Her long, black hair flowed like ink-painted waterfalls.

Those piercing blue eyes staring at me—I could never forget them.

Baek Yeon-Yeong.

My master had appeared.

"Screech!"

"That peculiar sound of yours hasn’t changed."

Moreover, it seemed she knew I was the same lizard as before.

Despite the massive difference in size, how did she know?

But that wasn’t the point.

She was holding the Anodontosaurus’s tail, and it wasn’t moving an inch.

It should have been struggling, trying to fight back, but it lay motionless as if sedated.

This was my chance.

Komodo dragon technique.

No, the Green Basilisk's final secret technique.

"Screech..."

Master.

It hit me!

I made the saddest face I could and stretched out my injured forelegs.

Baek Yeon-Yeong chuckled slightly.

"You cunning little thing. Are you asking me to deal with this beast for you?"

No, no.

I don’t think you need to do anything.

"Well, alright. It wouldn’t be right to say I have no responsibility for this dinosaur being here."

Huh?

Wait, didn’t the Anodontosaurus have a "fear" status earlier?

The reason the Utahraptor had fled in panic...

And the reason this dinosaur, despite being terrified, was determined to fight me to the death...

It was because something even more terrifying was chasing it.

Now everything made sense.

The Anodontosaurus was an unfortunate victim of running into the wild Baek Yeon-Yeong-saurus.

It must have been having a peaceful afternoon when it encountered her.

It was like meeting a bear while on a casual walk.

Now that I thought about it, I almost felt sorry for the thing.

"I’d prefer not to kill a dragon unless it’s an Imoogi."

Oh, good.

Technically, dinosaurs are kind of like dragons.

But why did Baek Yeon-Yeong chase after this dinosaur?

If she really wanted to capture it, she could have just dragged it by the tail.

"But it did harm my disciple, so I’ll have to punish it."

With that, Baek Yeon-Yeong flung the Anodontosaurus against the cave wall.

Crash!

You said you didn’t want to kill a dragon!

Were you really just itching to earn the title of Dragon Slayer?

...Rest in peace, Anodontosaurus.

Sorry, I couldn’t stop her.

You should have just gone on your way.

"Graaaaar!"

Contrary to my expectations, the Anodontosaurus was still alive.

It staggered to its feet immediately.

...So it still had a lot of stamina left.

"Clumsy thing. Still, since I’ve found my disciple, you may leave now."

"Graaaaar!"

Wait, didn’t we just hear a huge crashing sound?

Was she not trying to kill it, but just helping it up?

The Anodontosaurus meekly slinked out of the cave.

"Why are you looking at me like that, little lizard? Do you want me to help you up?"

No.

I don’t want to die just yet.

"Screech!"

I quickly straightened myself up.

I wobbled a bit, trying to show that I was still in pain.

"Let’s take a closer look."

Step, step.

Baek Yeon-Yeong slowly approached me.

She glanced at my injured forelegs, then gently stroked them.

"You still have much training to do. Your Winged Claw technique was decent, but your Nine Yin Bone Claw was...pitiful. By my standards, at least."

"Screech..."

I made a displeased sound.

"And why do you look like this now? Your scales have turned black. You remind me of that woman from the Volcano Sect."

A woman from the Volcano Sect?

Is there a komodo dragon there too?

Or is it some other reptile?

Baek Yeon-Yeong’s pale hand grabbed my snout.

"Screech?"

She forced my mouth open.

For a long moment, she inspected my teeth.

"Ho. Your teeth have gotten sharper. It seems you’re on the right path."

The right path?

If being a komodo dragon counts, then yeah, I guess it’s the right path.

At least I didn’t end up like some Dimetrodon wandering down the wrong road.

...But how long are you going to keep staring at my mouth?

This is a bit embarrassing.

"Open wider."

Baek Yeon-Yeong looked like she was about to stick her head into my mouth.

"Screeech!"

What are you looking for?!

We’re not that close!

"Ho. So it was you who took the Blue Essence Elixir."

Hiccup.

"...Screech screech."

No, no, that wasn’t me.

I made a sound as if to feign innocence.

I should just stay quiet.

"Taking that along with the caterpillar fungus...you really are greedy."

This is bad.

I have a feeling she’s about to say something like, "Repay what you took with your body!"

That would mean I’d end up as lizard kebab.

Should I try closing my mouth?

"Little lizard, I’m still inside your mouth, and you’re trying to close it?"

It’s a misunderstanding, really.

How could I even think of doing that?

...I failed.

It won’t budge.

Whoosh.

Baek Yeon-Yeong finally pulled her head out of my mouth.

I could finally close my jaws again.

Snap.

Gulp.

Gulp?

Did something just go down my throat?

Did one of my teeth fall out?

...Wait, that’s not important right now.

What matters is that Baek Yeon-Yeong was staring at me with an expression that was hard to read.

What was that look?

She seemed a little angry, but also like she might be smiling.

"I sealed that place, yet you still managed to enter."

Oh, she wasn’t smiling.

It’s over.

