I Became an Evolving Lizard in a Martial Arts Novel-Chapter 231

The Tang Clan, though considered part of the orthodox sects, often gave off the distinct impression of belonging to the unorthodox sects.

Not only did they use deadly poisons and rely on ambushes with hidden weapons, but they also liberally planted spies across all factions, regardless of whether they were friend or foe. Who would consider such a group part of the orthodox sects?

Of course, every sect employed spies to some extent, but among the orthodox sects, there was at least some restraint, especially among those considered allies.

The Tang Clan, however, had no such reservations.

Just as having a bigger chest or more poison was inherently good, they believed having more information was equally desirable.

Even so, the Tang Clan was recognized as an orthodox sect for two main reasons.

First, their expertise in medicine.

Poison, when properly controlled, could serve as medicine.

Before Tang Clan martial artists learned to handle poisons, they first studied medicine.

Because of this, members of the Tang Clan were not only skilled fighters but also invaluable healers, experts in both poisons and remedies.

The second reason was the fear of what would happen if they were not recognized as orthodox.

The Tang Clan behaved relatively tamely as long as they were acknowledged as part of the orthodox sects.

If they were labeled unorthodox, however, the result would be a chaotic rampage of mad poisoners, unchecked by any restraint.

To the Tang Clan, it might be an enjoyable riot, but for those on the receiving end, it would be anything but.

Thus, while the Tang Clan was officially an orthodox sect, their actions often aligned more closely with the unorthodox.

This was why, even faced with the leader of the Heavenly Demon Cult, they could respond with a certain degree of flexibility.

Of course, seeing Tang Mu-yeong trembling in fear might make one doubt the "flexibility" of their response, but who wouldn’t tremble in such a situation?

Any other sect or family would likely be weeping or shouting “Go!” before saying farewell to the world.

For someone like Tang Mu-yeong, his response was remarkably composed.

He realized this might be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Forging a connection with the leader of the Heavenly Demon Cult wasn’t inherently bad.

Sure, being caught would make him a public enemy, but if no one found out, what was the harm?

Even if suspicions arose, as long as the Tang Clan didn’t openly admit it, it would remain just that—a suspicion.

After all, the Tang Clan was known for their evasive denials. And as long as they didn’t outright declare, “We’ve defected,” no one would want to make an enemy of the Tang Clan, filled as it was with martial artist-healers who could control internal energy.

The Tang Clan had a history of suspicious dealings anyway.

With this in mind, Tang Mu-yeong granted Baek Yeon-yeong’s every request.

In truth, her demands weren’t particularly excessive.

All she asked for was the handling of the elders' bodies and answers to a few questions.

She was nothing like the rumors of the Heavenly Demon Cult leader.

Of course, her icy tone made his body instinctively tense, but...

In the end, Tang Mu-yeong found himself wondering if the Heavenly Demon Cult leader might actually be... a good person?

That thought, absurd as it was, entered his mind.

Yes, she had killed the elders, but they were the ones practicing the forbidden sorcery of Go.

Summoning a bit of courage—perhaps closer to recklessness—Tang Mu-yeong decided there was something he had to ask.

“...Forgive my impudence, but may I ask you one question?”

While he had tried to act in his own best interests, the fact remained that the person before him was the leader of the Heavenly Demon Cult.

If she changed her mind, she could take his head without hesitation, and it wouldn’t be particularly strange.

Knowing this, Tang Mu-yeong’s decision to ask was a monumental act of bravery.

Baek Yeon-yeong’s expression remained unreadable, but she gave a slight nod.

Tang Mu-yeong suppressed a sigh of relief and immediately spoke.

“You mentioned earlier that you have a connection to a child of the Tang Clan. Might you be referring to Tang So-yeong? Has she received your favor?”

He couldn’t call her "the leader of the Heavenly Demon Cult" without risking his neck, nor could he praise her as the head of the Heavenly Demon Sect without it sounding contrived.

Though she was undoubtedly the leader of the cult, Tang Mu-yeong had to pretend he’d never seen her.

Hence the ambiguous term Gui-in (Esteemed One), which wasn’t entirely inaccurate.

“For a brief moment, I was with her. Though she has since left my side for another place, if she wishes, I will bring her back anytime. Of course, I doubt she would want that.”

Baek Yeon-yeong’s words made Tang Mu-yeong’s heart sink.

