I Became an Evolving Lizard in a Martial Arts Novel

Chapter 259

“So, Hui got captured and brought here to destroy Heukwoonbang?”

Seolhwa narrowed her eyes in disbelief.

She still didn’t believe me.

As if this master thief lizard would ever be caught so easily.

...Though, to be fair, she had never seen my true form.

For all she knew, I was just some thieving lizard that scurried around making gegek noises while stealing things.

But that wasn’t the case.

Right now, I was in the middle of executing a grand operation with my newly recruited ally, Docheol, to utterly humiliate Jinryong.

Gegek.

“Hmm... But if that’s the case, why were you wagging your tail and gerolong-ing right in front of me when I was in disguise?”

Gek.

That’s irrelevant.

And besides, I just felt a familiar scent and got a little friendly.

Even if she hadn’t been Seolhwa, I could have found a way to use her.

I lifted my head to look into Seolhwa’s blue eyes.

Why did I lift my head?

Because I had successfully wriggled my way into the warmth of her embrace.

After hearing about my master’s condition, I had deliberately growled and shown my displeasure, which left Seolhwa flustered enough to scoop me up into her arms.

Not that I was mad at her, and honestly, the comfort of her embrace had soothed me quite a bit.

Of course, that didn’t mean my rage toward Jinryong and Aryu had faded.

“Destroying this place, huh... The cult had considered it before. A group that indiscriminately slaughters spiritual beasts and hoards elixirs? We never planned to let them be for long.”

I didn’t know much, but I knew that the Heavenly Demon Cult was friendly toward spiritual beasts.

Even when I ran rampant across the cult grounds, walking on water and causing havoc, nobody harbored genuine murderous intent toward me—they just wanted to capture me.

Well, except for those shameless bastards who boarded up the bathhouse windows because they didn’t like the way I was staring at them.

Aside from that, though, the cult was undeniably accommodating toward spiritual beasts.

The fact that they had allied with Queen Snake, a prominent spiritual beast, was proof enough that their attitude was different from other factions in the Central Plains.

If my master hadn’t been injured, Heukwoonbang would’ve already been reduced to ashes.

“But like I said earlier, I let this place be for now because I needed it for my sister’s recovery. I even stayed in touch with them occasionally to acquire elixirs, though there wasn’t much progress.”

Of course there wouldn’t be.

The best elixirs in this place weren’t for sale—they were being directly handed over to Jinryong.

I conveyed all the information I had gathered to Seolhwa.

I gestured with my claws, and when that wasn’t enough, I resorted to Dragon Tongue.

“...So you’re saying that Heukwoonbang is likely connected to Jinryong?”

It wasn’t just likely—it was certain.

After all, Docheol had told me himself.

“No wonder they never sold their best stock. It was all reserved for that bastard.”

Seolhwa clenched her fists slightly.

Seeing that expression on a face so similar to my master’s... it made me feel like Heukwoonbang was about to be obliterated any second now.

“But destroying this place outright wouldn’t be meaningful. The fact that we can still obtain elixirs from here hasn’t changed.”

If there was even the slightest chance of a solution, the Saintess of the Heavenly Demon Cult had to take it.

So I explained my plan.

“You want to offer your tail?”

Her gaze drifted down to my long tail.

“And tie it with a red ribbon...? Why?”

Don’t worry about that.

“That’s true... Hui’s tail does have effects comparable to a unicorn’s horn.”

The first time I met Seolhwa, I had needed a unicorn’s horn.

I had nearly ended up as her pet lizard—or worse, a half-dried grilled lizard—but I managed to trade a piece of my tail for it.

At the time, my tail’s potency was about equal to that of a unicorn’s horn.

“But now you’re even stronger than you were back then. If your tail is this powerful, it might actually help my sister.”

Stretch.

Seolhwa tugged on my tail.

“Geeeek!”

Let go.

That’s not how this works.

“What? What’s wrong?”

Gek.

I was going to offer my tail, but not yet.

I needed to gather more power first.

Its tail was slowly swelling, but nothing out of the ordinary.

“Tasty?”

Gek.

“You sure do eat heartily.”

Since Docheol had personally delivered the lizard, it wouldn’t be surprising if it had special abilities.

It had to be at least this extraordinary if it was meant to be offered to Jinryong.

The Binggungju gently stroked the lizard as it obediently ate.

“Lord, now bring out the real elixirs.”

“...Pardon?”

“Surely you don’t think we have no trust between us? You’re hiding the true treasures somewhere, aren’t you?”

The Lord of Heukwoonbang frowned.

So that was it.

She hadn’t purchased these elixirs just for the lizard.

She was establishing leverage—buying up goods so she could demand the truly rare ones.

“Gongcheong Seokyu, Ten-Thousand-Year Gold Spirit Fruit, or maybe Shaolin’s Great Rejuvenation Pill. Surely you have at least one of those?”

“We do have them, but... the price is rather...”

He trailed off.

There was no point in arguing about price with this woman.

“Lord, who am I?”

“You are the Binggungju.”

“That’s true, but I’m also the richest woman in the world. And that’s not even enough—I’m also so beautiful that nations would fall for me, and my voice is as divine as a celestial maiden’s.”

The Lord of Heukwoonbang stared at her, utterly baffled.

Since when did the Binggungju talk like this?

How could anyone describe themselves in such a way?

As he pondered this, a sweet aroma of alcohol drifted into his nose.

Now it made sense.

She was drunk.

There was no way she could say such things with a sober mind.

And at the same time, his sharp instincts kicked in.

The Binggungju already had more money than she knew what to do with—if he played this right, he could squeeze out several times the usual price.

“And yet you’re worried about the cost?”

“...That was my mistake. I shall bring out our most treasured elixirs.”

“A wise choice. Preferably, something that restores vital energy.”

The Lord of Heukwoonbang suddenly froze in place.

“...Vital energy recovery?”

Restoring vital energy.

Why would the Binggungju be looking for that specifically?

Elixirs, by nature, enhance internal energy.

Through that process, they do replenish some lost vital energy, but there were dedicated elixirs specifically designed for that purpose.

And as far as he knew, no one in the Northern Ice Palace needed such a thing.

“...Yes, vital energy recovery.”

What was she getting at?

The Lord of Heukwoonbang had no idea what she wanted.

After all, the exact type of elixir she was requesting was the very same one Heukwoonbang was hoarding.

Surely, the Binggungju knew this—so why was she suddenly asking for it?

“My Lady, as you are well aware, we cannot offer those elixirs. You know what state He is in.”

Still, he could guess her intent.

She was making an unreasonable demand so that he would be more willing to grant her smaller favors.

Normally, that kind of tactic wouldn’t work on someone as seasoned as him.

But she was also their wealthiest client.

He had no choice but to play along.

Then—

“Oh, that’s right. I forgot for a moment. He must be in great need of recovery right now.”

“...Thank you for understanding.”

“But just out of curiosity—how many years ago was it that He sustained that injury?”

The Lord of Heukwoonbang instinctively reached for his sword.

But what his hand found instead of the sword’s hilt—

Was a familiar lizard, its swollen tail resting comfortably against his waist.

“Gegegek?”