Fabre in Sacheon’s Tang Novel - Chapter 65

Chapter 65

On the return voyage to Sichuan, I was consumed by a weighty problem. Having obtained the Ice Jade, my next task was to retrieve the stone centipedes. Yet, I was uncertain how to plan my route.
‘Should I proceed directly to the centipedes, or make a stop at the Tang Clan first?’
A detour to the clan would cost precious time, so going straight to the waiting centipedes appeared more logical. However, the complication was Yo-hwa.
Could Yo-hwa withstand such a prolonged trip? And given its intelligence—which far surpassed any venomous creature I had previously known—how would it react to being abandoned? Would it truly accept my absence for ten whole days when it was still settling in at the Tang Clan?
Bringing Yo-hwa along was dangerous, yet leaving it behind felt neglectful. It was a difficult position.
In my past life, keeping various creatures at home meant I could never take a real holiday. Here, the context was different, but the core of my anxiety was strangely familiar.
‘Well, I am its keeper now. I must find a way.’
As I stood at the boat’s railing, watching over Yo-hwa, who was hidden beneath a cloth, our ship made a short stop at Wuhuan. New passengers came aboard and began sharing the latest gossip.
“Have you heard the news? The Alliance Leader himself commanded the Azure Dragon Unit on a campaign.”
“Oh, that? I heard of it. They assaulted a Blood Cult stronghold near Wuhuan and captured members who gave up the location of another secret outpost.”
It seemed the war with the Blood Cult was intensifying. For our side, that translated into more work for the Tang Clan and the Venom Blood Squad. We would be occupied with poison extraction for the foreseeable future.
But it also signaled rising peril. The more brutal the conflict became, the more difficult it would be to depart from the clan for any extended period.
I resolved to check Yo-hwa’s condition thoroughly and deal with the stone centipedes while I was already away. Just as I settled on this, I caught more of the passengers’ discussion.
“Incidentally, did you hear why there were so few deaths during the raid on the Blood Cult’s Wuhuan base?”
“Why? What was the reason?”
“Rumor has it someone created a poison that is particularly effective against Blood Cult members.”
‘Hold on… they’re talking about me, aren’t they?’
My attention sharpened as I understood they were discussing my creation. I leaned in, listening carefully to their words. It felt like watching live reactions to a broadcast.
“A poison that only works on them!?”
“Yes, they say once afflicted, the cult members are completely immobilized, like frogs petrified before a snake, simply awaiting their end.”
“Incredible! So, the Central Plains is finally getting revenge for all the suffering caused by the Blood Cult’s reign of terror? A magnificent achievement. Who could have developed such a thing? Surely a great hero!”
“Without a doubt, a hero.”
There wasn’t one critical remark—only admiration. Hearing myself called a hero made my cheeks warm and my ears burn.
When I looked to the side, I saw the Venom Blood Squad, Gu Pae, and even my sister all smiling with approval. They nodded proudly as if they had a personal stake in my success.
“But who was it?” another voice inquired.
“The Alliance is keeping their identity secret, worried the Blood Cult will target them. They only said it was a young martial artist.”
“If someone so young achieved something so grand, protecting them is the right thing to do. I eagerly await the day we learn their name. Their future must be brilliant. If you hear any more tales about this martial artist, please tell me.”
“I don’t know who they are, but I have decided to hold them in the highest esteem.”
‘Wait… is this this world’s version of “hitting subscribe and the like button”?’
Not only was everyone leaving glowing remarks, but they were also following my story and showing their support. I began to idly wonder just how many likes and subscribers I could accumulate here.

