I Became an Evolving Lizard in a Martial Arts Novel

Chapter 167

And so began my “double life.”

The term may sound odd, but I wasn’t doing anything suspicious.

In reality, it was a fancy way of describing my routine of sneaking off to meet White Wolf in her cave each night.

...Does that sound a bit strange?

The official excuse was that White Wolf needed to check on my well-being for her pack.

If I had simply left for another location, they could have sent me off without worry. But since I was trapped in the volcano, they needed to pass the message along so that Chirang wouldn’t fret.

Couldn’t she just tell them I was somewhere else outside the volcano?

I’d considered asking that, but I didn’t voice it. After all, I was getting a few benefits from these clandestine meetings myself.

"Oh, you’re heavier than you look."

"Gek, gek."

By day, I enjoyed the warmth of the Red Dragon; by night, the coolness of White Wolf.

I had the perfect pillows to choose from based on my preference.

“...Put your tongue back in. You look way too pleased with yourself."

"Gek?"

It wasn’t just a matter of personal comfort—there was a good reason for this arrangement.

The primary forces within my body were fire and frost, likely thanks to the powerful essences from spiritual herbs like Fiery Lotus and Snow Ginseng.

Though the other mystical items I’d consumed weren’t insignificant, Fiery Lotus and Snow Ginseng’s powers were especially prominent, as I actively harnessed them.

And since the Red Dragon and White Wolf controlled fire and frost, respectively, I could absorb these energies from them.

If I took in fire energy during the day and frost energy at night, my internal power would naturally increase.

And this might lead me closer to evolving into a Fire Dragon.

“...It’s fine if you lie there, but why are you constantly snuggling closer?"

“Gek, gek."

“You always act so childlike at times like this.”

The larger the area of contact, the better I could absorb the cold.

So, I lay on White Wolf’s lap, engaging in intense “training,” and happily accepted the meat she’d give me.

Getting food was easy now.

Though I appreciated the meals the Red Dragon provided, I also hunted for myself during my free time.

Ever since I’d defeated the fire rat, more creatures had begun venturing into the volcano, allowing me to hunt a wider variety.

Of course, they’d all hide during the day while the Red Dragon was active, only emerging when she soaked in the lava. This suited me just fine, as my active hours were at night.

Concealing myself in the dark, I’d sneak up, snap a neck, and the hunt would be over.

Though I was occasionally spotted due to the volcano’s bright, fiery landscape, it didn’t affect the outcome.

Even if they saw me, they couldn’t stop me.

I was stronger than ever.

My body constantly urged me to evolve, but I was holding back.

As the saying goes, “Patience is bitter, but its fruit is sweet.” I suppressed my urge to evolve.

If I became a Komodo-Salamander, I might be crossing a line I couldn’t return from.

The thought of the Red Dragon pouncing on me the moment I evolved was a real risk.

Evolving into a Salamander should only be done after I’d escaped her clutches.

The best course would be to evolve into a Fire Dragon.

While I hadn’t yet found a clue, spending time here seemed to be producing some changes.

By resisting evolution and focusing on training and hunting, I felt power accumulating deep within my core.

I thought of Grandpa Kompy and the other dinosaurs and lizards who’d chosen not to evolve despite reaching that threshold.

I think I understood their reasoning now.

Holding off on evolution itself was a form of training.

“Gek, gek.”

Though sometimes I got a bit carried away with hunting due to my overflowing strength, White Wolf helped me keep things under control.

She’d freeze the meat I caught with her frost, storing extra portions to bring back to her pack.

Not a scrap went to waste—everything was used wisely.

White Wolf, I must admit, is impressively resourceful.

I suppose it’s natural, given she’s the eldest sister of her wolf pack.

Still, her den isn’t exactly close to the volcano, and she visits daily... Doesn’t that tire her out?

Shouldn’t she skip a day or two?

Just as I wondered this, White Wolf yawned and spoke.

“By the way, you mentioned defeating the guardian, right?”

“Gek, gek.”

“Yet your form hasn’t changed? The rumors couldn’t have been wrong... Are you purposely staying in this state?”

