Fabre in Sacheon’s Tang

-Shhhhhhh.

A light drizzle fell over the decaying entrance of an abandoned Taoist temple nestled deep within the tropical jungle. Overgrown vegetation half-smothered the ruins, its unruly presence adding to the eerie charm of the isolated place. Strangely enough, about thirty men approached the temple, their unexpected presence breaking the stillness of the evening.

At their head was a man who seemed to be their leader. He stepped forward, offering a polite clasp of his hands in greeting.

“Young hero, may we take shelter here for the night to avoid the rain?”

I blinked, startled by the sudden arrival of so many strangers. A quick glance at their faces and respectful posture eased some of my initial concerns. Despite my young appearance, they had addressed me with deference, as though I were the caretaker of this crumbling place.

“I’ve only taken residence in this abandoned temple a few years ago. Feel free to stay wherever you like, but that pavilion over there is the one I use. It’d be best to avoid that spot.”

“Much obliged. Such manners in someone so young—impressive. You heard the young hero, everyone. Stay clear of the pavilion and find other spots to shelter. Understood?”

“Yes, Master!”

The large Tang (唐) character embroidered on their chests and the respectful address of “Master” revealed they were likely members of a single prominent family. Though curious about their purpose, I simply offered a small bow to the middle-aged leader and hurried back to my pavilion. It was feeding time for my ”children.”

“Almost missed it, didn’t I? Are you all hungry?”

Entering my room, I lit the oil lamp and began preparing dinner. I opened the lid of a large earthen jar and pushed aside the leaves covering its contents to grab a handful of crickets. Their wriggling movements tickled my palm.

Next, I opened a larger jar and peered inside. There it was—a creature with a broad body and velvety legs, its slightly yellowish hue catching the light. My heart quickened at the sight.

Throwing in several adult crickets, I watched as the tarantula snatched its prey with lightning speed, stuffing its mouth greedily.

“Eat up, Blackie. If it weren’t for you guys, I’d have gone insane in this place.”

Blackie was a Black Earth Tiger Tarantula, a species native to Hainan Island capable of growing up to 20 centimeters in size. I’d caught this one myself, and after two molts, it was now almost 15 centimeters—my pride and joy.

Once I ensured Blackie was eating well, I turned to my other “kids.” Opening an old medicine cabinet, I greeted the inhabitants—Bawangling Cave Geckos. These lizards, with their bright yellow body stripes and distinctive white-striped tails, were another endemic species of Hainan.

“In my past life, importing you guys was a hassle, but here? You’re everywhere. Life’s really something, isn’t it?”

I dangled a cricket by its leg near one of the geckos, teasing it slightly. It lunged, snatching the treat from my hand with a snap.

“Ouch! Hey, not the finger!”

After feeding each of the creatures housed in the cabinet, I heard a voice from outside.

“Young hero, are you in there?”

The voice belonged to the middle-aged man who had introduced himself earlier. Wiping my hands, I quickly shut the cabinet and stepped outside.

The man stood there with a friendly smile. “Thank you for letting us take shelter. I was wondering if you’d care to join us for dinner? We’ve caught some venison.”

“Venison? You mean deer meat?”

“That’s right. We hunted two deer on our way here and thought you might like to share the meal.”

Deer meat. The words alone made my mouth water.

In my past life, eating reptiles and snakes would’ve been unthinkable. But here, those were the only creatures I could hunt for protein. Venison—meat from a four-legged animal—was a rare luxury I couldn’t refuse.

“Thank you! I’d love to join.”

Following the man, I cast a guilty glance toward the patch of ground where I’d buried the bones of snakes and lizards I’d eaten. Sorry, guys… Your big brother needs to survive too.

We arrived at the largest pavilion in the temple ruins, where a fire blazed under the broken roof, casting warm light on the walls. The rich aroma of roasting venison filled the air, and I instinctively swallowed a mouthful of saliva.

The man noticed and chuckled, gesturing to a seat beside him. Embarrassed, I quickly sat down, trying to ignore my rumbling stomach.

“The meat’s not quite ready yet,” he said with a grin. “In the meantime, I’ve got a few questions, if you don’t mind?”

“Ask away, sir,” I replied, figuring it was a small price to pay for a share of the meal.

He started with the usual inquiries. “You live here alone in the mountains? How old are you?”

“About fourteen or fifteen, I think.”

“Fourteen or fifteen?” His puzzled expression made me scratch the back of my head awkwardly.

“I… lost my memory, so I’m not entirely sure.”

“Ah, I see. That’s unfortunate.”

The sympathy in his eyes made me feel a bit guilty, considering the memory loss was a complete lie. I hadn’t lost anything—this was reincarnation.

In my previous life, I had been a streamer with over a million subscribers. My channels on platforms like YouTube, Switch, and AmericaTV focused on showcasing reptiles, spiders, and venomous creatures. My nickname? Spicy Fabre, a nod to the famous entomologist Jean-Henri Fabre.

The reason I’d ended up in this body? A Black Mamba bite.

