Fabre in Sacheon's Tang-Chapter 235: Wrath (3)

"Three sets of outerwear should be enough... and three sets of thick underclothes too."

Hwa-eun muttered to herself as she pulled out several silk garments from the drawer.

Then she turned to the handmaid, who was about to place the last outfit onto the cloth bundle.

“Make sure to follow him and help with the packing, alright?”

“Yes, young miss.”

Normally, she’d have the handmaids pack my things, but since we were going to Chengdu to meet the most influential figures in the Sichuan martial world, she insisted on packing my clothes herself.

Still, it felt a bit overboard, so I glanced at her expression and cautiously asked,

“I mean, I’ll be back in just a few days anyway... Wouldn’t one set be enough?”

“All the major figures in Sichuan will be there. You have to present yourself neatly, So-ryong.”

“Father-in-law said it should be over in three days at most...”

“Which is why you need three sets.”

Come on—when I went to Cheonghae or Neungae, I rotated between three outfits too, but it’s not like I’m doing a fashion show there. Now I’m supposed to change every day?

Just as I was thinking this was clearly a little much, Hwa-eun pulled out three remaining silk outfits and spread them out across the table.

“Oh! That’s right! Since you made a discovery recently, you might end up speaking in front of people, right?

If that happens, you need to change into something proper. You'll be standing in front of an audience, after all.

Take off your outer robe and try this on, So-ryong. Pick the one that looks best.”

“But father-in-law said I have to be ready within half an hour...”

“It’ll only take a second to try it on. Come on, hurry.”

Is this what shopping with your girlfriend feels like?

Just as Hwa-eun hurried me to take off my robe, a voice called from outside.

“So-ryong-nim, Master Baek is here to see you!”

“Master Baek?”

If it was Master Baek, then it must be Ururi—the legendary artisan who’d stayed behind at the Tang Clan after the Xintu incident.

He raised silkworms and spun thread to make silk, and had once asked for some of Yo-hwa’s silk after seeing it—he was deeply fascinated by it.

Don’t tell me the prototype of the layered-defense robe made with Yo-hwa’s silk is ready? I’m saved!

Yo-hwa’s silk, as we know, is tough enough to withstand blades.

While it’s vulnerable to fire, its durability makes it ideal for defensive clothing.

That’s why I’d asked Master Baek and his fellow craftsmen to try making a prototype. If he was here, it could only mean one thing.

I headed out the door, calling to Hwa-eun over my shoulder.

This was my chance to escape.

“Hwa-eun, I’ll go speak with Master Baek real quick.”

“But you need to try on the clothes... Fine, just make sure you come back and try them after.”

Normally, she would’ve let me go without protest. But maybe because of the CPR practice, or the near-death scare, she hadn’t left my side lately.

A quote from some internet sage in my past life came to mind:

Marriage is when your girlfriend hangs out with you all day, does everything together, and then doesn’t go home.

That’s what my life felt like lately.

It wasn’t bad—Hwa-eun was sweet—but she stuck to me like glue, and sometimes it was hard to breathe.

A man needs space. Time for hobbies. Time for games.

But I couldn’t say that. Not after making her cry last time. That would hurt her too much.

“Yes, Hwa-eun...”

So I answered gently.

After confirming that the handmaid had tied up the bundle properly, Hwa-eun followed me outside and said,

“Let’s go, So-ryong.”

“Yes.”

When we reached the main gate, Master Baek’s eyes lit up as he spotted me.

“So-ryong-nim!”

“Master Baek! I hope you’ve been well. I’m sorry I haven’t visited lately.”

“Not at all! We’ve been doing great, thanks to you. Even my family no longer worries about the future—they’re thrilled.”

“So, what brings you here?”

“Ah! I just felt like dressing up a little for the occasion, haha!

I came because the outfit for you is complete—thought you might want to come try it on.”

“What? My outfit?”

I’d assumed it was the prototype robe, but the way he said my outfit made me pause.

Master Baek nodded and smiled.

“Miss Yo-hwa insisted the first garment made had to be for So-ryong-nim.”

I’d known Yo-hwa had personally visited him to offer silk, but I hadn’t expected her to make my clothes first.

“I see. Let’s go, then.”

With Hwa-eun in tow, we followed Master Baek to the workshop.

I hadn’t been back since my last visit, but now, as we stepped inside, we were greeted by the hum of even more looms and spinning wheels than before.

Clack. Clack.

There were originally only three artisans, but they had brought their families, and now about ten people were working inside.

I nodded politely to those who greeted us and moved deeper into the building, where Master Baek stopped us in front of a mannequin in the center of the room—

a wooden figure shaped like the ones from my past life.

