Fabre in Sacheon’s Tang

There was no way I could ask Elder Punggae any more questions.

He was swamped, giving orders to the beggars who were coming at him one after another.

”Still no communication from the direction of Shaanxi?”

”No, sir. It seems it hasn’t arrived yet.”

”It should have gotten here by now! What’s taking them so long? Are they slacking off somewhere even though they said it was urgent!? Check when they passed through Hangu Pass!”

”Yes, Branch Leader!”

”Branch Leader! A message just arrived from the Shandong branch!”

”Oh. Hand it over.”

It was clear he was overwhelmingly busy because of the task I had given him.

While Hwa-eun and I exchanged a curious glance, one of the beggars who had disappeared into the huts earlier returned, carrying something in his hands.

”Here it is, Young Master.”

”Ah, thank you.”

The beggar from the Beggars’ Union handed me a bundle of papers, roughly tied together with a string, looking like they had been hastily patched and bound despite being wrinkled and tattered.

The moment I accepted the bundle, the beggar warned me:

”Please burn the report after reading. Make sure it doesn’t leak elsewhere.”

”Ah, of course. Thank you.”

I nodded solemnly at his serious expression and immediately opened the first page of the bundle.

I had been too curious about what kind of matter concerning millipedes this could be — and it seemed I wasn’t the only one.

Even though I hadn’t said anything, Hwa-eun leaned her head on my shoulder.

As she did, I caught the scent of her sweet fragrance.

Hngh. Smells good.

When I turned my head and met her gaze, then shifted my eyes back to the paper—

A dry cough came from nearby.

”Ahem. You should look over that in a more private place, the two of you.”

Ah, crap. I got too curious...

We had been warned not to leak anything, and yet we opened it right there on the spot. Of course, they would be annoyed.

Exchanging awkward smiles with Hwa-eun, I hurried to apologize.

”Ah, I’m sorry. It’s my first time receiving something like this from the Beggars’ Union, and I was just too curious. We’ll go back and read it properly.”

”I’d appreciate that.”

Apologizing promptly, I made up my mind to head back immediately.

I was just too curious about the contents.

”Hwa-eun, shall we head back?”

”Yes, So-ryong.”

After saying goodbye to Elder Punggae — who merely waved a hand at me while whispering something into another beggar’s ear — I respectfully saluted him with a bow behind his back and tucked the bundle into my chest.

We left the bridge and walked along the riverside, where the sun was setting, heading back toward the harbor.

Once the bridge was far behind us, Hwa-eun tilted her head curiously and asked:

”So-ryong, what could this matter concerning millipedes be?”

She must have been too impatient to wait until we returned to the ship.

I stroked my chin, deep in thought, when something suddenly came to mind.

Something I had completely forgotten.

”Well... a Taoist and millipedes? Ah! There’s one thing that comes to mind... Could it be that?”

”What is it?”

”Well, you see...”

It seemed I needed to tell Hwa-eun an old story—or rather, a story from the future.

***

There was no way I could ask Elder Punggae any more questions.

He was swamped, giving orders to the beggars who were coming at him one after another.

”Still no communication from the direction of Shaanxi?”

”No, sir. It seems it hasn’t arrived yet.”

”It should have gotten here by now! What’s taking them so long? Are they slacking off somewhere even though they said it was urgent!? Check when they passed through Hangu Pass!”

”Yes, Branch Leader!”

”Branch Leader! A message just arrived from the Shandong branch!”

”Oh. Hand it over.”

It was clear he was overwhelmingly busy because of the task I had given him.

While Hwa-eun and I exchanged a curious glance, one of the beggars who had disappeared into the huts earlier returned, carrying something in his hands.

”Here it is, Young Master.”

”Ah, thank you.”

The beggar from the Beggars’ Union handed me a bundle of papers, roughly tied together with a string, looking like they had been hastily patched and bound despite being wrinkled and tattered.

The moment I accepted the bundle, the beggar warned me:

”Please burn the report after reading. Make sure it doesn’t leak elsewhere.”

”Ah, of course. Thank you.”

I nodded solemnly at his serious expression and immediately opened the first page of the bundle.

I had been too curious about what kind of matter concerning millipedes this could be — and it seemed I wasn’t the only one.

Even though I hadn’t said anything, Hwa-eun leaned her head on my shoulder.

As she did, I caught the scent of her sweet fragrance.

Hngh. Smells good.

When I turned my head and met her gaze, then shifted my eyes back to the paper—

A dry cough came from nearby.

”Ahem. You should look over that in a more private place, the two of you.”

Ah, crap. I got too curious...