White Wolf had many appealing qualities.

Not only was her soft fur enjoyable to touch, and her frost as potent as the Ice Queen’s, but her resourcefulness was commendable.

And most of all, she was sharp-minded.

She wasn’t a leader for no reason.

If she didn’t have her pack and were smaller, like Tus and Pus, I might’ve offered her a scale and traveled together. I could stroke her fur whenever I wanted to relax.

“Gek, gek.”

I gave a light nod.

“Hmm... You’re already big enough as it is. What are you aiming to become?”

White Wolf scrutinized me, her gaze traveling from my head down to my tail, before moving back up.

Then she stopped midway, staring intently.

Gulp.

White Wolf swallowed, and her tail gave a little wag.

"...This is really complicated."

Her face turned slightly red, lost in thought.

“I’m feeling drowsy; should we sleep now?”

“Ge-eek...”

“Oh, could it be because of faith?”

Faith?

“Gekka faith?”

“If it’s related to faith, this is going to be troublesome... If you had learned to speak before gaining faith, it’d be fine. But since it’s the other way around...”

“Ge-eek?”

Could faith really be the issue?

Given how “Gekka” kept influencing my evolution, it wasn’t an impossible idea.

“Faith isn’t something that forms easily. Besides, it’s extremely rare for a lizard to become the subject of faith.”

“Gekek.”

“This complicates things. Teaching you to speak might be pointless.”

What’s that supposed to mean?

“Gekek!”

Then why am I even here?

Laying my head on her thigh and occasionally rubbing my face against her warmth pocket... does any of this have a point?

...Does it?

If what she said was true, it’d be extremely disappointing.

Would I have to spend my life as a “geking” lizard?

Sure, a lizard’s natural sound is “gek,” but still... I want to speak, if only once.

“There’s still a way, though.”

“Gek!”

Of course—the Red Dragon would have a solution.

If there was a way, this changed everything.

“You should be able to communicate with your followers.”

That was true.

My spider friends understood me quite well.

Tang So-Yeong couldn’t fully comprehend me, but she got the gist.

“In that case, maybe I should become your follower?”

“Gekegek?”

Sorry, Pus.

It looks like I might have to give the first follower spot to the Red Dragon.

“...Haha, just kidding.”

I could almost hear Pus crying in the background.

“I mean, really, me, a follower? How ridiculous.”

She lightly tapped my back with her palm, but to me, it didn’t feel light at all.

“Ge-eeek!”

It wasn’t light from where I was standing.

“Honestly, you’re so cute.”

“Gee-eeeeng...”

She reached down and began pulling my cheeks.

“Would you like it if I became your follower?”

“Gekegek!”

The Red Dragon smirked mischievously.

"Too bad, though; it’s at least a hundred years too soon.”

“Gekek.”

Let me go, you...

It hurts.

"Maybe if you stay with me for fifty years, I’ll consider it?”

“Gekegek!”

Fifty years?

By then, an average lizard would’ve long died of natural causes.

...Hold on.

What is my lifespan, anyway?

Well, I’m a spiritual creature, so I should live longer than an average human, right?

Surely I didn’t inherit the lifespan of a regular gecko?

“Aww, so you want to stay with me too!”

The Red Dragon suddenly pulled me into a tight embrace.

With me unable to speak, she seemed to interpret things however she liked, but if she kept going, I couldn’t let this slide.

If she didn’t let me go...

Nibble.

...Just this once, I’ll let it slide.

“Oh, you’re just adorable.”

She buried her face into my scales, rubbing her cheek against me.

I felt like a pet, which was a bit unsettling.

Not bad, but it felt like my dignity as a mystical creature was fading.

“Geeeeek!”

It was time to put a stop to this!

At my shout, the Red Dragon actually froze.

They say even a temple dog can learn the Buddha’s teachings after three years, so it seemed she was finally starting to understand my “gek” sounds.

"...Hey.”

The Red Dragon’s grip on me tightened.

And then I realized.

She hadn’t understood me at all.

“There’s a scent of another female on you.”