Fabre in Sacheon’s Tang Novel - Chapter 391

Chapter 391
“Why did you stop, So-ryong?”
I froze mid-stride, noticing Hwa-eun’s form—a blend of amber and scarlet—leaning toward me with a worried tilt of her head.
‘Wow… So that was more than just a superficial change?’
But in that very moment, the heat-sight faded.
I’d probably severed the Qi supply to my eyes the instant I released the Cat’s Eye in the Night Technique. Before Hwa-eun could speak, the elder walking ahead of us—Mandok Shingun—turned and inquired,
“What caused you to pause?”
“I believe I saw… something unusual, just for a second.”
“Unusual?”
“What kind of thing?”
They both drew nearer, studying my eyes with interest as I attempted to describe it.
“That’s right, Grandfather. It was as if I could perceive the warmth emitted by living creatures.”
“Warmth?”
“Snakes detect heat using specialized pits below their eyes—it’s how they perceive the world. I think I momentarily gained a similar ability through the Cat’s Eye in the Night Technique…”
“Is that so?”
“It is, but it faded almost immediately. I suspect it’s because I halted my Qi flow when I ended the technique. Allow me to attempt it again.”
“By all means. Try once more.”
Under Mandok Shingun’s encouraging watch, I promptly reactivated the Cat’s Eye in the Night Technique.
Channeling Qi into my eyes, the surroundings slowly brightened.
A sudden flicker—and there it was again, the same heat-based perception.
‘Excellent!’
But it was fleeting. My sight returned to the standard night vision the technique offered—improved visibility in low light, not thermal imaging.
It was deep autumn, and the early evening had already draped everything in gloom. The technique simply made the dark less absolute.
‘Hold on… what’s this?’
I had thought the technique had permanently upgraded to thermal vision, yet something felt incorrect.
I frowned at the strange feeling, and Mandok Shingun picked up on it.
“What’s the matter?”
“It absolutely worked before. I definitely caught a glimpse of thermal energy, I’m certain. But now… it’s only the standard improved sight. I’m still channeling Qi to my eyes, yet…”
Despite its impressive name, Cat’s Eye in the Night was fundamentally a simple method of directing Qi to the eyes to enhance night vision.
It wasn’t an exalted secret art. Most individuals with martial training could manage it. It was merely somewhat more effective than basic Qi concentration and provided slightly clearer vision in darkness.
So, when I mentioned it felt nearly identical to ordinary visual improvement, that was essentially the case.
Hearing this, Mandok Shingun came closer and rested his hands against his temples, deep in thought.
“It was only a brief appearance?”
“Yes, Grandfather.”
“And you did nothing else at the moment you detected the heat?”
His question prompted me to mentally review the event.
I hadn’t done anything special—nothing out of the routine.
‘Did I do anything different when the heat-vision appeared? Hwa-eun was holding my hand… wait. Is that it!?’
“Ah!”
“Did you recall something?”
“Yes. Hwa-eun and I were holding hands in secret!”
“Oh?”
Mandok Shingun slowly turned to look at Hwa-eun.
She was gazing intently toward the far-off, shadowy mountains—her face a deep red—waving her hands in a flustered panic.
Then, her voice reached me via sound transmission.
[So-ryong! You weren’t supposed to tell everyone!]
[But… it’s honestly the only thing that happened!]
I rubbed my head sheepishly, attempting to justify my admission.
That was when Grandfather gestured toward our hands and stated,
“Then attempt to hold hands again.”
“Yes, Grandfather.”
“Oh no…”
With clear reluctance and embarrassment, Hwa-eun offered her hand once more. She had been so confident earlier, but now, under scrutiny, she was thoroughly mortified.
It seems she isn’t someone who handles attention well.
To assist her, I gently took the initiative this time and interlocked our fingers for better “connectivity.”
But the enhanced vision stayed the same. Merely a bit brighter than usual—no change at all.
“Anything?”
“No. Nothing different.”
“Then that is not the cause.”
