The group insect hunt began at dusk.
I entered Yeong-yeong’s room, lit a lantern, and carefully examined the interior.
The confiscated clothes and sweets that had been taken from Yeong-yeong and given to the Peng family members were still sitting on the table, untouched by people. Ants, however, had invaded the table, feasting on the sweets with enthusiasm.
Seeing this, my sister sighed.
“Ugh... I suppose we’ll need to have the servants clean this up. Ants have swarmed the area. With so many guests recently, the servants must have neglected it.”
The term for ants in the Central Plains was ma-ui.
I quickly approached to inspect the swarm of ants on the table.
The culprit I was searching for was likely among them.
“Now, let’s see... where are you hiding?”
As I scrutinized the ants, my sister’s voice came from the side.
“So-ryong, are you saying the thing you’re looking for is an ant? Are ants the cousins of bees?”
Unlike my sister’s dubious classification of centipedes as dragons, according to the taxonomy established by scholars in my previous life, ants were insects of the Hymenoptera order, family Formicidae.
Thus, it wasn’t entirely incorrect to describe ants as distant relatives of bees.
But I wasn’t looking for just any ant.
I asked my sister to shine the lantern closer.
“Ants are related to bees, but what I’m searching for is a specific kind. Could you shine the lantern a bit closer here, please?”
“Sure.”
With a curious expression, my sister moved the lantern nearer to the table.
Focusing carefully on the swarming ants, I finally spotted it—a sleek ant moving quickly among the others, hunting them.
“There you are!”
I swiftly reached out and gently grasped the ant’s body between my fingers.
The little creature squirmed, fiercely wagging its stinger.
I turned to my sister and the Peng Clan head, holding the ant up for them to see.
“This is it! This is the culprit!”
“This is a bee’s cousin? Oh!? It really has a stinger on its rear!”
“What? Ants have stingers?”
The sharp stinger on the ant’s abdomen was plainly visible, and the others stared at it in amazement.
To be fair, when would ordinary people ever closely observe ants? Most would simply swat them away if they came too close.
I nodded at their questions and began to explain.
“This is the very creature that caused Yeong-yeong to collapse. It’s called the wangchim ma-ui—the ‘stinging king ant.’ It stung her, triggering the reaction.”
“The wangchim ma-ui!?”
“The stinging king ant... What a fitting name for the Tang Clan.”
“This is it!?”
The ant in my hand was unmistakably an ant, but its stinger made it look more like a wasp or honeybee. Its most distinguishing feature was the sharp, protruding stinger on its abdomen.
In Korea, this species, commonly known as the wangchim ant (Pachycondyla chinensis), was rare. However, in China, it was relatively common. If someone experienced anaphylaxis from an ant sting, this species was almost always the culprit.
“Are you saying Yeong-yeong was stung by this ant?”
“Yes, I’m fairly certain.”
“And this is a cousin of bees?”
I explained further, “Yes, it’s specifically a relative of the hwangbong.”
“Hwangbong?”
In the Central Plains, hwangbong referred to wasps. These ants, with their stingers, were closely related to wasps.
“Aha! So when Lady Yeong-yeong collapsed earlier after being stung by the se-hwang hobong (small yellow hornet), you deduced that this ant might be the culprit?” my sister asked.
“Exactly, Lady Hwa-eun.”
As expected of someone destined to be someone’s wife, my sister was quick to connect the dots.
This chapter is updat𝙚d by freeweɓnovel.cøm.
Indeed, seeing Yeong-yeong suffer anaphylaxis after the hornet sting led me to suspect these ants.
The wangchim ma-ui (Pachycondyla chinensis) belongs to the Hymenoptera order, Formicidae family, and Ponerinae subfamily.
While it might be surprising to think of ants having stingers, the reason lies in their evolutionary history. These ants diverged from a common ancestor shared with wasps, retaining many of the wasp’s traits.
From a taxonomic perspective, ants and wasps split from the same lineage, with wasps and ants forming separate families within the superfamily Vespoidea.
Scientists generally agree that this divergence occurred about 100 million years ago during the mid-Cretaceous period. Recent genetic analyses have confirmed that ants and wasps are each other’s closest relatives.
Studies on the venom of wangchim ants and wasps have also revealed that patients who experience anaphylaxis from ant stings often react similarly to wasp venom.
Careful not to be stung, I continued explaining.
“These ants have a unique behavior—they prey on other ants. It’s likely that this one was drawn to the sugar from the sweets on the table and came to hunt the other ants, stinging Yeong-yeong in the process.
Since the sting marks resembled the welts already on her body, no one could identify what caused them at the time. By the time Yeong-yeong regained consciousness, the marks would have simply been dismissed as ordinary welts.”
“Oh! So that’s what happened?”
“Yes, Clan Head.”
The Peng Clan head, overjoyed at the explanation, grabbed my hands and asked, “To think such a small creature was responsible! Thank you! Now that we know the cause, can an antidote be made?”
Turning to my father-in-law, he inquired about the possibility of creating an antidote.
But my father-in-law shook his head.
“There is an antidote for wasp venom, but in cases like Lady Yeong-yeong’s, where there is a hypersensitivity to the toxin, the antidote isn’t effective.”
“What!? Then my daughter will have to live her life constantly wary of such insignificant creatures? How could this happen!?”
The Peng Clan head’s voice trembled with frustration and sorrow.
He had likely hoped for a cure, but unfortunately, there was none.
Anaphylaxis is not caused by the toxin itself but by the body’s excessive immune response—specifically, the overproduction of antibodies such as IgE or IgG.
