I Became an Evolving Lizard in a Martial Arts Novel

Chapter 200

The Taoist shared the truth about the Iron-Head Dragon with me.

The young dragon, born with a murderous fate.

The head of Shaolin had taken it in, attempting to control its murderous instincts, but the murderous energy was not so easily suppressed.

Even when suppressed, the murderous aura would still burst out.

The head of Shaolin took full responsibility, forcing the Iron-Head Dragon to stain its hands with blood.

He was given the title of "Han," tasked with eliminating vicious criminals and corrupt beasts.

Having erased its memories, the Iron-Head Dragon could not help but resent Shaolin.

An unexplainable thirst constantly tormented him, and he blamed Shaolin for it.

In reality, this thirst was the result of actions taken to relieve it.

"...No matter the reason, if it’s officially revealed that Shaolin committed such acts, it will send a massive shockwave through the martial world."

One spiritual being was allowed to kill others in order to preserve another life.

Though it was done with criminals, it was still a story ripe for exploitation.

"The head of Shaolin... accepted all the disgrace. Shaolin, known as the Mount Tai of Martial Arts, has fallen. Even the once noble head of Shaolin was swayed by his inner core. Though rumors about it spread, the head did not pay them any mind."

Despite suppressing the murderous nature, the head of Shaolin had allowed the young dragon to commit minimal killings in order to prevent an explosion of its violent instincts.

But that wasn’t enough. He had also gone to great lengths to find the spiritual beings’ inner cores.

And the reason for coming to Mount Baek was because, thanks to information from a figure named Nam Gung-Yeon, he had learned about the spiritual beings swarming the area, including Gomo.

"...I owe the Grand Master a hundredfold apology. I will apologize again."

It was enough.

After all, it was a past event.

"Ckkkh..."

The Iron-Head Dragon staggered to his feet.

Perhaps because of his indestructibility, his recovery was quick.

"...Bak Gi-Gae. Are you alright?"

"Grand Master..."

Bak Gi-Gae’s eyes were filled with sadness.

"...I am ashamed. Both you and the Grand Master sacrificed so much for me, yet... I..."

After taking a blow from me, it seemed his memories had returned.

I’d heard that sometimes a beating could be a remedy, but I hadn’t expected it to be so effective.

Even if not, the fact that his frozen heart was melting likely had something to do with it.

"It’s fine now. It’s all over..."

"...No. I have already committed an irreversible act."

He came to his senses and began to repent.

But even if he repented, nothing would change.

The Iron-Head Dragon, as he said, had committed an irreversible act.

He had killed Shaolin monks.

Even though it was Shaolin, there was no way the Iron-Head Dragon could be accepted back.

If he returned to Shaolin, he would face a punishment close to eternity, and might even die before crossing its threshold.

That was why I felt uneasy even while fighting him.

I had thought fate would not change.

This event would end in tragedy, no matter what happened.

That was the thought I had.

Before the distant sound of someone’s voice interrupted my thinking.

"...Taoist, Bak Gi-Gae."

"G-Grand Master?"

The bald figure, soaked and stumbling, was walking toward us.

The Iron-Head Dragon hadn’t killed all humans.

He had only sealed them with the cold of the snow mountain.

"I see... so that’s how it happened..."@@@@

The bald-headed man, with a gruff appearance, listened to the full account of the events.

The Taoist, whom they called Grand Master, was using the law name "Dojeong."

At first, he seemed wary of me, a spiritual being, but after hearing that I had saved them, he changed his attitude.

"...The spiritual being on Mount Baek prevented Bak Gi-Gae and saved us?"

He reacted similarly to Baek Yun, who had been freed from the petrification.

"I truly thank you. If it weren’t for you... we wouldn’t have been able to stop him."

It seemed he was more powerful than the Taoist.

I had thought bald men all looked the same, but Dojeong was different somehow.

He had scars on his face and a beard that reminded me of Zhang Fei from the Three Kingdoms.

His appearance was a bit different from the usual image of a monk.

