Fabre in Sacheon’s Tang Novel - Chapter 53

Chapter 53

Just as I was about to ask my sister who might have the Ice Jade, we were interrupted.

— Squeak, squeak.

A lizard’s cry came from below my feet. When I glanced down, I saw a pair of yellow, slit-pupiled eyes fixed on me, as if demanding to know why I wasn’t helping the wounded one.

I realized then that, absorbed in our discussion, I had completely forgotten the little caretaker waiting beneath me.

Feeling apologetic toward the creature staring up at me, I decided I should focus on treating its friend first.

“Sorry to keep you waiting. Shall we take care of this one now, and then we can continue talking?” I said, turning to my sister. “This little one has been very patient.”

“How extraordinary,” my sister whispered. “It’s as if the lizard understands every word you say.”

“Understood, So-ryong. Let’s help the poor thing first,” she agreed. “It does look quite worried.”

I knelt and showed the small lizard a seed, outlining my idea.

“We’ll plant this seed here for the time being. Is that alright with you?”

— Squeak.

Even if it wouldn’t grow much more in these conditions, it could provide enough energy to sustain them until we located the Ice Jade to properly nourish the injured one. For now, placing the Snow Ginseng seed under the rock was our best option.

With the seed safely planted, I turned my focus back to the hurt lizard. I hadn’t gotten a good look earlier, too distracted by the immediacy of the crisis.

My first task was to determine whether this type of lizard was capable of autotomy—the ability to self-amputate its tail. Not all reptiles can perform this action, and even fewer can regenerate what is lost.

There are generally three categories:

Those that can self-amputate but not regenerate.

Those that can do neither.

And those that can do both.

Contrary to common belief, not every lizard can drop its tail, which is why a careful inspection was necessary.

A quick look confirmed the tail was clearly necrotic and would have to be removed. However, if the lizard couldn’t perform autotomy, the procedure would require manually cutting the tail, which came with serious dangers. Natural detachment minimizes trauma because the creature’s own muscles contract to seal the wound. A forced amputation might cause fatal shock.

While I was carefully inspecting the tail, my sister’s voice cut through my concentration.

“What are you looking for, So-ryong?”

“The natural breaking points,” I answered.

“Breaking points?”

“Yes. Lizards have specific zones along their tails, known as ‘autotomy planes,’ where it’s meant to separate. I’m trying to locate them.”

“‘Autotomy planes’… You mean pre-designed segments for detachment?”

I nodded. “Exactly. Though it may seem like it can snap off anywhere, there are particular areas meant for this. Applying pressure to these spots triggers the reaction.”

I gently felt along the tail until I identified three clear separation points.

“Found them,” I said. “Three in total. That’s good.”

“You know an awful lot about lizards. I never would have guessed.”

My sister’s curious tone made me smile faintly. Half the tail was already dead tissue, so saving any part of it wasn’t possible. To stop the rot from spreading, I selected the detachment point closest to the body.

It was better to lose more of the tail than risk the lizard’s life.

“Alright, let’s begin,” I said softly.

— Squeak.

The guardian lizard watched intently as I started. Using only my thumb and forefinger, I applied steady, gentle pressure to the first autotomy plane.

When activated, the separation is nearly instantaneous and involuntary. This is why lizards must be handled so carefully—many lose their tails accidentally during fights or if handled incorrectly.

It’s also worth noting that regenerated tails are never perfect. They regrow without bones, are often smaller, and some species can’t regrow them at all.

As I pressed down, I felt a faint pulsing beneath the scales, a kind of rhythmic throb. Then came a slight ripping sensation, followed by a soft, wet sound.

— Rip.

The tail came away cleanly, revealing the muscle beneath. There was barely any blood; the tail is designed to sever cleanly. The lizard lay still, showing no sign of pain, its eyes fluttering shut for a moment.

— Thump.

The severed tail gave a weak twitch on the ground. Had it been healthy, it would have thrashed violently, but decay had left it listless. I picked it up to inspect the cut end, making sure the necrosis hadn’t crept too far up.

The inside of the tail, which should have been a clear pink, was a worrying shade of grey near the base. Any longer, and the decay would have reached the body.

“All finished. You’re going to be alright now,” I reassured the lizard. “Just keep the wound clean. We’ll be close by, so call if you need anything.”

— Squeak.

Leaving the injured lizard in the care of its watchful partner, we headed back to our camp. The creature would need nutrients to regrow its tail, making finding the Ice Jade our most urgent task.

“Lady Hwa-eun,” I began, turning to my sister as we walked. “Who exactly is in possession of the Ice Jade?”

She smiled mischievously, and her answer surprised me.

“Well… how should I explain it? Let’s just say it’s held by a rather thorny flower.”

“A thorny flower?” I repeated, puzzled.

“Yes. The Ice Jade belongs to Namgung Seol, the daughter of the Namgung family and one of the Three Blossoms of the Martial World,” she replied with a sly grin.

I sighed to myself. My sister was evidently still nursing a grudge. What on earth had my master told her?