Was she implying that a member of the Tang Clan, part of the orthodox sects, had joined the Heavenly Demon Cult?

That much he could process.

If rumors spread, it could lead to the destruction of the Tang Clan, branded as collaborators with the cult. But denial was the Tang Clan’s specialty, wasn’t it?

However, if Tang So-yeong had left the cult and gone somewhere else—if she still hadn’t returned to Sichuan—that was a different matter entirely.

Did that mean she was living somewhere in the Ten Thousand Great Mountains after leaving the Heavenly Demon Cult?

How long could a second-rate martial artist survive in a place teeming with spiritual beasts and predators?

Initially, Tang Mu-yeong had hoped to use their connection to Tang So-yeong to forge a stronger relationship with Baek Yeon-yeong, but now, the situation had changed.

Somehow, he would have to rescue his youngest sister from the Ten Thousand Great Mountains.

...But only after Baek Yeon-yeong left this place.

And, perhaps, he’d need to ask her permission to search for the Tang Clan’s most precious treasure in those mountains.

*

“Chirp...”

Unhwa Baekpoong Cheonso Myeong let out a weary sound.

There’s a saying: if you leave home, hardship awaits.

She had flown tirelessly in search of her beloved’s trail but had yet to find that lizard.

Being a bird, she instinctively knew where to go, but the journey there wasn’t easy.

She soared over trees, trampled through mud, and her once pristine white feathers were now stained brown.

At least there were no predators to threaten her life.

Who would dare lay a claw on the precious gem of the Bird King?

With the Predator Tiger Snake gone, there were no creatures bold enough to challenge Jaekjaeki.

Not to mention, having undergone a rebirth, she wouldn’t be easily defeated, and she could navigate the skies with ease.

But even so, exhaustion was exhaustion.

Yet, who was Unhwa Baekpoong Cheonso Myeong?

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She was a romantic, someone who left her father to fly off in search of her beloved.

From a human perspective, there could be no greater act of filial impiety, but, fortunately, Jaekjaeki wasn’t a human—she was a bird.

Eventually, Jaekjaeki succeeded in finding a place resembling her beloved’s nest.

Although, calling it a “nest” was an understatement—it was vast, grand, and stunning.

A building made of wood could be overlooked, but did there really need to be so many sculptures?

“Chirp...?”

She couldn’t hide her confusion.

While the scent of her beloved was unmistakable, the place was filled with strange things.

Folding her wings, Jaekjaeki trotted forward with little steps, her gaze landing on a black beast.

“Hehehe...”

The beast was emitting an ominous chuckle while carving an enormous statue.

It was a massive pillar, seemingly endless in height.

Why were they making such a thing? Jaekjaeki couldn’t comprehend it with her limited knowledge.

To her, it even seemed... indecent.

“Chirp!”

Jaekjaeki shook her head vigorously.

Why was she letting herself get distracted by some pillar when her mission was to find her beloved?

At that moment, her eyes met the black beast’s.

Jaekjaeki tensed up.

While it was unlikely that anyone would harm the Bird King’s daughter, this was an unfamiliar beast.

She had no idea what it might do.

“Hehehe... Feather-feather...”

She couldn’t understand the words, but they didn’t seem to be spoken with malice.

“Hehehe... Invitation-invitation...”

The beast wagged its tail and gestured as if to lead her inside.

Jaekjaeki worked her small brain as hard as she could.

What color was her beloved lizard?

Black.

And these beasts?

Black.

Remarkably, she deduced that the Bicorns must be her beloved’s subordinates!

Of course, Gomodo didn’t consider the Bicorns his subordinates, viewing them more as suspicious yet reliable allies. But did that matter?

Jaekjaeki, now full of confidence, trotted forward boldly.

“Hehehe... Feather-feather... Circle-circle...”

The strange sounds were still incomprehensible, but she sensed they bore no ill intent.

Clearly, they were trying to curry favor with the rightful queen.

Thinking this, she strode into the nest.

“Chirp!”

The moment she stepped into the nest, determined to find her beloved, Jaekjaeki froze.

“Keyoong?”

“Kieeng?”

She was met with the unblinking gazes of spiders, exuding the aura of spiritual beasts.

Ordinarily, birds ate spiders.

But for some reason, these spiders didn’t seem like prey.

“Hng.”

In particular, the humanoid spider with red eyes was the very definition of terror.

