Fabre in Sacheon’s Tang

“Oh, you mean the Immortal of Herbs? I’ve heard about him through my father-in-law.”

“Yes. He’ll arrive this evening—he’s my disciple.”

If he was the Immortal of Herbs, then he was the one my father-in-law mentioned whenever he brought up the Immortal of Medicine.

Judging by the way he was always referenced alongside the Immortal of Medicine, he must be of comparable skill, which meant he wasn’t a bad choice, at least in terms of qualifications.

However, there was something that concerned me, so I asked the Immortal of Medicine again.

“Then are you saying we need to use decoctions?”

“Yes. Pills or decoctions would be best. If it’s really urgent, you could try using medicinal acupuncture like you said, but treating it with pills or decoctions would be more appropriate. That’s the usual treatment for pulmonary inflammation.”

Though not entirely sure, it was true that even in my previous life, pneumonia was typically treated with antibiotics—either taken orally or injected.

But what I was most concerned about was whether Elder Geumdo could ingest anything at all.

Considering that most spirit beasts don’t eat food, it seemed wise to check if Elder Geumdo could actually consume food or medicine.

After all, spirit beasts usually don’t eat.

When Cho, Hyang, and Bini’s biological mother entrusted them to me, she had said they might eat, but even if they didn’t, it didn’t matter.

Because they consumed Qi.

That’s why Cho, Hyang, and Bini—and most spirit beasts in general—didn’t eat actual food.

It would be best to just ask him directly.

“Just a moment, Elder. Most spirit beasts don’t eat, so I need to check if he can take medicine.”

“He doesn’t eat?”

“Yes, because they absorb the energy of nature directly.”

“Hoho...”

As the Immortal of Medicine stared at the children in fascination upon hearing they lived solely on Qi, I made a request to the kids.

“Can one of you go ask Elder Geumdo if it’s okay for him to eat some grass or herbs?”

—Chrrr!

At my request, Hyang immediately chirped back, then darted through the bamboo and scampered off toward where Elder Geumdo’s head lay.

A moment later, Bini’s voice echoed in my head.

『“—Chrrt! (Dad, he eats! He says he eats grass and even rocks!)”

“Rocks? For minerals, maybe? Like for his shell? Got it. Thanks, Hyang.”』

Relieved that he could ingest things, I replied with a bright expression.

“Good news—he says he can eat.”

“Hoho, that is good news indeed. By the way, you can communicate with spirit beasts?”

“Oh, yes. I raised those children myself from when they were young. For other spirit beasts, I talk to them through these three.”

“It’s amazing that you ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) can understand the language of spirit beasts.”

Hearing that I could speak with spirit beasts, the Immortal of Medicine looked at me with genuine curiosity.

Then, right at that moment, Hwa-eun’s voice chimed in.

“You said you arranged to meet with the Immortal of Herbs?”

In response to Hwa-eun’s question, the Immortal of Medicine nodded.

“Yes, Hwa-eun. I was heading to a small village in Unghyeon, Hebei. I heard the entire village is suffering from anemia.”

“Unghyeon in Hebei?”

Hwa-eun looked at me, reacting to the name.

And with her gaze and the Immortal of Medicine’s answer, I suddenly remembered something I had completely forgotten.

Something that punk Lee Tae from the River Patrol Gang, one of my flunkies, had reported.

He had compiled some information and told me about it, but I’d dismissed it as useless and tossed it aside.

‘First, there’s word that in a small village in Unghyeon, Hebei, the entire population is suffering from anemia. Also, near Mount Tai on the Yellow River, there’s a rock that sometimes emerges from the water.’

As Lee Tae’s report replayed in my mind, I realized what that part about the Yellow River near Mount Tai meant.

That rock that occasionally emerged from the water probably referred to Elder Geumdo.

It wasn’t an island of sand, but a rock—likely meaning the moss-covered top of Elder Geumdo’s head.

Even spirit beasts need to surface to breathe once in a while, no matter how long they can hold their breath.

And that meant Lee Tae’s report hadn’t been wrong.

I now felt we had to drop by that village in Unghyeon.

‘We really have to go there.’

Back when Lee Tae mentioned it, I thought it was nothing special, but now, I couldn’t help but feel there might be another spirit beast there.

After all, if Elder Geumdo was that “rock,” then maybe other places with strange sightings might also hold something.

Smiling brightly, I said:

“This is perfect. We were planning to go to Unghyeon anyway. Once we treat Elder Geumdo, we can head there together.”

“Oh, is that so? That’s great! Two old men traveling alone would’ve been boring. And now I’ll get to see Hwa-eun’s face for a bit longer, too.”

