Fabre in Sacheon’s Tang Novel - Chapter 60

Chapter 60

“Lady Tang…”
“Lady Namgung…”

The two women exchanged formal greetings using their family names, confirming my sister’s earlier prediction—they were not especially close.

Still, as they stood facing one another, the sheer intensity of their beauty was almost blinding. It felt as though my eyes might be scorched by their overlapping radiance. Today, my vision was either being blessed or severely overworked.

If my sister, Tang Hwa-eun, embodied a cool and refined elegance, then Namgung Seol was like a spring flower in full bloom—fresh and vivid. Side by side, they formed a picture so striking it could have been lifted from a masterpiece.

Even so, I couldn’t help feeling this was a matter of personal preference. My sister was by no means inferior. Watching them together, I felt an unshakable conviction: Tang Hwa-eun was every bit as remarkable as Namgung Seol. This wasn’t just the bias of a fiancé; objectively, it seemed unjust that Namgung Seol was hailed as the greatest beauty of the central plains while my sister was ranked below her. Someone clearly needed to reassess the rankings.

As I was lost in these thoughts, the two continued their stilted exchange.

“Eun told me you brought the elixir. Because of you, I will be able to hold a sword again. I hardly know how to express my gratitude…”

“It was no trouble. I am simply glad to have been of help.”

Their dialogue was oddly rigid, nothing like the genuine concern my sister had voiced for Namgung Seol earlier. Why did it seem like neither of them had any real friends? I felt secondhand discomfort just listening, and Namgung Eun appeared to share the sentiment, shaking her head slightly in silence.

Then, Namgung Seol turned to me. “And who is this?”

“This is my fiancé, Wei Su-long. Su-long, please greet Lady Namgung Seol of the Namgung family.”

“It’s an honor to meet you. I am Wei Su-long.”

“You’re engaged? A pleasure to meet you, Sir Wei. I am Namgung Seol.”

“Likewise.”

“Yes.”

“…?”

Was that really all she had to say? Normally, introductions are followed by some polite conversation—comments on the journey, or perhaps a compliment—but she closed the exchange with a simple “Yes.” Namgung Eun jumped in with an uneasy laugh, trying to lighten the mood.

“Congratulations, you two! Ah, when will it be my turn? It’s been too long since we last met—let’s not just stand here. Shall we have some tea and catch up? I have so many questions for both of you!”

“What excellent timing. I was just feeling a bit thirsty. I would enjoy that, Lady Namgung.”

“See? I knew it! I’ll have the servants bring tea and snacks at once. Haha…”

Namgung Eun and I shared a tired look, both sensing the effort it would take to smooth over the awkwardness.

After the brief introductions, we moved to a pavilion in the courtyard where tea and light refreshments were waiting.

As we drank and talked, the conversation eventually turned to how my sister and I had met—a story that clearly interested the Namgung sisters.

Before long, the discussion shifted to Namgung Seol’s own situation.

Her younger sister, Namgung Eun, spoke with a frown, her voice thick with frustration. “What I still don’t understand is this: if it wasn’t my sister, then what did those people actually see? And how could they know such intimate details about the marks on her body?”

Having spent much of my past life engrossed in escape rooms and deduction games—where I’d earned the nickname “Sherlock Fabre”—I decided to cautiously pose a question.

“If I may ask… have you ever bathed alone at night in a pond or stream?”

All three women turned to look at me, their gazes sharp and attentive.

Namgung Seol was the first to respond, her tone even and controlled. “Are you implying that someone may have been watching me?”

“It is one possibility, yes.”

Namgung Eun followed, her voice edged with anger. “So you think someone spied on her and then started these rumors to ruin her reputation?”

“That is often the simplest explanation in cases like this.”

“But everyone currently held in the guest hall grew up in the village below our mountain. They are practically family. None of them would spread lies or insult us.”

“And I have never bathed anywhere outside these grounds,” Namgung Seol added.

So no one spied on her, and no one had motive to slander her? My line of reasoning had reached a dead end.

As an uncomfortable silence settled over us, my sister spoke up confidently, a faint smile on her lips. “In circumstances like these, there is usually one explanation that is highly probable.”

