Fabre in Sacheon’s Tang

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Spider Thread 4

“Is Eun-i really alive!?”

“Yes, of course. Check for yourself.”

Nangong Seol, who had drawn her sword believing her younger sister was dead, rushed to her sibling’s side upon hearing the news.

After checking Nangong Eun’s pulse, she urgently asked, “But why has this happened? Why can’t she move at all?”

“It seems she’s been paralyzed by the lord’s poison.”

“Poison!? Then isn’t that a big deal!? Is there no antidote, no way to cure her!?”

Though I responded nonchalantly, Nangong Seol looked shocked and asked me again.

Her eyes widened at the mention of poison, which is something that terrifies ordinary people.

Seeing her panicked expression, my older sister placed a hand on Nangong Seol’s shoulder and explained.

“No, Nangong Seol, it’s simply a paralysis; she should be fine in a day or two. The people who went missing probably came back in the same time frame for similar reasons.”

“Is that really true?”

“Yes, if it had been a lethal poison, she’d be dead by now. You can trust my words as a member of the Tang Clan. Had it been extreme poison, it would not only immobilize her but also trigger strange symptoms in her body.”

Nangong Seol’s expression relaxed only after my sister, an expert on poisons, reassured her.

Once again adjusting her younger sister’s body, Nangong Seol turned her gaze back to me, the spider.

Her icy glare fell upon the spider that resembled her own form.

The trembling tip of the sword she was gripping tightly likely reflected the humiliation and disgrace she had suffered because of that creature.

‘I must stop her from causing a scene, before she reacts recklessly.’

Even though I claimed ownership, the indignation I felt from the spider made it necessary to caution her once more.

“Little One, considering everything that has happened…”

But just as I started, I heard my sister’s voice cutting me off.

She stepped in and assured me, “So-ryong, let me handle this.”

With her telepathic communication, I stopped talking and nodded slightly.

Then, she exchanged subtle glances with me before continuing to speak to Nangong Seol while keeping her hand on her shoulder.

“You might want to kill that thing out of anger, but if you do, it will forever eliminate any chance of clearing your name, Nangong Seol.”

“What do you mean it will disappear?”

“This spider can imitate a person’s face and body, but there’s no guarantee that the transformation will break if it dies, right? If it dies here, and its form is revealed, it will forever erase any chance of clearing your name.”

“Think about it. You need to take it back and show it to your clan; that’s the only way to vindicate you. It must be shown to the villagers too to completely eliminate those absurd rumors.”

“Ugh…”

Nangong Seol trembled and lowered her sword, realizing my sister’s words were spot on.

‘What a logical reasoning! Truly, my sister is smart!’

Hearing my sister’s suggestions made me recognize the plausibility of the situation.

There was no guarantee that the spider’s form wouldn’t remain the same after dying.

Of course, there was also a chance that it could retain Nangong Seol’s likeness, but if it did, that was definitely not what she wanted.

Although I documented the evidence to prove her innocence to the clan members, there was no way to quell the village’s suspicions or swirling rumors stemming from the mark on her upper chest.

Thus, victims had been kept almost forcibly detained in the guest room of the Nangong Clan, and losing any way to prove her innocence would doom her.

My eloquent sister then emphasized the part I still wanted to discuss.

“And that spider was captured by So-ryong. It was So-ryong who obtained the spirit medicine that would be given to you, and it was So-ryong who saved your life while capturing it to clear your name. Surely, you won’t unsheathe your sword recklessly, right? The decision of whether to take its life or spare it lies with So-ryong.”

With that clever point, my sister pressed Nangong Seol while giving her an opportunity to reflect on it.

Leaving the matter in So-ryong’s hands was undoubtedly wise, making me admire my sister for her effective handling of the situation.

‘Looks like I’m really attracted to intelligent older women.’

Lost in thought at my sister’s words, Nangong Seol soon replied with an expression of reluctance but acceptance.

“I understand. Since I owe you a great deal already, I can’t be ungrateful. What are you planning to do with it, though?”

Though she was asking what we would do with that creature, there was only one answer.

“So-ryong intends to keep it alive and take it to the Tang Clan.”

“You mean we’re taking that thing to the Tang Clan!?”

Startled by the idea of bringing the spider, Nangong Seol instantly questioned, nodding her head eagerly.

“Yes, it’s cute, isn’t it?”

“C-cute!?”

Nangong Seol blushed in surprise at my word, suddenly unable to make eye contact and looking flustered. She began seeking my sister’s approval.

My sister held her shoulders and made her look her in the eye, shaking her head.

It was a gesture indicating “Don’t misunderstand.”

“When So-ryong said it was cute, it wasn’t about how it looked like Nangong Seol. It means that this creature itself is cute. With its unique abilities and a soft red body, it’s cute, that’s what they were discussing… Ha…”

‘Of course, that’s what it means.’

My sister explained, slightly exasperated, and Nangong Seol felt sorry for her, gently patting her shoulder.

‘Why? What’s wrong?’

*

The next morning, Nangong Seol, accompanied by warriors from the Nangong Clan, transported the spider and Nangong Eun back to Nangong’s residence.

As they pulled the spider on a cart into the Nangong Clan, the onlookers were shocked.

The shocked faces of clan warriors and family members reflected the sight of the spider still sprawled on the cart.

“The lord has taken on the lady’s appearance!”

“It’s definitely a shape-shifting being!”

“This creature has imitated the lady’s likeness, without a doubt!”

Even the Clan Head of Nangong was furious when he saw the spider’s form.

“How dare it steal my daughter’s appearance and insult her!”

Like father like daughter, drawing their swords simultaneously in outrage, both were equally intense.

My sister glanced at me and stepped in front of the Clan Head.

