Fabre in Sacheon’s Tang Novel - Chapter 82

Chapter 82

Since my grandfather was commanding the primary group and was still en route, the responsibility for our group fell to me.

I moved forward and offered a respectful salute to the warrior blocking our path.
“Forgive our intrusion, honored warrior. We are members of the Sichuan Tang Clan.”

“The Sichuan Tang Clan?” he repeated, his eyes shifting suspiciously between me and Yohwa, who continued to hold me by a silk lead. “What purpose does the Tang Clan have this deep in the Yunnan wilderness?”

Understanding that my current predicament was not helping our case, my sister intervened.
“I am Tang Hwa-eun, a direct descendant of the Sichuan Tang Clan and the daughter of its current leader. We mean no disrespect to the domain of the Beast Palace. Our mission was solely to gather venomous creatures from these jungles.”

She offered a courteous apology and explained our circumstances—
But the moment she stepped up, an unusual situation unfolded.
Now, flanking me on either side, were two identical copies of my sister—one was the real Hwa-eun, the other was Yohwa’s perfect imitation.

The warrior’s eyes widened in stunned confusion.
“T-Twins…?” he stammered. “The Central Plains view twin births as an ill omen… How can this be…?”

‘Well, that certainly didn’t help.’
To his credit, the man named Hei Lang swiftly composed himself, shaking off his astonishment and standing tall.
“My apologies, Lady Tang. I am Hei Lang of the Southern Barbarian Beast Palace. I comprehend your reasons, however, the land ahead is sovereign territory of the Beast Palace. I must insist you retreat.”

“This area belongs to the Beast Palace?”
“It does. You are standing at the gateway to Beast Valley.”

Beast Valley?
In the common tongue, a valley could refer to a gorge, a narrow defile, or a canyon.
Hearing this, I immediately looked back over my shoulder toward the hill we had just descended.
If this “Beast Valley” was indeed a constricted passage—
Then these people were facing a grave threat.
The legion of ants was heading directly for it.
A confined area with no alternate routes?
That was more than hazardous—it was a deathtrap.
If the valley was enclosed by cliffs, there would be no exit.

I exchanged a meaningful glance with my sister, a silent question passing between us: *We have to tell them.*
She nodded in agreement and turned back to Hei Lang.
“Lord Hei Lang, before we depart, we feel obligated to warn you of a catastrophe approaching from behind us.”
“A catastrophe? A warning?”
He frowned, clearly confused by our statement.
Rather than elaborate, I simply pointed toward the hill.
“It is better seen than described. Please, look over that ridge.”

Hei Lang gave a curt nod and signaled two of his warriors to investigate the hilltop.
The instant they peered over the crest—
Their expressions contorted into masks of pure dread.
“By the heavens—!?”
“M-My lord! You must see this yourself!”

Hei Lang shot a look at me, then raced up the slope.
I followed right behind him, with my sister at my side.
And the moment he reached the summit—
A stunned cry ripped from his throat.
“What… What in the world is that!?”

A scarlet flood of army ants extended to the horizon, their armored bodies shimmering under the crimson dusk light. Beneath a great tree, they were already assembling into a living nest, their seething masses weaving together into a single, throbbing mound.

Sheer, undiluted terror.
That was the only term for it.

—”Screeeeeech!!”
A shrill whistle tore through the air.
Hei Lang had produced a signal flute and was blowing into it with desperate urgency.
Within seconds, dozens of warriors emerged from the depths of the valley, bearing torches and guiding an array of animals and beasts of various sizes.

I turned to my sister and murmured,
“Who are these people?”
She returned a look of understanding and clarified,
“The Beast Palace is the most renowned sect in the Central and Outer Lands for breeding animals. They train everything from savage combat beasts to rare companion creatures.”

I blinked in astonishment.
“…So they’re essentially a sect of animal enthusiasts?”
“In essence.”
‘Interesting. Could we be… kindred souls?’
It appeared we weren’t so different after all.
With the exception, of course, that I specialized in venomous creatures—while they seemed to prefer mammalian beasts.
And now, our two worlds had abruptly met.
All due to an inexorable crimson tide advancing from behind.

***
The people of the Southern Barbarian Beast Palace were said to belong to the martial world of the Outer Lands, and my sister informed me they were not typically warm toward outsiders from the Central Plains. Despite this, we were received into the Beast Palace with unexpected courtesy.
Naturally, this was primarily because they required a thorough account of the ant swarm outside.

