Fabre in Sacheon’s Tang Novel - Chapter 214

Chapter 214
Watching Cho climb higher into the air, a sudden realization dawned on me.
I had been an utter idiot.
‘How could I have been so narrow-minded, focusing only on what’s plainly visible?!’

After all, aren’t abilities more than just active techniques?
Of course they are.
There are also passive skills that are always at work.
What does that imply?

In my previous life, these terms were often used in games. Skills were typically categorized into two kinds: active and passive.
The difference was straightforward—active skills are used intentionally, while passive skills are perpetually in effect. To frame it within this world’s context, it would be something like this:

A martial art that concentrates inner energy into the fist to unleash a powerful blow on impact is known as Exploding Fist. This is an active skill because it only works when energy is consciously directed into the punch.
However, if practicing Exploding Fist also involved mastering a method called Exploding Ten Meridians, which gradually toughens the body and enhances endurance, that would qualify as a passive skill. Even without actively summoning energy, the body stays resilient and strong continuously.

A skill that functions without any deliberate effort—that is the essence of a passive skill.

So, within the martial world of Murim, ongoing inner energy cultivation methods would fall under passive skills, while offensive techniques like fist or foot strikes, which depend on channeled energy, would be active skills.

If my sister’s Phantom Steps of the Roaming Tiger and Bini’s awakened power were active-type abilities, then Cho’s awakening, which showed no external signs, had to be passive.
The absence of any visible alteration is the hallmark of a passive skill.

‘That’s it! Cho has awakened a passive skill!’

And among the many passive skills possible, Cho had unquestionably developed an alignment with the water element.
Even during our voyage by boat, Cho never enjoyed being sprayed by water while observing the waves from the deck. On rainy days, Cho usually stayed indoors.

But now?
Cho was gliding through the sky as effortlessly as a fish through water, relishing the rainfall.
This could only mean Cho had awakened a water affinity.

‘Gyaaaah! The water element! It’s absolutely perfect for Cho!’

To be honest, the water attribute alone isn’t exceptionally rare.
It mainly permits smoother movement in water and offers protection against water-based assaults.

Viewed that way, Cho’s awakening might seem lackluster. But the instant I understood Cho had gained a water affinity, it felt like a thunderclap in my mind.
This was, without question, the ideal passive skill for Cho.

Think about it—Cho is an incredibly devoted creature.
And what is the opposite of devotion?
Defiance.
The character for fire (hwa) appears in the word for defiance (bulhyo).
That means defiance aligns with the fire element.
Hence, a defiant being would possess a fire affinity.

Since Cho is unmistakably a dutiful child, it follows that Cho would embody the opposing element—water.
A being of water and devotion, so to speak.
Water naturally opposes fire, just as a faithful child contrasts a rebellious one.

If this sounds unreasonable, consider the most renowned devoted daughter in history, Sim Cheong, who was offered as a sacrifice and cast into the sea.
She was thrown into a whirlpool, into the deepest waters.
How could an ordinary person endure that?
She wasn’t a fish or any kind of sea creature.
It must have been the Dragon King who granted her the water attribute, enabling her to breathe underwater and resist water attacks.

‘How else could she have survived? Clearly, devoted daughters have been linked to the water element since ancient times.’

As I wondered at this insight, I kept watching Cho.
With lightning illuminating the sky behind, Cho rose even higher, as though realizing Hwa-eun’s aspiration of transforming into a dragon.
Cho’s antennae swayed like delicate whiskers, its light-green shell gleamed like blue scales, and if its form were twisted and shaped appropriately, it might resemble a dragon.

Saaaaa…
At last, Cho vanished into the clouds.
Another surge of awe filled me.
What an incredible spectacle!

As the rain fell more heavily, I remained staring upward, mesmerized.
Rumble!
A lightning bolt flared in the distance, brightening the storm clouds.
And in that flash, Cho emerged from the clouds and began to descend.
Streaking downward through the heavy rain, illuminated by the storm’s intermittent light.

‘This isn’t just rain… This is the sky trembling in reverence at Cho’s magnificence!’
Yes, today’s storm was merely the heavens overcome.
Awe. Nothing but awe.

I was still absorbed in admiration when—
CRACK!
A sudden lightning bolt hit a nearby mountain peak.
I shook off my stupor, a cold dread creeping down my back.
This was bad.
Cho was so exhilarated that I couldn’t predict if the lightning might change course.

Rumble…!
Another strike landed even nearer.
I needed to get Cho down before disaster struck.
‘This isn’t the moment for this, Cho! Come down, it’s not safe!’

I called out to Cho anxiously through our mental link.
Soon, I received an answer.

‘Choruru! Dad! This is incredible! Just a bit more!’
While I was frantic that Cho might be hit by lightning, the little being had just found delight in water and was savoring every second.
It reminded me of how children initially resist bath time but then refuse to get out once they’re comfortable.

But now wasn’t the time for that.
The lightning was approaching perilously close.
‘Cho, it’s hazardous! Come down now!’

I was preparing to call again when—
“I knew it!”
I started.
That was Sister Seol’s voice.
I turned instinctively toward the sound.
There stood Sister Seol and Hwa-eun, each holding an umbrella and a carrying pole.
Sister Seol had the carrying pole, and Hwa-eun held the umbrella.
Even though Sister Seol was drenched, she quickly shielded Hwa-eun with the umbrella while someone dabbed her head with a cloth.

“I told you! Hwa-eun said you’d be out here, soaked through.”
“See? Sister, I was correct, wasn’t I?”
It seemed like they had made a wager.
‘Ah, am I going to be lectured again…?’

