Fabre in Sacheon’s Tang Novel - Chapter 366

Chapter 366
Of course. Here is the paraphrased chapter, adhering to all your specified requirements.

***

“How can there be so many summits?”
While I was speaking with Hwa-eun, Sister Seol’s voice reached us from behind.
I turned to see her clinging to Cho’s body, silhouetted against the enormous moon.
Her face held the same stunned expression as ours.
She must have been trailing us and had only just noticed the multitude of peaks.
“And why is the mountain itself so massive?”
Indeed, it wasn’t just the peaks—Mount Yeo-san was colossal.
It reminded me of my past life visit to Jirisan National Park during a wildlife survey; the scale felt similar.
“Unni, we’re feeling a bit daunted ourselves.”
There had to be at least a hundred distinct peaks visible from our vantage point.
For a moment, the three of us simply stared in silence at the dark, shadowy summits.
The real question was, how were we ever supposed to locate anything specific among them?
‘Honestly, for an information dealer, this is incredibly imprecise.’
I was mentally complaining about the lack of useful detail from the informant, Eunbi Ruju.
Sister Seol’s question finally cut through the quiet.
“Didn’t Eunbi from the Haomun branch mention ice forming on a mountain peak?”
“She did, Sister Seol.”
“Well, if she specified a peak, shouldn’t we be searching for the tallest one?”
“Perhaps?”
“Oh! That makes sense.”
“Though from this angle, it’s impossible to distinguish which one is highest.”
Sister Seol’s reasoning was sound.
She was right—a professional wouldn’t just relay such a vague clue.
If the report said ‘the peak,’ it most likely referred to the highest point.
I quickly sent a silent apology to Eunbi Ruju and decided to follow Sister Seol’s plan: we would target the most prominent summit first.
“Let’s descend a little for a clearer perspective. A level sightline should help us identify it quickly. Yeondu, Cho, move that way slightly.”
– Tssrr. 『Understood, Dad.』
– Shaaa. 『Understood, So-ryong.』
I instructed Cho and Yeondu to fly to a position where we could view the entire mountain range horizontally, allowing us to compare all the peaks at once.
They glided downward and began scrutinizing the area, measuring one peak against another.
After a short while of observation, we identified it—a particularly tall summit emerging from the distant darkness.
A quick survey confirmed no other peak surpassed it; this had to be the highest.
“Is that the one?”
“It appears so.”
“Let’s proceed, So-ryong.”
“Agreed.”
Now that we had a destination, we set off immediately.
However, as we drew nearer to the summit, we found ourselves exchanging confused looks once more.
The so-called tallest peak was little more than a jagged spire of rock, scarcely large enough for a single person to stand on, with a few hardy plants growing from its cracks.
From a distance, it had looked entirely different.
Yet, the peak’s small size wasn’t the only issue.
“Are we certain this is the place?”
“It seems to be.”
“But where is the ice? Could it have already melted?”
Exactly. There was no sign of ice whatsoever.
By every observation, the area was completely free of frost.
“Possibly? But a location like this hardly seems suitable for any creature larger than a bird to perch.”
“Hmm.”
Hwa-eun had a point—this spot might appeal to avian spirit beasts for nesting—but she was missing a factor.
If a bird could access it, then so could a lizard, a spider, or a flying insect-type spirit creature.
Any traces left here would more likely belong to something like a spider, lizard, or a winged insect. Even so, something didn’t feel right.
It was less that the ice had melted, as Sister Seol proposed…
…and more that this place had never been frozen to begin with.
“Had there been ice, the vegetation would show damage. But this grass is thriving, which suggests we’re in the wrong location.”
If frost had formed and then thawed, the scant grass and shrubs clinging to the rocks would have suffered from the cold.
But when we landed and touched them, the plants felt lively and robust.
They were even putting out new growth.
This indicated that ice had never touched this spot.
In other words, our search was unsuccessful.
‘So the information really was as vague as it seemed!’
It appeared Eunbi Ruju’s tip was indeed frustratingly unclear.
“Ah, is that the case?”
“Hmm. Then where could it be?”
Sister Seol and Hwa-eun scanned our surroundings with clear disappointment, but not a single frozen peak was in view.
If we had even a general area, we could have let Yeondu conduct a search—it would have been simple.
But with our current lack of details, a search seemed impossible.
As you are aware, Yeondu is a serpent capable of detecting infrared radiation.
The opening below a snake’s eye is a pit organ, containing specialized receptors called Golay cells that sense infrared heat and translate it into a visual picture for the snake.
These Golay cells can detect temperature variations as minute as 0.003 degrees, so any thermal anomaly would be instantly visible to Yeondu’s heat-sensing vision.
Therefore, if a genuinely cold spot with ice existed, Yeondu would notice it as we approached.
Naturally, detection range is a factor—from too far away, the sensitivity of infrared sight diminishes.
Yeondu couldn’t possibly scan the entirety of Mount Yeo-san from a distance—an area the size of a national park—so we first needed to identify a probable zone.
This left us with a single viable course of action.
Sister Seol, Hwa-eun, and I all spoke simultaneously.
“Let’s ask Ji-ryong if he has another idea.”
“Let’s ask Ji-ryong if he has another idea.”
“Let’s ask Ji-ryong if he has another idea.”
‘I nearly yelled “Jinx!” right then.’
We then all smiled at one another.
It was no surprise we were in sync—we were family.
And besides, wasn’t this the precise reason we had Ji-ryong with us?
Our master strategist, Ji-ryong.
It ★ 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 ★ was high time we called in a favor for all those free meals he’d been enjoying lately.
‘Ji-ryong, open up that clever little brain of yours and give us something we can use!’

