Fabre in Sacheon’s Tang Novel - Chapter 371

Chapter 371
After channeling her cold energy for some time, Seol lifted her head with a concerned look and inquired,
— Squeak. “Is this correct? She isn’t improving at all…”
“Sister Seol confirmed the Neidan is in that general area, so we should be targeting the right place. Hmm… perhaps the cold isn’t potent enough?”
Seol was directing the flow of cold energy onto the creature’s chest—a soft, vulnerable patch left exposed by its armor.
Uncertain of the precise point where the cold would be most effective, they had chosen the spot nearest its Neidan, the core where spirit beasts focus their energy.
Sister Seol had previously sensed that the Neidan was housed within its chest.
Yet, after continuous effort, the creature remained unconscious, making Seol doubt their approach.
After a moment’s consideration, I proposed an idea to Seol.
“What if we intensify the cold?”
— Kuuuu. “Yes, Father.”
It occurred to me that the energy might have been too faint. Since the creature couldn’t properly absorb Seol’s power at a low intensity, perhaps a stronger output was necessary for recovery.
The glow from Seol’s tail flared brighter at my suggestion.
It pulsed more rapidly, shining with increased vigor.
Crackle. Snap.
Then, frost started to crystallize across the creature’s chest.
Before this, the cold hadn’t been forceful enough to form ice. But now, with Seol amplifying her luminous cold beam, a sheet of ice spread quickly over its chest.
“Wait, Seol!”
I called out to halt her immediately.
If the creature were truly absorbing the energy, ice shouldn’t form—or at least not so rapidly. This sudden freezing suggested the energy wasn’t being taken in at all.
“Well stopped. Perhaps we chose the wrong location?”
Sister Seol, evidently thinking along the same lines, approached and examined the creature more carefully.
“The bare chest appeared most logical since it isn’t shielded by armor, but…”
Reflecting on this, I offered another suggestion to Sister Seol.
“Should we attempt directing it at the shell on its back?”
“The shell?”
“Yes, consider—when creatures bask to absorb heat, they typically lie on their bellies, not their backs. So maybe we should try the back instead of the chest.”
“I see…”
In nature, many animals engage in sunbathing.
Although reptiles do so to raise their body temperature, the primary reason is different.
Most vertebrates, reptiles included, absorb UVB rays (within the 290–315nm range) from sunlight to produce what is often called the “sunshine vitamin”: vitamin D.
This process is essential. Without vitamin D3, dietary calcium is useless—because the body cannot metabolize it.
A lack of it results in calcium deficiency, which can cause metabolic bone diseases that disrupt bone development and lead to severe complications.
Such as osteoporosis, rickets, or osteomalacia—conditions like those.
Because this vital synthesis occurs through the skin, it seemed reasonable to apply the cold energy to the back shell—where the skin was exposed.
“Well… shall we test the theory?”
“Seol, please proceed.”
— Kuu. “Understood, Father.”
Sister Seol and I gently rolled the creature onto its stomach, and Seol resumed emitting her cold energy.
As the beam of frigid light struck its back, indications emerged that my hypothesis was correct.
The scales along its back began to glimmer in sync with the rhythmic pulses from Seol’s tail.
It resembled the activation of a wireless energy transfer.
“Look, it’s working!”
“So it seems.”
The shell on its back was clearly responding.
— Baaaae.
Startled by the display, the infant let out a cry. But when Dong tenderly licked its forehead, it nestled into Dong’s chest, seeking reassurance.
Even though it was nearly too large to conceal itself completely there.
— Baaae.
— Kkyut. “There, there. You’re safe.”
At that moment, as Dong soothed the baby, it started to suck on her finger.
— Smack. Suck.
It was likely starving after its ordeal.
Seeing it suckle her finger, Dong appeared embarrassed.
— Kkyu-oot. “That isn’t food. That’s your sister’s toe. That’s unsanitary.”
— Baaae.
— Kkyut. “No, really… that’s not—”
The baby fussed like a willful child, and Dong resignedly allowed it to continue.
Hwa-eun, Sister Seol, and I couldn’t suppress smiles at the heartwarming sight.
“Endure it a little longer, Dong. Don’t fret too much. Mother will be alright.”
As we observed the pair snuggling, roughly two hours elapsed.
The mother creature’s tongue, which had been lolling out, gradually withdrew into her mouth, and her body started to shudder slightly.
She was slowly regaining consciousness. Her labored breathing softened, and when I inspected her eyes, I noticed awareness returning.
Her pupils were now responding naturally, unlike before.
“She’s stirring, So-ryong.”
Just after I moved back from checking her eyes, the creature shifted. Though not fully awake, she was straining to look toward her tail.
She must have been seeking her baby the moment she awoke.
Dong and I brought the little one to her.
“She likely fainted from overexertion. Your baby is well. Please don’t push yourself to move. We will handle everything until you’ve recovered. Look—see? Right here.”
While still lying down, her gaze moved from the baby to me.
I gave her a warm smile.
I needed to assure her I meant no harm.
Slowly, she stretched a forepaw toward her child.
“You want her back? Are you certain?”
“You really should refrain… if she nurses again, you may collapse. Honestly, we aren’t sure if your milk has come in yet.”
Her desire to reunite with her baby was clear, but I felt hesitant.
In circumstances like these, it is standard to keep the infant separated if the mother is too frail to nurse—to avoid her collapsing again from fatigue.
Given how eagerly the baby had sucked Dong’s finger, it would surely nurse vigorously. That could be risky.
And as Sister Seol noted, she might not even be producing milk yet.
— Bbaeu.
As Sister Seol and I discussed, the mother emitted a feeble cry from her prone position.
Of course—this was a mother’s instinct.
Just as Hongdan’s mother had sacrificed everything for her child, this one would do the same.