“Highly probable?”

“What do you mean?”

Both Namgung sisters looked at her, perplexed.

Tang Hwa-eun’s smile widened, and she answered with pride. “A ghost.”

“I beg your pardon?”

Wait—what? Sister, what are you saying? This is beyond embarrassing!

While I could understand bringing up legendary creatures like dragons, introducing ghosts felt entirely out of place. Was my sister too immersed in Eastern folklore and superstition? In my past life, seasoned mentors had warned me about partners who became overly invested in mystical beliefs—they said it could break families.

But my embarrassment was short-lived as I reconsidered. Wait… she might actually be onto something.

After all, the mother of the O-gongs had once appeared to me in a dream after her passing. In fact, she had even taken my sister’s form in that dream. If that were possible, then perhaps a spirit could manifest using Namgung Seol’s likeness.

Could my sister be a genius?

“That does sound like the only possible explanation.”

“For something like this, it must be the answer.”

“Ghosts are frightening… but part of me wants to see one.”

The Namgung sisters nodded thoughtfully, seemingly accepting Tang Hwa-eun’s theory without skepticism.

I turned back to Namgung Seol. “In that case, have you recently come into contact with any unusual objects? Something that might carry spiritual energy, or perhaps the core of a mythical beast?”

Drawing from my own experience, I suspected some form of contact would be necessary for such phenomena to occur.

Namgung Seol appeared to think it over carefully before shaking her head. “I only use belongings I am familiar with, so I don’t believe so.”

“I see…”

Then what could it be? Once again, I’d hit a wall.

Just as I was ready to give up, Namgung Seol’s eyes lit up with sudden recollection. “Ah! There were two things I touched recently!”

“What were they?”

“What did you touch?”

All attention turned to her as she answered. “Not long ago, I touched an acorn. Oh, and a tree branch!”

The wave of anticipation in the room instantly collapsed.

Was it possible? Was Namgung Seol considered the central plains’ greatest beauty precisely because of this innocent, airheaded charm? If so, dethroning her would be no simple task. My sister’s intelligence couldn’t compete with a guileless allure that seemed to awaken every man’s protective instinct.

I was still struggling to formulate a response when Namgung Seol mentioned something genuinely unusual.

“Oh! And one night, while I was training alone, I felt a presence nearby. When I went to look, there was no one there.”

“You felt a presence?”

“Yes, I did.”

“I felt it, so I went to see, but found nothing. At first, I wondered if it was you, Eun, following me. When I saw no one, I assumed it was just my imagination. But looking back, it happened every time I trained—this persistent sensation of being watched. Yes, that’s exactly how it was.”

“That does sound concerning,” I agreed with a nod.

Just then, a disturbance broke out somewhere outside. A servant hurried into the pavilion and approached Namgung Seol, speaking urgently.

“Young Lady! I must report—”

“Is this about that noise?”

“Yes, Young Lady.”

The servant leaned in and whispered something into her ear.

The moment the servant finished, Namgung Seol shot to her feet and slammed her palm against the floor of the pavilion.

“What’s wrong, Sister?”

“What happened, Lady Namgung?”

“Things had been calm these past few days, but another villager has gone missing. The guards have just been dispatched to join the search.”

“Another disappearance?!”

According to the servant, the vanishings had ceased around the time Namgung Seol was placed under confinement, but had now started again.

Namgung Seol touched the red peony-shaped mark on the back of her hand—the symbol of the Su-gung-sa ritual—her expression hardening into one of fierce resolve. “I must catch that ghost myself and restore the honor that was stolen from me! This grudge from the Su-gung-sa will be settled!”

Namgung Eun looked alarmed. “Sister, what are you thinking? If you sneak out again and get caught, the consequences will be severe!”

Namgung Seol offered a faint smile. “This time, we will all go together. It will be fine.”

“All of us?”

Namgung Eun blinked in confusion as Namgung Seol turned to my sister and me, her smile lingering—a rare sight since we’d met.

“Will you help me?”

It felt like we were being pulled into something we ought to avoid. My sister and I exchanged uneasy glances.

Then Namgung Seol reached into her sash and drew out an object.

“What is that?”

