Fabre in Sacheon’s Tang

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Chapter 3: The Great Heist

“Zziik.”

As the two warm ducks landed on the floor, the designated thief, Gal Ji Hong, tore off one of the duck’s legs with enthusiasm and asked.

His expression said he could no longer hold back.

“Come now, brother, stop stalling and just tell me who it is! I’m about to choke here.”

He must have been anxious since he had promised to fetch the Heavenly Silkworm for his disciple, but countless months had already slipped by without any success.

From what I heard, to extract Heavenly Silk, one must hatch the eggs, feed the larvae, and ensure they grow into cocoons to transform into moths. But without knowing what food to provide, precious caterpillars kept dying.

“Ah, you brat, let’s taste it first.”

– Churup.

As I tossed the duck leg into my mouth, the delightful flavor of duck fat overwhelmed me.

With a blissful expression, the Beggar Emperor, Geolhwang, slurped on a duck leg while ripping at another.

“But considering you want to raise Heavenly Silkworms, your disciple must not be lacking in talent, right?”

“Is that so? At first, I was worried about my daughter, but she’s so flexible and smooth that she’ll surely surpass me in her later years.

She’s already managing most of the tasks for me. This time, it was she who stole the artisans of the silkworm craft.

Right now, her skills are about eighty percent of mine.”

“Oh ho… If the person you’re talking about is part of the Nine Entrance Gate or the Seven Great Families, will that kid go?”

“Is that so? Isn’t it a great opportunity for her to experience the Nine Entrance Gate or the Seven Great Families? If the person belongs to them, that’s even better!”

At Geolhwang’s response, a fleeting thought sparked in my mind while rolling a duck bone in my mouth.

The Beggar Emperor smiled mischievously and asked.

“If my disciple gets caught while stealing from the Nine Entrance Gate or the Seven Great Families, doesn’t that mean you’ll owe them three wishes?”

“Ah, well, that’s a pact with the Martial Forest, so I must comply. But will that ever happen? They wouldn’t go out of their way to catch me.

Besides, when I take something, I usually give back even more.”

“Still, if you get caught, you’ll have to fulfill that pact, right?”

“That’s correct. But at even eighty percent of my abilities, there’s no way my disciple would get caught. It’s only about bringing something out, not fighting off members of the Nine Entrance Gate.”

As Geolhwang spoke, he nodded, contemplating.

He decided it was time to repay the kid for his kindness.

Honestly, that kid had aided a woman whom Geolhwang had been seeking at all costs.

It was just that the Young Master of the White Dao was involved and, without clear evidence, he couldn’t act.

But now that the issue was neatly resolved, it was time for a reward.

Hearing from the Martial Forest Alliance, the Dispersing Power Poison he used to defeat those Blood Cult scoundrels was also provided by that kid.

Was that all?

He had been instrumental in recovering the secret techniques of Blood Water Poison Claw, they said!

As a senior of the Martial Forest, it was only fitting to give a reward.

Well, sending over the Yellow Powder Bugs would be a nice gesture too.

Even though Gal Ji Hong was clueless about many things, his talent was remarkable. Helping three times would surely merit something substantial.

With that thought, Geolhwang grinned and slurped on another duck leg.

And when only the bone was left from the second duck, he began to share with Gal Ji Hong.

“Alright, listen well.”

“Ooh. Who is it?”

“I’ll let you know, but since the kid isn’t very old, you must ensure nothing happens to him while he helps you. Understand? Be especially careful when your disciple brings him.”

“Of course, but how young is this kid?”

“Well, I hear he’s just a little over the age of learning, around fifteen.”

“Fifteen? Will he really be of any help?”

“Don’t worry. If it’s that kid, he’ll definitely be of assistance.”

“Eh, but he’s too young!”

“Hey now, if that kid can’t help you, there will be no one in the Central Plains able to assist you. So just make sure that he doesn’t get hurt.”

“But who could be so important that you’re worried about him? Is he the emperor’s son or something?”

Gal Ji Hong tilted his head in puzzlement at my warning.

I tossed a duck bone at his forehead and replied.

“He’s the disciple of the Martial Forest Leader and a member of the Tang Clan.”

“The disciple of Kwonhwang!? No, but Kwonhwang has said he wouldn’t leave a successor! What’s going on? Wait, a member of the Tang Clan?”

With shock evident on Gal Ji Hong’s face regarding Kwonhwang’s disciple, he ripped into the third duck.

“Wow, you brat. Handle him with care.”

“Y-yes, of course. I mean, if Kwonhwang gets mad, that’s terrifying! Should I go myself? What if Yeongryeon messes up?”

Startled by Kwonhwang’s disciple, Gal Ji Hong began to ponder if he should personally handle it.

I admonished him, slightly taken aback.

“Come on! Isn’t that how you raise your disciples? Sometimes you must assign them important tasks to help them grow. If you take everything on yourself, how will they develop? What will the kid think? I never raised my disciple that way.”

“True, if I handle everything, the kid would start feeling insecure about his abilities.”

“That’s it! Just let the kid handle it while you enjoy some drinks with me for a few days.”

“Alright, maybe I will for old times’ sake! Hehehe.”

Gal Ji Hong laughed heartily at my suggestion.

He made one last request.

“By the way, brother, you need to gather good information about the Tang Clan. Got it?”

“Of course! Since your disciple is going, I’ll prepare thoroughly.”

Naturally, I would prepare, but with one significant omission.

I wouldn’t mention a word about the venomous insects present in the Tang Clan.

And when Gal Ji Hong’s letter reached the Tang Clan, I’d quietly send someone to raise the banner of vigilance.

Considering how he carried that centipede with him, it would surely entangle his disciple, making it easier to catch him.

