Entomologist in Sichuan Tang Clan Chapter 399

399
Yellow worm 4

“You were locked up?”

“Yes, I won’t be able to go out for a while, sir.”

At my answer, the old man looked at the old man with surprised eyes.

It feels like he’s asking with his eyes if what I’m saying is right.

Mandokshin-gun’s grandfather, who met those eyes, nodded his head with an awkward expression.

“I was thinking of keeping you out for a while.”

“No, why? Did you break the family law? But the child has done a lot of good deeds, so how?”

Usually, house arrest is only for those who break family rules or cause a major accident, so it seemed like Elder Geulhwang was wondering if I had caused a major accident.

And before even hearing what kind of accident I had caused, he said something along the lines of, “Since I have contributed to the party, why don’t you give me some leniency?”

Honestly, if I think about all the spirits I’ve brought to the family, I wouldn’t be guilty of selling out my family.

‘Of course. Honestly, you should let it go even if you sell the stock two or three times.’

Grandfather Mandokshin looked at me and smiled as he answered.

“No, that’s not the case. Why would Soryong break the family law? I’m keeping him in the family because I intend to reward him as you said.”

“Award? You’re saying you’re holding it to give it to me?”

“Yes, I’m saying this because I wanted to give you a reward so that you can marry Hwa-eun a little earlier. Since you’re not attached to the family… I need to give you a reward.”

“I see! Hehehe. This was supposed to be a really big award. Congratulations, you both.”

Elder Geulhwang looked surprised at the answer that he would marry her, but then smiled.

When I told Hwa-eun that it was the greatest award, she looked embarrassed and expressed her gratitude.

“Yes, thank you, sir.”

“Thank you…. Congratulations. By the way, you were preparing for the wedding?”

“Yes, sir.”

But the old man’s expression changed again to one of regret.

It’s true that I’m locked up and can’t go out.

Immediately afterwards, a voice of apology with a regretful expression followed.

“If you were getting married soon, this would be a shame.”

Isn’t marriage one of the most important matters of human relations?

So, it was an important matter that could never be put off or postponed, so he seemed to think that he had asked for nothing.

However, it is not a complete abandonment, and since it is an important matter, they decided to wait until after the wedding.

“Then, can you let me see you even after the wedding is over? It’s not like that many guys came over.

It’s not that far from here. You know Mt. Maeri? It’s nearby. It’s where the borders of Sacheon, Seojang, and Cheonchuk meet.”

If it was Mary Seol-san, I knew where it was.

Because it is a high mountain on the border of Nanman, Sichuan, and Seojang.

Besides, it wouldn’t matter after the wedding.

But if real locusts were coming, it wouldn’t be such a leisurely matter.

Perhaps, since the locusts appeared and disappeared little by little on the west side, it seemed that they were not considered a big threat, but it was not a problem that could be dealt with leisurely once the locusts were seen.

Since locusts travel a great distance in a single day, some may have already hidden in the Central Plains.

“If it’s after the wedding, I can tell the family and they can give it some leeway, but if the yellow bugs are really coming in little by little, it’s not a problem that can be taken lightly.

As far as I know, yellow bugs can fly up to 400 li a day on the wind.”

“What!?”

Your Majesty, you were surprised by my words.

I guess you didn’t know that locusts could travel that far.

However, locusts that form a colony do not just jump, they can spread their wings and fly long distances, and it is known that they can travel about 150 km in a day if the wind is good.

“Then, it’s a big deal. Can’t you help me with this, since so many people’s lives are at stake?”

He looked at Hwa-eun at the elder’s question.

Because I don’t have the power to make decisions.

Then, as expected, our good Hwa-eun.

Hwa-eun said with a cool expression, wondering if the good feeling she got from my ring gift was still going strong.

“Little Dragon, the wedding preparations are a family matter, so you can go and come back for a bit. If it’s Seojang, it’s not too far from here, and if it’s near Meili Snow Mountain, it’s even closer.

If the yellow worms head to Sichuan, countless people will be harmed.”

“Ah, I have to get married to Hwa-eun quickly···.”

When I said this with a regretful expression, thinking that I shouldn’t just bite it even though Hwa-eun gave me permission, Hwa-eun must have been right because she gently grabbed my hand under the table, and for a moment, I had that thought.