She handed over what looked like a traditional norigae pendant, woven from red and blue threads and centered with a piece of jade.

“It’s a norigae made of knotted cord,” she explained. “The center is carved from Ice Jade, and it can be divided into two. I don’t know why you seek Ice Jade, but if you need something easier to carry, this may serve you better.

“It could even act as a token between the two of you. What do you say? Help me, and I will give this to you.”

To be honest, the orb of Ice Jade we’d received from the Namgung family head was the size of a billiard ball and not very practical. If I wanted to transport my lizards, this norigae would be far more convenient.

I turned to Namgung Seol and gave my answer.

“Helping a woman restore her honor, which is as precious as her life, is simply the right thing to do. It has nothing to do with the Ice Jade, of course. Wouldn’t you agree, Lady Tang Hwa-eun?”

My sister gave a slight nod, though she didn’t seem entirely convinced by my righteous tone.

After all, I’ve always been something of a humanitarian.

And as for those poor lizards who suffered during the Su-gung-sa ritual… This Fabre would make certain their grievance was repaid.

***

A thin crescent moon hung in the sky, shrouded by clouds, leaving the night almost completely dark.

Fortunately, I had learned to sharpen my sight using inner energy—otherwise, navigating this deep gloom would have been difficult.

Namgung Seol led the way in a direction opposite to where the guards were searching, her steps sure and purposeful.

Behind us, Namgung Eun trailed along, grumbling under her breath.

“Sister, if we’re caught this time, I’ll definitely be sent to the isolation chamber. I’m sure of it—for at least half a year!

“And Sir Wei, how could you be swayed so easily by a piece of Ice Jade? I thought we understood each other—I expected you to help me dissuade her!”

“Lady Namgung, as I said earlier, it isn’t about the jade. It’s about defending Lady Namgung Seol’s honor. I—”

“I don’t want to hear it! Ugh, what am I going to do…?”

Her complaints weren’t entirely unwarranted. Not only had she failed to prevent her sister from slipping out, but she had also—under Namgung Seol’s instruction—taken the sword belonging to their grandfather, which was displayed in the main hall. The weapon was said to hold power against evil spirits, making it ideal for hunting ghosts.

That wasn’t all. She had also persuaded the guards on duty to remain silent. If discovered, her punishment would likely be more severe than her sister’s.

It seemed Namgung Eun simply couldn’t refuse her sister, no matter how much trouble it caused. Though she protested, she carried out every task—a true example of complaining all the way through.

“Eun, we have guests. Mind your behavior,” Namgung Seol chided.

“My behavior? Haven’t I already gone far past misbehaving?!”

“Eun, if you keep this up, you’ll frighten away every ghost in the area.”

“Haa…”

After being scolded by both her sister and Tang Hwa-eun, Namgung Eun finally fell quiet.

We reached a small hill covered in fallen flower petals. Namgung Seol brought us to where the hill met a dense forest, so dark it was impossible to see more than a few steps ahead.

“Is this the place?”

“Yes, I’m sure it was around here.”

“Whether it’s a ghost or something else, there may be signs nearby. Let’s search carefully.”

“Understood.”

We didn’t know what we were looking for, but we began scanning the area for clues.

I studied the ground and the shadows around us, searching for anything unusual.

Before long, the atmosphere began to shift—shadows blurred, and a heavy fog rolled in.

The mist thickened rapidly, swallowing everything around me until I could no longer see the others.

“Lady Tang Hwa-eun? Lady Namgung Seol? Lady Namgung Eun?”

I called their names, but no one answered.

Had we become separated in the fog?

Thinking it unsafe to move alone, I decided to try and regroup.

As I took a cautious step forward, I felt something snag around my ankle.

Bending down, I found a thin, elastic thread tangled around my leg.

My eyes followed the thread as it stretched deep into the forest, glimmering faintly in the weak moonlight.

“What is this?”

Recognition came instantly.

I had seen this kind of thread countless times in my previous life.

This is spider silk.

Though it was far thicker than any ordinary spider’s web, there was no mistaking it.

If the thread was this substantial, I could only imagine the size of the spider that had spun it.

Just as that thought formed, a sharp scream echoed from deep within the forest.