I Became an Evolving Lizard in a Martial Arts Novel

Chapter 182

I had finally uncovered the secret about snakes' tails.

...Come to think of it, that reaction when I offered Shikshik my severed tail... Was it because snakes view their tails as a rather... intimate area?

Shikshik, this mischievous one.

Didn't she actually swallow my severed tail whole?

Even after learning this shocking truth, nothing really changed.

I spent the next few days with the snake mother and daughter, though I couldn’t help but worry if I was getting trapped in an endless swamp of scales. Thankfully, they treated me as usual, which meant I didn’t have to worry about being eaten.

Well, except for the occasional unsettling way Shikshik would gaze intently at my tail. I wasn’t sure what thoughts were running through her head, but as long as she didn’t act on them, I could let it slide.

We shared many conversations while I was wrapped in the coils of the Snake Queen—not so much "in her arms" as entangled in her coils.

“Having territory means taking on the responsibilities that come with it. Well, I’m sure my companion will handle it well, even without me saying so.”

A seasoned mentor.

Or rather, the Snake Queen, who had held her own territory long before I did, offered me advice.

I had a domain now, and I’d even gained followers with powerful abilities, but compared to her, I was still just a hatchling.

...Not physically, but in terms of experience and authority over my domain.

Her advice was invaluable, so I couldn’t help but stick close to her.

It definitely wasn’t because her coils were so warm and soft.

“You understand that you can’t be too oppressive in your territory, yes?”

“Cough?”

“Even if your domain is rich, if a predator hunts recklessly, no creatures will stay.”

This jungle was proof of that.

The Snake Queen, as the apex predator, rarely hunted. Besides her followers, many other creatures called this jungle home.

If she hunted recklessly and shared the prey with her followers, the animals would eventually leave for other areas, and her followers would dwindle.

“Rule, but don’t control.”

“Cough...!”

“It’s your freedom to do as you wish, of course, but I recommend not interfering too much.”

It was common sense.

My domain didn’t have to be exclusively inhabited by my followers.

The more diverse the life there, the richer it would become.

“Due to the nature of the Dragon Gate, it’s likely that powerful challengers will come. ...Since Baekrang is now your follower, you can relax a bit, but there are still stronger beings around.”

I’d worried about that myself, but then realized it was a needless concern.

Anyone ordinary wouldn’t even be able to approach.

Even if we exclude the Red Dragon, ten charging bisons alone are enough to be terrifying.

Seeing them thundering forward, it’s hard to imagine anyone brave enough not to run away.

“I look forward to seeing how far your territory will expand,” the Snake Queen chuckled softly, the expert investor as ever.

“It wasn’t a waste at all to shatter the Mirror of Possibilities.”

“Beep...”

The way the Snake Queen and Shikshik were curling around me felt more intense than usual, but maybe it was just my imagination.

Eventually, the time came for me to leave.

“Beep.”

Shikshik, now used to my frequent visits, didn’t react as dramatically as before.

“Beep!”

It felt like a “Come back safely.”

“So, you’re heading to the Divine Cult now?”

“Cough-cough.”

“...I see. It does feel like I’ve kept you here a while.”

Kept me here? This much time was well worth it.

“There’s a favor I’d like to ask. Would you be willing to grant it?”

A favor?

If it’s anything except taking off this necklace, I think I can manage.

The Snake Queen looked a bit hesitant, which was unlike her.

“...Could you bring me that item?”

That item?

“Ever since I tasted your honey treats, I can’t live without them.”

Ah, so she’s talking about those honey treats made from the Jade Hive’s nectar.

So that’s why she seemed a bit embarrassed.

She already finished the batch I gave her last time, and now she wants more.

Though it’s a rare delicacy, how could I refuse the Snake Queen?

...Hopefully, Baek Seolhwa prepared enough.

I should be able to find some with a bit of digging around.

“Cough-cough!”

“...Thank you. Oh, and wait a moment.”

The Snake Queen extended her arm and began inscribing something on a stone tablet.

“Give this to your mentor.”

She handed me the inscribed tablet and a plant that looked like an herb.

So, I’m her messenger now!

“Cough-cough.”

But if it’s the Queen’s request, I’ll do it.