In your past life, didn’t you throw a bachelor party before your wedding, a party that burns the last days of a man’s life?

So, I decided to make this trip my last bachelor trip as a solo traveler.

‘I’ll burn it brilliantly!’

I promised myself that I would have a really fun time.

Because this is your chance to see a swarm of locusts in person.

***

Honestly, I’ve never seen a swarm of locusts in person.

I’ve seen it countless times in materials and photos, though.

But there was enough data, so looking at the age and movements of the colony wasn’t a big problem.

So, carrying out the request of the old man was not difficult, so I had no fear about the task assigned to me.

‘Why is my heart pounding so hard?’

But now, as we were preparing to head to Mt. Maryseul.

My heart was pounding.

I never ran out of fear of the mission.

The reason my heart is racing right now is for another reason.

Because I was on my way to meet Langhu.

‘Haa… I’m scared.’

Yes, my heart was pounding because I had to tell Torajin Langhu that he had to leave again because he kept leaving his seat.

A little while ago, I was packing my bags and making various preparations.

The craftsman who came to visit us.

The craftsman looked at me as I was packing my bags and then spoke quietly.

“You, this time, make sure you do a good job of keeping things clean so that no problems arise.”

“A crackdown?”

“You’re talking about poison. King Geummobong.”

“Oops!”

At that moment, I came to my senses as if I had been slapped in the ear with cold water.

And so, I had no choice but to come see Langhu.

Because I had to leave tomorrow.

As we arrived in front of the backyard with the pond, our hearts racing, the sun was starting to set in the evening, and we could see the golden phoenixes moving towards the beehive in the distance.

As I was entering the main gate of the sponsorship, I heard Bingyi’s voice.

-Kookgu “Father, where are you going?”

Looking down, I saw Bingyi, just about to step over the threshold of the gate.

I don’t know about the outside, but inside the house, the children were free to roam around on their own, so it seemed like they were probably sunbathing alone and then heading back to my quarters later.

“Ah, Bing-ah, I’m going to visit Lang-hu. I think I’ll have to go out for a bit tomorrow. Bing-i, are you going too?”

-Kuuu 『Of course. I have to help my father.』

“Yeah, it’s solid.”

When I told him I was going to find Langhu and asked if he would come with me tomorrow, our Bing said that he would really support me like an eldest son.

I was about to take a step after squatting down and patting the guy’s head.

Bing-yi tilted his head and asked with a worried voice.

-Kkuu 『But why is your expression so dark? I can sense that you are worried.』

He seemed to have sensed my worries as he registered in the Beast Heart, so he scratched his head and answered.

“No, it’s nothing else. It’s just that I haven’t been able to let Langhu go since he got really upset last time.”

-Kkukuu. “Oh, that’s right. Right. Are you worried because of that?”

“I guess so. I’ll do it. I have to go before the bees fall asleep. Then I’ll go.”

The heaviness in my ankles as I try to take another step.

I looked down and saw Bing-i climbing up my body, holding onto my ankle with her adorable eyes.

He said, pointing to the house of the King of Geummobong.

“Bing-ah, I need to go into the temple.”

-Kkuut. “Father, if you’re worried, go with me.”

“Do you want to go together?”

Bingi, who asked to go together.

As I blinked, Bing explained why he had to accompany me.

-Kuu. Kuuu. 『Isn’t it true that Father and He don’t communicate well? He may understand Father’s words, but to clear up misunderstandings or something, doesn’t He need poison that He can hear and pass on to Father?』

“Oh, that’s true. But wouldn’t he be even angrier if I brought someone with me?”

Bing-yi was volunteering to be an interpreter, which may have been a plausible reason, but wouldn’t you take someone with you when you go to apologize?

As I said that, Bingyi hid inside my jacket and said.

-Kkukku. “Father, too. Can’t I just hide in your clothes like this?”

“Is that so too?”

Yes, Bingyi had grown a bit, but it wasn’t hard to hide it in Jangpo. She usually moved around hiding in Nana Hwaeun’s clothes.

-Kookguu. “Yes, and if you go with me, wouldn’t it be safe?”

Certainly, it would be more comforting to be together than to go alone and get bitten.

He nodded with a smile.

“Okay, then let’s go together.”

-Kkuu! 『Let’s go!』

In front of the pavilion where I arrived with Bing-i hidden inside my clothes.

