I Became an Evolving Lizard in a Martial Arts Novel-Chapter 326

I Became an Evolving Lizard in a Martial Arts Novel-Chapter 326

Passing through Byeokdokmun was no easy feat.
"Gegegek!"
"Kkegegek!"
Do you know what the smartest animal in the world is?
It’s the lizard.
And the cutest animal in the world?
There may be some differing opinions, but you can't deny that lizards are among the top contenders.
It's not just because I am a lizard—I’ve thought this way since my previous life.
Those plump little tails.
Those sensual legs.
That soft, squishy belly.
Those big, adorable eyes.
There was an entire crowd of lizards that made you go uhuhuhu just looking at them!
If those lizards had used seduction tactics—no, cuteness tactics—we would've been held up here for quite a while.
"What’s so cute about these lizards anyway?"
That’s what she said, but Baekrang was already petting their heads without realizing it.
“...Kaeng?”
Yeah, looks like you’ve been lizard-pilled too.
"Gegegek!"
"Kekekek!"
Tus and Pus were gleefully waving their arms.
"Kiong!"
"Kieng!"
It was a cascade of cute-on-cute.
"Don’t put them in your mouth!"
"Saaak?"
Some of the snakelings looked like they tried putting a lizard in their mouths, but I’m sure they only meant it in a so cute I want to bite it or warralala-kind of way.
The lizards wagged their tails the moment they saw us, radiating friendliness.
How could we possibly fight lizards like that?
And there didn’t even seem to be anyone worth fighting in the first place.
There wasn’t a particularly strong leader, but there were a lot of humans.
Several poison experts had shown up, using venom extracted from lizards.
Of course, the lizards betrayed them immediately after seeing me, and most of the Gae Gak Sect had high poison resistance, so they didn’t leave a scratch.
Once So-Yeong realized how weak the opponents were, she confidently stepped forward and mowed them down—but I didn’t expect her face to look that sharp while doing it.
I guess that’s the mark of a true Tang Clan member.
Normally, we might’ve just let them go, but this time we delivered proper punishment.
According to what Cheongsa translated from the lizards, they’d been treated harshly.
How dare they exploit the lizards?
We showed them hell with a venom that pierced even Odukmun’s poison resistance.
They won’t die, but they’ll be suffering a pain comparable to 300x magnified kidney stones for a while.
And just like that, we defeated the enemy commander and recruited over a hundred lizards into the Gae Gak Sect.
Since they’re small, I think we can leave them with Old Man Compi.
He’s been looking a little lonely lately—he’ll probably enjoy the company of more lizards.
And just like how I, a once-tiny lizard, became strong after learning Small Dragon’s Heaven-Climbing Steps, we could train these guys in various martial arts.
A venomous lizard army—small in size, but impossible to underestimate.
Sure, Old Man Compi might suffer a little, but he doesn’t have much else to do these days, right?
Next after Byeokdokmun was none other than Ogongmun.
Here, "Ogong" means centipede.
Yes—centipedes.
They’re a species I have ties with almost as deep as spiders.
Unlike the lizards, the centipedes bared their fangs when they saw us—but they didn’t strike first.
I just stood calmly at the front and accepted them.
Even the centipedes that tried to bite my scales eventually relented.
...Well, their fangs couldn’t pierce my scales, but I’m sure my noble conduct moved them too.
I’ll skip explaining the charm of centipedes.
That chitinous shell, those countless legs—their strange allure can’t be understood by ordinary folks.
I won’t deny that recruiting the centipedes was partially based on my own taste.
There was that kind centipede I met in the Silver Dragon’s Grotto.
She’s the reason I developed an unconditional fondness for centipedes.
I was shocked to learn she was married, but when I found out she’d lost her child, I made it a personal goal.
To help her find her child.
Ogongmun is a place where centipedes are gathered in droves.
Her child might not be here, but I believe there’s at least one who knows their whereabouts.
That’s why I recruited the centipedes as well.
"Chirrk!"
Snakelings and lizardlings.
Spiders and centipedes.
What began as a Southern Expedition with barely five members had now swelled into a massive force nearing one thousand.
...We may have started out as a diplomatic envoy, but having a huge army like this can’t be a bad thing.
It’s the perfect way to show off the authority of the Heavenly Demon Cult.
And it could serve as a clear warning to the Beast Palace.
If word gets out that their neighbor, Odukmun, was wiped out in a matter of days—and now we’re coming for them?
Beast Palace, you mess with us, you die.
That’s the message we’re sending.
And if any diplomatic issues arise?
We’ll just drop So-Yeong’s name.
"Ohohot!"
She’s enjoying herself so much, I’m sure she’ll forgive us for name-dropping.
And just like that, after blasting through two gates in a row, we headed for the final gate of Odukmun.
*
Her long, purple hair that once reached her waist had at some point been cleanly severed, now only covering her bronze-toned shoulders.
As always, the Lord of the Venom Gates was soaking in the bath—Dan Hwa-Yeon.
She had just received urgent news that Ogongmun had been breached, but she showed no sign of surprise.
“Ufufuf...”
The Venom Lord simply laughed.
Hearing her laughter from outside the bath, her subordinates were relieved.
They had assumed there was no plan, that everything had fallen apart—but unlike them, their Lord was thinking.
Of course she could still laugh like that.
They believed even this devastating defeat must be a prelude to some final move.
Because the deadliest poison strikes when you feel safest.
This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.
That was the way of the Venom Gates.
