I Became an Evolving Lizard in a Martial Arts Novel

Chapter 221

"The Legend of 14-to-1"

Successfully survived against the coordinated attack of 14 opponents.

When facing multiple enemies, you will manifest even greater strength.

Ah, I see now.

This title must have been granted during the battle with the intruders.

Were there really 14 opponents at the same time? Or perhaps there’s a precedent where I fought 14 foes before, and the system decided to reward me with this title.

Either way, it’s quite a good title to have—getting stronger when fighting multiple enemies is a highly useful ability.

...But wait, 14 opponents?

Let’s count: Tus, Pus, Nepila, Queen Fasir, Baekrang, Red Dragon, and Tang Soyeong—that’s seven.

And then there’s First Wolf through Seventh Wolf—another seven.

Adding them together...

“Geeeeek!”

“Calm yourself. As shameless as they may be, no one here would dare take advantage of a sleeping lizard,” Queen Fasir said with a satisfied expression.

That’s easy for her to say, but her scales were far too polished and glistening to look innocent.

She looked as though she had just finished some kind of rejuvenating feast.

“Don’t worry,” she continued. “Your artifact prevented any real impropriety. If someone truly had such intentions... well, it would take more full moons than you can count for me to finish indulging in you....”

Her ominous words sent a shiver down my spine.

I clutched the pendant tightly around my neck.

...No, really, nothing happened, right?

It’s okay.

Even if my followers have... peculiar tendencies, they wouldn’t go so far as to take advantage of a one-year-old lizard.

“Though I can’t deny that the tasting was thorough.”

Thorough tasting?

What the hell does tasting mean in this context?

*

The chaos within Gomo-do subsided... more or less.

While I had my suspicions, I couldn’t gather any solid evidence, so there wasn’t much I could do.

And even if I had evidence, what then?

I could already imagine the consequences—getting wrapped up in spider silk, hearing cryptic lines about how perceptive divine beasts are, and my danger sense screaming at me the whole time.

Most importantly, though, time was of the essence.

I gathered all my followers, as well as key associates, to discuss the next steps.

We moved locations since the lingering heat in my previous lair made it unsuitable for meetings.

There was also the matter of the Ikkaksu fiercely opposing any other males entering Sarang-gung (the so-called Palace of Love).

Fortunately, the Ikkaksu had prepared other buildings—simple but functional nest-like structures equipped with the essentials.

I chose a place suitable for discussion and brewed tea to set the mood.

Here in this area teeming with herbs, all you need is to toss some random leaves into hot water, and voilà—tea.

If Baek Seol-hwa were here, she’d probably clutch her neck in horror, but thankfully no one present was that particular.

“Hehehe... to think we’re drinking tea brewed with Thousand-Year Fo-ti. This is pure luxury....”

Tang Soyeong melted into a puddle, her face resembling a squishy rice cake.

Thousand-Year Fo-ti, huh?

I’ve had it before. It’s not as rare as the name makes it sound. Compared to things like Thousand-Year Flowers or Thousand-Year Ginseng, it’s just an herb with a fancy name.

I shared everything I knew during the meeting.

Each person—or beast—listened intently while sipping their tea.

“That Namgung Yeon?”

The Red Dragon picked up on the name immediately.

“I had a feeling that human wasn’t normal. But Al-Yu? It sounds more like a beast’s name, though I’m not familiar with it.”

“Same here,” added Queen Fasir. “It feels like a name my master once mentioned, but it’s been so long I can’t recall the details....”

The Red Dragon and Queen Fasir are relatively ancient beings, yet even they didn’t know much about Al-Yu.

Perhaps we’d need to wait until Gongbok awakened to learn more.

“Al-Yu, you say?”

Tang Soyeong—no, my cherished follower—suddenly spoke up as if she knew something.@@@@

She continued calmly, her voice resolute.

“Namgung Yeon will likely exploit this, claiming the Abbot’s refusal led to the sect leader’s meaningless death.”

That’s how the orthodox sects work—they cling to justifications.

If news spreads of Mount Hua’s destruction, even the Shaolin won’t be able to hold back the tide for long.

The Red Dragon’s plan was solid. If she exposed the Mount Hua Sect’s corruption and declared its dissolution as acting leader, Namgung Yeon’s momentum would falter.

“No matter how persuasive Namgung Yeon is, he’s just an outcast of the Namgung Clan. Meanwhile, I’m the rightful heir to the Mount Hua Sect’s legacy. Whose words do you think they’ll trust?”

Of course, they would believe the Red Dragon's words.

Though there was the matter of her needing to return to the Mount Hua Sect for her plan.

But this time, she wouldn’t be powerless as before.

After all, she had defeated Ak Bulhwi, who had reached the Flower Realm in martial arts.

“...There’s also a personal matter I need to handle. I thought I had placed her somewhere safe, but I think it’s better to keep her by my side,” the Red Dragon said.

I remembered the story she had told me earlier.

Her name was Irhwa, if I recall correctly.

A sworn sister who served her faithfully.

If Namgung Yeon intended to use her as leverage again, it would be better to officially bring her into my fold as a follower.

This matter was best entrusted to the Red Dragon.

While I had grown stronger after defeating Gongbok, the Red Dragon had also become significantly more powerful.

If we were to fight again, I couldn’t be sure of victory.

Roles were distributed clearly.

Queen Fasir would contact my master.The Red Dragon would return to the Mount Hua Sect and carry out sabotage.Baekrang would defend my territory and train the other followers.

There was no weak link in this chain.

These were the ones I trusted most, each possessing the strength to back it up.

All I had to do now was focus on my own task.

And my task was obvious:

Travel to another volcano and find Chodo, the youngest of the Yongsaengguja (Eternal Life Beasts).

If there was time, I could also revisit the rocky mountain once ruled by Gongbok.

For the first time in a while, I was embarking on a solo mission.

The Fox Marble would accompany me, but it was just an artifact.

If Gongbok awoke, meeting Chodo would become much easier.

As Simma had said, Chodo was another master of Wood Energy.

Learning to harness the power of the Yongmun (Dragon Gate) and gaining strength to counter Namgung Yeon’s schemes would be invaluable.

“Chodo... I haven’t seen them myself, but I’ve heard stories. Their personality isn’t supposed to be very pleasant,” Baekrang said with concern.

But I wasn’t worried.

Who was I?

The one who earned Gongbok’s recognition.

And besides, Gongbok was sealed within the Fox Marble.

As Chodo was the youngest of the Yongsaengguja, all it might take was one loud Gah! from Gongbok to make them tremble.

“But... my dear mate, this Chodo... they’re not female, are they?”

Queen Fasir asked, her tone laced with suspicion.

What? Surely not.

It’s been a while since I’ve gone on an adventure alone—there’s no way I’d end up entangled with another female, right?

If that happens, I might as well admit to being cursed with Peach Blossom Disaster.

“Hehehe... ‘One Husband to Many Wives’...”

Yikes! That startled me.

The Ikkaksu, with their sly expressions, whispered among themselves.

“Hehehe... Chlorophyll... Hehehe....”

Chlorophyll?

You guys know words like that?

“Hehehe... Vines... Constriction... Hehehe....”

They seemed to be murmuring something ominous, but surely, it had nothing to do with me.