I expected to reach the destination as easily as I did the snowy mountains, but it seems this journey will take longer than anticipated.

The distance isn’t particularly far in a straight line, but the winding paths of the Ten Thousand Great Mountains make it impossible to take a direct route.

Of course, the obstacles are only trees and rocks, so if I wanted, I could carve a path straight through.

But that wouldn’t be wise.

Destroying the peaceful nests of spiritual beasts could lead to unnecessary conflict.

If it were regular prey, that would be fine, but with a being like the Serpent Queen? That’s a different matter altogether.

Sure, I could win, but there’s no benefit in provoking a fight without reason.

Beasts with intelligence and dignity, like the Serpent Queen or the Bird King, could become valuable allies.

In the event of a martial alliance invasion, the humans won’t just target me; they’ll hunt the surrounding spiritual beasts too.

That would naturally lead to a temporary alliance.

For this reason, I decided to follow the paths, even if it meant taking more time.

This part was manageable.

However, there was an entirely different problem.

“Hmmm… So, is it right here? Or maybe left?”

This Fox Marble didn’t seem to know the correct path.

“The sun is directly above, so… Hmm… Or is it the opposite?”

To be precise, it wasn’t the marble itself but Gongbok, the parasite within it.

“A mistake on my part. We should probably be going the other way….”
“Gekgek.”

Seriously? You were so confident earlier, and now you’re unsure?

“Ahem, I admit I’ve rarely traveled this route, so my memory is a bit hazy….”

Didn’t you claim Cho-Do adored her dear brother? Shouldn’t that mean you visit frequently?

And aren’t you both guardians of the Dragon Gates? Even Baekrang knows the locations of the Snowy Mountain and the Volcano. How could the ruler of one gate forget the location of another?

“I’ve spent most of my life holed up in my domain….”

Well, maybe that’s for the best.

Had he not stayed confined, he might’ve devoured the relatively weaker Snowy Mountain and Volcano.

It seems his laziness worked in my favor, allowing me to claim the Volcano with ease.

What about Cho-Do?

Could she be similar to Gongbok?

“She’s fond of closing herself off and rarely leaves her domain.”

Closing herself off?

What does that even mean?

Some cryptic metaphor, or perhaps some secret code only fellow Dragon Gate guardians understand?

Maybe she’s just a shut-in.

The day grew darker.

With my night vision, the darkness wasn’t much of an issue, but the fact that Cho-Do was a spiritual being was.

Being a master of wood energy, she was likely plant-like in appearance.

Most plants prefer sunlight.

According to Gongbok, meeting her during the day would be the respectful thing to do.

If only his directions had been clearer, we’d already be there.

“Gekek.”
Vroom.

“Gah!”

For reasons I don’t fully understand, the Fox Marble occasionally struck Gongbok with an audible thud.

“This… cursed artifact… Ugh….”

You should be grateful the marble’s doing the scolding for me.

With the Fox Marble keeping him in line, I had no need to add further punishment.

Since it was late, I found a suitable spot to rest for the night.

My body seemed naturally inclined toward nocturnal activity. Even back when I was a gecko, sleeping at night never came easily.

However, through rigorous training, I adjusted to being active during the day and sleeping at night.

Sure, being nocturnal would offer advantages with my dark scales and stealth abilities, but I couldn’t completely abandon the human lifestyle ingrained in me.

Besides, my followers also seemed to prefer being awake during the day, so I followed their lead.

But there was a problem.

The same issue I faced back at the acacia tree—I couldn’t fall asleep.

While not being able to sleep wasn’t a crisis, the cause of my restlessness was.

I was cold.

It wasn’t just the weather, though winter was approaching, and the temperature was dropping.

No, this chill felt different.

It was a lonely kind of cold.

A sense of absence, of something missing.

I realized that since becoming a lizard, I’d rarely slept alone.

Tus and Pus often nestled against me, their warm bodies a comforting presence. Even Tang Soyeong, small as she was, provided warmth when she slept nearby.

The Serpent Queen wrapped around me when we rested, and back at the Celestial Demon Sect, I grudgingly emitted soothing cries to help my master sleep.

Even during my time with the wolves or while captive under the Red Dragon, I was never alone.

To be more specific, I’d grown accustomed to the comforting warmth of a large energy core nearby while I slept.

When it was just Tang Soyeong and Nephila with me, I’d shrink myself to match their size since they couldn’t grow larger.

It wasn’t ideal, but it was better than nothing.

In short, I’d always had someone or something close by while sleeping.

And now, with that warmth absent, how could I possibly sleep?

“Geeeeeng….”

For a so-called divine beast of the Beast Sect and a mid-level dragon at that, this was not a dignified thought.