What stood out was the vivid red outfit draped over it.

The moment I saw it, I knew exactly what the material was.

It had to be Yo-hwa’s silk—the same thread currently tied around my wrist.

Yo-hwa’s silk was incredibly strong—hard to tear, tougher than normal fabric.

Its deep blood-red hue made the entire outfit gleam with a strange luster.

“This is?”

“Yes. Miss Yo-hwa spun this silk herself. I’m not sure about the other threads, but this one—she can only produce a tiny amount each day.”

I ran my hand across the garment and felt its exquisite softness.

Master Baek then pulled a dagger from his robe and stabbed the outfit without hesitation.

“No matter how hard you stab, it won’t leave a mark.”

It was indeed beautiful and soft—but that raised a concern.

A full set of long sleeves and pants made from Yo-hwa’s silk? That might be... hot.

I frowned slightly and asked,

“Wouldn’t it get too warm?”

Master Baek smiled.

“No need to worry. It’s made like fish scales—overlapping pieces stitched together to allow airflow.”

This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.

Examining it more closely, I saw he was right.

It wasn’t a normal outfit. It resembled yoryun-gab—a scaled armor made to mimic the way fish scales work.

That meant ventilation wouldn’t be a problem.

“In that case... maybe I’ll try it on.”

With the effort Yo-hwa had put into it—and its striking design—I quickly took off my outer robe and slipped on the top.

Then, looking to Hwa-eun with a “how do I look?” expression, I saw her burst into a radiant, rose-like smile.

“Wear that one, So-ryong.”

“T-this one?”

“Yes. Let’s add some fragrance too.”

It felt... a little too flashy.

But Hwa-eun ⊛ Nоvеlιght ⊛ (Read the full story) clearly loved it.

And if I added perfume on top of that, the amount of attention I’d draw would be ridiculous.

***

In a hall within the Sichuan branch of the Martial Alliance in Chengdu,

a crowd of people was focused on one man.

Ji-ryong.

Pointing to a specific spot on the map laid out before him, Ji-ryong was explaining everything we’d discussed.

“...As you can see, this location lies right between Sichuan and Guizhou.

Just as Sir So said, it’s where the attention of all four provinces—Sichuan, Guizhou, Zhongjing, and Yunnan—converges.

To launch an attack there must mean they’re after something specific.”

Ji-ryong’s explanation prompted Baek Heo-ja, head of Qingcheng Sect, to stroke his beard and ask,

“So you're saying the Blood Cult is attempting Mancheon Gwahae?”

Mancheon Gwahae—a tactic from the Art of War.

It’s the very first stratagem: “Veil the sky and cross the sea.”

It means to obscure your true intent and deceive the enemy to secure victory.

And it fit the situation perfectly. The Blood Cult was clearly trying to distract us with one hand while doing something else with the other.

“I believe so,” Ji-ryong replied.

After he answered, an elderly Buddhist nun folded her palms together and asked,

“Amitabha. Ji-ryong, then do you have any insight into what exactly they’re plotting?”

She was Master Ja-hee, the sect leader of the Emei Sect.

Though her eyebrows were stark white, her face looked strangely youthful.

“I’m sorry, Master Ja-hee. Even I haven’t been able to discern that much.”

I mean, you can’t expect Ji-ryong to be a fortune teller.

It’s not like predicting what the Blood Cult will do next is easy.

Just then, Master Ja-hee turned her gaze toward me.

“And you, Sir So, who noticed this—do you have any other basis for your deduction?”

I was yawning behind my father-in-law when I heard my name and jolted upright.

I was the only one wearing bright red clothes in a room full of somber colors—naturally, all eyes turned to me.

I quickly folded my hands in salute.

“My apologies... I’m afraid I don’t know either.”

I wasn’t sure why I was apologizing for not knowing something, but I did anyway.

Master Ja-hee gave a small nod and turned her gaze back to the map, her expression now deeply serious.

“If they chose Inhui specifically to attract attention from all four provinces, what could they be aiming for?”

Her question drew everyone’s focus.

As their eyes and bodies leaned toward the center of the room, I suddenly realized that things had gotten quieter around me.

Since everyone was focused on the center, the edges—where I stood behind my father-in-law—were now practically deserted.

Huh!?

That realization struck me like lightning.

When the center draws all attention, the perimeter becomes vulnerable.

I began inching away, moving to the side opposite my father-in-law.

As expected, no one noticed.

I hated being the center of attention, so I tried to quietly signal Ji-ryong, waving him over like, Hey, come here for a second.

I needed him to confirm my hunch.