It would be problematic if she fainted again while caring for her baby, but… we had to honor her determination.
“Very well. Wait a moment. Seol, let’s increase the cold output a bit more.”
Naturally, we wouldn’t simply return the baby without precautions.
I resolved to intensify the cold further—to prevent another collapse.
But as I said this, Seol responded with a note of anxiety.
— Kuuu. “Alright, Father… but my energy is running low.”
When Seol employs milder cold, she can maintain it longer. Using stronger cold depletes her more quickly.
However, I wasn’t overly worried—I could restore her energy.
Her needs weren’t excessive, and I had already replenished her once during training and again recently. I retained enough capacity for three or four more transfers.
“Then, Seol, come sit on my lap. I will channel Beast Heart Qi into you, and you continue supplying her with cold.”
— Kuuu. “Yes, Father.”
And so, we initiated the energy transfer chain—from me to Seol to the mother creature.
First, the baby.
“Dong-a, let’s return the baby now.”
— Kkyut. “Alright, Grandpa. Let’s visit Mama, little one.”
We carried the baby to its mother. As we neared, the baby released Dong’s finger and hurried to its mother.
It nestled into her embrace and began to nurse at once.
— Smack. Suck.
The loud, urgent noises highlighted its intense hunger—far different from when it was sucking Dong’s finger.
As the baby latched on, the mother’s chest started to rise and fall heavily.
I assumed a lotus position, drew Seol onto my lap, and began transmitting Beast Heart Qi into her.
“Let’s start, Seol.”
— Kuu. “Yes, Father.”
As the cold-infused light streaming from Seol’s tail grew stronger, the mother’s previously irregular breathing slowly steadied.
Observing the energy passing from me through Seol and into the mother, an odd notion occurred to me.
“Hold on… does that make me type O?”
Given that the core energy within each of my children resembled an elemental blood type, and I could transfer my Qi to any of them, it almost felt like being a universal donor.
Similar to type O blood.
***
It appeared successful, as the creature inclined its head in a gesture of thanks.
— Bbaeu.
After three entire days of channeling cold energy, leaving us nearly exhausted, the white pangolin had finally regained her health.
— Kuuuu. “Father, she expresses her gratitude. She says she is deeply indebted to you.”
Relaying the message, Seol translated while I lay spent on the icy ground and offered a feeble wave.
I had been sustaining the Beast Heart Technique for three consecutive days, funneling energy into the creature—and I was approaching my limit.
“It was no trouble. Helping an ailing spirit beast is simply what any decent person would do, right? How are you holding up, Seol-i?”
— Kkukkku. “I am fine. I only transferred the energy you provided.”
I was on the verge of collapse, but fortunately, Seol seemed unaffected.
It was then that Seol, who was interpreting the creature’s thoughts, conveyed something unexpected.
— Bbaeu bbaeu.
— Kuu? “She says she wishes to repay the debt?”
Wait, really? She isn’t some grateful magpie—the white pangolin suddenly wanted to settle her obligation?
“Repay us?”
“That’s uncommon for a spirit beast.”
“Yes, she is remarkably courteous.”
I’ve aided numerous spirit beasts, but never before had one spoken of repayment.
If she wished to join us, that would be repayment enough—but I was truly interested in what she intended.
“What exactly did you have in mind by repaying us?”
— Bbaeu.
Without delay, she clamped down on the scales along her flank.
Though she lacked teeth, she was unmistakably attempting to pry one loose.
“Hey—stop!”
Alarmed, I dashed forward to intervene.
My earlier suspicion was confirmed—I knew precisely what she intended.
She was trying to present me with one of her own scales.
“What do you think you’re doing!?”
I exclaimed, stunned. She paused and replied weakly.
— Bba… eu…
— Kuuu. “She says… she intended to gift you one of her scales, Father.”
Just as I feared.
Evidently, she knew humans prize pangolin scales, and she wished to offer one.
But this was deeply concerning.
A pangolin’s scales, once lost, never regenerate. They are fixed from birth and permanent.
“You must know your scales won’t grow back, correct? You need them to safeguard your baby. Please, don’t concern yourself with repayment. You owe us nothing—forget about it.”
— Bbaeeuuuu.
She bowed deeply once more, visibly touched by my words. Then I gently asked her:
“Well… if you truly feel thankful, would you consider accompanying us…?”
— Bbaeu?
She tilted her head, somewhat confused.
I gestured with my fingers as I elaborated.
“You mentioned you would need to remain in a cave until winter, correct? I did restore your energy, but this area isn’t entirely safe from humans. If you relocate, you might collapse before winter arrives.
But if you join us, Seol could assist you if any problems arise. You could raise your baby alongside her.”
— Kuuuu. “Yes! Father aided me when I was injured as well, and he is helping to raise Dong too. He also shields us from humans. We should go together. There are many spirit beasts like us there, and the people are very kind.”
As Seol added her own persuasion, the creature seemed to ponder.
— Bbaaaaee.
— Kkyuit. “That is her foot, not for sucking…”
Just then, her baby embraced Dong’s leg and started to suck on her front paw—and that was when the white pangolin reached a decision.
— Bbaeu! Bbaeu!?
— Kuuuu. “She agrees, Father! She is willing, but for her baby’s well-being, she inquires if a cold environment is accessible?”
“Oh! Certainly! Rest assured—we have a chilly and secure place back home.”
Elated, I gathered up Dong and the white pangolin’s baby and started to dance joyfully. It was then that Hwa-eun questioned,
“Wait, is there truly a cold place within the Tang Clan? Did you intend to excavate a new cave, So-ryong?”
She was doubting whether such a location existed at the Tang residence.
It did.
The Hall of Ten Thousand Poisons.
With some modifications, it would serve perfectly.