Some spiders were called bird eaters, but Nephila had surpassed even those, with historical records claiming she had hunted dinosaurs.

“Chirp-chirp-CHIRP!”

She flapped her small wings frantically, trying to flee, but to no avail.

At some point, her legs had become ensnared in webbing.

“Chiiiiirp!”

“Kieeng!”

“Kiyoong!”

Thus began the merciless assault by Pus and Tus!

“Kieng-yain.”

“Ying-ying-kiong.”

...Or so Jaekjaeki thought.

In reality, Pus and Tus were merely waving at her in greeting, not attacking.

The fact that the gatekeeping Bicorns had let her in suggested she was connected to their divine beast.

The fact that she was female irked them slightly, but allowing her to stay until their divine beast returned was the right choice.

She might panic and try to escape otherwise.

“Chirp...?”

Realizing she wasn’t under attack, Jaekjaeki cautiously raised one wing.

She then began thinking hard again with her little bird brain.

If these spiders were inside the nest, they must hold a higher rank than the beasts who had guided her.

And for reasons unknown, all of them were female.

Jaekjaeki came to a realization.

This must be the concubines trying to curry favor with the main wife!

Of course, this was entirely her own delusion.

“Chirp-chirp... chirp-chirp-chirp.”

Feeling triumphant, Jaekjaeki pecked away at the webbing with newfound vigor.

“Hm? What’s all this noise about? Did you catch a bird?”

“Chiiiirp!”

Jaekjaeki let out another shrill cry.

An enormous creature had appeared.

If the spiders had been enough to make her tremble, this massive white wolf was terrifying beyond words.

It was larger than most bears.

“...You smell familiar.”

“Kieong.”

“Hm? Not food, but a guest?”

The white wolf gazed at the white bird with golden eyes.

How many times had that lizard brought back new females?

“...Why does a feathered one fancy a scaled one?”

Jaekjaeki wanted to retort, You don’t have scales either, but all her focus was on calming her racing heart.

“Hmm... So, what do you eat? Do you prefer meat or grains?”

Jaekjaeki’s expression shifted.

Look at this gallant spirit, already offering her a tribute.

This, too, must be thanks to her beloved’s favor.

“Chirp-chirp-chirp...”

Jaekjaeki, convinced of her status as the main wife, let out a soft chirp.

“Hm? What’s all the commotion about? You caught a bird?”

“Chiiirp... chirp?”

Jaekjaeki had been ready to scream again but stopped short.

Instead of another massive beast, it was a human who appeared—and a rather unimposing one at that.

“Kioong...”

“Oh, not food, but a guest?”

Jaekjaeki didn’t have time to dwell on why this human could communicate with spiders.

She had noticed something far more important.

Every single creature here was female!

Sure, there’s a saying about heroes being fond of women, but this was excessive.

Three spiders, eight wolves... and even a human?

And Jaekjaeki already knew the snake mother and daughter were part of the mix as well.

“Chirp!”

Too many!

Yet, despite her frustration, she found some comfort in the fact that she alone was the main wife.

That thought bolstered her confidence.

The more concubines there were, the greater her authority as the main wife.

“Peep-peep-peep...”

“What an adorable bird. Well, welcome! Though it feels like your role overlaps with mine.”

At Tang Soyeong’s remark, Baekrang raised a question.

“Overlaps? Does this bird use poison?”

“No. Birds like her can’t use poison.”

“Then perhaps it’s skilled in medicine?”

“Not sure about that.”

Baekrang’s tail wagged in a questioning motion.

If not poison or medicine, what could this bird have in common with Tang Soyeong?

“Ehem. It’s because we’re both adorable.”

“Hm?”

“Kieeng?”

Even Pus and Tus, who had been playfully waving, seemed to silently question her nonsense.

“After all, isn’t it obvious that I’m Gomodo’s favorite?”

If the spiders, wolves, and even the absent Snake Queen could speak, they would have all collectively rolled their eyes.

No one responded, only staring at Tang Soyeong with pity.

Sometimes, silent gazes could inflict the greatest damage.

Feeling an unexpected sense of injustice, Tang Soyeong suddenly shouted:

“...But I am adorable!”

Puffing out her modest chest with misplaced pride, Tang Soyeong declared her claim.

Had Gomodo been present, the sound of him sighing five times would surely have echoed, but fortunately, he wasn’t here to witness it.