As skillful as he was with poisons, he could keep them from biting too.

*

– Tsut?

– Kisit?

With Hua Eun’s fierce tone, Chao and Yo-hwa let out startled sounds.

It was understandable; being asked to grab anyone they saw at night must have been a shock for these gentle creatures.

They weren’t the types to attack unless protecting themselves or me.

And it wasn’t just them who were surprised; I was equally stunned at being targeted for theft.

Being told someone is coming to steal me meant I might be kidnapped.

With that fear, I turned to the elders with a questioning voice.

“Does Shin Tu really steal people?”

“Sometimes, yes. Shin Tu may take someone for assistance. It’s nothing serious. It’s probably due to regulations—he must steal something for whatever help he needs. It seems he might need your help. What could it be?”

“My help, you say?”

The notion of being eyed by a thief puzzled me, but their answers flowed in.

“If he’s interested in you, it must be because you’re skilled at handling poisons.”

“Ah, right. That makes sense. Without that, why would Shin Tu be looking for me?”

My grandfather and Artisan seemed to agree with my reasoning.

The children around chimed in.

– Tsut tsurut?

– Kisit kisisit?

Chao’s eagerness shone through, “Mom, is it true? Can we really bite? What if it kills them?”

Reconfirming its meaning felt reassuring.

‘Yes, well, if Hua Eun isn’t normal, at least you should be!’

It warmed my heart realizing our children were growing up quite well, even while the perplexed Hua Eun seemed to understand the message as she nodded.

“Wait just a moment. I’ll talk with the elders and then get back to you.”

Clearly furious at the notion of someone stealing me, Hua Eun stifled her anger while insisting to the family elders.

With a determined expression, she spoke.

“Grandfather, Father, Mother, I want to raise the banner of vigilance!”

“The banner, you say?”

“Raising the banner?”

“Oh dear, is Hua Eun really that upset? Well, I can see why… after all, So-ryong is yours.”

The elders looked surprised at the mention of a banner.

They were puzzled about what was happening, watching Hua Eun carefully before she explained, wearing a somewhat chilly smile.

“The banner means the dog’s flag. It’s a flag marked with a dog.”

“A dog-on-a-flag?”

“Yes, the character for dog (戌) looks similar to the character for guarding (戍), so it signifies protection.

When Shin Tu sends a note that he’s coming to steal something, the Nine Entrance Gate and the Seven Great Families have two choices:

Either leave the items exposed and let Shin Tu take them easily, accepting his eventual help.

Or raise the vigilance banner to block him from taking anything.”

“Of course, if we try to block him and fail, we’ll lose what we had with no chance of compensation, but if we succeed, we could ask Shin Tu for three wishes we can’t refuse.”

‘Wait, a thief granting three wishes like a genie from a lamp?’

The absurdity of capturing a thief and gaining three wishes was almost humorous.

However, I realized stopping such a skilled thief wouldn’t be a walk in the park, especially if Shin Tu belonged to the Five Emperors, renowned for their thieving skills and martial prowess.

“Isn’t Shin Tu an exceptional thief and formidable warrior? Do we stand a chance?”

Then, Hua Eun, gripping my arms, added.

“If Shin Tu steals a person, it could take a month, a year, or even a decade to return!” Did So-ryong want to be stolen?

“Ah, uh, no, that’s not it…”

“And just like my mother said, So-ryong is mine. What woman would willingly hand over what’s hers? I’m determined to stop him!”

‘Whoa, making such a bold declaration in front of everyone?’

Stating “he’s mine” felt strangely nice.

Still, my worry remained.

With a tentative voice, I asked, “Has there ever been a family or faction that successfully blocked Shin Tu?”

Hua Eun flinched, twisting her words softly.

“Ah, no.”

Just as I suspected—he was known as Shin Tu for a reason.

He had never been caught, else he wouldn’t be Shin Tu.

I could see the frustration, but I was genuinely worried. What if I made the vow without thinking, only to face the consequences without any compensation?

Hua Eun hugged Chao tighter and said, “But we will definitely catch him. No, we can stop him!”

“How?”

Her conviction made me tilt my head in curiosity as she looked up at Chao.

“Think about it. We have these kids with us, right? No matter how elusive Shin Tu is, he wouldn’t expect these kids to be on guard!”

“Oh ho?”

Upon reflection, her argument was convincing.

Even if Shin Tu was adept at evading eyes, who could outsmart Yo-hwa’s senses, which had spun a web of vigilance throughout the premises, paired with Chao’s keen sight at night?

Besides, if I stayed within the beehive, I could be surrounded by countless Golden Hair Bee Kings even at midnight, along with Bin and Seol-i providing close cover and Hyang ready to spring out if needed?

‘This could be worth a shot!’

It seemed Hua Eun was not merely losing her temper; she was genuinely intelligent about this.

It wasn’t just me who thought this way; even my grandfather, Artisan, and Mother-in-law nodded in agreement.

“Undoubtedly, as Hua Eun said, Shin Tu may know how to evade human attention, but how could he expect these kids to be here?

Ten years ago, I was defeated by that old fox in four hundred seventy-five heists and never became the Poison Emperor, and I must take this chance to smear that old face!

Hahaha.”

“We might just have ourselves a fine fight.”

“This could be fun!”

“The warriors from the Southern Barbarian Beast Palace brought wolves. They will protect So-ryong!”

Meaning, this place was where all sorts of poisons and beasts guarded the Tang Clan, with that straightforward concept akin to leaping into a den of dragons and tigers.

“Raise the vigilance banner over the Nine Entrance Gate! Let’s catch this thief once and for all!”

Thus, the entire Tang Clan united, their resolve crystal clear to capture the thief. The cheerful shout from Mandok God echoed through the shadowy Tang Clan Mountain.