The antibodies in Yeong-yeong’s body weren’t fighting the venom itself—they were overreacting to the foreign substance, turning her immune system against her.
“Well, at least we know the cause now. That means we’ve eliminated the risk of her collapsing out of nowhere, haven’t we?”
“Hmm... I suppose so. Now that I think about it, I didn’t even thank you properly. Thank you, young hero.”
Although the root of Yeong-yeong’s condition had been identified, the lack of a cure left the Peng Clan head looking dejected.
But how could I, her brother in spirit, sit idly by?
In a cautious tone, I turned to the Peng Clan head and said, “There is one possible way to treat Yeong-yeong...”
The clan head’s eyes widened as he grabbed both of my arms, shaking me with great force.
“What is it? Tell me, what is this method!?”
“It’s something called desensitization...”
“Desensitization!?”
“Yes. It involves gradually introducing her to small doses of the substance—”
“You’re saying we need to undress her again!?”
“No, no, not that!”
The Peng Clan head’s misunderstanding made me panic. I quickly explained further.
Desensitization therapy, also known as immunotherapy, is a common treatment for anaphylaxis patients like Yeong-yeong. It works on the premise that a certain concentration of an allergen is needed to trigger a reaction. By introducing small, controlled doses of the allergen over time, the body’s sensitivity is reduced.
In Yeong-yeong’s case, she could be exposed to tiny amounts of wasp venom, gradually increasing the dose until her body no longer overreacts.
“At first, the venom would be introduced once every seven days. After some time, the frequency would decrease to once a month. This process typically takes three to five years, but it’s not impossible.”
“Hmm... Reducing her sensitivity to the venom? That does sound plausible. After all, even in the Tang Clan, we use small doses of poison to build immunity.”
Although it would be a long treatment process, as long as Yeong-yeong could avoid severe reactions to stings, she could live without fear.
With my father-in-law agreeing that the method sounded reasonable, the Peng Clan head’s face lit up with joy.
“Thank you! Thank you so much! You’ve saved my daughter!”
Gripping my hands tightly, the Peng Clan head was overcome with emotion.
Unable to contain his gratitude, he exclaimed, “I cannot let such a great favor go unrewarded! Tell me, young hero, is there anything you desire? Name it, and it’s yours!”
It seemed to be a trend here—offering a blank check whenever someone received help.
Smiling, I replied, “Yeong-yeong is like a little sister to me now. How could I ask for a reward for helping family?”
“No, no, that won’t do! Our Peng Clan doesn’t believe in modesty when it comes to showing gratitude. Speak your wish!”
His serious tone made it clear he wouldn’t take no for an answer.
Placing my hand over his, I smiled warmly.
“In that case, since you’ve come all the way to Sichuan, how about we take a trip to a famous mountain together?”
“A famous mountain?”
“Yes. Mount Gongga in Sichuan is known for its breathtaking scenery and its legendary stone pillars. Wouldn’t it be a shame to visit a foreign land and miss out on its beauty?”
After all, isn’t sightseeing one of the best parts of traveling?
***
The Peng Clan head and their martial escort agreed to accompany us, and permission from the elders came easily. Given the Peng Clan’s unmatched physical strength and the group’s formidable combat abilities, there was little risk involved, so both my father-in-law and Grandfather Mandok Shingun gave their approval without hesitation.
“Still, you must be cautious. They say the energy here is strong enough to drive away armies,” Grandfather warned.
“I understand, Grandfather,” I assured him.
Since Yeong-yeong needed to stay behind at the Tang Clan for her desensitization treatment, I set out with my sister, the Peng Clan head, their martial escort, and the Poison Creature Unit. After five days of travel, we finally arrived at the base of a waterfall with Mount Gongga towering in the background.
The thundering cascade of water crashed down, creating a white mist and foam that filled the air.
The Peng Clan head pointed to the other side of the waterfall and shouted, “Is it over there!?”
“Yes, Elder!”
“Alright, come here!”
Standing by the water’s edge, the Peng Clan head gestured for me to approach him. Swallowing nervously, I walked over, only for him to place my feet on his massive hands.
“You said you don’t know the art of Tappa Biyeon (Stepping on Waves, Flying Swallow), so I’ll just throw you to the other side. Ready? Off you go!”
Before I could protest, he hurled me across the chasm to the opposite cliff.
‘What a way to experience life!’
“Ahhhh!”
Even though I had never been scared of roller coasters in my past life, seeing the cliff rush toward me made me scream involuntarily.
Regaining my composure just in time, I twisted my body mid-air and managed to land vertically against the cliff face.
‘I survived.’
I quickly adjusted my footing and climbed down to the rocky outcrop. Moments later, the Peng Clan head’s massive figure floated gracefully through the air, landing lightly beside me as if he were a feather.
“Haha! You’ve got good reflexes!”
“T-thank you.”
Then, I saw my sister crossing the river. Her figure moved like crimson flower petals fluttering in the wind against the backdrop of the waterfall.
From the opposite bank, the Peng Clan warriors stared in awe, their mouths agape at her elegant display.
Once she reached our side, a few members of the Poison Creature Unit with advanced martial skills followed us across. Our journey then continued upward along the cliff face.
After climbing for a while, we reached a small cave atop a fist-shaped rock, just as the Martial Alliance soldier had described.
“This must be it,” I said.
We crawled into the cave and found ourselves in a cavernous chamber shortly after.
Until now, everything the soldier had said had been accurate. But the interior of the cave was entirely different from the description he had provided.
“This is strange,” I muttered. “The soldier wouldn’t have lied, would he?”
“It doesn’t make sense,” my sister agreed, frowning as she surveyed the chamber.