“So this is the Beast Valley of the Beast Palace?”
“For the Tang Clan, it must be your first time here in a century.”

As we entered Beast Valley, now bathed in the fading light of sunset, my attention was first drawn to an enormous circular clearing.
At its heart stood a rugged stone spire, rising like a solitary fang stabbing the sky. The earth was blanketed in rich, soft grass, covering an expanse so wide it could have held multiple soccer fields.
Dotted throughout the area, pairs of gleaming eyes shimmered in the growing darkness—the beasts that Hei Lang had been tending. They were likely the wolves and other predators that roamed the grounds freely.

Beyond the great clearing, another large open space became visible, somewhat smaller but still immense. This zone, however, was brightened by the welcoming light of torches and lanterns.
Here, structures built from natural wood integrated perfectly with the environment, forming what seemed to be a living quarter for the people of the Beast Palace.
It was as if two circular domains were linked—one for wild beasts, the other for human inhabitants.

Encircling the entire clearing were steep, imposing rock formations, rising like a natural rampart to protect the inner valley from the outside world.

“The area we came through is the pasture where we keep our wild beasts, and this is our settlement,” Hei Lang explained. “The shape of Beast Valley is like that of a bottle gourd.”
“You mean… the rear of this place is also sealed off by cliffs?” I asked.
“Correct. The far side is a single, immense rock face—a natural fortress that is utterly impenetrable.”

Hei Lang was describing how Beast Valley had just one entrance, making it a perfect defensive position.
But that only applied to conflicts with people.
Against a horde of flesh-eating ants—
They were like rats trapped in a sealed container.

‘This feels wrong. We need to clarify the situation and leave.’
The mood was foreboding, but since our task was only to alert them and be on our way, all should be well provided they evacuated promptly.

With that thought, I accompanied Hei Lang into the largest structure.
A round table dominated the center of the room.
At its head sat a man of enormous stature, lounging comfortably against a chair draped with a tiger skin. His build was mountainous, his muscles suggesting a lifetime of grappling with powerful animals.
On either side of his chair, two black panthers sat, growling softly in our direction.

—Grrrrr…
Beside him were several men and women, each with their own companion beast—wolves, leopards, and a large eagle perched on a wooden stand.

“Welcome. I am Meng Hu, Palace Lord of the Beast Palace. And these are my Elders.”
Meng Hu’s gaze drifted toward Yohwa, who remained behind me, the silk thread still in her hand.
When he perceived that she was mute, he simply nodded in acknowledgment.
“She does not speak? I understand. You are welcome here nonetheless. However, given the circumstances outside, you must forgive our lack of formal hospitality.”
“Please, think nothing of it,” I replied, returning his salute before taking a seat.

Instead of tea, a tray was soon placed before us, containing the pulverized remains of several ants.
A few of the army ants had been caught and crushed—their bodies now displayed for examination.

Meng Hu leaned forward, his expression dark as he studied the gruesome samples.
“What precisely are these things, and what brings them here in such numbers?”
I nodded and began recounting the events.
“We journeyed to Yunnan originally to capture venomous creatures.”
“Hm… The Tang Clan has been known to travel to Yunnan for poisonous beasts. This I am aware of. Continue.”
“We first went to a location known as Venomous Creatures Valley, but when we arrived, it was completely empty of life.”
Meng Hu’s frown deepened.
“Not a single creature remained?”
“Not merely the venomous ones—every living thing was gone. No insects, no small animals. Our initial thought was that some massive poisonous entity had eradicated them all.
But as we searched the barren land, we discovered these insects.
We have been tracking them ever since, to this very place.”

Meng Hu picked up one of the shattered ants, his face grim.
“This is undoubtedly an ant… but I have never encountered one of such size.”
“We hadn’t either,” I confirmed. “We have called them Army Ants for their disciplined, marching formation.”
“Army Ants…”
Meng Hu turned the name over in his mind before his focus intensified.
“The Tang Clan possesses far greater knowledge of poisons and venomous beings than we do. From your expert perspective, what is our course of action?”

‘What should you do? Escape, of course.’
A single ant was insignificant—a trivial insect.
But an ant colony was a force of nature.
They felt no fear, held no hesitation, and would overwhelm anything in their path, driven only by chemical commands.
Against such a swarm, there was just one logical choice: evacuate.