“Ufu.”
The Venom Lord laughed again.
“Ufufuf...”
She just kept laughing.
“Ahem, perhaps I should take over as acting Lord for a— Ahem, never mind. Just a joke.”
The subordinates couldn't help but feel reassured.
To be joking at a time like this—surely, she had a plan.
But in reality, all the Venom Lord was doing... was wondering if she should start practicing full-body prostrations.
What final move could she possibly prepare now?
Four out of the five gates had been overrun in less than a single day.
Even if the entire Beast Palace army came charging in, knowing this jungle terrain well, it should still take time to breach even one gate.
The poisonous climate and venomous beasts here were supposed to be threats to any enemy.
But now, everything had changed.
Not only had four gates been breached, but most of the venomous beasts had edly turned to the enemy's side.
“...Yubin Poison Flower.”
She’d heard that name spoken as a once-in-a-century genius.
But she dismissed it as the Tang Clan’s usual baseless boasting.
What could a girl who hadn’t even reached adulthood possibly achieve?
And yet—what she was accomplishing now was nothing short of earth-shattering.
She hadn’t just conquered each gate—she had turned the venomous beasts to her side.
There were rumors that one branch of the Tang Clan specialized in hypnosis or brainwashing.
But Yubin Poison Flower had not studied that field deeply.
Her expertise leaned more toward medicine.
Which meant that this monster named Tang So-Yeong had managed to sway hundreds of venomous beasts without it being her specialty.
How could such a person exist?
Dan Hwa-Yeon had believed the Venom Gates were the true rulers of poison.
She believed she was the one destined to rise above the commoners of the Tang Clan and claim the throne of the Poison King.
But the true monster was someone else.
She saw a towering wall.
The towering wall that was Yubin Poison Flower—Tang So-Yeong.
The only thing she might possibly have over her were two useless lumps of body fat.
The most terrifying part was—Tang So-Yeong hadn’t even shown her full power yet.
According to s, she only gave orders to a large lizard. If she decided to fight herself... there was no telling what would happen.
“Saaak...”
The forces of the Venom Gates still remained intact.
The strongest venomous beasts were still under her command.
But could raw power alone defeat Yubin Poison Flower?
Someone who, with a mere gesture, could command a lizard the size of a mountain and bring venomous beasts to her side?
What if even her most prized beasts ended up in her hands?
The anxiety kept growing.
Dan Hwa-Yeon resented the heavens.
Why would the heavens allow the birth of a genius like Tang So-Yeong... and also create her?
What was she supposed to do against a titan like Tang So-Yeong?
Was she destined to be the strongest in this field too?!
...Though in reality, Dan Hwa-Yeon had been born first. But she chose not to dwell on that.
Still—still, the heart of the Venom Gates hadn’t fallen yet.
Her mind turned quickly.
If venom didn’t work, couldn’t she borrow power from somewhere else?
From the Beast Palace, for example.
Yes. The Beast Palace could surely become powerful allies who could turn the tide.
*
“Oh? The Tang Clan is attacking the Venom Gates?”
The Lord of the Beast Palace spoke with an amused tone.
The Beast Palace thrived on battle.
The messenger from the Venom Gates was sure he’d leap at the chance.
The rights and benefits offered by the Venom Lord weren’t insignificant either.
“Hah, how fun. I’m not fond of poison-users, but watching them fight is a different kind of pleasure.”
The Beast Palace Lord, Meng Gak, laughed heartily.
“This is urgent! Four of the gates have already fallen—only one remains! You must depart immediately!”
The envoy urged him desperately.
Meng Gak bared his white teeth in a /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ grin, then downed the wine from his gourd in long gulps.
It was a fine spirit brought by the envoy.
“Gurk. Gotta give credit where it’s due—this wine’s flavor is legit. Burns just right, suits me perfectly.”
The envoy felt a wave of relief.
Bringing two crates of high-quality wine had paid off.
Surely now, Meng Gak would gather Gigano and the other beasts and march as reinforcements for the Venom Gates.
“...But I can’t accept the Venom Lord’s offer.”
“W-what?”
The envoy foolishly repeated the unexpected answer.
This couldn’t be.
Of all people, Meng Gak of the Beast Palace said no?
“Fighting—it's my favorite thing in the world. But I also have my own code of honor.”
A barbarian talking about honor?
He held back the urge to scoff.
“W-what exactly do you mean by that...?”
“I don’t believe I owe you an explanation. I’ve had a long trip—I’ll rest a while. You brought fine wine, so I’ll keep you alive at least.”
“Such arrogance—!”
The envoy couldn’t finish.
Because behind him, the countless beasts of the Beast Palace bared their fangs all at once.
It made no sense.
What the hell had happened to the Southern Beast Palace?
The envoy didn’t know—but the answer was simple.
Meng Gak was waiting for a messenger from the Heavenly Demon Cult.
If the Cult Leader truly understood him, they would’ve sent an envoy just like he had.
So he had no choice but to wait.
The battle between the Tang Clan and the Venom Gates was mildly interesting—but he couldn’t afford to be away and miss his real opportunity.
No one would skip the main course just to eat snacks.
Of course, what Meng Gak thought was the main course was watching the Venom Gates get chewed to pieces—but he had no way of knowing that.
What kind of envoy gets lost, after all?
And not just gets lost—ends up wrecking every sect that crosses their path?
Such things were incomprehensible to a normal brain. So of course, Meng Gak couldn’t know.
The Venom Lord kept laughing. The Beast Palace Lord kept waiting.
Endlessly.

Chapter 326