***
– Knock knock knock!
“Ji-ryong, are you sle—…”
– CRASH! Bang bang!
I had merely knocked on the door when something inside fell and shattered noisily.
“Oof…”
“A-are you unharmed? Yongcheon?”
Then followed Ji-ryong’s pained grunt… and Eumbong’s voice.
One didn’t need to be a genius to deduce what was occurring within.
This was Ji-ryong’s room, and Eumbong was there late at night. That fact alone was telling.
“So-ryong, it sounds like an interesting situation in there~ Kyahaha! What could they be up to~?”
Sister Seol giggled next to me, pressed against the doorframe, while Hwa-eun’s cheeks turned a deep red.
I quickly called out an apology and spread my arms to gently guide Hwa-eun and Sister Seol back from the door.
“Ah—forgive me, Ji-ryong! I had a question, but I can return later. Please, carry on with your… activities.”
It was late, but not exceptionally so, which was why I thought it acceptable to knock. Clearly, some kind of… engagement was already underway inside.
My timing, as always, was impeccably bad, interrupting a crucial moment.
I began to retreat hastily, but more clattering sounds came from within, and then—thud! The cabin door flew open.
“S-S, Senior, i-it’s nothing! Absolutely nothing occurred! Eumbong and I were merely conversing! Simply couldn’t find sleep, you understand!”
The room was pitch black, yet Ji-ryong was insisting nothing was amiss.
Even though, in the glow from Sister Seol’s lantern, the smudge of red around his lips was perfectly visible to all of us.
‘Sure… and I suppose they converse by pressing their mouths together.’
“You might want to clean that off your face before claiming nothing happened,” Sister Seol remarked, pointing.
Ji-ryong hurriedly scrubbed at his mouth with his sleeve, then froze when he saw the bright red mark on the cloth.
His entire face flushed scarlet.
He wiped again and mumbled,
“Ahem… well, it has been some time…”
“My apologies for interrupting your moment,” I said again, feeling apologetic.
Ji-ryong quickly straightened his posture, attempting to look dignified.
“A-ah, no! Not at all. What did you need?”
Simultaneously, Eumbong emerged, her lips now clean, her demeanor collected.
“Y-yes, nothing happened. We were only talking because we couldn’t sleep. It seems important—please, do come in. I will prepare some tea.”
“No, really, it’s fine. We can discuss this in the morning…”
Truthfully, I wanted to proceed now—but it felt rude, so I made to leave again.
Then her voice, slightly tremulous, came from behind us.
“P-please, enter!”
I gave Sister Seol’s giggling arm a light pinch and stepped inside.
Once we were seated and Eumbong was serving tea, I started my explanation.
“The reason I came to Mount Yeo-san is to find a spirit beast.”
“Indeed. You mentioned the branch master from Yeongcheon provided some information as they passed through.”
“Yes, but the details from the branch master were not particularly… specific.”
“Oh, so they failed to provide an exact location?”
“Precisely. It was something along the lines of ‘the peak of Mount Yeo-san has frozen,’ and that we ought to investigate.
Initially, I assumed it would be straightforward. A mountain typically has one obvious summit, correct? But Mount Yeo-san is different.
Still, reasoning it through, if they said ‘the peak,’ it likely meant the highest one. However, when we arrived, it wasn’t a place where anything could realistically reside.
So I came to ask if you might have a way to help us pinpoint the location…”
As I concluded, Ji-ryong nodded in understanding.
“I also assumed it was specific. But if it had been precise, they wouldn’t have given it away without cost. They would have ascended and retrieved the Neidan for themselves.”
“That is true.”
“Absolutely.”
I winced slightly at the phrase ‘retrieved the Neidan,’ but his point was valid.
These are martial artists. If they possessed an exact location, they would certainly have claimed the prize themselves rather than handing the information to me.
Ji-ryong launched into his proper explanation.
“Allow me to share what I know of Mount Yeo-san.
It boasts 171 peaks, 20 valleys, 14 ponds, 16 caves, and 20 ravines.
There are famous sites like Small Heaven Pond and Great Heaven Pond, and locations such as Five Elders Peak, Triple Fold Spring, and Dragon’s Head Cliff are renowned for their beauty.”
“One hundred and seventy-one…”
“That is… excessive.”
I knew there were many peaks, but 171!?
Had we attempted to search them individually, it would have been an endless task. The thought had crossed my mind earlier, and now I felt profoundly relieved we hadn’t tried.
Then he offered the next crucial detail.
“Furthermore, clouds and fog frequently blanket the mid-slopes. Visibility is often poor. That makes the search considerably more difficult.”
“I see…”
We hadn’t encountered any fog upon our arrival, so we were unaware. But apparently, it is a near-daily occurrence.
This meant finding anything here would be genuinely challenging.
An overwhelming number of peaks—and on many days, you can’t even see them.
Still, the mountain’s vast size and persistent fog made it an ideal habitat for a spirit beast.
A perfect place to remain concealed.
My sense of anticipation grew as Ji-ryong asked,
“The information stated the peak of Mount Yeo-san was frozen, correct?”
“Yes, Ji-ryong.”
“Well, given the information originated from the mountain, there are only two probable sources. Either an herb gatherer or a tourist. No one else would bother climbing to such heights.
And judging by the vagueness—no specific peak name or directions—it most likely came from a tourist who wasn’t familiar with the area.”
“Ohhh.”
As expected of our schemer, Ji-ryong.
He deduced all of that from a single statement.
Deeply satisfying.
“Tomorrow, we should visit a village where herb gatherers reside and inquire if any have sighted a frozen peak.”
“Wait, didn’t you conclude it was tourists who saw it? Why ask the herb gatherers?”
“Those tourists are likely long gone. But if they witnessed it, then the herb gatherers certainly have as well. And the gatherers possess superior knowledge of the landscape and local names, so they are the ones we must question.”
Impressive. A rock-solid conclusion.
I was already congratulating myself on the decision to consult him as I glanced at Hwa-eun and Sister Seol.
One should always repay a kindness, shouldn’t they?
“Ooooh, understood! Thank you, Ji-ryong! Now, please… return to what you were doing. Let’s go, Sister, Hwa-eun.”
“Yes. Do enjoy yourselves.”
“Eumbong… mm… have fun.”
“I-I said it isn’t like that…!”
As we made our exit, I encouraged them to continue undisturbed, and Sister Seol waved playfully at Eumbong.
Hwa-eun clenched her fist and whispered a supportive “fighting.”
– Thud.
The moment we stepped outside, a dull thump sounded.
We all turned back to look.
Eumbong had collapsed forward onto the table, her feet kicking slightly in embarrassment.
But then, embarrassment is a fleeting thing.
Happiness? That endures.

