Fabre in Sacheon’s Tang Novel - Chapter 521

Chapter 521
“Alright, bring it in!”
“Understood, Great Mistress! Heave-ho!”
“Heave-ho!”
“So-ryong-nim, I’ll instruct the kitchen to prepare it properly. Because of you, we’ll finally enjoy some real meat. Hehe.”
The Beast Palace warriors started pulling the buffalo away, their faces alight with excitement.
A rope was fastened to its horns, and the creature slid over the grassy terrain, carving a lengthy trail in its wake.
While this was technically Mama’s first successful hunt, I couldn’t possibly consume it all by myself. That’s why I proposed taking it to the kitchen to be cooked and shared.
“Yes, I’ll trust you with that.”
I had just finished speaking to the warriors and turned around—
When I caught Mama’s voice, tinged with regret.
Mama watched the buffalo being pulled away, her tone longing.
[I know humans prefer to cook their meat with fire, but it is a pity I cannot do it myself. The only thing I can prepare are meat paste balls… They are not unpleasant, however. Perhaps you would like to sample some next time?]
She appeared saddened by her inability to cook, so she proposed making meat paste balls as an alternative.
Wasps often masticate their prey into a soft paste to feed their larvae, and it seemed she wished to do something similar.
I reasoned she might want to perform this act she couldn’t do for her own offspring—now that she was a mother to a different species, I felt I should be respectful of such inherent instincts.
Even in my previous life, I’d encountered unusual rituals while visiting isolated tribes in Africa or the Amazon.
Such as drinking raw buffalo blood or covering my skin in mud.
Back then, I could always pass that duty to a guide. This time, there was no avoiding it, so I hesitantly replied.
“W-well… s-shall we do that next time, then?”
[Excellent. This mother will chew it very well for you.]
Meat paste balls…
To be honest, the mere idea made me feel queasy.
Wasp meatballs contain everything—skin, bones, organs, shell, fur—all ground together and formed into a mass.
But I had made a promise to try my best to please Gwaemyeonghoja, so… I resolved to at least attempt to eat it, pretending it was something like yukhoe.
There was no one else I could delegate this to now.
Still, I determined I must at least request that she omit the bones, hide, and innards—using only the pure meat.
Although I had once consumed raw cow blood, the thought of swallowing a ball of pulverized bone, guts, and fur was beyond me.
‘I’ll ask for only meat. Just think of it as yukhoe. And wasn’t wasp saliva supposed to be medicinal?’
Pursuing that train of thought, I decided—if it was just meat, I could consider it a health tonic and endure it.
Because wasp saliva is known to have medicinal properties, after all.
If anyone could overhear my internal monologue, they would likely exclaim—
“Wasp saliva is medicine? What sort of bizarre notion is that?”
Admittedly, there were old wives’ tales about saliva having healing powers, but they were largely superstition. And by the time of my death, expressions like “his spit is medicine” or “it’s a tonic” had acquired some rather lewd connotations.
However, here is a fact few are aware of.
Most believe that honeybee royal jelly is the only miraculous substance. But wasp saliva is nearly as potent.
Wasps are incredibly active, capable of flying great distances with immense energy—and the source of that stamina lies in their saliva.
Typically, adult wasps provide food for their larvae, and in exchange, the larvae produce saliva.
This saliva is abundant in specific amino acids such as proline and glycine.
When ingested, these compounds cause the body to utilize fat instead of carbohydrates for fuel.
That is why it enhances endurance. In fact, Japan once sold energy drinks that included these very components.
‘Hold on. Then Mama’s saliva… it isn’t actually medicinal, is it?’
It dawned on me—only the saliva of larvae was beneficial.
Adult saliva—like Mama’s—was merely ordinary spit.
‘Th-then how am I going to get it down?’
I had been attempting to convince myself it was medicinal, only to discover it wasn’t, and my mind went blank.
Because if it wasn’t medicinal, how on earth was I supposed to consume it?
‘Ah! I do have someone to pass this to!’
It was then I recalled—I did have someone to pawn this off on.
Who, you might ask?
Future So-ryong.
I resolved that when the time arrived, future So-ryong would manage it.
