Chapter 251: Lizard, I Have a Plan to Defeat the True Dragon
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 251: Lizard, I Have a Plan to Defeat the True Dragon
After a brief introduction, Taotie officially became a member of the Gaegaek Cult.
Based on her martial prowess alone, she was a talent worthy of the vacant Great Guardian position, but for now, she would remain an ordinary believer.
Resources were scarce to create an alias befitting her abilities, and we hadn't built up much trust yet.
Of course, considering Taotie's personality, she would likely follow my orders to some extent.
After all, I had defeated her, and she acknowledged that fact.
However, my other followers were a different story.
As the saying goes, a rolling stone can displace a settled one, and there was a chance Taotie might bully the other believers.
That was one thing I couldn't tolerate.
While someone like Baek Rang or the Red Dragon might be able to handle her, the other believers wouldn't even stand a chance against Taotie, which could lead to unnecessary trouble.
Therefore, to show that she needed to respect the other followers, it was best to have her remain an ordinary believer for the time being.
On another note, it felt strange having one of the Four Fiends join the Gaegaek Cult.
On the surface, I worried we were truly becoming a group akin to a den of inhuman monsters.
They all looked gentle enough, but that was only through my lizard eyes.
Humans were the type to be startled just by seeing a crocodile monitor, which looked incredibly docile to me.
They would likely faint in shock if they saw Tus and Pus, the cute mascots of the Gaegaek Cult.
Their faces were cute, but their bodies were the size of wolves.
If they saw spirit beasts even greater than them, they might just foam at the mouth and pass out.
It was a relief, in a way, that the 100,000 Great Mountains were cut off from the outside world.
Of course, even so, I had no intention of worrying too much about how we appeared to humans.
No matter what we did, we could never win against a single word from the True Dragon, a master of propaganda.
If he designated us as evil, the Gaegaek Cult would become the public enemy of Murim that very day.
That's why the important thing now was to build a foundation that couldn't be swayed by the True Dragon's words.
If we gradually expanded our influence, just as the Red Dragon took over the Mount Hua Sect, we wouldn't suffer much damage even if the True Dragon launched a propaganda war.
At the very least, we could split the Central Plains in half.
In that opening, I could join forces with my followers and face the True Dragon.
...Thinking about it like that, it really sounded like I was some mastermind plotting in the shadows. It must be my imagination.
"This Gaegaek Cult... it's quite a profound group. Gaegaek... Gaegaek is Gaegaek, Gaegaek is Gaegaek, and Gaegaek is Gaegaek."
Taotie muttered this after listening to Tang Soyeong's chattering explanation.
Why did she like it?
Someone like me might get it, but anyone hearing the Gaegaek philosophy for the first time would probably wonder what on earth it meant.
"To be honest, I wasn't going to care what your purpose was. I lost to you and submitted. Whether you killed me and took my inner core, or made me your slave and worked my body to the bone, I was prepared to follow your will completely."
"S-Slave...? Your body...? H-Hero Go! You're still so young, to do such a shameless thing...!"
Tang Soyeong, who had been explaining, blushed to the tips of her ears.
Taotie was phrasing things strangely, too.
"Made me your slave and worked my body to the bone" wasn't her usual way of speaking.
She probably just meant something like a battle slave.
"But the more I hear, the more intrigued I become. Gaegaek... of all things, Gaegaek..."
"Gekek."
What's so great about Gaegaek?
Don't pay too much attention to Tang Soyeong's nonsense.
Of course, the way I interpreted it wasn't nonsense, but what Soyeong said probably was.
"To seize the highest place from the lowest. That is Gaegaek, and the Gaegaek Cult is the group meant to achieve it, is it not?"
"Ahem, I hope you'll also recognize that the Gaegaek Cult was founded thanks to the brilliant contributions of a certain cute girl from the Tang family," Soyeong puffed out her chest.
You could at least try to make your lies believable, Soyeong.
Although, she wasn't entirely wrong.
It was thanks to Soyeong mishearing my "Gekek" cries as "Gaegaek."
…….
Wait, was it really true that the Gaegaek Cult was created thanks to Soyeong?
The Gaegaek mental cultivation method, the enlightenment I gained through "Gaegaek" last time... was that all thanks to Soyeong, too?
"Hero Go? What's with that sharp look in your eyes?"
Was she actually incredibly competent?
Come to think of it, she was a physician, she seemed to be trying her hand at cooking, and she could handle some pretty strong poisons.
...Why did I ever think Soyeong was incompetent?
"Hm? For some reason, I feel like a hole is about to be bored through my chest."
I needed to revise my evaluation of Soyeong a little.
"In my opinion, the Gaegaek Cult signifies a lizard that crawls on the ground catching the True Dragon, a dragon of the heavens."
To seize the highest place from the lowest.
It was one of the established doctrines of the Gaegaek Cult.
Interpreted a certain way, one could arrive at that conclusion.
As I remained silent with a sour expression, the corners of Taotie's mouth lifted slightly.
"Indeed... even if you hadn't defeated me, I would have joined if I'd heard this purpose. It seems like some interesting things await if I'm with you. Ah, of course, the master-servant relationship would have been reversed."
The path for me and my followers was set.
Honestly, I desperately wanted to just sleep in, eat delicious food, and spend my days peacefully making memories with those I'd formed bonds with.
But those who would disrupt that peace kept appearing, and more were sure to come.
To achieve my goal, I had to eliminate the threats facing us.