***
“Ah, the frozen peak? That rumor?”
“Oh! You’ve heard of it?”
“Naturally.”
As morning arrived, just as Ji-ryong predicted, fog began pouring down the mountainsides.
Within the dense mist, we arrived at the first village.
We found an herb gatherer who had just finished washing his face—and it was a direct hit. The first person we asked was familiar with it.
He seemed to know immediately what we referred to.
“Would you be willing to tell us its location?”
The man gave a casual nod.
“Of course. It’s Flying Dragon Peak.”
“Oooh! Flying Dragon Peak! Here, please take this.”
“Whoa, why are you handing me two silver coins!?”
“As a token of our thanks. Nothing more. Let’s go, Hwa-eun!”
“Yes, So-ryong.”
I was on the verge of sprinting away when the man called out to stop me.
“Sir, I believe there’s been a misunderstanding.
It isn’t the peak itself that’s frozen. It’s the mouth of the dragon-shaped rock—there’s a cave there. That is what’s frozen. Just so you’re aware.”
Ahh, the power of currency to elicit more details and greater courtesy.
I spun around quickly and asked,
“A cave, you say!?”
“Yes. Of the 17 caves on Mount Yeo-san, the seven highest ones began to freeze sequentially—almost as if the ice was migrating.
Currently, it’s the mouth of the dragon rock on Flying Dragon Peak that is frozen. It began to thaw a few days ago, but I doubt it has melted completely yet.”
“Thank you!”
I was ready to run off again—but then came the essential final question.
“Do you know the way to Flying Dragon Peak?”
“Ah… of course. Ahem.”
‘In my excitement, I neglected to ask for directions.’
I promptly obtained detailed instructions from the man and hurried back to the boat.
Now that the sun was up, the fog was dense once more—ideal conditions for a thorough search with the children.
‘Flying Dragon… that implies a reptile, doesn’t it?’
My mind began racing with all sorts of possibilities.
Perhaps there truly was a flying dragon concealed within.