HBWnovel Chapter 187
Chapter 187
But wait.
Even if they are dragons, is it really possible for them to have such offspring?
Unless they can reproduce asexually, they would need a mate to have children, right?
Gongbok, who is said to resemble a dragon, is also described as being made of rock.
...So, are they mating with rocks?
“Geeeng...”
I feel like I’ve just learned a truth I didn’t want to know.
So, does Chodo have children with flowers?
Does the term "true dragon" actually refer to some incredible absurdity?
How could flowers and rocks even do such things?
No, wait.
They’re not the only ones.
Since they're dragon offspring, it means there are nine children in total.
My illusion of the true dragon is somewhat shattered now.
I just can't understand it.
I don't think I’m qualified to be a true dragon.
Because I’m just a perfectly normal lizard.
“Grooong...”
Spiders, snakes, birds, wolves, dragons, and maid Spinos.
That seems normal, right?
...Huh?
“Gekek!”
Just as I was fighting the invisible demon, my teacher gently touched my tail.
Oh, I had forgotten about this.
I quickly pushed the demon from my mind and stretched my tail out.
“Gek.”
It's nothing special. I just found it along the way.
“...Oh? These are some valuable items.”
“Gekek!”
You think that's all?
I buried a lot more treasures behind the side door.
“Oh? Are you offering all of these to the main temple?”
“Gekk.”
Anyway, they’re things we won’t be able to use much.
The Red Dragon keeps bringing stuff from somewhere.
...Maybe from the Volcano Sect?
If that’s the case, I’d feel a bit bad, but the Red Dragon doesn’t seem to care.
“Anyway, the financial situation of the temple wasn’t that great. Thanks to this, we can breathe a little easier.”
“Gekk.”
Even though the Heavenly Demon Cult is a religious group, they still need money.
“This winter should be more comfortable.”
Well, they probably need even more money than other groups.
Though I don’t know much, the Heavenly Demon Cult is primarily a worshipping group, not one focused on martial arts training.
The number of martial artists isn’t very high, and they mostly worship the god known as Cheonma.
Martial strength isn’t as important, and you can enter the cult simply by believing in Cheonma.
The Heavenly Demon Cult is based on Mount Cheonma, which isn’t exactly the best place.
Though there are some good spots, it’s not an ideal location for humans to live.
It’s a place that’s hard to get into, and if you join the Heavenly Demon Cult, you become an enemy of the Murim Alliance.
So, only a few people try to join the cult.
Some martial artists are drawn by the power of Cheonma, and some others are just desperate.
My teacher must have joined the cult under similar circumstances.
It’s a place where the poor gather.
Those who are hungry and thirsty come together here.
My teacher might hold a relatively high position in the cult, but her room is plain.
Even if there are furniture pieces with intricate designs, they are all old.
With her power, she could live more luxuriously, but she chooses to lead by example.
That’s why I follow her without question.
“You’re being so sweet.”
My teacher gently scratched under my chin.
“Geroong...”
“With all these treasures, I can treat the followers to dessert every day.”
“Gek?”
...It doesn’t seem as poor as I thought.
Well, there are plenty of beasts around, so they won’t go hungry.
I might have memories of being hungry, but now that I’m in the Heavenly Demon Cult, I’ll no longer starve.
Still, it might be hard to feed all the followers just with beasts.
Since they advocate for harmony with mystical creatures, they can’t just capture and eat them all.
They probably supplement with food purchased from outside.
They might farm here too, but it doesn’t seem like the land is suitable for farming.
...The area where the mystical creatures live seems nutrient-rich, but regular followers probably can’t farm there.
“I’ve cut back a bit on Seolhwa’s snack budget, but it should still be enough.”
“Gekk.”
“I’ll distribute some to the followers as well.”
It seems like my teacher is planning to exchange all the treasures I brought for food.
I was told to use them as I pleased, but I should still leave something behind.
I took out a ring decorated with a blue gem and held it with both hands.
“Gek.”
I grabbed my teacher’s left hand, which was stroking me, and slipped the ring onto her ring finger.
