Chapter 195: The Iron Head Dragon and Shaolin
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 195: The Iron Head Dragon and Shaolin
When I pulled the bald man out of the trap, he had no noticeable injuries.
There were some traces of blood, but that was it.
“…I think he’s from Shaolin.”
Tang Soyeong said as she laid the man down.
Shaolin.
The moment I saw the bald man, I couldn’t help but think of them.
In the world of Murim, a bald head immediately brings Shaolin to mind.
Of course, he could have shaved his head for other reasons, but the fact that he came all the way to the 100,000 Great Mountains was proof that he practiced martial arts.
He was definitely a Shaolin martial artist.
And that was the problem.
The 100,000 Great Mountains were the territory of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.
Shaolin was the most representative group of the Orthodox Factions, hailed as their very cornerstone.
Even without any other information, this alone suggested he hadn't crept in here with good intentions.
Besides, I had other information.
That an Arhat of Shaolin, the Iron Head Dragon, would be entering the 100,000 Great Mountains.
Since this man was human, he couldn't be the Iron Head Dragon himself.
But he was surely connected.
“Gek-ge-gek…”
Moreover, he knew my name.
To be precise, he knew of the species called Gomodo.
That, too, was strange.
Let’s say, for the sake of argument, that he had read about the existence of the Gomodo in a book.
It was a spirit beast revered by the Tang Clan, but there was no reason Shaolin wouldn't know of it.
Since both were Orthodox factions, they must have had some form of exchange through some channel.
But how did he know that I was a Gomodo?
Tang Soyeong had called me a Gomodo back when I was a Crocodile Monitor.
And when I evolved into a Gomodo, she said I looked exactly as she knew it.
But now?
I had evolved into a Crushing Dragon.
Any trace of the Gomodo was long gone.
I had horns and even fur.
And he looks at me and calls me a Gomodo?
The most logical conclusion was that he didn't know what a Gomodo actually looked like.
Then why did he use the word "Gomodo"?
Someone must have told him that a Gomodo had appeared in the 100,000 Great Mountains.
That's why he saw a giant black lizard and called it a Gomodo.
That would explain it.
So, who on earth could have told him a Gomodo had appeared?
The likely candidates were Jang Bong and Baek Woon.
But while Jang Bong might, I didn't think Baek Woon would reveal my identity.
He seemed to have a good head on his shoulders.
A third party must have secretly seen me and spread the word.
That was as far as my deductions could take me.
Though I couldn't prove who this third party was.
“What are you going to do? Antagonizing Shaolin could be dangerous.”
Tang Soyeong was from the Tang Clan.
Though she was with me now and was one of my believers, she might one day return to her family.
So, a conflict with Shaolin?
It wouldn't be welcome news for her.
“The Murim Alliance might come to capture you, Hero Go.”
If it became known that I had harmed this bald man, they certainly would.
But what if it didn't become known?
I could commit the perfect crime.
…Of course, that didn't mean I was planning to do anything to this man right away.
He was highly suspicious, but eliminating him immediately wasn't a good choice.
He was clearly a link to the Iron Head Dragon, so I might be able to get information about the beast from him.
“Gekek.”
First, let's treat his wounds.
“Gek.”
Right Guardian, and Priestess.
“Keeeng.”
Nephila and Pus looked at my face.
Seeing their serious expressions, I knew they were waiting for my command.
“Gek-ge-gek.”
Let's tie him up first.
*
“Ugh… Wh-where is this?”
The bald man finally woke up.
“The 100,000 Great Mountains,” Tang Soyeong answered him.
I was listening to their conversation from a short distance away.
My appearance was a bit intimidating, so the chances of getting the answers I wanted weren't very high.
Of course, I could get them through threats, but that could wait until the end.
“That appearance. C-could you be from the Tang Clan…?”
Was she some kind of celebrity?
He seemed to recognize Tang Soyeong.
Or perhaps he was guessing she was a member of the Tang Clan based on her features, not her face.
“Is that important right now?”
Could it be that all members of the Tang Clan have such frail bodies like Tang Soyeong?
…That place must be hell.
“Ahem!”
Tang Soyeong shot me a glare.
“I’m sure I saw a Gomodo… Was I seeing things…? No, but why is my body like this?”