As I opened the door and stepped inside, the scent of honey was stronger than last time.

In the meantime, it seemed like there was more honey, and as we went up to the upper floor, the honey was dripping down just as expected.

As I reached the fourth floor, the bees that had spotted me approached me.

-Boo-woong.

“Oh, I came to see Langhu.”

Just like last time, these guys quietly give directions.

Among them, there were some who came up to me and patted me on the shoulder.

Does it feel like you’ve had a hard time or something?

‘You guys know too?’

The fifth floor we arrived at like that.

I thought Langhu would be huddled in a corner somewhere, but when I arrived at the fifth floor, Langhu was standing at the entrance with his front legs crossed, his middle legs on his thin waist, and his back legs wagging.

Why did you come now? You seem very angry. That’s what it feels like.

He greeted me, scratching his head.

“Well, how have you been, Ranhu?”

-Boohoo!

Then, an uncomfortable flapping sound of wings is heard.

I heard Bingyi’s voice in my head.

‘Kuu. ‘Does it look like I’m doing well?’ you say.

“Oh, isn’t it?”

-Boooo. Booooo.

When I answered with an awkward expression, the wings continued to flap again, but Ranhu, who had finished flapping his wings, immediately turned around as if he had been embarrassed.

And the subsequent wingbeats were quickly interpreted by Bingi.

‘-Kkuuu. ‘I’ve been waiting for a long time, but you’re only coming now···.’

-Boooosh. Booosh. Boom boom.

‘Kuuuuu. Kuuu. ‘I’m so sad. Didn’t you promise me when you brought me here? That you’d take me to a place where I could live in peace? Every time you say you’ve been somewhere and don’t show your face for a while, I get worried and can’t feel at ease. That’s what he said.”

Listening to Bingyi’s interpretation, I really feel like a bad guy.

“I’m sorry. It was my fault. I’ll try to keep my promises from now on. Ranhuya.”

-Booooow.

Is it because I apologized at the right time?

Langhu turned around and looked at me, as if he thought we had a connection.

‘-Kkuu. ‘You understood what I said!’ he said, surprised.

Langhu, who had put one of his front paws to his mouth as if he was surprised, flew straight into my arms.

-Boohoo!

That was the moment.

Suddenly, Bingyi popped her head out from under my neck.

Bingyi jumped out between me and Langhu and stopped Langhu’s head by hitting it with his tail.

-Kkukuu. “Oh, that’s going to be difficult.”

-Boohoo!?

Langhu’s antennae perk up in surprise at Bingyi’s sudden appearance.

When Langhu was surprised and stepped back a little, Bingyi moved to his shoulder and spoke to Langhu as if to comfort him.

-Kuuu. 『Now that I see it, it seems you have taken Father into consideration. It seems you don’t know the rules. Doesn’t Father have a mother? So you shouldn’t do this.』

‘what!?’

I was so surprised that Ranhu’s feelings, which I had never expected, were truly love. That fact alone made me open my mouth in surprise.

But if you think about it, there were cases in past lives where animals or pets raised by people for a long time thought they were people or loved their owners or other animals.

The peacock at the zoo loves and woos the turtle, and the animals at the zoo think of their keepers as their mates.

Langhu tilted his head at Bingyi’s reprimand.

-Huh?

-Kkuu. “Why not?”

I guess Langhu doesn’t interact much with humans and is a bee, so he doesn’t really know why it doesn’t work.

I asked Bing-yi in my heart, thinking that if I explained this well, I would be able to wrap up this situation well.

Since you’ve already come forward, speak well.

‘Bing, you have to speak well.’

It seems that Bingyi, who spent more time with us than Langhu, who lived in the hive, was accustomed to human customs.

It’s also the case that they firmly said no, citing the law and such.

Also, since it’s the same spirit, it seems like it would be better than what I’m explaining.

If I spoke directly, Langhu might be greatly hurt or might not understand, but if Bingyi explained that it was against the law or the race, he might be less hurt and move on.

-Kuu. “Don’t worry, Father. Just trust me. I know this very well.”

‘Yeah, yeah.’

It was while I was waiting for the next words to be spoken.

Bingyi’s voice continues brightly.

-Kuuu? “If you want to be your father’s, you have to get your mother’s permission. Isn’t that basic?”

He told me to trust him, but it was clear that he didn’t know a single thing about our customs.