I’d been filming a special for reaching a million subscribers, showcasing the world’s deadliest snakes. While returning to a shabby African hotel after the shoot, a Black Mamba had slithered out from behind the fridge and bitten me. The venom killed me in less than twenty minutes.

“So, do you live alone here?”

“Yes, I make a living by catching snakes and selling their skins. I don’t have any other skills to rely on.”

“Young hero, catching snakes at your age? That’s far too dangerous…”

The man’s pitying gaze bore into me, and I couldn’t help but sigh inwardly. I felt sorry for myself sometimes—imagine how others must feel when they look at me.

While we talked, a steaming slab of venison was placed before me. I widened my eyes in surprise as the man who brought it over smiled warmly.

“Master, I’ve brought over the cooked portions. The young hero seemed quite hungry earlier.”

Flustered, I felt my cheeks flush again, but I wasn’t about to let embarrassment stop me from accepting such a generous offer. Bowing slightly, I took the meat with gratitude.

“Thank you. It’s been so long since I’ve had meat from a four-legged animal.”

The moment the meat touched my hands, I dug in.

Crunch.How long had it been since I last tasted real meat? Snake meat had its charm, but there was nothing like the richness of four-legged game. The juices dripped down my chin, and the savory fat melted in my mouth, bringing an overwhelming wave of bliss.

Yes, this is what happiness feels like.

In my past life, I might have found the grease too heavy, but here, it was a long-missed luxury. I stripped the bone clean, savoring every morsel, and even found myself sucking on the bone to draw out its flavor.

Just as I was finishing, an elderly man brought over a large rack of venison ribs, handing it to me with a grandfatherly smile.

“You eat well for someone so young. Here, have some more.”

“Thank you, elder.”

“Ha ha, you remind me of my granddaughter back home.”

I was still gnawing at the ribs, savoring the fatty goodness, when the middle-aged man—the one they called Master—spoke up again.

“Young hero, while you eat, let me ask you something. Have you noticed anything unusual in the area recently?”

I licked the grease off the back of my hand and asked, “Unusual? What do you mean exactly?”

The man hesitated, clearly weighing his words, when the elder beside him smiled gently and interjected.

“Master, the young hero was kind enough to grant us shelter. It wouldn’t hurt to share the details with him, especially since he could end up in danger if he’s unaware. After all, he lives alone here in these mountains—there’s no one he could tell.”

The middle-aged man nodded. “You’re right, Father.” Lowering his voice, he turned back to me.

“We’re looking for a centipede with blue markings. Have you seen one nearby? We’ve been searching this area for several days without success.”

“A centipede with blue markings?”

“Yes, a very large one. It’s called the Blue-Spotted Centipede (청반오공). If it’s fully grown, it’s large enough to… well, it could probably swallow someone like you whole.”

“What?!”

A centipede big enough to eat a person? Is this really some ancient version of the world, or am I in a completely different universe? I need to see this thing for myself.

The thought of encountering such a massive creature sent a shiver of excitement through me.

The elder must have misinterpreted my reaction because he patted me on the shoulder and said reassuringly, “Don’t worry, young hero. We’re here to capture it.”

Capture it? There are people in this era who share my interests?

My excitement at the idea of meeting fellow enthusiasts overshadowed my nervousness. If these people were hobbyists like me, perhaps I could form a community with them—exchange breeding tips, share collection sites, maybe even boast a little.

After all, sharing your passion with others is one of the greatest joys of any hobby.

“Are you planning to capture it alive?” I asked eagerly.

The two men exchanged amused glances before bursting into laughter.

“Capture it alive? What a funny young man you are,” the elder chuckled.

“Indeed. No, we plan to use it for medicinal purposes,” the Master explained.

And just like that, my enthusiasm evaporated.

Ah, so they’re just another pair of superstitious old-timers. In my past life, centipedes were often touted as miracle cures for back pain or other ailments, despite there being zero scientific evidence to support those claims. Poor centipedes…

I sighed inwardly, already picturing this rare creature meeting a pointless end. Still, I decided to probe further. If there was even a chance of finding such a specimen, I needed to intervene before it was too late.

“Centipedes don’t really have medicinal properties,” I said cautiously.

The elder’s expression grew somber, and his voice took on a sorrowful tone.

“That may be true, but my granddaughter is gravely ill. We believe the centipede’s core is the only thing that can save her.”

His granddaughter? That would make her the Master’s daughter. I glanced at the middle-aged man, whose strained smile revealed the depth of his worry.

I see… It’s not about logic or evidence. When someone you love is on the brink of death, you’ll do anything to save them.

I could sympathize. In my past life, I’d once spent 500,000 won on veterinary bills to save a dying lizard I’d bought for just 20,000 won.

Though I pitied the centipede, I couldn’t ignore the kindness these men had shown me.

“I haven’t seen the centipede, but I might know where to find it,” I said finally.

If it existed, it was bound to be in the palm of Spicy Fabre’s hand sooner or later.