We had been warned not to leak anything, and yet we opened it right there on the spot. Of course, they would be annoyed.

Exchanging awkward smiles with Hwa-eun, I hurried to apologize.

”Ah, I’m sorry. It’s my first time receiving something like this from the Beggars’ Union, and I was just too curious. We’ll go back and read it properly.”

”I’d appreciate that.”

Apologizing promptly, I made up my mind to head back immediately.

I was just too curious about the contents.

”Hwa-eun, shall we head back?”

”Yes, So-ryong.”

After saying goodbye to Elder Punggae — who merely waved a hand at me while whispering something into another beggar’s ear — I respectfully saluted him with a bow behind his back and tucked the bundle into my chest.

We left the bridge and walked along the riverside, where the sun was setting, heading back toward the harbor.

Once the bridge was far behind us, Hwa-eun tilted her head curiously and asked:

”So-ryong, what could this matter concerning millipedes be?”

She must have been too impatient to wait until we returned to the ship.

I stroked my chin, deep in thought, when something suddenly came to mind.

Something I had completely forgotten.

”Well... a Taoist and millipedes? Ah! There’s one thing that comes to mind... Could it be that?”

”What is it?”

”Well, you see...”

It seemed I needed to tell Hwa-eun an old story—or rather, a story from the future.

***

At the westernmost edge of Mount Song, where the Shaolin Temple sat, there was a small village.

The villagers called it Sosang Village.

It was a tiny place with barely a hundred households, but the people there held immense pride in their home.

The name Sosang, meaning ”small appearance,” had been given by a revered monk of Shaolin a hundred years ago, to commemorate the village’s birth under the temple’s protection.

”What should we do, Village Chief?”

In the small Sosang Village, Village Chief Gu-gil rubbed his chin with a troubled expression as the herb gatherer asked him the question.

It was the end of the autumn harvest, so there was a bit of breathing room—but it seemed like this would cost much more than he had expected.

”Hngh... Three silver pieces, you said?”

”Yes, Village Chief.”

”That’s not a small amount.”

”Indeed. But look at the state of the village...”

”Does it actually work?”

”Yes. The neighboring village of Gaoae by the river saw real results. The Taoist went there and cleared everything out. Fisherwoman So personally witnessed it, so it’s reliable.”

Originally, Sosang Village was not this small.

Back when the Yi River flowed directly by, it was the largest village in the region.

It had been a flourishing fishing village, teeming with people who lived off the river.

But thirty years ago, a massive flood had changed the river’s course, and most of the villagers moved to Gaoae Village, which had sprung up along the new waterway.

Now, Sosang Village was left with only a handful of herb gatherers scraping by.

Naturally, any big expense had to be carefully considered.

Gathering herbs was at the mercy of heaven; some days ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) you found nothing, no matter how long you searched.

”If we just wait a bit longer, winter will come. Could we not manage until then?”

Тhe herb gatherer shook his head.

”How could we survive till winter like this?”

”I thought so...”

”Yes. It’s expensive, but people must live. Otherwise, someone might end up abandoning the village to move to Gaoae. Didn’t Gwak, who married his daughter off to Gaoae, say he wouldn’t come back until this matter is resolved?”

Village Chief Gu-gil made up his mind.

He thought to himself that they would just have to tighten their belts this winter.

As the herb gatherer said, survival came first. They couldn’t abandon the village over something like this.

They hadn’t left when the river changed course—how could they abandon it now?

”Very well. We’ll do it. We’ll sell the twenty-year-old fleeceflower root we were saving for winter.”

”Understood. I’ll go to Gaoae and sell it, and bring back the Taoist.”

”Go ahead. I’ll fetch it from the storage.”

”Yes, Village Chief.”

With a heavy sigh, Gu-gil headed for the village storehouse.

It was a small cave dug into the hillside.

He unlocked the rusty padlock—a purchase from years ago—and stepped inside.

There, deep inside, sat a large herb chest.

–Click.

He opened it and revealed the massive fleeceflower root, thick as a sweet potato.

They had found it a few months ago while gathering herbs, and had agreed to save it until winter, when its value would rise.

It wasn’t some legendary elixir sought by martial artists, but with its size and quality, it would fetch at least five silver pieces without trouble.

”Here. Take it.”

”Yes, Village Chief.”

Gu-gil carefully repacked the root with moss and cloth, securing it tightly.

Then, he hoisted it onto his back and silently left the village with the herb gatherer, heading straight for Gaoae.

The Taoist was said to be there.

***

The fishy stench of drying fish filled the air in Gaoae Village, which they reached after two hours of walking.