The Immortal of Medicine beamed in delight at my words.

Just then, Hwa-eun’s thoughts and Sister Seol’s sound transmission both came flying into my head and ears.

‘So-ryong, how come I didn’t know we were going to Unghyeon?’

[Ryong, are we going there? Not to Young Master Peng’s place?]

Well, of course they didn’t know—I’d just decided that now.

‘Let’s not fuss over the little things.’

***

We left Elder Geumdo’s island and headed to the inn where the Immortal of Medicine was staying.

Because we had to meet the Immortal of Herbs.

He was supposed to arrive around evening, so we planned to wait at the inn until he showed up.

“By the way, that rascal Habokja will probably be happy to see Hwa-eun.”

“Habokja?”

“That’s the Immortal of Herbs’ name.”

“Oh, I see.”

Apparently, the reason the Immortal of Medicine kept showing Hwa-eun so much affection was because he, my father-in-law, and the Immortal of Herbs had all been part of a kind of medical hobby circle in their past lives.

The most skilled healers of the Central Plains had formed a group to exchange ideas, and its members were my father-in-law, the Immortal of Medicine, and the Immortal of Herbs.

The Immortal of Medicine and the Immortal of Herbs wandered the realm to treat patients, so even if they had a base, they rarely stayed there. Once every few years, they’d meet up at the Tang Clan estate, and since Hwa-eun had been visiting the Tang Clan since she was little, the Immortal of Medicine thought of her like a real granddaughter—or so Hwa-eun explained.

“By the way, So-ryong.”

“Yes, Elder.”

After saying I should speak comfortably since he saw Hwa-eun as a granddaughter, the Immortal of Medicine started treating me like a real grandson, too.

But then he said something I didn’t quite understand.

“Habokja might be a bit cold toward you, so if that happens, I hope you won’t take it personally.”

“Toward me?”

‘But he’s never even met me?’

This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.

I blinked in confusion, but the Immortal of Medicine just chuckled.

“He said he’d keep a close eye on the guy who ends up with Hwa-eun, since she’s basically like a granddaughter to him. Said he’d examine you thoroughly. I mean, who does he think he is?

Where does he get off, acting like he’s got the right? Tsk.”

『“The Immortal of Herbs actually dotes on me more than the Immortal of Medicine does.”

“Ohh, I see what you mean.”』

Now that I thought about it, Hwa-eun always referred to the Immortal of Medicine respectfully as ‘Elder,’ but called the Immortal of Herbs ‘Grandfather.’

So even she felt closer to the Immortal of Herbs than to the Immortal of Medicine.

I could sense the situation now.

This felt like I was about to meet her maternal side of the family and had to make a good impression.

‘I’d better be careful not to give him any reason to hate me.’

Just as I was thinking I needed to be on my best behavior around Hwa-eun’s people, the Immortal of Medicine, who’d just badmouthed his own disciple, grinned slyly and said:

“But So-ryong, do you think you could pull the same trick on my disciple that you did on me?”

“The same trick?”

“Yes. You know—don’t explain anything, just leave him completely flustered. That kind of thing.”

He didn’t want to be the only one pranked, so now he wanted me to do the same to the Immortal of Herbs.

I stared at him in disbelief.

He had just accused his disciple of not acting his age... and now he was the one suggesting childish antics.

‘So this is what being martial brothers means? Still, if he already thinks I’m not going to make a good impression, isn’t helping him just going to make things worse for me...?’

It wasn’t like I could just say no to the Immortal of Medicine, but it wasn’t like the Immortal of Herbs was going to storm off and refuse to treat the patient either.

Still, I was seriously starting to worry that this might only make him dislike me more.

“He already said he wouldn’t think highly of me—won’t this just make it worse?”

Apparently, my reasoning made sense, because the Immortal of Medicine nodded and said:

“Then just keep your mouth shut.”

***

“Тhis is exhausting. Brother, maybe it’s time we start doing this less. I’m not as young as I used to be, you know? Hm? Oh—looks like we’ve got company.”

Just as we were upstairs at the inn, sharing a meal and chatting over a few dishes, an elderly man with a notably strict air stepped into the inn around evening time.

The Immortal of Medicine looked like a gentle, white-haired old man, but the Immortal of Herbs had neatly combed black hair with white sideburns and a sharp, stern appearance.

His hair was slicked back with oil, and his clothes were so impeccably arranged that he resembled a corporate executive in my past life—someone meticulous and exacting.

“Who in the world are you dining with? Wha—Hwa-eun?!”

“Hello, Grandfather Yakseon.”

