Fabre in Sacheon’s Tang

Bzzz. Bzzzz.

The buzzing of the Golden-Furred Wasp Kings filled the air above me, their movements lively and incessant.

Until yesterday, they had been busy inside their new hive, constructing wax chambers. But today, it seemed they were finally heading out in earnest to collect nectar.

Some flew toward Tang Mountain, while others flitted between the large lotus flowers blooming in the pond.

Weeeeeng. Weeeeng.

"Alright, keep up the good work."

A few of them seemed to have spotted me sitting in the pavilion by the pond and buzzed over to greet me.

I waved at them in response, and they flapped their wings excitedly before veering off toward the mountains.

While a bee’s buzzing always sounds the same, today their hum seemed especially cheerful—as if they were truly pleased with their new home.

I had checked inside the pavilion yesterday to see how their hive-building was going, and the moment I entered, they had swarmed me in gratitude.

They had all been eager to exchange nutrients with me as a show of appreciation, which had been… a challenge to decline.

The pavilion was five stories tall, spacious, and well-ventilated—compared to their old tree, it was practically a luxury estate.

"Hah… dealing with dozens of flicking tongues was exhausting."

Honestly, their old home couldn’t even compare.

No matter how large and ancient a tree was, it could never match the size and comfort of a human-built structure.

Trees were inherently dirty, attracting all kinds of pests, and their ventilation was poor. When it rained, water seeped through cracks.

But the five-story pavilion I provided them?

It had a roof to block direct sunlight, open windows for ventilation, and far more room than their previous hive.

Not to mention, the wasps were smart. Once I showed them how the windows worked, they began using them perfectly.

"They really love their new home. Even the way they flap their wings sounds joyful."

"Of course they do. It’s a five-story pavilion, after all…"

A pointed voice chimed in beside me—Tang Hwa-eun.

Oddly enough, Grandfather Mandok Shingun hadn’t made a fuss about me giving the wasps a pavilion.

He had just cleared his throat and muttered:

"Ahem… Well, matters of the household… are for the Clan Head to decide…"

That was it.

Hwa-eun, however, was less than thrilled.

It turned out she liked this pavilion a lot.

It was rarely used—maybe once or twice a year—but when she wanted to clear her head, she would come here to relax.

To make amends, I had formally introduced her to Ranghu, ensuring she would always be welcome inside.

Still, she seemed a little sulky.

• A fat man in official robes.
• An elderly man in imperial armor.
• And someone I actually recognized—an elder from the Qingcheng Sect.