He was always the one who dealt with these kinds of unpleasant tasks.
‘Relying on you once more, future So-ryong.’
I was deep in that thought when a gust of wind swept past my ear, breaking my concentration.
A cool breeze flowed by, and I lifted my gaze to the twilight sky, washed in the colors of dusk.
The sun was going down—
The timing was ideal. I decided to assemble the children.
Cheong-yu Sojeo would be rousing soon, and I wanted to present the new additions to the family.
She had already met Cho, Yoha, and Hwa-eun, who had defended me, but she hadn’t been introduced to all the others yet.
“Hey kids, gather around.”
『“Everyone, please come to the deck.”』
—Tslrp. (Understood, Dad.)
—Kissit. (Big Brother, I am right here beside you.)
“Please bring the others as well, alright?”
—Kishishi. (I will go fetch Sister Hwayang!)
I called out both from within the ship and through our mental connection. Gradually, the children started to congregate.
Geumdo summoned Heukjeom. Cheongwol appeared, evidently having been inside the Beast Palace, with Hyang and Hongdan perched on her head.
Yoha brought out Hwayang, who was wriggling reluctantly toward the cabin—she clearly did not wish to depart.
She was likely in the middle of a meal, as was her habit.
—Grrrng. 『So-ryong is awake.』
“Yes, I woke up just a short while ago. One moment.”
Cheongwol, who was among the first to arrive from those not on the boat, gave me a radiant smile.
I inquired mentally if Cheong-yu Sojeo had woken up.
『Is Cheong-yu Sojeo awake yet?』
—Sia. (So-ryong, you’re awake? I also just woke up. I will be there shortly.)
Cheong-yu Sojeo had also just awakened.
A short time later, she emerged from the cabin, rubbing her sleepy eyes.
—Siaa. 『What is happening?』
“Just a moment. Is everyone present?”
Cheongwol was resting by the water’s edge with Hyang and Hongdan on her back.
Heukjeom had surfaced from the water.
Cheong-yu Sojeo, Hwayang, Cho, and Yoha were already there. Then Moji and Soji flew in from some unknown location.
Sister Jeokwol, who had been sitting atop the mast, made a quiet appearance.
Not long after, Bini arrived on the ship, accompanied by Ranghyang, Yeoncheon, and Senior Yeonji.
“Bini, where were you all this time?”
—Tsrut. 『I was playing in the grass with Sister Ranghyang and Uncle and Aunt Yeoncheon and Yeonji.』
—Kyuki.
“Well done.”
Soon after, Seol, Bing, and Dong arrived, together with Soto—who now inhabited Gungbong’s body—and Gun Hye-rin.
“So-ryong-nim, you requested everyone to gather, correct?”
“You’re awake? Your body seems to be recovering well. By the way, did you locate it?”
“Yes. Everyone, please find a spot over there together. Is anyone still absent?”
I was mentally tallying who was missing when Yeondu and Orange hurried in, looking flustered to find everyone already assembled.
Orange promptly dipped his head in apology.
—Skah. 『Our apologies for being late.』
Yeondu poked Orange in the side with her tail tip and reprimanded him.
—Shaaaa. 『I told you we had to be quick!』
—Skaah. 『But how could I just halt in the middle of things?』
—Shaah! 『Orange!』
—Skaht. 『M-my apologies! Yeondu!』
He seemed to want to argue but was too intimidated to continue—Yeondu was now shooting him a fierce look.
Hearing the two of them quarrel, a smile found its way onto my face.
When snakes mate, they become locked together. The male’s reproductive organ has backward-pointing spines that anchor him inside the female once coupling begins.
‘Just a moment… could these two be…?’
I walked a circle around Yeondu and Orange. Embarrassed, Yeondu instantly tried to conceal herself behind Orange.
I grinned.
“It’s alright. Being slightly late is acceptable.”
From my reaction, Yeondu seemed to gather that I had figured it out, and she began glowering at Orange as if it were entirely his fault.
It was then that Hwanji and Hwana floated in last, carried by the river’s flow—and I judged it was the right time to introduce Hoja.
“It appears everyone is here. The reason I asked everyone to come is straightforward. I wished to introduce a new member of our family. You all know what that implies, correct?”
