Fabre in Sacheon’s Tang Novel - Chapter 62

Chapter 62

Tsrrrr!
Kwaduk!

At my signal, Cho shot from my sleeve and sank its fangs into the back of the pedipalp that was disguised as Namgung Seol.

The imitation Namgung Seol’s eyes flew open in shock, staring at me with an expression of complete and utter betrayal. Its gaze was one of profound hurt, as if I had broken a sacred vow.

The beautiful face, a perfect copy of Namgung Seol’s, contorted into a pitiful mask—a decadent and alluring look that was utterly foreign to the real Namgung Seol’s springlike freshness. The mimicry was so flawless it was almost admirable. Even knowing it was a deception, the emotions it projected felt completely genuine.
What a convincing act, I thought.

I recalled a snake from Iran called the spider-tailed horned viper, which uses a tail that mimics a spider to attract birds. This creature’s strategy wasn’t so different. It had evolved to imitate human expressions, most likely to lure and prey upon men. Choosing Namgung Seol’s appearance was a masterstroke; as the woman renowned as Zhongyuan’s greatest beauty, her face would be an irresistible lure for any man.

With Cho still attached to its back, I gently pried the centipede off and returned it to my sleeve. Then I released my hold on the creature and stepped away.

The spider-being shuddered, its Namgung Seol form trembling as it stumbled toward me. As it moved, its true body began to emerge from the brush into the moonlight.

Its form was a brilliant crimson, marked with four large spots on its back. A coat of velvety, dense fur shimmered under the pale light. It resembled a much larger and more vivid version of Korea’s red-backed spider, with even its legs a deep red.

“Beautiful…” I whispered in genuine awe.

The creature’s eyes—or what served as its eyes—widened once more, this time in apparent disbelief at my words. It tried to step closer, but after only three steps, its movements became sluggish and uncoordinated, no doubt a result of Cho’s venom spreading through its system.

Finally, still wearing its human disguise, it stretched a trembling arm toward me as if to grab hold, but its strength gave out. With a heavy thud, it collapsed onto its side, legs twitching helplessly in the air like an insect caught in pesticide.

“Let’s see how paralyzed you are,” I murmured, moving closer to inspect it.

It seemed to be on the verge of death, but I knew it wasn’t truly dying. I had been confident in using Cho because a spider of this size wouldn’t be killed by centipede venom. In the natural world, centipedes use neurotoxins to paralyze spiders and other small prey. While O-gong and my other centipedes are exceptionally venomous, this spider was too large to be killed outright.

As expected, it was still alive. I could see its abdomen faintly pulsing with each breath.

“Still breathing, I see.”

Seeing it lying there defenseless, my scientific curiosity overpowered me. This was a new species, one I had never seen before. I had to know more.

What does its real face look like?

Spiders have incredibly varied facial structures. Did this one have huge, tarantula-like fangs? I reached for the pedipalps it had used as arms and began to gently pry them apart to reveal its true face.

“Let’s see what you really look—”

“Little Dragon, no!”

A panicked voice cut through the air. I turned to see Lady Hwa-eun running toward me, with Binna and Hyangyi perched on her shoulders. She rushed forward, pulled me into a tight embrace, and spoke urgently.

“Focus on your breathing. Use the Tang Clan’s internal energy method. Inhale… exhale… You can do it, Little Dragon.”

“Huh? What are you—”

I blinked in confusion.

Lady Hwa-eun peered intently into my eyes, her own filled with disbelief.

“You’re not affected by the fog? Then what were you doing just now!?”

Her face flushed a deep red as she looked from me to the scene behind me. I followed her gaze and realized how it must have appeared: me kneeling over the spider, trying to pry open the limbs that looked like Namgung Seol.

“Lady Hwa-eun, it’s not what it looks like! I can explain!” I stammered.

“You said you wanted to… see how beautiful it was!?” she exclaimed, her voice rising.

“No—well, yes, but not in the way you’re thinking!”

The misunderstanding was deepening by the second, and I could feel her judgmental stare. This was not going well.

***

“You’re telling me you were only interested in the spider’s beauty? That this isn’t a human body, but an imitation?”

Lady Hwa-eun crossed her arms, scrutinizing me as if I had just revealed a deeply disturbing secret. The man she once considered potential husband material was now seemingly exhibiting a very peculiar taste.

I tried to clarify the misunderstanding while absently stroking the spider’s soft, velvety abdomen.