But just as I was waving from the back—

–Chirrkk!

The silence of the hall was suddenly broken by a piercing sound.

It came from Hyang, perched atop my head.

“Chirrk! Daddy! I did good, right?”

“Y-yeah, good job, Hyang.”

I forced a smile toward the proud little creature, but then came my father-in-law’s voice:

“Son-in-law, why did Hyang just call out? Do you have something to say?”

“Uh, y-yes. I... I was just trying to talk to Ji-ryong for a moment...”

Well, might as well go all the way now.

I called Ji-ryong over and quietly spoke to him.

“I don’t think we need to figure out exactly what the Blood Cult is planning.”

“We don’t?”

“Inhui sits right at the center of Yunnan, Sichuan, Guizhou, and Zhongjing.

If all eyes are drawn to the center, then the outer edges—the borders—become quiet.

Even if we don’t know what they’re planning, if we figure out where, that’s just as good.”

Ji-ryong’s eyes widened.

He grasped my hand firmly and said,

“Sir So, if I were a woman, I would’ve proposed to you on the spot.

In my family, the Zhuge line, we hold wisdom above all else.”

Okay—maybe don’t say things like that so loudly!

Startled, I yanked my hand back. Ji-ryong just smiled and strode to the center of the hall.

“Sir So’s insight has opened my eyes. Let me explain.”

“Oh, our son-in-law?”

“That came from Sir So?”

A few amazed looks came my way before everyone turned their attention back to Ji-ryong.

“We may not know what the Blood Cult is planning,

but we now have a strong idea of where they’ll move next.”

“Oho! Is that true?”

“Yes, even if we don’t know the nature of the act, if we can predict the location, it’s just as good.”

“Indeed, elders. Inhui is practically the center of Sichuan, Yunnan, Guizhou, and Zhongjing.

While all attention is on the middle, the borders between those provinces will grow quiet.”

“So they’ll act along one of the province borders.”

“Yes, and given Sir So’s logic, that sounds very plausible.”

People around the hall nodded at Ji-ryong’s reasoning.

But then, someone raised an obvious question.

“But... aren’t the province borders very long?”

“Oh, true.”

If they were planning something along the borders, that gave them a huge area to operate in.

Had I just caused more confusion?

Thankfully, Ji-ryong smiled and replied calmly.

“Not quite. Once we rule out the regions they won’t move in, the area becomes much smaller.”

“Places they won’t act?”

“Yes.”

As expected of the brilliant Ji-ryong, his logic was sound.

Yunnan’s borders include Myeonjeon, Samryeo, Namchang, and the line with Daeyue.

But Myeonjeon, Samryeo, and Namchang all have poor relations with Daeyue.

Even if something happened in Inhui, the martial world wouldn't dare step too close to Daeyue’s border—there’s too much risk.

So Yunnan’s ruled out.

Sichuan shares borders with Seochang, Yunnan’s Changhae, Gansu, and Seopseo, and of course Guizhou and Zhongjing.

Seochang belongs to the aggressive Podallam Palace, so there's no need to worry about them.

Changhae was recently attacked and failed to defend itself, so the army wouldn't return there soon.

That left the Gansu and Seopseo borders.

But Gongsong Sect controls part of the Gansu line, which meant only the Seopseo border remained viable.

Zhongjing borders Hobok and Honam.

And between Zhongjing and Hobok is the well-known region of the Three Gorges.

That area had already seen incidents involving the Western Gate—too exposed.

So after ruling everything else out, what remained were two key places:

the Sichuan–Seopseo border and the Guizhou–Honam border.

“Then we should send a minimal team to Inhui

and alert the martial artists of Guizhou to search along the Honam border.

As for us, we’ll sweep the Seopseo border.”

“Then let’s divide the search zones accordingly.”

Just as the leaders of Sichuan’s martial world began dividing responsibilities and zones of operation,

my father-in-law turned to me and spoke.

“Son-in-law, would you go quickly to the Tang Clan and tell them to prepare the Venom Purge Unit and the Venom Blood Squad?”

Huh? I thought we’d be here a few more days.

A bit disappointed, but what can you do?

“Yes, Father-in-law.”

I immediately left the Martial Alliance’s Sichuan branch and stopped by the Tang residence in Chengdu,

then set off toward Tangga Mountain on horseback.

He had said to go with guards, but I chose to ride alone.

I wanted to savor the feeling of total freedom.

As I rode back solo, it felt strangely like... clocking out after a long day at work.

I even considered calling the kids to meet me on the way.

Should I have them come out and welcome Daddy home?

“Hyah!”

I sped up, eager for the warm welcome.