Chapter 140: Reunion
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 140: Reunion
It strikes me again just how strong my master is.
The martial arts she unleashes, backed by that overwhelming Internal Energy Pouch.
No, even without using martial arts, it was obvious how powerful she was.
Just watching her casually use her lightness skill like this, I could tell she was on a completely different level from others.
She wasn't moving too fast, but she flew smoothly, as if obstacles didn't even exist.
She was slowing down out of consideration for me.
If Baek Yeon-yeong went at full speed, I'd become a masterless lizard.
Falling off would be the lucky outcome; I might even unlock a new skill called "decapitation."
That's a slightly terrifying thought.
I should grab onto something.
“…Huiya. Do you know what that means?”
“Gekgek.”
Gomodo knows nothing.
I just grabbed the hem of your clothes.
“Fine. Stay like that.”
“Gekgek.”
The generous Baek Yeon-yeong allowed it, so I could travel more comfortably.
Now that I had some breathing room, I decided to think while nestled in her warm embrace.
I should check it when I have time like this.
“Gek.”
Gek-tae-chang.
【Gomodo-Lania LV20】
HP: 1110/5110
MP: 230/1630
Unfortunately, I didn't manage to level up from this battle.
That's because Baek Yeon-yeong, not me, was the one who finished off the Gaechalgoatal.
If I'd had even a little strength left, I would have bitten the near-dead Gaechalgoatal to finish it myself.
A bit of a shame.
If I had at least gobbled up its corpse, my level would have skyrocketed. But that was also impossible.
The reason was simple. Eating flesh consumed by the power of Tai Sui would have undoubtedly led to a bad end.
So, the corpse didn't end up in anyone's stomach; Baek Yeon-yeong cleanly incinerated it with her Samadhi True Flame.
She collected the inner core.
Did I gain nothing from this war, then?
One might think so, but I actually gained quite a lot.
【Skills】
「Eagle-Snake Life-Death Struggle」「Dragon's Claws」「Little Dragon's Sky-Ascending Steps」「Small Heavenly Cycle」「All-Poison Immunity」「Gaegaek Mental Cultivation Method」「Gecko Wall-Walking Art」「Ancient Dragon Leg Art」
「Dragon Scales LV10」「Reverse Scale LV5」「Poison Generation LV10」「Poison Collection LV8」「Dragon Blood LV1」…….
Look at the skill window.
How was I able to land a decisive blow on the Gaechalgoatal in that battle?
I Alone Am The Honored One.
It was because I had realized the meaning of that phrase the red-eyed woman tried to pass on to the Snake Queen.
It wasn't a skill or a martial art.
It was simply an enlightenment.
Once I understood that one thing, I came to realize how I should use my internal energy.
One enlightenment leads to another.
I came to vaguely understand the martial art the first Heavenly Demon left on the wall.
「Eagle-Snake Life-Death Struggle」
A martial art created by observing a life-and-death battle between a venomous snake and an eagle.
You sharpen your right hand like a snake's head and shape your left hand like an eagle's talons, then unleash grappling techniques.
It consists of 72 forms and is characterized by its ever-changing offense and defense.
Eagle-Snake Life-Death Struggle.
While Dragon's Claws is a martial art for swinging wide and then ripping the enemy apart, this art allowed for integrated offense and defense using both hands.
When I can land a decisive blow, I'll use Dragon's Claws.
When I need to withstand an enemy's attack and look for a counter, I'll use Eagle-Snake Life-Death Struggle.
I should be able to use them according to the situation.
With one more hand-based offensive skill added to my arsenal, I could now employ a variety of strategies.
This wasn't the only martial art the Heavenly Demon recorded.
There were many more that I saw, but this was the only one I managed to master this time.
With more training, I'll come to understand the remaining verses.
So, is that the end of my rewards this time?
Not at all.
Because I obtained something I never dreamed I could.
The Grand Shift of Heaven and Earth.
To grasp heaven and earth and move them greatly.
It's a martial art so powerful that even I, who knows little about wuxia, have heard of it.
Of course, it wasn't officially registered in my skill window; it was a divine art I could only use for a brief moment because I had grasped the profound principles of I Alone Am The Honored One.
You could say it was a martial art I could only use once, thanks to a series of coincidences.
But that's all in the past now.
Because I saw not an incomplete version, but Baek Yeon-yeong's perfected Grand Shift of Heaven and Earth.
Even if I see her martial art, it's impossible to copy it with Reverse Scale.
I would need to understand its principles to some extent.
However, I have used the incomplete Grand Shift of Heaven and Earth once.
This means that by using Reverse Scale, I can replicate the technique I used back then.
Unlike Baek Yeon-yeong, I wouldn't be able to control the direction of the force, but just being able to amplify my potential in an instant was enough.
Because if I can replicate the Grand Shift, I can use the Gaegaek Divine Claw.
Reverse Scale—Grand Shift of Heaven and Earth—Gaegaek Divine Claw.
I have to go through that whole process to use it, but its power was guaranteed.
It was powerful enough to make the Gaechalgoatal, which had been swallowed by the power of Tai Sui, cough up blood.
The problem, of course, is that using it once knocks me out cold.
Still, adding an ace up my sleeve wasn't a bad thing.
With more training, I might even be able to use it continuously.
“There is more than one or two things I must teach you. As soon as you recover, This Lady will personally pass on several things to you.”
“Gek!”
Baek Yeon-yeong's teachings.
Honestly, I know she's terrible at teaching, but perhaps the me of now might be able to understand.
“Your martial arts, of course, and that bad habit of yours....”
“Gek?”
What's that supposed to mean?
Well, she must be talking about my habits when using my strength, right?
If that's it, I understand.