“Exactly! I was just curious about its natural appearance. Look at this brilliant red—isn’t it stunning? And the fur is so surprisingly soft, isn’t it?”

“Alright, alright, just stop petting it!”

Lady Hwa-eun recoiled slightly as I continued to feel the plush abdomen. Only when I pulled my hand away did she seem to relax.

It wasn’t some strange affection—it was purely an appreciation of its form. But her reaction was definitely overblown.

With the awkwardness subsiding, I pushed my curiosity aside and got to work. Unsure of how quickly it might recover, I gathered strands of spider silk from the ground, braided them into a strong cord, and used it to securely bind the creature’s legs. Spider silk is famously strong and elastic, more than capable of restraining it.

As I finished tying the bonds, Lady Hwa-eun spoke up.

“But, Little Dragon, why did you come here in the first place? It doesn’t seem like the spider lured you.”

Her question reminded me of my original purpose. I had gotten so distracted I’d forgotten entirely.

“Oh! That’s right! I heard a scream coming from this direction.”

“A scream!?”

“Yes, I was following the sound when I found this…”

“Then we must search the area. Someone may have been attacked.”

We quickly scanned the surroundings, but there was no sign of Namgung Eun or Namgung Seol.

“They’re not here,” I said.

“That’s strange. I’m certain I heard a scream. Can the spider mimic sounds as well?”

As I knelt next to the spider, wondering if it could produce human-like cries, a drop of liquid landed on my head. Thinking it might be rain, I looked up and saw something suspended from the branches above.

“No way!”

My shout brought Lady Hwa-eun to my side.

“Eun!”

In a flash, a throwing dagger sliced through the air, severing the silk cocoon that held Namgung Eun. Lady Hwa-eun caught her as she fell.

“Eun, are you alright?”

Namgung Eun didn’t answer; tears simply streamed down her silent face. It seemed the spider had bitten her, but from the movement in her eyes, it was likely just paralytic venom. She didn’t seem to be in critical condition, so we laid her carefully on the ground.

“That just leaves Namgung Seol,” I said, looking around.

Lady Hwa-eun watched the mist, which was finally beginning to thin.

“She probably won’t enter until the fog is completely gone. Even I was hesitant to come in. Are you sure you’re alright, Little Dragon? Oh, but you didn’t seem affected…”

“Just the poor visibility,” I assured her.

Lady Hwa-eun shuddered, as if recalling something unpleasant.

“This fog—it must be produced by the spider. Inhaling it stirs up… impure desires. It acts as a powerful aphrodisiac, though not overwhelmingly so.”

“The fog caused that?”

“Yes, I had to retreat and use my internal energy to purge its effects. Namgung Seol likely can’t enter until it clears. The Tang Clan’s internal techniques are especially strong against poisons and intoxicants—few can match us in that.”

“So the villagers who acted entranced… it was because of this fog?”

Everything clicked into place. The mist had intoxicated the villagers, making them susceptible to the spider’s influence. That explained their uniform, dazed accounts.

It also explained why Lady Hwa-eun had been so alarmed earlier—she must have thought the fog had clouded my mind, making me behave strangely toward the spider.

Still, a fog that releases desire-inciting pheromones? This spider’s capabilities were truly fascinating. My curiosity about its origins only grew.

“So, do you know what this creature is called?” I asked.

If anyone would know, it was Lady Hwa-eun, with her vast knowledge of venomous beings. But her face became awkward and unusually stiff.

“W-well, I’m not entirely certain. I’d have to consult the clan records to be sure. I think I know, but it’s not coming to me right now.”

“Even you don’t know? I thought the Tang Clan memorized all venomous creatures.”

“I-I don’t know everything!”

Her evasive answer made me suspect she was hiding something, but I decided not to press further.

Just then, Namgung Seol emerged into the clearing as the mist dissolved. Seeing her unconscious sister and the bound spider, her expression twisted into one of pure fury.

“This monster dared to defile my honor and harm my sister!”

Her sword rang as she drew it, radiating a deadly aura. She was ready to deliver a killing blow.

I quickly moved between her and the spider, arms outstretched.

“Wait! Namgung Eun is alive, and I was the one who captured the spider. It belongs to me!”

“What?”

Namgung Seol stared at me, completely bewildered by my claim.

Evidently, the Namgung family was unfamiliar with the basic rules of specimen collection. The one who makes the catch has the claim. First, they grind lizards into powder, and now they want to take my spider? Do they have no respect for ethics?