I Became an Evolving Lizard in a Martial Arts Novel-Chapter 324

Tus and Pus have a mother?!

“Ki-ooong?”

No, I’m not trying to insult you two—I’m just genuinely surprised.

Never in my wildest dreams did I expect to meet their mother here, in the Five Venoms Sect.

Weren’t these two originally from the Tang Clan before being relocated to the Mountains of Ten Thousand Beasts?

So how is their mother in Namman?

And hold on—aren’t Tus and Pus different species?

Pus is an Arthrocopus, with a stingless tail and web-spinning abilities.

Tus is an Anthrakomartus, with venomous fangs but no webs.

Sure, their names are similar, but biologically, they’re entirely different.

I’m almost certain they’re not blood sisters—so how can that spider be their parent?

Could she be the mother of just one of them?

...But judging by the way both of them are reacting, they seem equally attached.

【Anansi】

A mythical being said to have woven webs that reached the heavens.

Even before the moon hung in the sky, it is said Anansi created tiny lights that floated upward.

She is a divine beast of immense power—considered the progenitor of all spiders.

If there’s a common thread, it’s the word “Anansi” attached to both Tus and Pus.

“Ki-ong!”

“Ki-ooong!”

Tus and Pus hovered near me, staring intensely at the massive spider.

“How strange. I don’t recall ever giving birth to such young ones... yet they possess a power very much like mine.”

“Ki-ooong.”

So she’s recognizing them as her children simply because they share the Anansi lineage?

That kind of makes sense.

Given how seriously Tus and Pus are staring back, there must be a connection.

“Lizard, are you the one who brought these children here?”

Anansi’s crimson eyes turned to me.

That glow—they reminded me of Nephila when we first met.

“Geg-gek.”

I nodded.

It was true, after all. I was the one who led them here.

And hey—maybe she’d be grateful for reuniting her with her long-lost kids and reward me with some divine elixir or something.

“Truly amusing... fascinating, even. This was not a fate I foresaw.”

A sly smile played on her lips.

Pale skin. Black robes. Massive webs draped all around, spiders everywhere.

At first glance, she’d struck me as eerie—but now that there was expression on her face, she seemed... different.

“I’d like to speak with the children who’ve returned to their nest... and with the one who led them back.”

Not a fight, but a conversation.

This was a huge win.

With Tus and Pus on my side, we should be able to negotiate well.

Who knows, maybe they’ll rattle off a hundred advantages of joining the Gae Gak Sect and the entire spider army will come with us.

“But that doesn’t mean I can ignore our other guests. Prepare a welcome for them.”

At her command, the spiders who’d been hesitating began to move in perfect unison.

From intruders to honored guests—connections really do matter, even in the world of spirit beasts.

“Lizard. Can we trust this spider?”

Baekrang asked, her voice low with worry.

Sure, the spiders seemed friendly to me, but that didn’t guarantee they’d treat my people the same way.

If I left them behind, the spiders could show their true colors.

But honestly, I wasn’t too worried.

Their leader had already declared us guests, and even if they did turn hostile, my crew wasn’t weak enough to just roll over.

And if something did happen, I could rush back in an instant.

“Geg-gek.”

So Baekrang didn’t need to worry too much.

I mean, sure, these spiders were... well, kinda cute. Not nightmare fuel or anything.

“...That’s not what I’m worried about.”

Baekrang’s tail swished slowly.

One ear perked up while the other drooped as she scratched the ground nervously.

“Ugh, why do I even care about a guy like you...”

She scratched the ground with frustration before—just like always—smacking my chest with her paw.

“She’s strong, okay? I just worry you might get hurt if she suddenly attacks. You’d probably win one-on-one, but this is her domain. Don’t let your guard down.”

She wasn’t worried about herself. She was worried about me being alone with Anansi.

Rrrrrr...

That did it.

If we weren’t in front of my mother-in-law, I’d be pressing my face into Baekrang’s belly right now.

