I Became an Evolving Lizard in a Martial Arts Novel

Chapter 273

When I think of the color red, the first thing that comes to mind is my Heart Demon.

Red scales, red glowing eyes—

...and that strange outfit with its subtle crimson tint.

But that form came from me.

It was the worst existence I could imagine.

A figure that may have even played a role in killing me once.

Even the Heart Demon itself had complained to me, questioning why it had to take on that form.

And yet...

Was that why they recognized me as the Ancient Tyrant?

Did the previous Tyrant harbor something like my Heart Demon?

No. That couldn't be.

At the very least, that outfit would have been impossible to imitate.

Then how did they recognize me?

I was so lost in thought that I barely noticed Tang Muyeong walking away, performing some bizarre footwork as if his body refused to leave.

But my thoughts weren't on him.

There was too much to process.

As soon as Tang Muyeong left, the disciples subtly began offering me alcohol again.

They claimed they had acquired a legendary liquor, aged in spider silk—but from the scent alone, I could tell that Pus and Nephila's silk was involved.

Not only that...

I could smell the faint trace of Tus' venom mixed into it.

I refused, of course.

Not only did I need to think about my Heart Demon, but I couldn’t forget what So-young had revealed about the disciples.

All this time... were they just using alcohol as an excuse to do something to my body?

I almost blurted out something ridiculous, like a line from some obscene marketplace novel, but in the end, I held my tongue.

Because at this rate, I might actually be turned into a dried-up husk.

Leaving the disappointed disciples behind, I found a moment of solitude.

And that meant it was time for internal cultivation.

Tus and Pus let out soft whines of disappointment but immediately began bustling around the moment I mentioned my cultivation.

As the Left and Right Guardians, they were probably planning to stand guard while I meditated.

Just like they had done in the past—

Back when I was an Ancient Crocodile Lizard.

Back when I first learned how to cultivate.

I entrusted them with my protection and settled into a meditative posture.

Starting at my dantian, I began to circulate my qi.

The biggest difference between human cultivation and mine... was, of course, my tail.

Especially its size.

Compared to ordinary lizards, my tail was far longer.

And right now, an immense amount of spiritual energy was stored inside it.

If I absorbed all of it, I might reach the threshold of evolution.

Though I doubted I'd be granted a special evolution, at the very least, I could probably place a foot into the higher dragon lineage.

But this tail...

It wasn’t mine anymore.

It was an offering to my master.

I couldn't waste its energy carelessly.

It might be a cold, calculated thought, but...

If my master recovered with my tail, there was a high chance he’d reward me with something even greater.

Most of the elixirs stored inside my tail were focused on recovery.

In contrast, my master might give me powerful elixirs that could dramatically increase my internal energy.

Perhaps he might even feed them to me by hand, saying, "You've done well."

And then, just as Seol-hwa had suggested...

I'd take a well-earned rest at the hot springs.

And there, with my master and Seol-hwa...

"Gerong... Keroooong... Kerorororong..."

...My dreams of a lizard’s paradise took over for a brief moment.

"Kieeeeng?"

Tus and Pus snapped me out of it.

They scolded me for losing focus.

Right. No more distractions.

I recentered my thoughts.

As my qi continued its circulation, I suddenly saw the faint glimmer of a lake in my mind.

I usually couldn't reach my mental domain just through meditation.

But today—

For some reason, I had arrived almost immediately.

Had my Heart Demon sensed that I was looking for it?

— Hmph. What brings you here, now of all times?

It didn’t leap out of the lake like before.

Its red eyes didn’t gleam menacingly.

It wasn’t dressed in its usual bizarre garb.

It simply floated there, with only its head peeking above the water.

— Kuhuhu... Kukuk...

Then, out of nowhere—

It laughed.

What the hell was so funny?

— How could I not laugh? I saw everything.

Everything?

...Ah.

Right.

I had taken on that ridiculous form back when I broke through that mysterious entity’s Heart Demon trial.

— Khhhah! It’s been so long since I’ve had a proper laugh. Now do you understand what a monstrous thing you did to me?

So it had hated that outfit just as much as I did.

That was... reassuring?

Though, honestly, if it had liked it, that would’ve been far more concerning.

But I had a defense for myself.