But what choice did I have?

A lifetime—or at least a year—of such comforts made this emptiness unbearable.

It wasn’t that strange, really.

I may look like a terrifying lizard, but I’m still younger than even Pus and Tus.

Sure, lizards mature in a year or two, but spiritually speaking, I’m still young.

The Serpent Queen herself said I hadn’t reached adulthood yet.

If I’d known it would be this hard, I would’ve brought someone along.

But everyone had responsibilities… Maybe I should’ve brought the slacker Tang Soyeong.

Then again, what good would she have done?

She might’ve made the loneliness worse.

“Geeeeeeeng….”

Unless I could feed her some Wind Nourishing Pills, she wasn’t much use in this state.

Wait.

Speaking of Wind Nourishing Pills….

“Gekgek.”

Might as well ask since I’m not sleeping.

“Wind Nourishing Pills? Where did you hear about that?”

I have my ways.

His reaction confirmed the rumors.

The idea that the Dragon Gate nests contained treasures, including the ultimate prize—the Wind Nourishing Pill—seemed true.

Having defeated Gongbok and claimed rightful ownership of the Rocky Mountain, it was only fair that the pill belonged to me now.

“It did exist.”
“Gek?”

Why the past tense?

With my tiny claw, I poked the Fox Marble.

“You think poking the relic… Gah! Wh-What are you doing!”

Gongbok let out a pained cry.

I hadn’t noticed it during our battle, but his personality seemed lighter now—unburdened, perhaps.

“F-Fine! There was a Wind Nourishing Pill! But….”

But?

So, it was used up?

Why?

You’re male.

“Cho-Do came to me once, calling it her lifelong wish, and begged for it….”

At least he didn’t take it himself.

But why did Cho-Do need it?

What would a spiritual being do with a Wind Nourishing Pill?

The Fox Marble vibrated as Gongbok stared at me intently.

“And what would you need it for…?”
Vrooooom!

I’m different.

“Gahk!”

A few more squeezes of the Fox Marble served as punishment for giving away what was rightfully mine.

“That… was mine—cough—never mind.”

Still, Gongbok claimed he didn’t see Cho-Do consume the pill, so it might still be in her nest.

Or maybe she pretended to be close just to get it.

“Hmmm, the more I see you, the more certain I am—you are Gomodo’s descendant.”

A sudden change of topic.

Normally, I wouldn’t let it slide, but any information about the previous Gomodo was worth entertaining.

Such knowledge could even influence my evolution path.

“My father was the same—a notorious philanderer….”

Philanderer?

This felt like a misunderstanding.

I wasn’t like that.

“Gerororong.”

I simply liked resting my face against warm, comforting energy cores.

I’m a cold-blooded creature, after all.

“They say Gomodo himself was like that—reluctant to go all the way but obsessed with the bosoms of maidens.”

Wow.

When I heard about Gomodo’s feats, I was impressed, but now I’m just… disappointed.

How could a spiritual beast behave like that?

“Gekgekgek.”

I can’t wrap my head around it.

“Wait, are you seeking Cho-Do for the same reason?”

Vrooooom.

Why are you acting like this? You’re the one who told me to find her!

“My precious little sister!”

“Gekekekek!”

Are all dragons like this?

I swear, I won’t be like them.

*

Cho-Do.

The youngest of the Yongsaengguja and a being praised endlessly by Gongbok.

Thanks to this directionally challenged guide, I've wandered aimlessly more times than I care to count.

But at last, I could finally witness its form.

The being of unparalleled beauty, worthy of being described as flawless.

The one holding the legendary Fung-Yuhwan, and the one who would teach me how to master the power of wood.

With a heart pounding in anticipation, I stepped into its domain.

And finally, I stood face to face with the creature that must be Cho-Do.

The overall color was predominantly green.

Although other hues were mixed in, the color of plants dominated, fitting for a being that wielded the power of wood.

Its appearance could be likened to that of a frog or a turtle.

Its nose carried a faint resemblance to a mammal, but as a child of a dragon, that was to be expected.

Even Gongbok, after all, bore a peculiar serpentine form with limbs attached.

Cho-Do possessed three distinctive features.

The first was a mysterious plant growing on its back.

The second was the sporadic lightning strikes cracking down around it.

And the final feature... Oh, the final feature was truly something to behold.

Its body.

It exceeded every expectation I could have imagined.

Surpassing comparison with any other being.

"Illustration incoming... Click."

“Grrroooaarr?”

Wait... so its size.

“Guh-guh-guh-geck!”

What in the world is this?

The being Gongbok claimed was “so beautiful it could be gazed at endlessly” was this?

That thing...

It’s larger than two Gongboks combined!