Like I used to with Chillang—raspberry kisses, belly puffs and all.

Of course, I’d freeze solid afterward from her wrath, but after hearing something that sweet, it’d be worth it.

“Tch. Just go already.”

Smack-smack.

Baekrang hit my chest again, twice.

“Have you finished your talk?”

Anansi’s voice rang out.

“Geg-gek.”

No more worries about my crew. Now I just had to keep myself together.

“Kyaaang.”

The large spiders busily scuttled about, preparing something.

Judging by the delicious smells in the air, they were probably making food.

I’d been thinking about going hunting, but... looks like my mother-in-law has great taste.

“Follow me.”

“Ki-ooong.”

Tus and Pus gave me a glance.

Right—she said follow, so I followed.

I trailed silently behind Anansi as she led the way.

Tus and Pus sat on my shoulders, bouncing a little as they stared holes into her back.

“You’re quite a large lizard, aren’t you?”

“Geg-gek.”

I am a bit on the chunky side, yeah.

“Hmm. But what will you do about the size difference with my daughter...?”

What are you implying, ma’am?

“Ki-ong!”

“Oh, size-shifting? I see... So you’re a very prepared little lizard.”

What are you misunderstanding here?!

The deeper we walked, the thicker the webs became.

Everywhere I looked, webs crisscrossed like walls, housing countless crouching spiders. It wasn’t quite on the scale of the Dragon Gate, but it was definitely a domain of its own.

Since these webs were created by Anansi’s power, she could probably recreate this space even outside her own territory.

I really want that technique...

Having your own terrain advantage, even in an ambush situation? That’s huge.

After a while, we finally arrived at what looked like a real chamber.

More like a nest than a gate entrance.

It reminded me of Nephila’s webbed lair—but on a whole other scale.

“Sit. We have much to discuss.”

Tus and Pus shook themselves off and plopped naturally onto a spot where the web was thickly bunched.

“Ki-ong.”

I hesitated, wondering if this net-bed could handle my weight... but it turned out I was worrying for nothing.

It was sturdy.

...And very, very sticky.

This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.

“I thought you were just an intruder. Never imagined we’d form a bond like this.”

“Geg-gek.”

Same here, Mother-in-law.

“Ki-ong!”

“Ki-eng!”

Tus and Pus were pressed tightly against me.

They were clearly intrigued by Anansi, but... did that mean they still didn’t fully acknowledge her as their mother?

“Hoo... yes, I suppose you're curious too. Why do I consider those children my daughters?”

“Gek.”

“Did you happen to look around on your way in?” 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

Around...?

Yeah, I did a fair bit of sightseeing.

“Didn’t the number of spiders here strike you as... excessive?”

A little?

“These children here—yes, even now, their numbers continue to grow. To be precise, I am producing them myself.”

...Producing?

That’s... not quite the same as giving birth.

“I am Anansi. Called the Queen of Spiders. Known as the Mother of All Spiders.”

The Mother of All Spiders...!

So that’s why she said she didn’t remember giving birth to Tus and Pus.

Then that means she’s also Nephila’s mother...?

“Of course, not all spiders come from me.”

“Gek-gek.”

Okay—so maybe not literally their mom, then.

“But those two are undeniably connected to me. You feel it too, don’t you? That they possess a power much like mine.”

True.

Tus-Anansi. Pus-Anansi.

Their species names are all the proof you need.

“Ki-ooong.”

“Kieeeeng...”

So, in short, she’s not their biological mother.

But it’s likely Tus and Pus originated from Anansi through some special means of spider production.

Their species name confirms that.

“Never in all my years have any children approached my level of power. But now, these two have risen to that realm.”

According to her, Tus and Pus are the first of their kind ❖ Nоvеl𝚒ght ❖ (Exclusive on Nоvеl𝚒ght) to reach Anansi’s level.

Of course they are.

They’re my Tus and Pus.

“I can finally let go of a long-standing worry. I cooperated with those vile Five Venoms fools for the sake of a successor—but now, someone’s scratched my itch for me.”

