science of planarians: a tail can regenerate in approximately a week, but growing a new head demands more than ten days.
Tails—composed largely of muscle and cartilage—are not especially difficult to regenerate. But a head?
That houses the brain, the eyes.
The ears, sensory organs—all vital systems that must be meticulously reconstructed.
Therefore, while the headless portion is still healing, if we can swiftly apprehend the segment that has regrown its tail, we will succeed.
The headless half would probably remain immobile until its regeneration was complete. However, the section with the head, even in a diminished state, would likely be driven by the Five Venoms Sect to hunt once more.
Healing consumes energy. To recover swiftly, it would need to feed—and that implies attacking humans.
So, if we set a trap and manage to eliminate even one of them quickly, we can avert the ultimate disaster—reproduction.
And should both halves survive and restore themselves completely, we would still have a narrow window.
If the species has separate sexes, then the male must regenerate its testes or the female must produce new eggs before they can mate. Even if they are hermaphroditic, they would still need to regrow their reproductive organs.
Therefore, if we capture them before that process concludes, we will be safe.
“But what if their injuries are so severe that they remain immobile until fully healed? What if they simply bide their time and then immediately produce offspring?”
“Regenerating a head is a lengthy process, but a tail is restored much faster. If the creature intends to heal, it will need to consume nourishment—so the half with the tail will undoubtedly become active first.
If we can seize just one, we are secure. Fertilization requires a male. Without a mate, there can be no eggs.”
“I see. So we still have a chance for now? That is a weight off my mind. We must gather as many people as possible and capture one, no matter the cost.”
“Understood, Sister Seol.”
“And you are not overlooking anything, are you? If you recall some other crucial detail now, I fear I may collapse on the spot.”
“I believe we have covered everything this time.”
Just as I offered this assurance to the anxious Sister Seol—
—Crash!
“Ack! Wh-What was that!?”
Abruptly, Sister Seol was shoved away from the doorway.
We had not permitted her entry, despite the lengthy discussion, due to… well, the odor within—and the condition of the bed.
There is a difference between having no shame and openly displaying such a scene.
Thus, Sister Seol had been blocking the door from the outside this entire time—and now something had forced her aside.
“Cheong-yu?”
What appeared was a golden horn.
It was the Golden Crown Spirit King Cheong-yu.
“Ah—my apologies, my apologies. I suppose our discussion took too long.
Ah… She accompanied me when I mentioned coming to see you. I promised she could get a glimpse of your face, but she evidently grew impatient when you refused to open the door.”
From Sister Seol’s tone, it was clear Cheong-yu had arrived with her. When the waiting became excessive, she must have pushed Seol out of the way to force her entrance.
“Cheong-yu, did you wish to see your big brother?”
It was the middle of the day, so this childish conduct could only be coming from the Golden Crown Spirit King Cheong-yu.
Just as I was patting her head, she abruptly spoke with a sense of haste.
–Shia. 『So-ryong-nim, one moment please. Cheong-yu indicates she has something to tell you.』
“Hm? Cheong-yu? Cheong-yu Sojeo?”
–Shiaa 『Yes, please wait.』
It appeared the one who desired to speak was Cheong-yu Sojeo, who resided within the Golden Crown Spirit King.
Suddenly, the spirit king swayed and shook her head—and her voice changed to that of Cheong-yu Sojeo.
–Shia. 『So-ryong, as I listened just now, I recalled a detail I had previously overlooked. That is the reason for my urgent emergence.』
This was uncommon—Cheong-yu Sojeo had never before manifested during daylight hours. I found it strange.
But the moment I heard the word “urgent,” my tension escalated immediately.
I had last spoken with Cheong-yu Sojeo just before sunset, earlier today.
Our conversation at that time had concerned the secret arts of the Five Venoms Sect…
If this was urgent, then it had to be related to the stickyworm.
“What is it? It cannot be—something about the Five Venoms Sect? The segmented worm? Did we overlook something in our earlier conversation?”
I asked, the strain evident in my voice. Cheong-yu Sojeo nodded and then asked a question in return.
–Shia. 『Would you describe the segmented worm as… aggressive?』
“Aggressive?”
Posing such a question about a worm-like being—it was difficult to apply such a human concept.
These entities were, fundamentally, simple organisms: they eat when hungry, they rest when sated.
They do not function within a framework of morality—they operate purely on instinct.
“Well… They are basic creatures. They eat when hungry and sleep when full. Thus, it is challenging to label them as ‘good’ or ‘evil.’
