I Became an Evolving Lizard in a Martial Arts Novel-Chapter 244

Tang Mu-yeong and I exchanged a few more words.

I got the necessary information, and I even learned things I didn’t need to know, like Soyeong’s preferences.

"I came here to bring Soyeong back to her family, but if you’re serving the Great Master, that changes things."

Thinking about it, it’s impressive.

She had been causing a fuss about wanting to go home, but then she said she’d stay here.

And even though most of the radical faction has been dealt with.

"...What’s with that suspicious look?"

"Geck."

"Don’t look at me like that!"

What’s wrong with my eyes?

This chapt𝙚r is updated by freeωebnovēl.c૦m.

Tang Mu-yeong stared at Soyeong, who was fumbling around.

"Ahem, there might be some good news soon."

"Brother?"

"If the opponent is a descendant of Gomodo... hmm, Soyeong might be lacking, but I’ll leave it to you."

"Don’t say strange things!"

Clang!

The forceful strike of Soyeong’s dagger sounded.

Of course, a mediocre second-rate martial artist couldn’t hurt an absolute master.

"She’s still young, with a lot to learn. If she had the will, I would stay and serve the Great Master Gomodo as well, but..."

"Somewoo!"

The Igasu grumbled angrily.

"Though I can’t serve at your side, I’ll return to the Tang family and work for the Great Master. Even if the True Dragon returns and gathers the martial artists, I won’t blindly follow him. At the very least, I’ll ensure the Tang family won’t fall apart."

How admirable, to be so reliable despite sharing the same family name!

Look at that momentum.

It’s like they want to use any poison to turn things in my favor.

...It’s a little unsettling, but for now, they’re on my side.

Tang Mu-yeong’s gaze turned to the wild boar I had brought in.

Right, I had brought the meat, so before sending it off, I should feed it.

I shouldn’t just send it off without some warmth.

"Great Master, may I ask you for a favor?"

Looks like you’re hungry too.

I hadn’t realized.

"Could you give me the chance to introduce the Tang family’s cuisine?"

That was an unexpected response.

So, you want to cook for me?

Food made by humans is always the best.

Forget the skill; just the act of cooking is already impressive.

Besides, since I’ve only been eating wild plants since I was caught by Cho-Do, I’ve been craving human food.

And most of all, Soyeong’s mouth was watering.

Noticing my gaze, she wiped her mouth and added, embarrassed.

"Although it’s awkward for me to say this, Sichuan is a land of fine cuisine. And who is the master of Sichuan? It’s the Tang family!"

Sichuan cuisine!

I may not know much, but I know that food from the Sichuan region is delicious.

"As I’m in tune with spiritual beings, Brother, you also have a talent for cooking. Though, after you became the head of the family, you don’t cook as much..."

"Geck!"

Hurry up and make it!

"I’ll prepare food that upholds the honor of the Tang family and won’t dishonor the Great Master Gomodo...!"

You don’t need to make such a big deal of it.

Tang Mu-yeong pulled various cooking tools from his clothes.

...How did he fit a wok in there?

Is this really the Tang family?

No matter how much it’s the Tang family, why are cooking tools hidden in his clothes?

Eh, whatever.

He’ll manage somehow.

*

"Wild boars usually have a strong odor, so to cover that smell, you have to marinate them well with spices or seasonings. But, in front of the Great Master, we can't waste any time."

He licked his tongue while sniffing the air.

Wasn't this supposed to be a wild boar dish?

Why does it smell like fish?

"I've added a special seasoning to cover the wild boar’s smell. The dish we’ve made is..."

Tang Mu-yeong opened the lid with a confident expression.

"It’s Sichuan-style Yu Xiang Pork."

Yu Xiang Pork!

So, ‘Yu Xiang’ refers to the scent of fish.

The dish was filled with delicious-looking food.

The red-colored pork, dried bamboo shoots, and other vegetables came together, giving off the essence of Sichuan cuisine.

"Isn’t this going to be spicy?"

As Baekrang naturally commented, it did indeed look spicy.

How did Tang Mu-yeong know I wanted something spicy?

"It’s a bit spicy, but..."

Now that I think about it, aren’t dogs supposed to avoid spicy food?

"Kiing..."

Chillang, the wolf, whimpered sadly.

Sorry, but I can’t give it to the dogs.

"Chirp!"

Chirp, the bird, flapped its wings and chirped, seemingly enjoying the spicy Yu Xiang Pork.

"Of course, we also have dishes that aren’t spicy. The amount of game you caught was so much that I prepared a variety of dishes."

Tang Mu-yeong brought out another plate.

As he said, there were various dishes, each using different seasonings and ingredients to create different flavors.

"Heheh..."

But aren’t dogs also supposed to avoid salty food?

Bzzz.

Looking at how the tails were wagging like that, I couldn’t tell them not to eat.

Even Baekrang gave a light nod, so I guess they could eat this.

"This may not be the finest food, but I hope you’ll enjoy it."

This is not the finest food?

Then what about everything else I’ve eaten?

But, I was ready to eat it gratefully.

I had high expectations for this meal.

It wasn’t just about eating a meal, but showing the other followers the importance of cooking.

"Geck!"

With those words, we all dug into the food in our bowls.

Chomp chomp chomp.

...The taste!

How is this even possible?

The spicy taste was so intense it felt like my mouth was on fire.

But it was a delicious kind of spicy.

Such a strong flavor—this is the kind of taste you wouldn’t expect to see in this era.

Plus, I’ve only been eating wild plants lately, so the impact this food had on me was extraordinary.

"Gegegeck!"

"Kiiong?"

Tuss and Puss, watching me eat, slowly approached and nibbled on the spicy Yu Xiang Pork.

"Keeeek!"

"Kiook!"