Yeah, I’d wondered why a divine spirit of her caliber was cooperating with the Five Venoms Sect in the first place.

Turns out she did have something to gain from them.

With their expertise in venomous creatures, she’d hoped they could help create her heir—an exceptional venom-based being.

But now?

With Tus and Pus appearing—both bearing her lineage—she had no need for the sect anymore.

And the fact that she called them “vile” made it pretty clear she didn’t exactly like them either.

“You’re quite the curious one. You accomplished what I could not—what even the Five Venoms couldn’t. And with my youngest daughters, no less.”

“Ki-ooong.”

I didn’t really do anything though?

That’s just Tus and Pus being amazing.

“Would you like to be held in your mother’s arms?”

Tus and Pus glanced up at me.

Pus’s tail wagged gently—they were clearly starting to feel something toward Anansi.

But they were still hesitant.

After all, this was their first time meeting her, and I had been a bit wary too.

“Gek-gek.”

Go on. Don’t worry—go ahead and give your mom a hug.

“Ki-ooong...”

Tus and Pus hesitated, then slowly walked forward.

A heartfelt mother-daughter reunion.

Too bad So-Yeong wasn’t here to dab my eyes—I had to use my tail instead.

“Mmm... I was talking to them, not you.”

“Geh-ro-ro-ron?”

Huh?

Wait, why am I here?

“Ki-ooooong!”

“Kieeeeng!”

Tus and Pus yanked at my face in a panic.

“Geh-ek! Geh-eek!”

Ugh, this body of mine!

I can usually keep myself under control during serious moments, but the moment I let my guard down, out comes the Geroron.

I mean, how could I not drop my guard? It’s Tus and Pus’s mom!

“Ki-ooong!”

Still, thanks to that, Tus and Pus didn’t hesitate any longer and leapt into Anansi’s embrace.

“Ohh? I see... You even accounted for that. Impressive.”

...Sure.

“Gek-gek.”

Let’s pretend that was all part of the plan.

Tus and Pus seemed unsure, so I helped break the tension. That’s all.

“My daughters have an eye for quality. They picked an excellent son-in-law.”

To be fair, there’s nothing romantic between me and Tus or Pus, but...

Fine. I’ll roll with it.

“That physique... that presence... utterly delicious.”

“Gek-gek.”

I—I’m sorry, what?

“...I mean, majestic. Truly majestic.”

Did I... hear that right?

“Ki-ooong!”

“Kieeeng!”

Tus and Pus nuzzled their faces into Anansi’s chest.

Her expression softened completely.

“Perhaps it’s divine grace... it’s been a long time since I’ve found a male this appealing.”

The mother-in-law affection is getting out of hand.

She’s totally gonna throw some divine elixir at me, isn’t she?

I’ll pretend not to care—but I’m absolutely hoping she does.

“However, there is one thing that displeases me...”

Shraaak.

A web lashed out and wrapped tightly around my tail.

“Geh-ek?!”

Wh-what’s going on, Mother-in-law?!

“That scent on your body.”

Scent?

Is she talking about the lizard smell?

“The overwhelming stench of a great snake that’s lingered for over a hundred years.”

Oh no.

“Gehhhhhh...”

She smelled the Snake Queen.

And her species? A Basilisk.

Which, famously, are the natural enemies of spiders.

Even Tus and Pus were terrified the first time they met her.

“Spirit beasts may not care for age, but this still offends all sense of propriety. It’s shameless. Truly shameless.”

Wait.

Where is this going?

“I can’t let such a fine son-in-law go to waste. Allow me to introduce you to my daughters. Over a hundred of them around your age—I’ll pick out half to start...”

“KEEEEEHHHHH?!”

Nope! Nope nope nope!

Who in their right mind introduces fifty spiders as potential spouses?!

Kraaaagh!!

Tus! Pus! Nephila!!

I’m Ko Hui! I’m mentally stable! I have normal desires!