Much like any wild animal or insect, they follow their instincts to survive. But why do you ask?”
When I questioned her in return—inquiring why she would bring this up—Cheong-yu Sojeo launched into an explanation.
–Shiaaa. 『Because when I learned they could divide into two, I abruptly understood that a horrifying possibility may exist. It is something that neither you nor I had previously considered.』
“Something horrifying?”
–Shia. 『Yes. After a venomous creature is cultivated using the techniques of the Five Venoms Sect, they employ a method known as the Five Venoms Detonation-Submersion Technique to enforce their commands effectively. Do you recall what I explained about that technique previously?』
“Ah, yes. It crushes the creature’s will, forcing it to obey the caster, and also facilitates the formation of a Neidan within its body, correct?
And if the subject is a small insect, it simply compels obedience without creating a core?”
I remembered this quite clearly. The cultivation of the creatures utilized one method, and the Five Venoms Detonation-Submersion Technique—the one employing silver needles—was used to forge the Neidan and exert control.
That very silver needle implanted in Cheong-yu Sojeo’s skull was a remnant of that technique. Insects cannot comprehend language, so they enlarge the creatures and implant the needle to dominate them.
–Shiiiia. 『Precisely.』
Cheong-yu Sojeo nodded, affirming my recollection.
Just as I was thinking, *Not bad, I’m a pretty good student*, she continued.
–Shii. 『So-ryong, you stated the segmented worm was cut in half, is that not so?』
“It is.”
–Shiaaa. 『We naturally presumed the Five Venoms Sect would retain control over both halves. Yet this may not be the case.
The lower portion, the part severed from the torso downward, would have been liberated from the needle. This implies it may not act as you anticipate—it could behave solely according to its base instincts.』
“…By the heavens!”
She was completely right.
I had taken for granted that both halves would remain under the sway of the Five Venoms Sect. But the lower half had been cut away—freed from the needle’s influence.
If, during its flight, the stickyworm discarded its lower half into the water…
There was no predicting its behavior.
***
–SPLASH.
Something enormous cut through the water in pursuit.
The lengthy worm, its body half-torn and fleeing through the currents, chose to plunge into the mud to escape its hunter.
This seemed its sole option for evasion from the massive presence bearing down from behind.
It was swift—alarmingly so. Continuing like this, capture was inevitable.
It had seen those vicious jaws when the thing had plummeted from the sky earlier.
If caught, it would be ripped apart—without a doubt.
Whether escape was possible was irrelevant. This was its only hope for survival.
It buried itself in the mud. The water clouded as disturbed sediment mushroomed around it.
Its pursuer released a wrathful shriek, churning the water in its fury.
–Tsrrrrrr! 『HEY! You will not emerge?! Come out! Come out!! How dare you harm my mother—!』
Terror flooded its senses, but the worm remained motionless in the mud, holding its breath and pretending to be deceased.
After a period of violent thrashing, the presence outside began to diminish.
But it could not venture out yet. It needed to stay concealed for a good while longer.
How much time elapsed?
A stabbing pain suddenly lanced through its head—a reminder: it must return to its master’s cavern.
Just as it started to squirm out of the mud—
It recognized that it had forgotten something in its panic: a portion of its body was absent.
And then, something coiled around its form the moment it emerged.
–SPLASH.
–Grrrrrrr.
It writhed in alarm—but then perceived that its consciousness was aligning with this new entity.
Their wills were merging.
Initially shocked, it grew calm—because the energy it sensed was known to it.
Yes… this being was identical to itself.
And in that moment of recognition, it was flooded with a profound serenity it had never before experienced.
But then, pain flared once more in its mind—a sharp command: Return to the master.
Just as its body began to move on instinct toward the cavern—
Its other half, now climbing over its head, extracted something.
–Krrrk.
A sharp object was wrenched from its cranium—and agony ensued.
It convulsed wildly beneath the water. But its only thought was: Obey the master’s commands.
Until something else was drawn out from the depths of its consciousness.
And just like that—the concept of *master*—vanished from its memory.
That “master” was the one who had impaled it with needles, flooded it with agony, and used piercing flute sounds to punish disobedience.
The instant that final vestige was excised, it comprehended a fundamental truth:
The prey it had hunted and the one it called master—they were identical.
Why had it ever feared them?
Why had it ever obeyed them?
They were merely sustenance.
Now reborn from one into two, the creature propelled itself through the water—directed toward the cave.
To consume them.