He finally seemed to notice that he was tied up.
Tang Soyeong turned her head and looked at the bald man.
“I’ll start with the questions. Is there a reason you called the spirit beast you just saw a Gomodo?”
“So it wasn’t a hallucination after all.”
The bald man seemed momentarily flustered by being bound in spiderwebs, but he quickly continued speaking.
“…I will answer your question. A man named Namgung Yeon sent a letter. He said an Evil God had appeared in the 100,000 Great Mountains. And he added that a spirit beast called a Gomodo had also appeared.”
…Namgung Yeon?
Have I heard that name before?
I was certain I had never met him.
He knew about Tai Sui, and he knew about me.
But I didn't know him.
Who in the world was Namgung Yeon?
“Namgung Yeon…. Alright. Next question. Who are you?”
Tang Soyeong was doing much better than I had expected.
She was calm and composed.
Her usual clumsy demeanor was nowhere to be seen; she now looked like a true martial artist of the Tang Clan.
“…I am called Daoist.”
“Daoist. So you are from Shaolin.”
“That is correct.”
Daoist, perhaps a little intimidated by Tang Soyeong's presence, answered only with the information she requested.
Daoist was a stronger martial artist than Tang Soyeong by several degrees.
But the problem was that he was bound in spiderwebs, and the martial artist before him bore the Tang surname.
It was like being an insect caught in a spider's web.
With a flick of her hand, the Tang Clan's poison could enter his body.
“What is your reason for coming here?”
“…I saw smoke rising. I was in a state of desperation, willing to grasp at straws, so I ran here without thinking.”
Daoist probably knew that better than anyone.
“That’s not what I asked. I asked why Shaolin entered the 100,000 Great Mountains.”
“…The descent of the Evil God is the official pretext.”
“Right. I can understand that much. Your official reason for coming here is to monitor the Evil God's descent. But your true purpose is to take a spirit beast from the 100,000 Great Mountains.”
To take a spirit beast from the 100,000 Great Mountains.
Tang Soyeong had also come here for a similar purpose.
To be precise, she came to train Dilopho, and to dig deeper, she was a victim of the political struggles within the Tang Clan.
“The reason you recognized the Gomodo is because the Gomodo was also a target for you Shaolin monks, correct?”
“…I will not deny it.”
Daoist answered honestly.
But.
“Grrrr…”
“Kieek…”
“Eeee… Buuu…”
My followers, hidden all around, couldn't conceal their furious auras.
Thick beads of sweat formed on Daoist's head.
He seemed to know that all this killing intent was directed at him.
“…How dare you try to harm Hero Go.”
Tang Soyeong’s eyebrow twitched.
When it came down to it, Soyeong was my believer too.
“And you have the gall to ask for help?”
“Kieek…”
Tus and Pus climbed onto Tang Soyeong’s shoulders.
They looked ready to tear the bald man to shreds at any moment.
“…I have something I wish to say directly to the Divine Beast that the young lady serves.”
Daoist barely managed to spit out the words.
Each word seemed to cost him dearly, weighed down by immense pressure.
For him to speak like this, there had to be a reason.
Thud.
I walked up next to Tang Soyeong.
“H-huup!”
He seemed startled by my sudden appearance, but I could see him trying to stifle his gasp.
“Grrrr…”
“The Great Hero has shown you mercy. If you have something to say, say it now. That is his message.”
I hadn't said all that.
Still, Soyeong interpreted it appropriately.
“Th-th-the Iron Head Dragon has defeated the Ice Bird.”
Daoist began speaking, his words jumbled.
So it was that beast who defeated the Ice Bird.
“…And as soon as he took its power, he betrayed us.”
I could roughly understand.
He must have gone berserk after obtaining the power of the Dragon Gate.
“Betrayal? Speak more precisely.”
“He… slaughtered the senior and junior brothers he had spent long years with, without a moment's hesitation. I only managed to escape because my senior brother bought me time…”
Blinded by the power of the Dragon Gate, he killed his brothers.
It could be interpreted that way, but it felt slightly different to me.
It was as if he had been planning this betrayal for a long time and simply executed it at the right moment.
Yes.
It would be more accurate to see this not as a betrayal, but as revenge.