***

Contrary to my anxieties, Yo-hwa handled the journey much better than I had anticipated.
I had been concerned its condition might abruptly deteriorate, but it absorbed yang energy efficiently, was unexpectedly social, and obeyed instructions without trouble. There was, however, one complication: Yo-hwa was particular about its source of yang energy.
Simply put, it would not take yang energy from just anyone. Perhaps because the old man had been its sole provider for so long, Yo-hwa typically refused to feed from anyone else. From my observations, it seemed Yo-hwa would only become aggressive enough to seize energy from others when it was desperately hungry. Under normal circumstances, it was a creature of refined taste.
Otherwise, we faced no major problems, and we eventually reached our destination: Gongga Mountain.
-Kwaaaah!
A enormous waterfall thundered, its water crashing into the pool below and throwing up a thick mist that veiled the cliffs above. I pointed toward the top of the cliff and called out to Yo-hwa.
“Your friends are waiting up there, Yo-hwa!”
-Kssh?
Tilting its head, Yo-hwa seemed puzzled by the concept of friends. We had grown close during our travels, and I instinctively moved to pat its head, but caught myself halfway. Instead, I stroked the pedipalps it had shaped to look like my sister’s.
I avoided its actual head because my sister had expressed that it felt too intimate and embarrassing to have my hand placed on a form that mimicked her likeness. Even though it wasn’t truly her, she said it caused her embarrassment, so I had to be mindful of that.
After giving Yo-hwa a pat, I looked toward the cliff and asked, “I cannot make that crossing myself. Could Lady Hwa-eun and the deputy commander retrieve the stone centipedes?”
I would have liked to go personally, but there was no one here like Clan Leader Peng to throw me across the gap. Reaching the cliff required a double jump, a skill still beyond my current martial arts ability.
Doubts surfaced immediately.
“Will they come with us if So-ryong isn’t there?”
“Shall we string a rope vine across to make a bridge?” Gu Pae proposed.
As worries were exchanged over the roar of the waterfall, a shocked cry from a Venom Blood Squad warrior cut through the noise.
“Whoa!”
The man gasped, his voice carrying over the rushing water. Everyone turned to see what he was staring at. He was pointing toward the far cliff face, his expression pale with astonishment.
Following his finger, I turned and saw Yo-hwa, clinging to the vertical rock as if it were flat ground.
“Yo-hwa! What are you doing up there? Come down!”
I shouted out in alarm. The sight of Yo-hwa scaling the cliff with such ease left me both amazed and fearful for its safety.
But Yo-hwa ignored my calls, climbing swiftly until it reached the fist-shaped rock I had indicated earlier. It spun a web, anchored itself, and then, like a bungee jumper, launched itself into the air, swinging gracefully toward us.
A long strand of silk trailed behind Yo-hwa like a streamer, catching the wind as it glided effortlessly over the river. It moved with the smoothness of a drifting feather, crossing the divide with ease. Yo-hwa passed directly over my head, landing softly on our side.
‘Naturally, Yo-hwa—you are a spider. Flying is what you do.’
I could only watch in wonder. Many people are unaware that spiders, though wingless, can “fly.” By releasing silk threads into the air, they can ride the wind for vast distances, sometimes hundreds of kilometers. This process is called ballooning, and evidently, Yo-hwa shared this ability.
I watched its flight with awe. The elegance of its movement was captivating.
-Ksssh!
Landing gently nearby, Yo-hwa approached me with a soft chirp, seemingly asking for praise.
It was strange; it needed yang energy to survive and possessed a paralyzing venom that wasn’t especially strong. Yet, it had been such a gentle travel companion. I had questioned why it was ranked among the Ten Great Venomous Beasts, but now I understood. Its body, both lightweight and incredibly durable, was a natural marvel.
Creatures in the wild usually cannot grow beyond a certain size because they cannot support their own weight. But here was Yo-hwa, a spider large enough to fly—a testament to its extraordinary physical properties.
“Yo-hwa!”
-Kssht?!
“So-ryong, please don’t! It’s embarrassing… It feels as if I am the one being embraced,” my sister objected.
I had been so delighted by Yo-hwa’s feat that I moved to hug it, only to be stopped by my sister’s protest. After reassuring her, I held onto Yo-hwa as it carried us across the river and up the cliff using its web.
“Lady Hwa-eun, would you watch over the stone centipedes for a moment?”
“Of course, So-ryong.”
At the cave entrance, I entrusted the task of guarding the centipedes to my sister and went deeper inside to find their nest.
I had traveled so far to secure their food. Now, with everything ready, the final step was to bring them home.
My heart beat with eager anticipation. The moments before an adoption always thrilled me. Even in my previous life, designing the perfect habitat, preparing their meals, and finally going to collect the creatures was the most exciting part.
-Kyaaaak!
-Kyaaa!
As I neared the nest, I heard the stone centipedes’ distinctive warning cries. Smiling at the familiar sound, I ran toward the dense thicket where they lived.
“Everyone!”
Pushing through the brush, I called out. Two figures, initially crouched in defensive postures, turned their large, luminous eyes toward me.
Their shining eyes reflected my image, and their startled cries softened into curious chirps.
-Kkwoo!
-Kwoo!
Recognizing me, the two centipedes stretched forward cautiously, confirming my identity. Then, like exuberant puppies, they burst from the undergrowth and leaped into my arms.
-Kkwoo!
-Kwooo!
Their chirping sounded like a scolding for my tardiness. Hugging them tightly, I showed them the Ice Jade I had procured.
“Come with me, you two. I can provide for you now. What do you say?”
-Kwoo!
-Kkwoo!
The centipedes affectionately licked my cheeks, their actions clearly signaling agreement. Smiling, I finally bestowed the names I had chosen long ago.
“From now on, your names are Bing and Seol. Let’s get along well, alright?”
The names, waiting all this time to be used, finally felt perfectly right.

***

Late that night, we reached the Nine-Tiered Gates of the Tang Clan.
The Tang Clan warriors on duty saw us and their eyes widened in shock.
“T-there are two Lady Hwa-euns!?”
“How can there be two of her!?”
The guards, already unsettled by Yo-hwa’s earlier transformations, stared in disbelief at the second figure beside me that bore their lady’s appearance.
As Yo-hwa’s full form was revealed under the lantern light, one warrior cried out, “Wait! That isn’t Lady Hwa-eun—it’s the spider mimicking her!”
“It’s a spider!?”
Drawing myself up, I announced boldly to the stunned warriors, “Inform the elders that the Tang Clan’s proud son-in-law has returned with one of the Ten Great Venomous Beasts.”
“T-the Ten Great Venomous Beasts!?”
Under the flickering lanterns, my sister’s face flushed a deep crimson, and she shyly hid her nose behind her sleeve, visibly flustered.
‘Our dear Hwa-eun is so adorable,’ I thought, glancing at her affectionately before turning my gaze toward the illuminated Tang Clan mountain.
This was now my home, my wife’s family estate.
Even in the dead of night, word that the clan’s son-in-law had brought back one of the Ten Great Venomous Beasts spread rapidly.
I could tell because lights began to flicker on across the entire mountainside, one after another.
Countless lanterns illuminated the mountain, creating a brilliant spectacle as the clan members gathered to celebrate the accomplishment of their son-in-law, who had returned with one of the most legendary creatures.