“Is this for me?”
I can use the other treasures however I like, but I’ll keep at least this one.
I know it’ll fit perfectly since I’ve bitten her fingers a lot.
“Gekk.”
My teacher stared at her ring finger.
Just like Baek Yun and Jang Bong did, targeting the mystical creatures of Mount Cheonma.
“I’ve received intel that the Shaolin monks are planning to enter Mount Cheonma
.”
“Gek...”
The Nahan.
If you want to explain it simply, they’re like Shaolin’s special forces.
“The teacher would like to deal with them directly, but that would only turn into a bigger excuse for them.”
I had a pretty good idea of what my teacher wanted now.
“Officially, it would be best if a creature unrelated to the Heavenly Demon Cult handles it.”
I have to defeat the Nahan from Shaolin.
“The Nahan’s true identity is Cheolduyong. He’s a hidden mystical creature from Shaolin.”
Cheolduyong?
The headbutting dinosaur.
“...Can you do it?”
I need to take down the Nahan invading Mount Cheonma.
And at the heart of the Nahan is Cheolduyong, the headbutting dinosaur.
Since Cheolduyong is heading to Mount Cheonma and not the Heavenly Demon Cult, their goal must be the mystical creatures and elixirs of Mount Cheonma.
Even without my teacher’s request, it seems like we’re bound to clash.
“Gekk!”
Of course, I’ll do it.
“Thank you. If you handle that, you’ll grow even stronger.”
“Gek.”
“The Dragon’s Maw is originally a Shaolin martial art. By facing the Nahan, you’ll gain greater insight.”
The Dragon’s Maw.
The first martial art I ever learned, the one that connected me to Baek Yeon-yeong.
I’ve been using it all this time, but it’s been somewhat overshadowed by the techniques like Yeongsaseongbak and Guumbekoljo, not to mention Gegaeksinho.
“And Shaolin’s teachings aren’t just about the Dragon’s Maw, so maybe you’ll surpass even the absolute pinnacle of martial arts.”
The absolute pinnacle...!
I’ve never met someone at that level, so I’m not sure how strong they are, but my own martial power exceeds that.
If I can elevate my level further?
Maybe I can even reach my teacher’s ankle.
“I don’t particularly like the fact that it’s from Shaolin, but not being bound by such things is the way you live.”
My teacher gently stroked my horns.
“Since you’ve done me a favor, what should I give you in return?”
“Gekk.”
A reward?
One smile from my teacher is more than enough reward.
“What?!”
Suddenly, my teacher lightly hit my scales.
Well, it was light by her standards.
*Kwaaang!*
“Geeeek!”
Teacher, you’re killing me!
No, I’m really dying...!
“How can you say such things to your teacher...”
What do you mean?
What did I say?
“Gekk?”
“...I never taught you to speak like an animal.”
It’s unfair.
What did I say to make her act like this?
Once again, my teacher’s hand went up.
“Gekk!”
No, I’m really going to die!
*Thud.*
But, contrary to my expectations, my teacher only placed her hand lightly on my head.
“...Alright. If that’s what you want, it’s a teacher’s duty to give it to you.”
She scratched my slightly broken scales.
“Is this really what you want, beast who performs knightly rituals?”
I didn’t say that!
...
But since the mood lightened a bit, maybe I can be a little bold now.
I think she’s going to accept that strange request of mine.
“Gekk.”
Yeah.
I said that.
“...See? I knew it.”
*Rustle!*
“Geeeek!”
It’s a joke, a joke!
“Even if it’s a maid outfit, to think you’d want me to wear something like that...”
What’s that?
I never said that...
...But I guess I do like it.
“Gekk-gekk.”
“You’re getting more and more mischievous, tsk.”
My teacher’s smile is the best motivation.
But the maid outfit teacher... that’s something else entirely.
The schoolgirl outfit teacher...
I’d sacrifice my life for that reward.
“Geheh... Gerorong...”
*Squeak.*
“Geeeek!”@@@@