"Even if it froze, it doesn’t mean it would live forever, and breaking the seal would only take its life. But the natural warmth melted the ice."

Wasn’t that because I defeated the Iron-Head Dragon?

"It was warmth like I’d never felt before, yet somehow it felt familiar. Like the sun."

Warmth like the sun.

I had felt something similar.

"It’s strange. Even though the sun isn’t present now, I felt it."

He stared at me as he spoke those words.

"The black sun saved us."

I didn’t know what that meant, but I was relieved to hear I saved them.

The black sun... was that familiar somehow?

"However... it didn’t save everyone."

As Dojeong had said, it wasn’t just the cold that had killed some monks. The Iron-Head Dragon’s headbutt had taken a toll on them.

Those monks were wiped out without a trace.

"We might lower the severity a bit, but they still won’t escape punishment."

The Taoist and Dojeong bowed to me.

...What’s this?

I had been disappointed about not getting Bingjo’s inner core, but this reward was still nice.

I didn’t expect it, but I should accept it.

I had planned to gift the inner core to Baek Rang, but this wasn’t too bad either.

[The Dog-Curse Church receives an enhancement for cold energy.]

I wanted to give a kiss to the status window.

‘Kroooong...’

Not you.

How does it always manage to do something so beautiful?

The Dog-Curse Church now had an enhancement for cold energy.

That didn’t mean that Tus Pus would be shooting ice arrows immediately, though.

It likely meant that it would be easier to learn Ice Attacks, or if someone like Baek Rang could control cold energy, their power would be amplified.

This was a very satisfying result.

...Could it be that doing good deeds brings rewards?

[Achievement Unlocked: Never Seen by an Allosaurus!]

What?

Again?

[You’ve made a significant contribution to improving the relationship between the Heavenly Demon Cult and Shaolin.]

No, what did I even do?

[The head of Shaolin and the leader of the Heavenly Demon Cult both failed to accomplish what a mere lizard did.]

A mere lizard?

Well, if it was praised like this.

[As a reward, you will randomly receive one of Shaolin’s martial arts.]

Now that’s what I call a nice reward.

‘Kroooong...’

No, you stay back.

I calmed the heart of the approaching spirit beast and focused my mind.

The familiar scene appeared before me.

It was like a slot machine turning.

Shaolin’s martial arts were spinning.

Please, please be something good!

Ding Ding Ding.

The speed of the slot machine slowed down.

Wuxiang (無相)?

Not bad.

Baek Bo Shin Gwon?

I’d welcome it with open arms.

Hangma Yeon Hwan Seon Tui?

This is good too!

Yorae Shinjang?

Huh?

Really?

Is this really Yorae Shinjang?

I rubbed my eyes and looked again. The words “Yorae Shinjang” appeared in the air.

"Gegekk!"

Yeah.

Looks like even a lizard’s life has its spring days.

Ding.

...Ding?

[Congratulations, you have acquired "Dongja Gong"!]

...Huh?

What’s this?

Just a moment ago, it was Yorae Shinjang!

"Gomo-doshi! Why are you suddenly doing that?!"

"Krrr..."

What’s this martial arts nonsense?

...

Let’s calm down.

After all, this was a martial art I got for free.

It wasn’t Yorae Shinjang, but Dongja Gong is still a technique that suits me quite well.

With the symbol of purity, Gomo-doshi, and Dongja Gong, the possibilities are endless.

[The title, Black Sun, reacts to “Dongja Gong.”]

[The Dog-Curse Faith reacts to “Dongja Gong.”]

[The Dog-Curse Church reacts to “Dongja Gong.”]

[The species, Middle-tier Dragon, reacts to “Dongja Gong.”]

[“%! 자■□ LV2” reacts to “Dongja Gong.”]

This message...

It’s just like when I got the Green Basilisk.

My resources are reacting to this new skill and bringing out a higher level.

I wonder what “Dongja Gong” will evolve into.

It’ll become the strongest martial art that suits me, the symbol of purity.

I’m afraid.

Of what I’m becoming.