“Clan Head Nangong, this creature was captured by So-ryong…”

Repeating the explanation she’d given to Nangong Seol, the Clan Head lowered his sword upon looking around.

After nodding, the Clan Head said, “If everything you’ve said is true, it means you’ve saved my daughters’ lives and honor. The Nangong Clan will never forget this grace, and we will act as So-ryong sees fit.”

‘Wow, my sister is impressive!’

There’s an old saying: if a man listens to three women—his mother, wife, and a navigator—his life will be easy.

It seemed like everything would smoothly unfold.

But then came a little caveat from the Clan Head at the end of his statement.

“However, that is unacceptable.”

His finger pointed toward the cart carrying the spider.

Specifically, it indicated the spider that had imitated Nangong Seol’s face.

Yeah, while I held ownership over the spider, it appeared that the matter of Nangong Seol’s likeness was a different issue altogether.

*

The Clan Head’s concern was valid.

If that spider were to cross into the Tang Clan still resembling his daughter and somehow managed to escape or cause any trouble, then his daughter would unwittingly become embroiled in another scandal.

Thus, he was asking if we could ensure the spider would take on a different form before taking it with us.

“If that creature has stolen my daughter’s likeness, could it not take on another appearance? How can I just let it go looking like my daughter? I never want to endure the suspicion of my own child again!”

To be honest, even I would feel uneasy if just one photograph of me surfaced; let alone a shape-shifting creature with my daughter’s face wandering around—who’d feel comfortable with that?

Therefore, I couldn’t ignore the polite request he made.

‘How could I have overlooked the issue of likeness rights…?’

In the weapon training area of the Nangong Clan, within a sturdy wooden cage, the still-dazed spider hung limply.

In order to discover if the spider could change its face or form, it needed to wake up, but it still lay asleep.

While I stared at it from the shadows, onlookers approached to gawk at the limp spider.

“Is that creature truly mimicking the lady!?”

“It looks just like her! No wonder people would misunderstand.”

“See! What did I say! I told you, Nangong Seol wouldn’t do such a thing!”

The spectators now surrounding the spider were all villagers.

The reason village folk had flooded into the Nangong Clan’s training area was that rumors had spread they had captured the culprit responsible for a series of disappearances since yesterday’s lunch.

With many witnesses, it wouldn’t take long for the rumors to clear up, ensuring that the poor reputation of Nangong Seol would dissipate quickly.

While the crowd was watching the spider,

“That creature is just a monster!”

One excited man gathered a stone and tried to throw it at the spider.

Gu Pae quickly leaped to intercept him.

“What do you think you’re doing! This is a creature captured by the Tang Clan. How dare you mar the Tang Clan’s property!”

“Yikes! I-I’m so sorry, sir!”

It was already the third incident.

Why do villagers love throwing stones at my spider so much? Thankfully, the Venomous Insect Team stationed around did prevent it from getting hurt.

“Gu Pae, it seems everyone has seen enough. We shouldn’t let anyone else in, or this creature might get hurt.”

“Shall we forbid further entry, then?”

“That sounds best. I will speak with the Clan Head about this and arrange for no further viewers.”

Feeling that the audience should no longer be allowed, we reached an agreement to return to the Clan Head to notify him.

At the entrance of the training area, a slight commotion was occurring.

“Cough cough! Um, can I just take a quick look?”

“Old man, I’m sorry, but we’ve been ordered not to let anyone in.”

“But just for a moment! Cough cough!”

“Oh no, I can’t let you through.”

As I approached, I noticed an old man was arguing with Gu Pae.

“What’s going on, Gu Pae?”

“Oh, So-ryong. It’s just that the old man keeps insisting on seeing the creature even though I told him no.”

He looked frail, clearly struggling to get far to see it.

I intervened with Gu Pae, “Just let him see it. He seems to have traveled a long way with his sick body.”

“Very well, then. I’ll allow it. Since you, my lord, have given permission, please come just for a moment.”

“Thank you, sir.”

As Gu Pae stepped aside, the old man approached slowly.

He gazed at the spider for a long while before turning to Gu Pae, asking, “But what will happen now? Are they really going to kill it, just as people are saying?”

Initially, we had informed people that we’d execute the creature, but there was no need to lie to this old man.

I stepped forward and answered in place of Gu Pae, “No way! It’s a precious creature. We plan to take it to Sichuan and raise it well.”

The old man looked slightly shocked by my words.

With a face filled with disbelief, he questioned, “But how can you do that to such a monster?”

“A monster? It’s just a mere creature. The way it eats is peculiar, but what it does is part of heaven’s design. It’s not its fault.”

At my words, the old man widened his eyes, observing us again.

“I’ve never met anyone who thinks like you.”

He came closer, knelt down, and patted the spider’s head, which was really a true spider’s head, not Nangong Seol’s face imitated.

“The child’s name is Yo-hwa. I lost my whole family to a plague and fell into despair when I took it in, the same size as my fist, from the mountains. I raised it for twenty years.”

“I learned that if you give it Yang energy, it will become the most beautiful person the one who gives it thinks of.”

The old man, unexpectedly conveying the information I wanted to know, kept stroking the spider’s head before looking up at me.

“But now that my strength has faded, I can no longer give it Yang energy, and that has caused this situation. It has been a terrible act against your daughter. Please take care of Yo-hwa well.”

I thought it was merely a wild creature, but it had been domesticated.

Domesticated creatures are often stronger and more obedient than wild ones.

Nodding my head at the old man’s words, I replied, “Thank you for the offering… No, don’t worry. I will raise it well.”

What I thought was a capture turned out to be a transfer of custody.

Having officially been given ownership, I thought I must nurture it well.

Yet one question nagged at me.

‘How exactly do I give it Yang energy?’