Fabre in Sacheon’s Tang

Being forced to enjoy the hot springs every day wasn’t exactly easy.

Since a lot of energy was consumed in the water, one couldn’t help but feel hungry afterward.

“Wow, I’m starving.”

“So-ryong, should I grill some of the leftover venison from yesterday?”

Returning after finishing the morning search for the Fire Crystal, my stomach was naturally growling.

As soon as I rubbed my belly and mentioned my hunger, Hwa-eun quickly offered to grill the venison.

“Yes, please.”

“Yes, So-ryong.”

Before long, Hwa-eun had grilled the ribs of the deer that Gungbong had hunted the day before.

The fragrant scent of venison wafted through the air.

Come to think of it, my connection with Hwa-eun had also begun with venison, leading to a flood of memories.

It was over venison that I had my first conversation with my father-in-law and grandfather—that was where it all started.

Just as I was reminiscing and had taken a bite of the venison she handed me, the rich oil seeped out, coating my tongue, and the savory taste was about to explode in my mouth.

‘Venison is always delicious, no matter when you eat it.’

At that moment, Ji-ryong leaped out of the well using Qinggong, his voice urgent.

“Huff, huff… So-hyeop! It’s hatching! I saw something thread-like moving inside the eggs!”

He was drenched, water dripping from his hair—likely from having run all the way here without stopping, straight from the well.

Both Ji-ryong and I were equally soaked, as if we had just stepped out of the hot springs.

“Are you certain?”

“Yes! Hurry and see for yourself!”

It had been a month since we settled in the remote ethnic village near the volcano in Yunnan.

And now, at last, the long-awaited hatching of the Giant Black-Clawed Red Earwig was beginning.

The primary objective seemed nearly impossible to achieve, but at the very least, I had to secure footage of the hatching and capture at least one of the newborns.

The Fire Crystal search had been nothing but trouble.

For an entire month, I had scoured the waterways above and below the valley, where the hot springs flowed, but there was no trace of the Fire Crystal.

Even after thoroughly searching the rocky formations and boulders along the valley, I had found nothing—not even a hint.

At this point, I had almost given up on finding the Fire Crystal.

Well, considering that something as incredible as Ice Jade was found by sheer luck, perhaps it wasn’t that we were unlucky—just that Chang-ryong was exceptionally lucky.

In any case, if my search failed, I had already arranged to receive Chang-ryong’s share, so I was somewhat at peace with the outcome.

At first, I had no intention of accepting it, but for Hyang’s sake, it seemed necessary.

“Thank you! Let’s go, Bini, Cho! Hwa-eun, please take care of Hyang!”

— Tzrrrr!

— Tzrt!

Clamping down on the venison ribs in my mouth, I tossed the orange potato in my arms toward Hwa-eun.