Lizard kebab time.

No, maybe I’ll end up as lizard sashimi instead.

Baek Yeon-Yeong’s pale hand moved.

Her five fingers aimed at my head.

This must be the true Nine Yin Bone Claw.

"Well done."

Baek Yeon-Yeong lightly patted my head.

"That’s how a disciple of mine should be."

My tail wagged slightly.

Is it because her internal energy is strong? Even her patting feels really good.

"Hmm, but those over there..."

Baek Yeon-Yeong glanced at the distant figures of the Tang sisters.

"Screech!"

I turned my head to call for Tang So-Yeong.

The battle’s over, so why isn’t she coming closer?

I understand that she’s cautious since it’s her first time seeing Baek Yeon-Yeong, but she’s actually pretty nice.

"Such a strange combination."

I think so too.

It’s a long story...

Not that I can really explain it.

"Screech."

Ah, come to think of it, Tang So-Yeong.

Being around the spiders all the time made me forget, but she’s human.

And she’s from the Tang Clan, no less.

Meeting another human after so long, she should be excited, right?

"Screech screech!"

I kept calling for Tang So-Yeong, but she didn’t come closer.

What’s going on?

Tang So-Yeong comes from a renowned family.

Baek Yeon-Yeong, on the other hand, has an immense amount of internal energy.

If they formed a connection, it could benefit both of them...

I guess I’ll have to bite her leg and drag her over later.

But for now, I’ll enjoy the feeling of Baek Yeon-Yeong’s internal energy a little longer.

Her gentle scratches on my head were so pleasant, my eyes began to close.

The pain in my legs seemed to fade away.

While I was enjoying the sensation, her hand suddenly stopped.

I opened my eyes to see her staring at me.

Her hand had moved from my head to right in front of my mouth.

She was just staring at me.

What now?

What’s that look for?

"Lizard."

Was it my imagination, or did she look a bit flushed?

No, it had to be my imagination.

She hardly ever shows expressions, so I must be seeing things.

Or maybe it’s the lighting.

"Have you forgotten something?"

Baek Yeon-Yeong extended her finger and poked my snout.

...Does she want me to bite her?

Tang So-Yeong was paralyzed.

The sacred beast from legends—Lord Go, the Komodo dragon.

And now, another mythical creature stood before him.

The Anodontosaurus.

A beast said to shake mountains and stir the earth.

Although it wasn’t exactly the Anodontosaurus, but a similar creature, its immense strength remained undeniable.

Lord Go had only recently assumed his current form.

Though he was large, compared to the fully grown version of his species described in ancient texts, he was still in his juvenile stage.

One might even call it his "childhood."

Just when it seemed like Lord Go would defeat the creature with his mystical techniques, an unexpected blow landed.

Tang So-Yeong had been prepared to throw everything on the line.

She had sworn never to use it, but she was ready to unleash her personal poison.

Her hand had already reached for it.

But then she saw it.

The shadowy figure moved faster than she could comprehend.

The Demon Cult Leader had appeared.

It was the same woman she had encountered by chance in the Ten Thousand Great Mountains.

She threw the beast aside with one hand, then began to touch Lord Go.

Tang So-Yeong was terrified.

More than anyone, she knew that a single gesture from the cult leader could end all of their lives.

Her body trembled uncontrollably.

She couldn’t make a sound.

Instinctive fear gripped her entirely.

And then, that familiar screech broke through her fear.

"Screech screech!"

Lord Go stood against the cult leader alone.

No matter how strong Lord Go was, facing the cult leader was impossible.

She was one of the top ten martial artists in the world, a true monster among monsters.

Yet, Lord Go didn’t back down.

Just like with the Dilophosaurus.

Just like with the Anodontosaurus.

He always tried to carry everything on his own.

What kind of deity is this?

What kind of follower am I?

Why must I only ever be the one protected?

Tang So-Yeong pushed aside her fear.

Though she was a mere second-rate martial artist, the unique poison she possessed was powerful enough to incapacitate even the Tang Clan elders.

It was the Miheon Poison.

A poison so dangerous that even those with profound internal energy could not withstand it.

It was especially effective on female warriors.

There was even a famous story of a legendary swordswoman, the Sword Empress, who fell victim to this poison and ended up lying with a mere first-rate man. Some claimed she had let it happen on purpose, but who would willingly succumb to poison?

Tang So-Yeong knew well how deadly the Miheon Poison was.

The version she wielded was particularly potent.

If she used it, even she might not escape unscathed.

But she could at least use it to save Lord Go.

Tang So-Yeong steeled her resolve.

Yet, she never had the chance to use her poison.

Thud.

Her hand lost all its strength as she witnessed something utterly shocking.

Nibble nibble.

Lord Go was gently gnawing on the cult leader’s hand.

Chomp.

Snap.

[Tang So-Yeong’s faith has significantly increased.]

...Why is she acting like this now?

 

TL NOTE: Please don't skimp on the stars for the translation - I'd really like to see how far Leon goes and how far we can increase the number of chapters. Thanks~!

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