I looked at them apprehensively.
Sister Seol, glancing around with the carrying pole, evidently noticed Cho was absent.
She tilted her head and inquired,
“Where is Cho? It’s raining—where could he be? Have you seen him?”
“Ah! Cho!”
For a moment, I had totally forgotten about him.
I gestured toward the sky.
Both followed my pointing finger and looked upward.

Rumble!
Raindrops slid off the umbrella, trickling onto their foreheads.
And as another lightning bolt flashed—
Cho reappeared in the sky, outlined against the tempest.
Despite my pleas to descend, he continued weaving through the clouds.

Aware that Cho had always avoided water, both Hwa-eun and Sister Seol stared in amazement.
“What… what in the world? Is that Cho?”
“Cho is flying in the rain…?”

As they stood there, stunned, I shared my discovery.
“Sister Seol, it’s not that Cho is unchanged. I believe he’s grown fond of water.”
“Water?!”
“You mean Cho now enjoys water?”
“Yes, he even said it feels invigorating. Just watch him.”

When they looked back at the sky, they saw Cho gleefully diving in and out of the clouds, moving through the rain as if it were his natural habitat.
Witnessing him swim with such ease, they could no longer question my words.
This was beyond mere liking.
Cho was now essentially aquatic.

And then—
‘Cho, it’s perilous, ★ 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 ★ come down now! Your mother is here too!’
‘Choruru!’
The moment I called again, urging him to return, Cho responded, acknowledging my message.
Just as he began to descend toward the ground—

FLASH!
RUMBLEEEEE!
A lightning bolt shot from the sky, passing directly through Cho’s form and crashing into the earth.
The dazzling electrical burst enveloped him, lighting up the sky before everything went dark.
For a second, my sight blackened.
Because right before me, my beloved, precious Cho—
had been hit by lightning.

I struggled to reject it, to believe it wasn’t true.
But before I could restrain myself, a cry erupted from my lips.
“CHOOOOO!”
“Cho!”
“Chooooo!”

Sister Seol and Hwa-eun’s eyes widened in terror, their cries blending with mine as our desperate shouts were swallowed by the rain.
The overwhelming shock caused Hwa-eun to crumple to the ground.
“Ch-Cho… Hngh…”
“Hwa-eun! Hwa-eun!”
‘I raised my daughter for this?! Gyaaah!’

***

Saaaaaa…
Hwa-eun had passed out from the trauma of seeing Cho struck by lightning.
I, too, was drowning in sorrow, but my priority was to attend to Hwa-eun first.
‘Cho… Cho…’

In my former life, online sages often said that being a parent meant you couldn’t fully indulge in grief, even when you longed to.
Burying my anguish, I carefully placed Hwa-eun beneath the tree and examined her.
“Hwa-eun! Hwa-eun!”
“Hwa-eun, wake up!”

The tree’s branches somewhat shielded us from the falling rain, allowing only sporadic drops to reach us.
As I gently tapped her cheeks, she finally opened her eyes with a vacant look.
“Cho… Cho was hit by lightning…”
“Hwa-eun, p-please calm down. Just breathe.”
“Yes, Hwa-eun, steady yourself.”

But the memory of the lightning strike seemed to rush back, and she suddenly shuddered—
and broke into tears.
“Huuhuhu… Our Cho…”
Damn it.
I wanted to weep, too.
But since Hwa-eun began crying first, I could no longer contain myself.
I drew her into an embrace, and we both sobbed uncontrollably.
“Our Cho… Gyaaahhh!”
“Cho… sniff… sniff…”

As if our mourning was infectious, Sister Seol also broke down.
“Waaahhh! Our Cho!”
The three of us held each other, weeping bitterly.
And then, amid our lamentations—

Chorurung?
A small sound carried through the rain.
Sister Seol and Hwa-eun jolted, their heads lifting in surprise.
But I could tell from the sound’s quality—
that it wasn’t Cho.
It was Bini.

Choruru?
Bini had been sleeping under the tree, but the rain must have roused him.
Bewildered, he nudged his head between us, blinking.
His large, inquisitive eyes seemed to ask,
What’s happening?
Mom? Dad? Auntie? Why are you crying?

He had just awakened to find his mother, father, and aunt clustered together, weeping intensely.
Naturally, he was confused.
“B-Bini! Waaahhh…”
“Bini! Sniff… sniff…”
“Our dear Bini… Now you’re by yourself… Waaaahhh…”
We drew Bini into our huddle, soaking him with our tears.
Now utterly perplexed, he wriggled, obviously unsure what to do.
Finally, in distress, Bini called for assistance.

Chorurung… Choruru?
[Big sis, Mom, Dad, Auntie are behaving strangely. I don’t understand what’s happening…]
He was searching for his big sister.
He didn’t even know Cho had been struck by lightning.
That thought only intensified my tears.
“Gyaaahhh!”

Chorurung?
But then—
A familiar call.
It seemed like a trick of the ears, but—
Through my tear-filled eyes, beyond the fading rain—
A soft green light glimmered under the glow of the carrying pole Sister Seol had dropped.
And there—
I saw Cho’s gentle green shell.

“Cho?!”
Choruru?
Hearing his name, Cho tilted his head, puzzled.
I had believed him dead.
That lightning had killed him.
But no.
Cho was floating right before me, entirely untouched.
“Cho?!”

The moment I saw he was alive, I leaped forward and seized him in my arms—
and immediately, a shock of electricity raced through my body.
“Ghhhkkaaaahhhh!!!”
So this…
was what they meant by an electrifying reunion.