I Became an Evolving Lizard in a Martial Arts Novel-Chapter 225

The wind of Fung-Yuhwan uses the character for "wind," 풍 (風).

The Yoo is naturally the "Yoo" of "you," and Hwan is the character for "medicine," as in "pills."

Fung-Yuhwan is the medicinal wind that makes things bountiful.

But what in the world is this in front of me?

Of course, it's extremely bountiful.

But that's just from the outside.

The essential part can't hide its true nature.

If it were any other spiritual being, I might have been tricked, but not a being of my level.

"Ge-eek...."

It seems the "wind" of Fung-Yuhwan refers to wind as in "breeze."

It looks like there's something, but just like the wind, it's an illusion you can't touch.

Honestly, I wasn’t too disappointed when someone took Fung-Yuhwan.

Why? Because it means someone did use it.

It means I can see the effects of the legendary elixir with my own eyes.

"Ge-eek...."

But what is this situation now?

Even lizards have pure hearts.

And that pure heart has been crushed.

"Ge-geck!"

I looked with the eyes of a sad lizard.

"...Is something bothering you?"

Even so, the spiritual being itself doesn’t seem bad, so I can’t say much.

And I wonder how much they must have needed it to use something like this.

The thought of fighting has already faded.

It’s not just because they’ve pulled back their hostility either.

Whoo.

The fox bead shuddered slightly.

"My one and only little sister...! It’s been a while!"

Gongbok flew toward Cho-Do, grinning.

Splat.

Of course, he was knocked back by Cho-Do’s vine.

"What... What?"

The fox bead trembled in shock.

Cho-Do, with cold eyes, glanced at the object before reluctantly speaking.

"Is it perhaps... Brother?"

"That’s right! You didn’t recognize me, Cho-Do!"

Gongbok laughed.

He probably thought she didn’t recognize him because his voice had changed due to the fox bead.

"I totally understand. Of course, I wouldn’t recognize myself either with this voice, so how could you, Cho-Do?"

Gongbok seemed to be misunderstanding something, but I held back from correcting him, fearing that it might negate the fundamental relationship of brother and sister.

No matter how I looked at it, the expression on Cho-Do's face wasn’t one of seeing a beloved older brother, but more like seeing a reluctant relative.

"Have you lost your life, if you’ve become like that?"

Still, the fact that she expressed some concern about his death suggests that it's not complete despair, maybe?

...Or is it?

Even enemies could express that much concern.

It seems Gongbok just assumes that Cho-Do is worried about him.

"It was just luck. After losing in an honorable fight, I was planning to rest and hand over the token as a reward, but here we are. But still, it’s so good to see you again."

There’s no need to stress the point.

Cho-Do stared at Gongbok, then shifted her gaze to me.

"Does that mean the great warrior over there defeated you, Brother?"

"Haha, I guess you could say that. Of course, if we fought again, I’d win for sure, but it’s true that I was defeated in defense."

Gongbok laughed heartily.

Looking at him now, it doesn’t seem like he’s a bad person by nature.

I lost to him and died.

And here he is, talking about it so cheerfully.

Of course, being trapped in the fox bead, his consciousness is still alive, so it's not an easy thing to do.

Cho-Do’s green eyes slowly scanned me.

From the horns to my face, neck, arms, fur, back, and tail.

It felt somewhat eerie.

"Are you perhaps thinking of avenging your brother? There’s no need for that. I’m the one who guided this person here."

"...Brother."

"Yes, Cho-Do."

Gongbok answered in a happy tone.

He had said before that Cho-Do was like a sister he’d protect even if he had to put her in his eyes. It seems that’s exactly what he’s thinking.

However, I’m not sure whether Cho-Do shares those feelings.

"Didn’t I tell you not to bring anyone into my territory recklessly?"

A slightly harsh voice was heard.

"Even though you defeated me...."

Did she just say her brother died?

So what?

That’s how I, the clever lizard, interpret it.

"What does this have to do with the girl? You know she doesn’t like going outside, and yet you did this?"