As I considered what the trigger might be, I released Hwa-eun’s hand—and flash! The thermal vision came back, for just a heartbeat.
It disappeared again swiftly, but it had unquestionably returned.
“Hm?”
“What happened?”
“I saw it again. Only for a second.”
“There must be a specific requirement.”
Mandok Shingun’s observation was logical. I started going over the moment again in my mind, striving to pinpoint anything I might have overlooked.
Then, it dawned on me.
“Ah!”
“You discovered it?”
“Yes! I blinked—I overlooked that detail.”
I had initially thought that holding hands activated the effect, but it was actually the subsequent action—the blinking.
The earlier flash of thermal vision had also occurred after a blink. Most likely, what I saw was a residual image caused by that motion.
To test my hypothesis, I shut my eyes.
And just like that, the thermal visual field ignited with perfect clarity.
Hwa-eun gave off a more intense warmth—probably due to her agitated state—while Grandfather, an experienced martial artist, exhibited a consistent, regulated temperature across his whole body.
‘So it functions like a snake’s senses, then.’
In summary, to activate thermal vision: engage the Cat’s Eye in the Night Technique and then close your eyes.
Snakes utilize specialized pit organs situated below their eyes—which contain TRP ion channels—to sense infrared radiation. It relies less on the eyes themselves and more on an independent heat-detection system.
This felt identical. Not quite seeing, but rather sensing.
Just as I was admiring the precision of the vision once more, Mandok Shingun asked,
“Can you see now?”
“Yes, Grandfather. I can perceive the shapes of people, glowing clearly with heat, even through their garments.”
The luminous forms of Hwa-eun and Grandfather came into view.
Upon hearing my words, Hwa-eun gasped and hid behind me.
“You can see… bodies? Our actual bodies!?”
“No, no! Only the shape! The outline!”
She appeared terrified by the notion, but before her anxiety could worsen, Grandfather exclaimed happily.
“Splendid! This skill will be enormously beneficial. Locating foes in the dark… or combat in obscurity—this could prove extremely useful.”
As anticipated from a man who led an assassination clan his entire life, he immediately recognized the worth of such an ability.
Even in my previous life, thermal vision was essential gear for special operations.
Now it was an innate ability. That alone spared the expense of a top-tier thermal scope. A major advantage.
“For the time being, your body appears free of any adverse effects. We shall gradually determine how to utilize this. For now—your father and future mother-in-law are probably expecting us. We should proceed.”
“Understood, Grandfather.”
“Alright.”
Thermal vision acquired. Ample time to investigate its complete applications.
But presently—food. Even the most splendid scenery is improved by a good meal.
As I walked behind Grandfather and Hwa-eun, he spoke again, a note of amusement in his voice.
“Oh, and Hwa-eun.”
“Yes?”
“From now on, cease this clandestine hand-holding. Do it openly. You are to be married soon regardless—who would dare comment?”
Scarlet with embarrassment, Hwa-eun swatted my arm in objection—yet somehow, her fingers remained laced with mine.
‘Incredible. Today is a complete victory.’
Thermal vision obtained. Secret hand-holding promoted to approved public display.
Today was nothing but gain.
***
That morning, after practicing the Scorpion Tail Quick Kick, I went to the riverbank with Cho.
I had several tasks—a duty for Grandfather, and also to see how the kids were doing.
“Geumdo! Heukjeom!”
—Buuurrr.
—Tzzzzrr.
The moment I called, Geumdo rotated toward me with a low rumble, and Heukjeom emerged from the water, moving toward me with excitement.
Geumdo’s golden scales shimmered under the sunlight, his underside exposed as usual. As I arrived, several Tang Clan fighters who had been stationed as guards hurried over and bowed respectfully.
“You are here, Master So-ryong.”
These were warriors dispatched by the Tang Clan specifically to safeguard Geumdo and Heukjeom—spiritual beasts of tremendous value, after all, and they had secured the perimeter completely.