It’s a bit too soon for you guys to handle spicy food.

"Kiing...!"

Despite the spiciness, they took another bite.

"Kiiong..."

Looks like they’ve opened their eyes to spicy food.

"As expected..."

Tang Mu-yeong looked at us with a pleased expression.

I wonder if he’s happy we’re eating so well.

"This dish is actually one that the Great Master used to enjoy."

The dish that the previous Gomodo liked?

I guess our tastes are similar.

After all, the head of the Tang family must have learned to cook for a reason.

"Gomodo was known to enjoy spicy food," Tang Mu-yeong continued.

I hesitated for a moment.

Can spiritual beings really like spicy food?

Spicy food isn’t a flavor, it’s pain.

Unless they’re like birds, unable to feel the heat, or unless they’re some kind of masochist, they shouldn’t like spicy food.

"Kiing."

"Kiiooong."

...Maybe not?

Looking at Tuss and Puss, it doesn’t seem like that’s the case.

"Soyeong’s enjoying it too."

Well, since she’s been close to humans, maybe she does like spicy food.

I thought nothing of it and was about to continue eating when—

Boom!

A dull sound rang out.

"Somewooo?"

The Igasu dragged in the dust-covered Cheolduyong.

"Ugh... Great Master, no... Lord... I’m sorry..."

Lord?

Since when did you become a lord?

It doesn’t matter what you call me.

But why is he here?

"Gegegeck?"

It doesn’t seem like a fatal wound, but it looks like he’s injured.

"Ugh... this wound... these Igasu..."

"Somewooo?"

"Misunderstanding, misunderstanding."

How hard did they hit him to make him like this?

Cheolduyong explained what had happened on the Snow Mountain.

"The descendant of the Dragon Tribe and one of the Four Fiends, Do-cheol, attacked us!"

Do-cheol!

Wasn’t he the one Cho-Do warned us about?

He’s the one said to be so dangerous that even the True Dragon couldn’t control him.

"I tried to defeat him, but he easily blocked my strike with just one hand."

He blocked a headbutt with one hand?

Even I couldn’t stay unscathed after taking a headbutt from Cheolduyong.

He’s definitely not someone to take lightly.

"Realizing I couldn’t win, I retreated to bring the news to you, but he just let me go."

He didn’t even chase after Cheolduyong?

That’s a little different from what Cho-Do said.

"I was prepared to lose something, but... was I just lucky?"

I’m glad Cheolduyong is okay.

"He told me he’d be waiting at the Snow Mountain. He said we should settle this there."

I get it now.

He must have known a little about my existence, which is why he came to the Snow Mountain, one of the Dragon Gate’s locations.

His goal was me, so Cheolduyong probably didn’t satisfy him.

He’s declared war, asking me to come to retake the Snow Mountain.

"I’m sorry. If I were just a bit stronger..."

I patted Cheolduyong’s shoulder to comfort him.

There’s nothing Cheolduyong could have done against Do-cheol.

Without the Fox Pearl, there was no way to handle him.

I’ll have to face him myself.

"Ugh... Lord!"

Cheolduyong, filled with gratitude, exclaimed.

To encourage him, I handed him the plate with the Yu Xiang Pork.

"...Lord?"

I had gone through so much to prepare this, but I guess I’ll have to let him eat it first.

"Can we not move yet?"

Baekrang asked.

Well, he did tell me to come to the Snow Mountain, but he never said when.

There’s no reason for me to rush there right now.

If Cheolduyong were captured, that would be different, but the Dragon Gate is already returned to the Gae Gak Sect, so why should I go?

If I have to fight him, it’s far better to do it here.

I can cooperate with my followers and use my strength to its fullest here.

There’s no reason to go to a disadvantageous place.

Although, technically, it wouldn’t be completely disadvantageous, just less favorable.

So, what I need to do now is—

"Gegeck."

Let’s finish our meal first and think about it.

*

The cold wind blew across the Snow Mountain.

An old man had his eyes closed.

"The first spiritual being to come here to kill me wasn't you."

But then, suddenly!

Fwoosh!

He threw a broken branch and slowly opened his eyes.

Though his face was that of an old man, his red eyes had not aged.

"And you will not be the last."

But no response came.

"Hmm... No."

It was just the old man talking to himself.

"Again!"

The old man shouted and returned to his original stance.

"Show me the power that killed the True Dragon."

He said those words and then continued, shaking his head.

"You said, to reclaim the territory, I must defeat you."

After taking another stance, he shook his head once more.

"This isn’t it!"

That’s right.

He was deeply thinking about which stance and words would make him look the most impressive.

"Hehehe..."

Finally, a brilliant idea seemed to strike, and a satisfied expression appeared on his face.

"Yes... this should work..."

The fifth of the Dragon Tribe.

The youngest of the Four Fiends.

The monster known as Do-cheol was waiting for Gomodo to arrive, endlessly practicing his self-introduction.

"Hehehe... So late."

The cold wind blew, but he didn’t mind.

In fact, the longer the wait, the more time he had for practice.

Whoooosh.

The cold wind blew and the waiting time stretched, but Do-cheol simply laughed.

Whoooosh!

"...Why isn’t he coming?"

Finally, he muttered, but there was no answer.

"Ah, so you’re preparing to face me with your full power. Heh, fine. That’s not bad! In that case, I too... yes, I’ll explode this here... and set the mood..."

Do-cheol, who had a positive mindset, decided to make use of the endless time.

He would prepare thoroughly, making sure to present himself well.

As much as the opponent was preparing, he would do the same.

That was the proper way.

"Hehehe... I’m looking forward to it!"

Of course, the lizard he was waiting for, Cheolduyong, was busy having a drink and throwing a grand feast, trying to comfort himself, but Do-cheol had no way of knowing that.