That meant the True Dragon, Gomodo's adversary, and Al-Yu, with whom I shared an ill-fated bond.
"Of course, you won't be able to fight my father right now."
I had to go step-by-step, gathering the strength to reach the True Dragon.
Recruiting Taotie would be the cornerstone of that plan.
"Because the True Dragon is currently injured."
"Gek?"
That was unexpected information.
The True Dragon was injured?
"In a war long ago, he suffered an injury that nearly cost him his life. He's been recovering his strength in seclusion at Kunlun, but a full recovery seems difficult."
His opponent back then was probably the previous Gomodo.
"It's an old injury, so even if he lost some of his power, he would have made up for it with new strength. I thought it was a meaningless injury, but a relatively recent incident occurred. My father left Kunlun for a short time and returned with another injury after fighting a different worthy opponent."
The True Dragon was injured again?
And this time it wasn't by a Gomodo?
"This wound isn't that severe, but the psychological damage seems to be quite significant. Not only was he injured again, but he also had to retreat without killing his opponent. Of course, I doubt his opponent escaped unscathed."
Was the True Dragon weaker than I thought?
No, that couldn't be it.
It must mean that his recent opponent was unbelievably strong.
Who could it be?
If I could form a connection with such a being, I wouldn't have to worry about the True Dragon anymore.
...Of course, there was no guarantee they'd be on my side.
"Even if the True Dragon is in that state, you're not strong enough to defeat him now. You... hmm, you could probably withstand one of his breaths, at least."
So that meant I couldn't withstand two.
...Was being able to withstand even one a huge improvement?
"Another problem is that no matter how much power you gather, you can't face the True Dragon. To fight my father, you'd have to go to Kunlun yourself."
Even if I became as strong as the True Dragon, landing the first strike on him would be nearly impossible.
"Going to Kunlun, which isn't your territory, to face the True Dragon? That's absurd."
The only reason I defeated Taotie this time was because this entire mountain was my territory.
If that was the case for me, what would it be like for the True Dragon, a spirit beast who had lived for ages?
The entirety of Kunlun would literally be like his own body.
"A Gomodo might do it, but I doubt any other being would attempt such a mad feat."
"Umm... Hero Go, you haven't told her yet?"
Tang Soyeong looked at my face.
I hadn't said anything because I didn't think it was necessary.
The Nine Sons of the Dragon had all recognized me, so I figured she would have, too.
But from the way she was talking, it seemed that wasn't the case.
Seeing my expression, Soyeong kindly explained for me.
"Y-You're a Gomodo?"
Taotie's voice was uncharacteristically flustered.
"This... is a Gomodo?"
Her squishing my cheeks was a bit annoying, but it didn't feel bad, so I stayed still.
"The Gomodo I know was a bit more menacing... radiating killing intent..."
Just what was the previous Gomodo like?
For Taotie to call it menacing, it must have been quite the creature.
"Hmm... given the power I saw earlier... I suppose you could be called a descendant of Gomodo."
I thought she wouldn't like Gomodo since she served under the True Dragon, but her reaction wasn't bad.
Since she worshiped strength, she might even prefer Gomodo.
Or maybe her current interest was just fighting the True Dragon, so she didn't care about anything else.
"Yes, with a tail like this, I have no choice but to acknowledge you as a Gomodo."
"Ge-ek."
Taotie grabbed my tail and lifted it.
It was a bit weird to be acknowledged based on my tail of all things, but given the name 'Gomodo,' I guess it fit.
"Ahem, even so, nothing changes. Even if you are a descendant of Gomodo, attacking Kunlun now would be no different from a pointless death. I may love to fight, but I'd like to pass on such a meaningless endeavor."
For Taotie to refuse a fight, I could really feel how low the chances of success were.
"But that doesn't mean we should just give up. We must use what you have to close the gap with the True Dragon and make it a proper fight."
It seemed Taotie wanted me to become stronger.
At least strong enough for a fight with the True Dragon to be possible.
Our interests aligned.
"As I said before, the True Dragon is injured. He'll keep an eye on you, but he's not in a position to move directly."
"Gekek."
"It would be best to take advantage of this situation, but we can't just attack him directly."
"Gek..."
The way she was drawing this out, she must have something in mind.
"Instead, there is a way to deal the True Dragon a major blow."
I knew it.
"And what's more, your own power could grow even stronger."
I settled into Taotie's hand and waited for her next words.
"The 100,000 Great Mountains are a veritable holy land for spirit beasts. It's where the True Dragon and Gomodo originated, so you could call it sacred ground. Of course, this isn't limited to just spirit beasts."
"Gekekek."
"Yes, it's just as you're thinking."
I see, so that's what she meant.
"W-What do you mean...!"
Soyeong pretended to be in on it.
"...What is it?"
I knew it.
"Gekgek."
To be honest, I didn't really know either, but I let out a sinister laugh as if I did.
"The elixirs that grow here are on a completely different level. The spirit beasts under the True Dragon are gathering elixirs from this place. For the True Dragon's recovery."
The True Dragon's minions are gathering elixirs in the 100,000 Great Mountains?
Things like Hwari and Snow Ginseng?
"If you destroy that place and steal the elixirs, you and your followers will be able to reap the benefits."
She wants me to become a thief?
There aren't many lizards with a conscience like me.
"Gekgekgek..."
Letting out a sinister laugh, I popped a dango I had stolen from someone with white hair into my mouth.
It seemed the time had come to return to being a righteous thief.