“Was everything quiet in my absence?”
“Absolutely, sir. We ensured complete vigilance. Not a thing could have slipped by us.”
Just as I concluded my greetings with the guards, a slightly irritated voice grumbled in my mind.
『—Grrrr. (Why inquire with them when I am present?)』
“It was merely a formality. You are also well, Cheongwol?”
—Grrr. (Naturally.)
Cheongwol, the Ten-Thousand-Year Stone Armored Scorpion posted here for their protection, had communicated with me through our mental connection.
He could dispatch group transmissions if danger arose, stalling until I or my allies could arrive. He was the ideal sentinel for this role.
Looking around, I spotted a enormous claw extending from a rock near the shore, gradually approaching me.
“Thank you for guarding the kids.”
—Grrr. 『They are hardly children… You should focus on petting Heukjeom.』
I extended my hand to stroke Cheongwol’s head in gratitude, and he mumbled self-consciously.
Still, I thought departing too abruptly might upset him, so I offered a few additional soft pats.
Then I knelt by the water where Heukjeom, clearly eager and waiting, looked up at me with blinking anticipation. I caressed his head.
“Have you been well? No issues?”
—Tzzzzrr.
Heukjeom shut his eyes and vibrated his fins, plainly relishing the contact.
—Tzzrt. 『He reports that all has been peaceful, Dad.』
“You must have been lonely. Matters were chaotic, but now they are resolved. I will visit each morning from now on. The clan intends to link the watercourse directly to the Tang estate, so please be patient a little while longer, alright?”
—Tzzrt.
Between presenting the kids to the elders and moving into our new home, I had been unable to visit for the last three days.
I apologized and outlined the plan.
Technically, the distance to the compound wasn’t great, but ~Nоvеl𝕚ght~ the clan elders had still opted to excavate a new channel all the way from here to the front of the Tang family grounds.
When we first arrived, the elders assembled in large numbers to see Geumdo and Heukjeom.
The outcome?
A united verdict: the kids must be relocated nearer to the household.
Even though the distance was short, they were uneasy about housing such valuable spiritual beasts beyond the family’s immediate territory. Hence, the waterway initiative.
They were especially captivated by Geumdo’s radiant golden sheen.
When I voiced worries about the immense effort of broadening and deepening the river—since this wasn’t my previous life with its machinery and tools—I was promptly set straight.
“This is the Central Plains, young man. The Sui Dynasty dug canals by hand. What is ten li of river? We simply employ more laborers.”
Indeed. This was the Central Plains.
Where human effort was more economical than machinery.
Regardless, I relayed this to Heukjeom so he would be aware.
Just then, Geumdo inclined his head toward me, then ambled over to a shallower section of the river.
—Krrrrk.
He started shifting pebbles aside with his foreclaws.
After a few digging actions, he turned and grumbled.
—Buugrr?
—Tzzrt. 『Dad, Geumdo says he will relax and assist with digging as well. He has no other engagements anyway.』
“…Good heavens…”
Given his enormous size, Geumdo was essentially a living excavation machine. I gaped in astonishment.
Then Heukjeom swam over and murmured to him, after which he abruptly started circling.
The water agitated.
—Chaaaah.
A spinning vortex started to take shape. Evidently, Heukjeom wished to contribute as well—seeking to show how capable he could be.
I was on the verge of questioning whether a whirlpool could genuinely excavate a ditch when—
The vortex elongated upward.
What in the—!?
It began at the surface but climbed steadily, twisting into the air—a small, corkscrewing column of water.
“Th-that is a Water Dragon Whirl!”
One of the guards shouted in amazement.
Apparently, Water Dragon Whirl was the local term for a waterspout.
It wasn’t enormous, but this small vortex was advancing—sculpting a water channel as it traveled.
“Aaagh!”
Heukjeom’s typical whirlpools had been innocuous intimidation tactics at Lake Dongting, designed to alarm—not harm—people.
But this was a earnest endeavor.
He was committing fully to this effort.