"Cough... It's not that I went outside... it’s more like inside..."

"Again, again. Brother, you were always like this."

Why do I feel a cold sweat forming?

Of course, since I don’t have sweat glands, it’s not actual sweat.

"Cho, Cho-Do. What about my face...?"

"You’re already dead, so what’s face?"

"Cho-Do?"

"Tsk...."

Honestly, when you reach the level of a Yongsaengguja, death might not be such a big deal.

They are spiritual beings that have lived for hundreds, even thousands of years, so they likely accept death differently.

Gongbok also gave up his life rather easily, and Cho-Do doesn’t seem too attached to her brother’s death either.

And so began Cho-Do’s unilateral attack.

From Gongbok’s past mistake, to recklessly sharing information with an outsider about his one and only younger sister who might be in danger. And the token—what token? Do I need to kneel and hand over my brother's scale? Forget it, I’m upset now.

...She didn’t say it directly, but this is what I’m hearing.

Gongbok was mumbling, unsure of what to do.

After being criticized harshly by Cho-Do for a while, I locked eyes with her again.

"Oh my, I haven’t even welcomed the guest properly yet."

Cho-Do, who had been so harsh, suddenly became soft and sweet, as if nothing had happened.

"Th-This is...!"

Gongbok was furious and trembling from the sudden change in attitude.

Of course, he wasn’t mad at Cho-Do; he was mad at me.

Why is he mad at me?

I didn’t do anything.

Cho-Do looked at me with a slight smile, then extended her arm gently.

"Kwwong...."

The green beast, which I had assumed to be Cho-Do, lowered its head slightly.

As if telling us to climb on.

"He’s the one who serves me. How happy I am that my brother formed ties with the great warrior. I’ll take you inside."

Unlike with Gongbok, she spoke to me with great respect.

...But can she really act like this after showing me that earlier?

If I didn’t see it, I wouldn’t know.

Foll𝑜w current novℯls on ƒrēewebnoѵёl.cσm.

But let’s not point it out.

Just like that deceptive Gonggal-ppang (hollow bread), and her personality.

If I touch it, it’s probably going to be troublesome.

*

Cho-Do’s Dragon Gate was closer to a forest than a mountain.

However, due to the dense plants lurking in the forest, it would be harder to enter than a mountain.

The moment an intruder appears, the entire forest becomes a weapon to attack the intruder.

It could be much more dangerous than a volcano or snow-capped mountain.

Once Cho-Do reached the nest, she served me tea.

Since I’m so large, the wooden bowl was about the size of a basin, which made it look a bit strange, but it was no big deal.

It’s called "Malicha," and aside from the stronger-than-expected aroma, I liked the tea overall.

I licked it with my tongue.

It might not be the traditional way of serving tea, but there’s no other choice.

With my lizard body, the only options are either licking it with my tongue or swallowing it all at once, like gulping down the entire bowl.

Neither option seemed great, but gulping it down in one go would be worse.

Honestly, I was a bit uneasy.

For whatever reason, though they were the ones who attacked first, the fact remains that I killed Gongbok.

Of course, I ended up being trapped in this floating bead, with my consciousness still alive but stuck inside.

"Well, I’ve lived long enough. The girl’s brother was caught up in meditation, so in a way, he’s my benefactor."

Cho-Do spoke casually, as if it was no big deal.

"You think so highly of me...!"

No, I don’t think you should be this moved.

Are you sure you two are really that close?

"By the way, it’s an interesting object. It looks like a fox bead, but how is it that it holds the girl’s brother...? And there are also quite strong human souls inside."

Cho-Do gazed into the fox bead.

There’s not just Gongbok inside it.

The original owner’s bead is inside, and it seems like Gongbok has rented space there.

The souls of the Hwasan Sect also entered, but they didn’t say anything.

Maybe the bead is keeping strict discipline.

"And to think it’s the descendant of death itself with a tail—seems like there’s fate at work here."

The Yongsaengguja are the children of the True Dragon.