“Not a betrayal, but revenge. That is what the Divine Beast says.”
She’s quite a good interpreter.
“If it were revenge… I would not have fled from that place.”
Daoist clenched his fists.
“The Iron Head Dragon is mistaken.”
“Mistaken?”
“Yes. …The truth was hidden, but he has awakened to a lie.”
He was speaking in riddles, but was he saying the Iron Head Dragon had misunderstood something?
“Grrrr…”
So what's the bottom line?
“W-we must stop the Iron Head Dragon.”
An Arhat of Shaolin, the Iron Head Dragon, had betrayed them.
That betrayal stemmed from a misunderstanding.
And he must be stopped.
This was Daoist's claim.
“I know this is shameless, but I beg you.”
Thud!
Daoist slammed his head to the ground.
“We must stop the Iron Head Dragon, but we lack the strength.”
So, he wants me to catch the Iron Head Dragon for him?
How shameless, especially from someone who was trying to hunt me.
I have no reason to help a man from Shaolin.
My master gave me a task.
Defeat the Arhat of Shaolin.
If the Iron Head Dragon hadn't betrayed them, this bald man would have been on his side.
He would have been a major obstacle in my fight against the Iron Head Dragon.
Daoist was my enemy.
“I know. I know how shameless a request this is…”
Drip.
Hot tears flowed from Daoist's eyes.
“But if we cannot stop him, all of humanity will die.”
What?
“Even after the massacre, his hatred has not diminished in the slightest. No, it has only grown stronger. And his hatred… is now directed at all other humans.”
The bald man trembled violently.
CRACK!
I pressed his head down with my foreleg.
“Guh, guuuuhk!”
This bald man and his kind were most likely the biggest contributors to the beast developing such an ideology.
They were the closest to him, and they must have shown him their ugliest sides for him to think that way.
Because of their mistakes, the beings in the 100,000 Great Mountains would suffer.
My master's Heavenly Demon Divine Cult would suffer.
My followers would suffer.
Because of these so-called Orthodox Factions, my precious ones would be hurt.
“Grrrr……”
Rage boiled within me.
“H-Hero Go!”
A panicked Tang Soyeong clung to my foreleg.
Because she was hugging it, I was able to release my strength.
If I'd been a moment later, that damn monk's head would have exploded.
“Keo-heok…”
Daoist gasped for breath.
“Huk… keuhuk…”
I turned my head.
I had gotten all the information I needed.
Either way, the Iron Head Dragon had to be dealt with.
If the power of the Dragon Gate went out of control, it would be a problem for me too.
“W-wait a moment…”
“You!”
Tang Soyeong shouted.
Had he still not grasped the situation?
“This humble monk… This humble monk must take responsibility…”
An unexpected answer came.
“My request to the Divine Beast… was not… to defeat the Iron Head Dragon in my stead…”
Daoist's eyes blazed.
“I… will fulfill my responsibility. Even if I must sacrifice my life, I will return the Iron Head Dragon to his former self…”
I stopped walking.
I didn't like it, but I couldn't ignore that determination.
It wouldn't hurt to at least hear what he had to say.
“My request to the Divine Beast… is to stop the Iron Head Dragon… after this humble monk is dead…”
Daoist was prepared to die.
But being prepared doesn't solve everything.
I finally understood what this man was asking.
He wanted me to ensure that even if he died, the damage caused by the Iron Head Dragon would not spread.
“I beseech the Divine Beast. Please… would you be willing to accompany this humble monk…?”
I didn't have a good impression of Shaolin.
That was because my master held a poor opinion of the Orthodox Factions.
As her disciple, I followed my master's will.
The Orthodox Factions were a corrupt group.
But that didn't mean every single one of them was corrupt.
Tang Soyeong, after all, was also a member of an Orthodox faction.
To judge others through someone else's eyes is to live in their shadow.
One must see the world with one's own eyes.
…Could it be that my master gave me that task to teach me this?
I didn't know yet.
Even my master couldn't have predicted this situation.
Still, I knew what I had to do.
To see the world with my own eyes.
The Iron Head Dragon and Shaolin.
To watch and see what kind of end they would meet.
To see the world and broaden my own.
“Gaegaek.”
In other words, like a Gaegaek.