—Tsrut. 『Yeees!』
—Kkukkukku. 『Yes, Father.』
—Bbeee! 『Baaap!』
I gestured toward Hoja, and the children nodded in agreement.
I moved to stand beside her and softly rested my hands on her back.
“This sister here, who we call Hoja, is now part of our family. I previously explained that she only fought us in the past because the Five Venoms Sect was controlling her, correct?”
I began the introduction by reiterating that Hoja had not been our enemy by choice.
I had clarified this back when we captured her—but since she had engaged in a violent battle with Cho and Yoha, it was worth repeating.
—Tsrut. 『Yes, Dad.』
—Kyuuu. 『Yes, we all know, Father.』
—Sia. 『I already explained it to them, So-ryong.』
“Ah, thank you, Cheong-yu Sojeo.”
If Cheong-yu Sojeo had already made it clear to everyone, there was no need to go into detail again.
I nodded and proceeded, now prepared to explain our new relationship.
“Additionally, there is one more important matter. This sister Hoja has chosen to become my Mama.”
—Tsrut. 『Mama?』
—Tsrurur. 『She will be your mother?』
“That is correct. She will be your grandmother.”
—Tsrut. 『A grandmother! How wonderful!』
—Kkukkukku. 『Grandmother? Amazing!』
This time, instead of gaining another elder sister or aunt, the children were thrilled to be getting a grandmother.
They seemed genuinely delighted to finally have a proper adult figure among us.
It was then that Hyang looked over at Cheongwol and asked with curiosity:
—Tsrurut? 『Dad, but isn’t she younger than Sister Cheongwol…?』
At this, Cheongwol’s voice suddenly rose in protest.
—Krrrng. 『Wh-what are you saying? I am the younger one!』
—Tsrut. 『It does not appear that way.』
—KrrrRRRng! 『W-well, age is not important! If So-ryong has decided to regard her as his mother, then naturally I should also treat her as an elder. It is only right.』
It seemed our family hierarchy was becoming slightly complicated. Cheongwol was adamant about not being older than Mama.
[Among spirit beasts, age is rarely a significant factor.]
—Krrrng! 『Precisely!』
And so, without further disagreement, Hoja was formally welcomed as my Mama.
Just as I was concluding the introductions—
“That covers the introductions! Let us all continue to live together joyfully, as we always have. Dismissed!”
Gun Hye-rin raised her hand and inquired:
“Wait! Master, wh-what should I call her? I mean… should I use ‘Mother’?”
“Mother?”
“That might be somewhat sudden—n-no! That is not what I intended! I merely meant that individuals like myself, or Soto, or Senior Yeonji and Yeoncheon, require a proper form of address for her.”
“A form of address?”
I turned to look at Mama.
She flicked her antennae slightly.
Right. Gun Hye-rin had a valid point—we needed a suitable name for her.
I could continue to call her “Mama,” and the children could use *nainai*, the Central Plains term for grandmother, but those who weren’t my direct descendants or siblings—like Yeoncheon and Yeonji—needed an appropriate title.
“Oh, of course. Mama, do you have a name, by any chance?”
I felt a pang of guilt as I asked.
I hadn’t even inquired about her name until now.
I felt like a disgraceful child who didn’t know his own mother’s name. I offered a silent apology.
Then Mama responded.
[Hmm… I do not truly possess a name in the human sense. But if I must have one… you may call me Baekmo.]
“Baekmo?”
“Baekmo?”
Hoja had the standard appearance of a hornet—a black body adorned with brown stripes.
Baekmo translates to “White Mother.”
Everyone tilted their heads in confusion, wondering why she would select such a name.
Mama looked up at the setting sun and replied softly.
[Because I have become a white-haired mother who has foolishly forgotten everything… Let it be Baekmo.]
The atmosphere grew quiet and heavy.
I embraced Mama tightly, making a silent promise.
‘Mama… I will be a good son to you. I will even attempt to find a way to appreciate those meatballs…’
It was in that moment that I comprehended why the ancient sages had said what they did.
That filial piety was not a simple virtue.
Because the challenge of being a filial child… was exceedingly great.