The True Dragon and Gongbok are enemies, you could say.

So, Gongbok is somewhat like the enemy of her father.

But even Cho-Do, who likely received affection from the True Dragon, doesn’t hold any ill will toward Gongbok.

Didn’t she even say I have a nostalgic scent?

"She has such power despite not having fully grown. The one who gave her life probably wasn’t even at this level."

I’m stronger than the True Dragon of her age and even older Gongbok!

In truth, it makes sense.

How many lizards are there stronger than me at the age of one?

"Honestly, when her brother asked the girl to help with the training of a great warrior, I couldn’t understand it. For a descendant of his, having this much power, and still being lazy and sleepy—how could she agree to help?"

The last two things seem a bit off.

"But now that I see it, I understand. The imbalance between the power the great warrior holds and the wisdom."

"Gegeck."

"Also, she hasn’t even started speaking yet. I understand what that means, but it’s a strange, corrupted language that distorts with every listener."

Cho-Do saw right through the essence of Gegeck.

Could she really be a Yongsaengguja?

She certainly feels like an expert.

"If I had the time, I’d teach you the language, but the most important issue is the imbalance I mentioned earlier. The energy she possesses exceeds the realm of the senses, and her external energy is almost at the same level. But the wisdom stays stagnant at the peak, which is truly regrettable."

"Geck...."

The internal energy I have exceeds the realm of the senses.

Considering the elixirs and Neidan I’ve consumed, it’s not surprising to be at mid-level in the Hwa-gyeong.

My external energy is also at the entry level of Hwa-gyeong, I think.

But external energy isn’t something special.

It’s just my size and Yongrin that make it external energy.

But my wisdom has remained stagnant at the peak.

Although I manifested Sword Qi, that was only temporary, an all-out manifestation, not a result of true enlightenment.

In other words, once I gain enlightenment, I’ll be able to grow explosively.

And Cho-Do is trying to teach me that.

"Samhwa Cheojeong, Ogi Jo Won. I would like to explain these to you, but I believe it’s too soon since you haven’t reached the ultimate stage yet."

I have a rough understanding of Samhwa Cheojeong and Ogi Jo Won.

When I was a Green Basilisk, during my meditation, I mistakenly thought I had reached that level when I met my master.

"I briefly saw the great warrior’s martial arts from the entrance."

She said "briefly," but she attacked first.

"Clearly, the internal energy itself is comparable to mine, but its depth is shallow."

That’s to be expected.

I’ve only had the Dragon Gate for a few months.

"It’s not a matter of mastery. The great warrior can handle the power of the neck, but there’s a situation where they can’t control it."

What kind of cryptic nonsense is this?

I tilted my head.

"To put it more precisely, the great warrior has misunderstood the five elements."

Misunderstood the five elements?

That’s impossible.

What does the neck power mean?

It’s the neck of a tree, isn’t it?

"Do you know why I can summon lightning, and why the great warrior remained unharmed after being struck by lightning?"

Cho-Do also wields the power of the neck.

But she doesn’t seem to be limited to just the neck power.

Suddenly controlling lightning seems out of place, but I just assumed she had that ability.

But still, it felt odd that I remained unharmed after being struck by lightning.

I don’t have any resistance to it, after all.

"The neck is not limited to growing plants."

Cho-Do spoke in a gentle tone.

Her voice had a warmth to it, like a parent teaching a child.

"The blossomed flower is fire, the refined wood is metal, and the dead tree belongs to water. The five elements are not mere substances."

Now Cho-Do started explaining in earnest.

"Let’s take the wood as an example. The season would be spring, and the hour would be dawn. Yes, the neck represents birth and creation. It corresponds to Jupiter and its taste is sour. The liver is its organ, and the gallbladder is its corresponding body part. Do you understand?"

Cho-Do looked up at me.

Did you understand this much?

She had that belief in her gaze.

The only answer I could give was this.

"Ge-eeng...."

I don’t get it!

Please make it simple enough for a foolish lizard like me to understand.