Back when Gu-gil was a child, that smell was also familiar in Sosang Village.

Back then, this place had just been a grassy field.

The saying that a mulberry field could become a blue sea was true in every way.

While Gu-gil was lost in memories, the salty breeze in his nose, the herb gatherer’s voice broke his train of thought.

”Chief, shouldn’t we go to the herb merchant first?”

”Yes, we should.”

”Then let’s head to Merchant Hwang’s shop.”

”Let’s do that.”

Merchant Hwang’s herb shop had always been the go-to for the people of Sosang. He not only paid fair prices, but when winter ended and food was scarce, he would lend money in advance in exchange for spring herbs.

So whenever a major deal was involved, the herb gatherers of Sosang always came to Merchant Hwang.

”Excuse us!”

When they entered the shop, the workers seemed to be busy in the back courtyard. All they saw was Merchant Hwang, dozing at the counter.

As soon as he saw Gu-gil enter, his face lit up with joy.

”Churup... Oh, well, look who it is! Chief Gu, what brings you all the way here?”

It was clear he was pleased — whenever Gu-gil showed up in person, it meant a major transaction.

He had always come himself when there was something valuable to sell.

”A fine herb finally came into our hands...”

”Really? Let’s not stand around. Come this way — I’ll bring out tea.”

”Much appreciated, Merchant Hwang.”

After settling at the table and sipping some tea, Merchant Hwang clasped his hands together and asked:

”So, what have you brought?”

He didn’t even wait for the herb gatherer’s cup to empty — he clearly wanted to see what it was right away.

Gu-gil, who had carried it on his back the whole way, placed the herb box on the table and slid it over.

”Take a look. It’s fleeceflower root. Seems to be over twenty years old.”

”Fleeceflower? A twenty-year root!? Let me see.”

–Rustle. Rustle.

Carefully peeling back the moss covering the root, he revealed an impressively thick fleeceflower that certainly looked over twenty years old.

With a delighted expression, Merchant Hwang inspected it from all angles.

After examining it thoroughly, he smiled and asked:

”Oho. This is top quality. How about seven silver pieces for it?”

Hearing that, both Gu-gil and the herb gatherer’s eyes widened.

They had hoped for five silver at best — with seven, even after paying the Taoist three, they would still have four left.

There was nothing to think about.

Merchant Hwang wasn’t the type to swindle, so Gu-gil nodded immediately.

”Very good, Merchant Hwang. Let’s do that.”

”All right, I’ll fetch the money right away.”

Feeling cheerful after receiving more than expected, Gu-gil and the herb gatherer left the shop and headed to the giru of Gaoae Village.

Though they called it a giru, it wasn’t some tall, multi-storied tower — just a building slightly larger than an inn.

Gaoae wasn’t a big enough place for a grand structure like that.

Standing outside the giru with the name ”Gaoae Pavilion” on the signboard, Gu-gil sent the herb gatherer forward to grab one of the attendants.

”Hey, is the Taoist Master Taiheo here?”

The attendant looked him up and down, then silently held out a hand.

Clearly asking for a tip if he wanted answers.

The herb gatherer suppressed a scowl and pulled a coin from his money pouch hidden near his thigh, slipping it into the attendant’s hand.

The man tucked it away and finally spoke.

”He’s inside. What do you want?”

”We’ve come to request his help with a matter.”

”Hmm. Follow me.”

Following the attendant through the back door of the giru, they passed through a rear courtyard and reached what seemed to be a separate annex.

From inside, they could hear women’s laughter.

”Kyaah! Taoist Master, you mustn’t!”

”Oh-ho! This won’t do. I’ll need to use my talisman. Urgently now, by the law—strip!”

”Kyaah! Oh no, my clothes are falling off on their own!”

Gu-gil and the herb gatherer stared at each other, flustered.

The attendant discreetly called inside.

”Taoist Master, some people have come to request your services.”

”What!? Guests?”

The laughter stopped abruptly, and rustling sounds followed.

A moment later, the Taoist emerged, his robe thrown on hastily, clearly in a panic.

”Oh dear. More visitors? I don’t know which village you’re from, but let me guess — your place is also overrun with millipedes, and the stench is unbearable?”

Behind him, talismans clung to the bare arms and legs of the courtesans.

Seeing the scene inside, Gu-gil shook off his embarrassment and nodded quickly.

”Y-yes, that’s right, Taoist Master. We’ve come to ask for your help.”

With a confident smile, the Taoist replied:

”Ah, I see. Well, come on then. If I use my talismans, those millipedes will scatter in no time.”

As he spoke, he peeled the talismans off the courtesans and tucked them into his robe.