***

Two days later, the injured lizard finally woke up. The inflammation that had caused its collapse had gone down, and its overall state appeared much improved.

— Squeak, squeak!

— Squeak!

When we approached their rock, which was shaped like the Chinese character for “person,” the lizards greeted my sister and me with obvious excitement. They had grown used to us over the past few days, and one of them even scampered out from behind the rock like an eager puppy.

‘A lizard acting like a dog? If this were my past life, this would break the internet.’

It looked like a cross between a pet-tailed gecko and a large pinecone lizard. Though not fully healed, the injured one stayed back while the healthier one approached. I reached out my hand toward it.

The rough texture of the bumps on its head and the coolness of its skin felt deeply familiar.

‘Ah, this is what I love about lizards.’

Savoring the feeling of a lizard in my hand after so long, I asked, “Have you been well?”

The little creature didn’t pull away, even as I stroked its head. Emboldened, my sister cautiously extended her hand as well. But oddly, the lizard shrank back a little, its eyes scrutinizing her.

— Squeak!?

“Why… Why is it avoiding me?” my sister asked, her voice tinged with dejection.

The lizard seemed to be searching for something, its gaze lingering around my sister’s shoulder. It occurred to me that it might be related to the fact she had been carrying O-Gong previously. I rolled up her sleeve to show the lizard that O-Gong wasn’t there.

— Hiss!

The lizard jolted back, startled, and shifted away from my hand. Just as I thought, the memory of O-Gong had frightened it.

“It seems they believe Lady Hwa-eun is still carrying O-Gong,” I explained.

“I don’t have them. They’re with So-ryong, not me,” she said, shifting the blame to me to persuade the lizard to come closer.

Once it saw that her arm was free of any centipedes, the lizard hesitated before finally allowing her to pet it. As she gently scratched under its chin, the creature closed its eyes, clearly relishing the attention. It had now become accustomed to human touch and no longer showed any wariness around us.

Knowing we needed to find the Ice Jade soon, I spoke to them. “We have to go now.”

— Squeak!?

— Squeak!?

Their eyes widened in shock, and even the injured one blinked, startled by my announcement. I smiled and explained further.

“It’s not permanent. We’re going to find food for you, so you’ll be okay. The Snow Ginseng won’t provide any more nourishment, you see.”

I paused before adding, “Speaking of which, since it seems you can’t stay here forever, how about this? If we bring back food for you, would you consider coming with us?”

At my proposal, the two blue lizards turned to look at each other, their gazes holding a silent conversation.

***

After leaving Bing and Seol behind, we returned to the Tang Clan in Sichuan.

In our absence, several news items had arrived, the most major concerning the Blood Cult. The Murim Alliance had captured a Blood Cult spy and raided a secret base near Wuchang, right under the Alliance’s nose.

Despite being subjected to extreme torture, the spy had revealed nothing. However, the hideout’s location was discovered when they tracked an owl the spy had been raising.

Among the reports was also mention of the venom techniques I had discovered using the Hobanyu Snake. The venom from the snake we captured had been sent to the military and used during the raid on the Blood Cult’s hideout, where it was said to have greatly contributed to their victory.

Furthermore, the Alliance Leader had issued a decree ordering a full-scale purge of Blood Cult members throughout the Central Plains.

“The Alliance Leader sent a personal letter of thanks. So-ryong, you should be very proud,” my master said, his voice full of pride and affection.

Sure enough, one of the items waiting for us was the Alliance Leader’s thank-you letter. As for the rewards the military had promised, they requested more time to gather the required materials.

After we were caught up on all the news, my master turned to me with a question.

“By the way, were you able to catch the stone lizard? I’d like to see it for myself, perhaps even document it for the Venom Compendium.”

“Well… we did, in a manner of speaking,” I answered hesitantly.

“In a manner of speaking?”

“Yes, it’s a bit of a long story…”

I explained to my master about Bing and Seol, and the situation with the Ice Jade.

True to his nature, my master immediately offered his assistance. “The Ice Jade… It won’t be simple to acquire, but I will see what I can do. Don’t worry.”

At that, my sister spoke up cautiously. “Father, there’s something I should tell you about the Ice Jade. Actually, I know who has it.”

“You do?” My master looked at her, surprised.

“Yes, Father. That’s why I was thinking of traveling with So-ryong to see them, if you permit it.”

“And where exactly would you be going?” he asked, his brow furrowed with concern.

Smiling playfully, my sister answered, “To Anhui Province, where the Namgung family lives.”

“The Namgung family?”

“Yes. Namgung Seol has the Ice Jade. I’ve seen it myself.”

My master fell silent, thinking it over. After a moment, he turned back to us with a request.

“Hmm… If you’re going, would you mind doing an errand for me along the way? There’s something I need delivered.”

An errand on the way. That sounded convenient enough, but one particular thought crossed my mind.

Are we getting paid for this?

I mean, I’m still at an age where one should be paid for running errands.