It's a bit cold with just my face sticking out.
I should go back inside.
Squish, squish.
*
We arrived at the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.
I wanted to describe the magnificent sight, but I couldn't.
My master said that while there was no need to hide, there was nothing to be gained by walking around openly.
In other words, it meant I should burrow deeper into her robes, and an obedient disciple like me couldn't possibly disobey his master's words.
Which meant that, very unfortunately, I couldn't take in the sights of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.
“Gekgek.”
Of course, I was constantly looking at a view that was no less spectacular.
“We've arrived.”
Baek Yeon-yeong grabbed my tail and pulled me out.
“Gegegek.”
My moment of sorrow at parting with the soft squishiness was brief.
Thinking of the familiar faces I hadn't seen in so long made my heart pound.
I wonder if they've been skipping meals without me around.
Baek Yeon-yeong let go of my tail, and I landed on the floor.
It was a rather spacious room.
The furniture wasn't particularly extravagant, but it wasn't shabby either.
A mixture of sweet and bitter smells wafted from all around.
It must be the smell of medicine for treating Nephila.
The tip of my nose tingled.
Tang Soyeong.
You must have gone through a lot, too.
“Mmm, hngh, can't eat anymore....”
I heard someone sleep-talking.
Could that be the voice of Tang What's-her-name?
I looked at the bed and saw something tossing and turning.
“Hero Go... Plumpness Pills... stooop....”
Sigh.
What a carefree life.
While some of us were out there nearly dying.
Smack!
I slapped Tang Soyeong's butt with my tail.
“...Nngh? Mmm... Hero Go's scales... if I take them... I'll be rich....”
Right, just keep sleeping.
Tang Soyeong was fine, and the others... ah, there they are.
In the center of the bed, two spiders were sleeping, purring softly.
I wondered why they were sleeping so uncomfortably on such a wide bed, only to realize they were squished up against each other.
But what in the world was that spiderweb next to them?
There was something inside that looked like a lizard.
My shed skin was placed on an altar-like structure.
Heh. It looks like they missed me.
The tail and one hand of the lizard figure were half worn down, but I guess that doesn't matter.
“…Kiek?”
As if sensing my gaze, Pus stirred and woke up.
“Gekgek.”
Our eyes met, and hers widened as if in disbelief.
“Kieeek!”
Pus started jumping up and down.
The way she came scrambling over was just like a puppy seeing its owner after a long time.
Yes, I'm happy to see you too.
“Gekgek.”
Come here.
“Keeeeek!”
I spread my arms to accept Pus's affection.
She'll jump right into my embrace, I thought.
…But something was strange.
Why is she getting bigger and bigger?
“Kieeeek!”
“Kkegek!”
Wait, Pus.
Haven't you gotten a little too big?
Thud!
“Ge-ek....”
I was crushed under Pus's body slam.
Yes. I'm happy to see you t—
“Keeeeek!”
Pus started rubbing her face all over me.
Unlike a normal spider, she had a puppy-like face, so my mental fortitude didn't drop.
But if I kept taking these physical attacks, my stamina would drop, not my mental fortitude.
There was only one way to get out of this.
The secret technique of the Gomodo-Lania style: Butt Patting.
Pat, pat.
“Keeng!”
Pus's body trembled.
It seemed she had finally calmed down.
But there was something I had overlooked.
“Keeeek!”
If Pus was awake, it meant Tus was awake too.
Tus quickly approached and offered her greetings.
“Kioong!”
Her "greetings" consisted of showing me her sharp teeth, aimed right at my tail.
“Gekgek!”
No.
“Kieeng!”
But pushing Tus away now was no easy task.
In the end, I lost the test of strength and obediently handed over my tail.
“Keeng....”
At least Tus didn't bite down hard, just mumbled on it in her mouth.
Should I be thankful?
“Kieng.”
Pus crept back over to me and presented her rear.
This situation, with one aiming for my tail and the other offering her butt.
“Gegegek.”
Hey guys, I'm a Divine Beast, right?
Where has all my divine dignity gone?
Tang What's-her-face was still scratching her belly in her sleep.
Seeing her small chest rise and fall, she seemed to be sleeping quite soundly.
“Keeee....”
Suddenly, everyone's movements stopped.
Slender legs.
Tiger-like patterns.
And enchanting... no, terrifying red eyes.
“Kiooo....”
It was Nephila Jurassica.
“Gekgek!”
From the looks of it, her body seemed to have mostly recovered.
“Keee.”
Nephila bowed gracefully.
“Keeng....”
“Ke-ek....”
Tus and Pus glanced at Nephila, then slowly backed away from me.
To subdue Tus and Pus with just a look.
As expected of Nephila Jurassica.
It's a shame I can't see her pretty face, but at this point, what does her appearance matter?
I've received so much from my Nephila.
Maybe a kiss on the cheek....
“Kiek!”
Tsk, that seems a bit difficult right now.
“Kiong.”
Nephila slowly approached.
The reunion of a Divine Beast and his Priestess.
What a moving situation this is.
“Kiek?”
Nephila's expression changed.
Nephila Jurassica was looking not at my face, but at the area around my neck.
And around my neck was a shrunken necklace.
Why are you looking at me like th—
Fwip!
In an instant, Nephila's spiderweb covered me.
“Gek?”
Nephila?
“Kieeeek!”
Nephila leaped at me in a single bound.
Tus and Pus did the same.
“Gegegegek!”
Kraaaaaah!
Swish-Swish! Chirpy! Snake Queen!
[Priestess, 「Nephila Jurassica LV30」, declares she can no longer turn a blind eye to your affair.]
An affair? It's a misunderstanding!
“Geeek!”
I can explain everything!
“Kieeeek!”
N-not there