I never wanted my Heart Demon to look like that either.

Hell, no one would.

A land teeming with mystical beasts and powerful warriors—

Under normal circumstances, Qiongqi would have fought here daily, reveling in the carnage.

But now, he had been sent here under Jinryong’s orders.

Of course, he was thrilled.

— “Lower your voice. We need to investigate first.”

The blue-haired Bi-hui rumbled, his tone cold.

Qiongqi only grinned wider.

He knew exactly why Bi-hui was acting this way.

— “You’re going to visit your precious little sister, aren’t you? Of course, you need to keep it quiet.”

Bi-hui shut his mouth, refusing to engage.

— “Don’t just stand there sulking. We’re under orders, aren’t we? Then we should be sharing information.”

Bi-hui’s eyebrow twitched.

It was rare for Qiongqi to say something that was actually correct.

— “There’s something hidden in Cho-Do ’s domain.”

— “I know that much. A certain object that must not fall into the wrong hands, right?”

— “Correct. And it cannot be destroyed.”

— “Hoh. If even Jinryong cannot destroy it, then... it must be a sacred relic.”

Qiongqi knew Jinryong’s strength better than anyone.

For something to be indestructible, it could only be a divine artifact.

— “It’s not that Jinryong couldn’t destroy it. It’s that he refuses to waste his power on such a thing.”

— “Oh, of course. Naturally, he would think like that.”

Bi-hui’s eyebrow twitched again.

— “So instead, Jinryong decided to use it. If someone touches that artifact, it will shatter their mind.”

— “Wait. Are you saying it uses the same power as that fur-covered bastard?”

— “No. It’s similar, but different.”

The object Cho-Do guarded contained Heavenly Demon’s remnants.

Even Jinryong could not destroy it.

So instead, he had trapped it—

So that anyone who touched it would be consumed.

— “Ah. Now I see. You’re not here to visit your dear sister—you’re here to track down a traitor.”

— “Nothing has been confirmed yet. Don’t speak carelessly.”

But now, that trap had been broken.

Jinryong received word, and not long after, the Black Cloud Sect fell.

Too many sudden changes.

Bi-hui was convinced they were connected.

And the most likely suspect?

Cho-Do.

She never left her domain.

There was no way an intruder could have touched the relic without her knowing.

Either she had been defeated—

Or she had betrayed Jinryong.

Though, technically, it wasn’t betrayal.

Cho-Do had never been on Jinryong’s side to begin with.

Jinryong had simply allowed her to stay—

Because as long as she guarded the Heavenly Demon’s remnants, he didn’t care.

But now, she had failed.

And Jinryong would not let it slide.

The forest was silent.

The trees were thick, but no sound echoed through them.

Bi-hui wasn’t concerned.

He knew exactly why.

It was because Qiongqi was here.

Even his breath exuded such murderous intent, all life in the forest had fled in terror.

— “Your dear sister isn’t anywhere to be found.”

After wandering through the woods, Qiongqi clicked his tongue.

Bi-hui gave a slight nod.

Cho-Do never left her domain.

Even with Qiongqi’s presence, she should have at least responded.

That meant...

She was gone.

And most likely—

Defeated.

— “Do whatever you like.”

At those words, Qiongqi’s grin widened.

— “Khuhaha! Now we’re talking! What was with all this investigating? Let’s just burn the whole forest down and start fresh!”

Bi-hui had held him back, fearing Cho-Do might get caught in the destruction.

But if she wasn’t here, there was no need to stop him.

It would be easier to burn everything to the ground and search for clues afterward.

— RUMMBLLLE...

As Qiongqi’s form began to shift—

— Tssss...

A sharp hiss rang out.

Faint, but unmistakable.

The sound of fire igniting.

Buried beneath the rumble of transformation, but Bi-hui heard it clearly.

— “GET DOWN!”

— KA-BOOOOOOOM!

An explosion erupted—

And the entire forest was suddenly engulfed in chaos.

Watching the destruction, a green-haired woman sighed.

— “Haaah... I really don’t know if this was the right idea.”

The notorious shut-in, Cho-Do —

Had just destroyed her own home.

All because of one lizard’s words.

— “Does he even know what he’s asking for, saying he wants to live with me?”