“You must evacuate this valley before sunrise,” I stated firmly.
“During the night, the ants are dormant, but at first light, they will begin their invasion of Beast Valley.”
In my previous life, even native tribes would abandon their homes when army ants marched through.
And those were ordinary-sized ants.
With creatures of this magnitude, running was the sole sensible strategy.

“Evacuate?” Meng Hu repeated.
Before he could say more, several Elders erupted in furious opposition.
“Evacuate!? Abandon our home of three centuries!?”
“You expect us to run from insects!?”
“Their mandibles may be sharp, but any man with a club could smash them! To flee is an overreaction—”

I sighed inwardly.
They hadn’t seen it for themselves.
If they had witnessed how those ants stripped a living deer to the bone, they wouldn’t be speaking this way.

I pressed on urgently, hoping to persuade them before it was too late.
“These ants do not assault buildings or objects—only living creatures.
However, as Lord Hei Lang stated, this valley has a single entrance.
If that entrance is blocked, there will be no way out.
I urge you in the strongest terms to evacuate before the situation becomes irreversible.”

Just then, one of the female Elders let out a derisive laugh.
“If by five hundred Flying Wolves, you mean five hundred wolves, then those wolves will all be devoured by the army ants in an instant.”

The female Elder narrowed her eyes, as if I had gravely insulted her lineage.
“Are you mocking the Flying Wolves of the Southern Barbarian Beast Palace!? Palace Lord, grant me permission to teach this Central Plains whelp a lesson with the Thousand Wolves Annihilation technique!”

Simultaneously, my sister’s anxious voice echoed in my mind.
[So-ryong, that was impolite!]

I glanced around. The Beast Palace Lord’s expression had also cooled considerably. I quickly rose and offered a formal salute, speaking before the confrontation could worsen.
“I intended no disrespect. I have heard that the Southern Barbarian Beast Palace holds its beasts in the highest regard. If the creatures you have raised and cared for were to be injured or killed, would that not be a truly profound tragedy?”
“These army ants feel no fear and will not release their grip once they bite. Even in victory, your losses would be catastrophic.”

The female Elder scoffed again, her face full of contempt.
“Hah! Central Plains folk are famed for their cold hearts, eating the very dogs they keep as pets, and now you pretend to be concerned about the beasts we love?”

‘Wait—this woman… I may raise different animals, but we are the same at heart!’
If she had insulted me on another matter, I might have let it pass. But to question my devotion to my own companions?
That, I could not overlook.
It was an assault on my core identity.

I turned to the Elder, my voice steady and resolute.
“I find that remark deeply offensive. I, Wei So-ryong, swear on my honor that every word I have spoken is true, and I will demonstrate it to you.”
“Demonstrate it?”
“Hmph, demonstrate it?”
The Beast Palace Lord tilted his head, intrigued, while the female Elder released another scornful laugh.

I rolled up my sleeves and spoke clearly.
“Come, my children.”
—Ssshhh…
—Kuu-kuk?
At my call, the creatures concealed within my robes and my sister’s skirt emerged.
Cho, Hyang, Bin, Seol, and Bing climbed up to my shoulders, their small eyes glinting in the torchlight.
Yohwa, who had kept her main form hidden, finally revealed herself fully.
—Kiiit!

Shocked gasps filled the chamber.
“Wha… what is this!? Five Venomous Insects!?”
“A Stone Lizard!?”
“A human-sized Spider Wasp!?”

With familiar grace, Cho slid along my arm, winding around my wrist before ascending to perch atop my head.
I smiled and spoke with calm assurance.
“These little ones are my companions. If they were to be hurt, I would feel the same anguish you would feel for your Flying Wolves.”

The female Elder, who had been mocking me moments before, now stared in utter disbelief.
“Th-Those creatures…?”
Seeing her shock, I gave her a respectful but firm smile.
“Creatures? I believe you misheard.
These are my companion venomous beasts.
They each have a name, so please do not refer to them as mere things.”

A pleased smile spread across the Beast Palace Lord’s face, and he nodded as if satisfied.
Meanwhile, the other Elders—who had been wary of us—suddenly regarded us with softened expressions.
After all, those who love their animals can always recognize one of their own.