I wonder what she wrote?

“This herb is a token of thanks for last time.”

“Cough.”

A token of thanks?

Come to think of it, she did ask for a special outfit last time.

“Yes, and the Cult Master has already taken care of it.”

“The Cult Master? So, that warrior crossed into our territory?”

“The Cult Master left word not to worry. He believes there’s a good chance the Huashan dragon warrior may join our side.”

The elders’ expressions brightened at that.

“Indeed, dragon warriors are known to be unpredictable. And that one does have a past connection with the Cult Master. This is good news.”

If the warrior from Huashan were to join the Cult, it would be invaluable, turning the enemy’s strength to their own benefit.

But this wasn’t why Baek Seolhwa had gathered them.

“...And we’ve received reports of movement from Shaolin.”

“What? Did you say Shaolin?”

One elder asked in disbelief.

“...Wait, Shaolin? Not the Murim Alliance? Those monks wouldn’t act alone.”

“Specifically, the Arhats of Shaolin are moving.”

“Arhats... Now I understand why you summoned us. Do you wish for us to intercept them?”

The Arhats were one of Shaolin’s main combat forces.

Eliminating them before full-scale warfare could tip the balance in their favor.

“No.”

Baek Seolhwa spoke in a calm tone.

“Quite the opposite.”

“The opposite?”

“The Arhats will not come here.”

Her words didn’t make sense.

If they weren’t coming here, then where?

“They’re heading to Ten Thousand Mountains.”

“You think we don’t know that? Of course, they’d head to Ten Thousand Mountains. Wait... you mean...”

It was clear Shaolin’s target wasn’t the Heavenly Demon Cult, but the spirit creatures in Ten Thousand Mountains.

To access Ten Thousand Mountains, though, they’d inevitably cross paths with the Cult.

Yet she seemed to imply they should let them through.

“By the opposite... are you saying we’re to stand aside and let them pass?”

Baek Seolhwa’s message was clear: they were not to hinder the Arhats’ entry into Ten Thousand Mountains.

“Why on earth...?”

Just as Elder Sa was about to object, Baek Seolhwa’s lips parted.

“It’s an order from the Cult Master.”

* * *

Back in her quarters, Baek Seolhwa let out a long sigh.

“Phew...”

Her worries seemed to multiply by the day.

With a demon deity descending upon Ten Thousand Mountains, avoiding conflict with the Murim Alliance was now impossible.

While they continued to deal with the remnants of the Tase forces, it wouldn’t be enough.

Even if they annihilated Tase completely, the Murim Alliance would still target Ten Thousand Mountains.

For them, this was the perfect justification to attack.

A full-scale war would almost certainly end in defeat for the Heavenly Demon Cult.

So they were doing everything possible to strengthen their forces.

Alliances with high-ranking spirit creatures, like the Snake Queen, were being formed to bolster their resistance against the Alliance.

But even with these efforts, it wasn’t enough.

To take on the whole of the Central Plains, they needed even greater strength.

Even outsiders might catch the scent and join in.

Her head throbbed.

‘...Sweet treats.’

Out of habit, she reached into her drawer to grab a honey treat but saw an unfamiliar item instead.

“...Hm?”

It was a large, red fruit, fully ripe and quite appetizing.

But as the Priestess of the Heavenly Demon Cult, she couldn’t eat something whose origin was unknown.

Just as she was about to toss it, her eyes caught sight of a golden ornament beside it.

“...A ring?”

A ring.

For some reason, it fit perfectly on her left ring finger.

As she wondered who could have played such a trick, her eyes fell on a few strands of white fur.

White fur.

She knew that black lizard had grown white fur.

“...It has a cute side, after all.”

Was this fruit an apology for all the treats it had stolen?

Baek Seolhwa smiled faintly.

Her headache seemed to ease a bit.

“To think I’d be comforted by a lizard.”

Placing the ring gently on her finger, she reached for her honey treats.

“...Hm?”

But her hand met with nothing.

Baek Seolhwa’s headache vanished completely.

Her anxiety replaced with a new emotion.

“You lizard!”

It was anger—pure fury—toward that shameless lizard who had once again stolen her honey treats.