Fabre in Sacheon’s Tang

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Chapter 1: The River’s Secrets

“Wow, the river is really wide.”

As our boat glided along, a strange sense of awe overwhelmed me, especially as I realized we were on the Yangtze River, one of the longest rivers in the world.

“It’s so vast here, isn’t it?” I couldn’t help but exclaim.

“It’s actually much larger than I thought. Just keep steady!”

A sudden call from Gu Pae made me grip the boat’s edge tightly. The river had swelled and was now tossing us about like a leaf in the wind.

– Splash!

Cold water sprayed across my face.

“Be careful! The current is strong!” Gu Pae warned.

Seeing everyone on board grasping the edges with tense expressions added to the chaotic thrill. But beside me was my sister, calmly smiling as she pointed at the expanding waters.

“Look, So-ryong! This is the Yangtze River. The longest river in the Central Plains!”

The realization hit me like a wave—this was the place I had dreamt of visiting in my past life, especially since it was home to the extinct Yangtze River dolphin.

“Wow, that’s the dolphin I wanted to see!” I thought to myself, reminiscing about those cute dolphins known as the Baiji.

“It’s fascinating, isn’t it? If we follow the Yangtze all the way to Wuhan, we’ll be close to our destination,” my sister said, clearly enjoying the view.

“Our journey will stop at the Martial Forest Alliance before we reach the Nangong Clan in Anhui. Remember, we need to deliver some special poison antidote from our Artisan too!”

I nodded, already feeling the excitement of our travels and the stories that awaited us.

“But you know, he said we should stop briefly at Wuhan and get off in Anqing, right?” I confirmed.

“Exactly! We are on a boat, much faster than riding or walking!” said my sister, her eyes sparkling.

As our boat gained speed, I marveled at how swiftly we were traveling along the river, the current solving our travel woes.

“At this speed, we’ll arrive way ahead of time!” I said, excitement in my voice.

“Just remember, it’ll still take about half a month,” my sister replied with a knowing smile.

I gazed out beyond the boat’s edge, still lost in thought. Would the Nangong Clan really like the Ice Orb? Doubts nagged at me.

“What if it’s too precious for them to part with? They wouldn’t just hand it over for nothing, would they?” I muttered to her.

“Why are you worrying? Just trust me!” she responded, her unwavering confidence shining through.

“Of course, I trust you, really!” I quickly assured, although doubts were clearly creeping in.

Then a moment of silence was interrupted by my sister’s sudden question, redirecting the subject.

“But, Sa-Eun, we need that cold energy for the creatures, right? What exactly is it? Is it just a chilly vibe?”

I regaled the importance of feeding our lizards and the mysteries surrounding their diet. We couldn’t risk feeding them something unknown!

“I’ve heard it should help with martial arts too,” she reassured, preparing to explain.

“Okay, what is it then?”

“It’s fundamental. Listen carefully,” she began, diving into the depths of energy dynamics.

“Cold energy corresponds to the Yin energy—opposite to Yang energy. Yin energy suppresses vitality, so it’s crucial for the process of growth for your pets.”

“Then… is that a bad thing?” I asked, still a bit confused.

“No, not at all! Yin and Yang create balance. Too much Yang can be harmful since it accelerates aging and diminishes energy. The cold energy actually supports growth for our creatures,” she elaborated, smiling.

I pondered aloud, “Does that mean it’s like recharging for them?”

“Exactly! You got it!” she cheered, satisfied with our discussion.

“Wait! But if we’re talking about a balance, and we have creatures like Bin and Seol-i who are pure Yin, how does that work?”

At that, her face flushed crimson, and she stammered.

“Uh… well, I’ll look into how they balance each other later, okay?”

“What?!” I blinked, totally befuddled.

These thoughts spiraled, the atmosphere suddenly turning awkward.

“Let’s talk about something else! Oh, look! Is that a Baiji Dolphin?” she squealed as she pointed excitedly.

I turned to see what she was referencing, spotting something gracefully leaping out of the water. “Whoa! Dolphins!”

“Just as I wanted!” I thought as they splashed everyone gleefully while they swam alongside our boat, bringing joy to our already incredible journey.

*

Later that evening on Yellow Mountain…

Gentle breezes entangled with wisps of falling petals, swirling them into the night sky.

– Whoosh!

Suddenly, a blade cut through the air beneath the moonlight, instantly scattering the flowers that had just begun a delicate ascent.

With elegant finesse, a woman exhaled deeply.

“Still not enough…” she murmured, frustrated.

The movement was the Emperor Sword Form’s third strike—a technique that amplified power through sequential forms. It was meant to crush anything before it.

But instead of dispersion, the flowers remained unshattered, deposited on the ground.

Her dissatisfaction shadowed her accomplishments, despite her exceptional skills.

“The eldest daughter of the Nangong Clan, Nangong Seol, practicing in secret,” a voice remarked softly nearby.

“Eun-Ah, let’s head back. It’s getting late, and we might be caught!”

Nangong Seol nodded, feeling guilty for worrying her sister.

“Alright, I’ll stop. I promise.”

In the hidden shadows of their clan, she yearned to perfect her craft, knowing full well that her training was against clan rules.

“Will this be okay?” her sister asked, concern etched across her face.

“Just a little longer. I can handle it,” Seol promised, unable to shake away her determination.

She glanced up. The night sky felt oddly oppressive yet beautiful as she contemplated her destiny.

Time was fleeting, and she wanted to leave behind a legacy before her own flame flickered out entirely.