The Immortal of Herbs had walked in with a weary look as he spotted the Immortal of Medicine, but when Hwa-eun—who had her back turned—looked over and greeted him, his eyes widened in surprise.

“Why, what brings my little Hwa-eun all the way out here from the Tang Clan?!”

His stern expression melted the instant he saw her, his face softening into a warm, almost mushy smile.

“I just stopped by on some business and heard you were here, so I came to see you, Elder.”

“Oh-ho, what a wonderful surprise to see you in a place like this! How’s your father?”

“He’s doing well, of course, Grandfather Yakseon. Oh—there’s someone I want you to meet.”

“Introduce someone?”

At the mention of an introduction, the Immortal of Herbs turned his head and looked directly at me.

With a smile, Hwa-eun introduced me.

“Yes, this is my fiancé, So-ryong. So-ryong, say hello. This is Grandfather Yakseon. He’s very dear to me.”

“Pleased to meet you. I’m So-ryong of the Southern Barbarian Beast Palace.”

“Oh, So-ryong, is it? You’re the one who walks around with bugs, aren’t you?”

He scanned me from head to toe as if performing a full body inspection.

Then he took a seat, folded his arms, and continued staring at me.

“Ahem.”

Didn’t they say in psychology that folding your arms when meeting someone meant you were closed off to them?

Just as the Immortal of Medicine had said, he didn’t seem too fond of me.

Still, they say you can’t spit on a smiling face, so I forced an awkward smile—and at that, his head whipped around.

“Ahem!”

Then he turned to look at his martial brother, the Immortal of Medicine.

“So, what were you two talking about?”

“Oh, we were discussing a patient Hwa-eun found.”

“A patient Hwa-eun found?”

So much for staying out of it—now the Immortal of Medicine was calling Elder Geumdo a patient Hwa-eun had discovered.

The Immortal of Medicine scratched his head with an embarrassed look.

“Yes, I went and checked, but I don’t think I can handle it.”

“You can’t handle it, Brother?”

“That’s right. I mostly rely on acupuncture and moxibustion, and the patient has pulmonary inflammation.”

At that, the corners of the Immortal of Herbs’ mouth twitched upward into a smirk.

“Ah, pulmonary inflammation. Brother, really now. Can’t even treat something that simple...”

Judging by their tone, there seemed to be a bit of a rivalry between them, and the Immortal of Herbs looked all too pleased that the Immortal of Medicine had given up on the case.

“The patient’s body is quite large, and the infection and pus have spread in the lungs...”

“Doesn’t matter how big they are. That can be fixed with a single pill. Hwa-eun, don’t worry—Grandpa will take a look. Didn’t I always say medicine is the best answer?”

We quickly finished eating and returned to the harbor to board the boat again.

Whether it was his sense of duty toward patients or simply his eagerness to outdo the Immortal of Medicine, he barely chewed his food before insisting we head straight to the patient.

“The patient’s on that island?”

“Yes, Grandfather.”

“Then this old man’s going to show off a bit in front of Hwa-eun.”

As he said this, the Immortal of Medicine was struggling to keep from laughing.

And then we arrived at the bamboo structure.

“There. That’s the patient. A giant turtle.”

When I showed him the wound, he looked between the gaping injury and the Immortal of Medicine with a bewildered expression.

Then he turned to Hwa-eun and spoke in an awkward voice.

“Hwa-eun, so... the thing is...”

His voice was clearly uncertain.

***

After a long bout of laughter, the Immortal of Medicine explained the whole story—and somehow, I ended up getting scolded.

“You rascal! Why didn’t you give me a hint? Just sat there watching! I knew I didn’t like you from the start.”

Suddenly, it felt like all the world’s problems were somehow my fault.

As I stared back, utterly baffled—

“Cho? Hyang? Bini? Where did they run off to again? We have a guest—come say hello.”

Hwa-eun called for the kids to come out and greet our guest.

And just like before, the children burst from the sand.

—Chrrr!

—Chrrt!

—Chrrrrr!

“Whaaa—?! O-O-gong!? A-A spirit beast!?”

At first, I thought he was joking again, but the moment the kids appeared, the Immortal of Herbs’ eyes practically popped out of his head.

“Don’t be scared, Grandfather. These are the children So-ryong raised like his own. They’re spirit beasts, but they understand human speech, and I think of them as my daughters.”

At Hwa-eun’s calm explanation, the Immortal of Herbs stared at me in shock.

Then, recovering his composure, he suddenly spoke in an unexpectedly warm tone.

“So, you’re So-ryong, was it? Did I mention that I liked you the moment I saw you?”

‘What the...?’

That was a complete 180.