Chapter 201: Status Window vs. Inner Demon – A Duel to the Death (Or Not)
The Doin told me the truth about Cheoldu-ryong.
A juvenile dragon born with the fate of a Killing Star (Jisal-seong).
The abbot of Shaolin took him in, attempting to control the destiny of slaughter, but the Killing Star’s energy wasn’t something that could be suppressed so easily.
No matter how much it was suppressed, the energy of slaughter would burst forth.
The abbot of Shaolin took full responsibility and let Cheoldu-ryong stain his hands with blood.
He gave him the role of an Arhat, making him eliminate heinous criminals and corrupted vicious beasts.
With his memories erased, Cheoldu-ryong had no way of knowing the truth and resented Shaolin instead.
A mysterious thirst continued to torment him, and he blamed Shaolin for it.
In reality, it had all been done to quench that very thirst.
“…Whatever the reason, if it becomes officially known that Shaolin committed such acts, it will cause a great stir in the martial arts world.”
To save a single spirit beast, they made him kill others.
Even if those others were criminals, it was a story ripe for criticism.
“The abbot… accepted all that disgrace. People said Shaolin, revered as Mount Tai and the Northern Star, had fallen. That even the abbot of Shaolin, who pretended to be noble, was blinded by the allure of inner cores. Such rumors spread, but the abbot didn’t care.”
The abbot had made him commit the minimum amount of killing to suppress the instincts of the Killing Star without letting them spiral out of control.
But even that wasn’t enough, so they sought out spirit beasts’ inner cores.
And the reason they came to the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains was because of information sent by a man named Namgoong Yeon, who revealed that spirit beasts, including the Komodo, were abundant here.
“…Even if I apologize a hundred times, it won’t be enough. I apologize once again.”
It’s fine.
It’s a story of the past anyway.
“Grrr…”
Cheoldu-ryong staggered as he rose.
As expected of someone with an Indestructible Diamond body, his recovery was swift.
“…Bak Gi-gae, are you okay?”
“S-senior…”
Bak Gi-gae’s eyes were sorrowful.
“…I am ashamed. My senior and the abbot made such sacrifices for me, but I…”
It seems that getting hit by me helped him regain his memories.
They say sometimes the best medicine is a good beating; it seems to be true.
Even if that wasn’t the case, the thawing of his frozen heart must have played a role.
“It’s done. It’s all over now…”
“…No, I’ve already done something I can’t take back.”
He regained his senses and repented.
But repentance didn’t change anything.
As Cheoldu-ryong himself said, he had done something irreversible.
He killed monks of Shaolin.
No matter how forgiving Shaolin could be, taking Cheoldu-ryong back was impossible.
If he returned to Shaolin, he would face a punishment close to eternal, or he might die before he even set foot on its threshold.
This was why I felt uneasy throughout the fight.
Because I didn’t think destiny would change.
No matter what, this would end in tragedy.
That’s what I believed.
Until I heard a voice from the distance.
“…Doin, Bak Gi-gae.”
“S-senior?”
A soaked bald head staggered toward us.
Cheoldu-ryong hadn’t killed all humans.
He had merely sealed them with the chill of the snowy mountains.
“So… that’s what happened…”
A rough-looking bald man listened to the whole story.
He was called Dojeong, the Dharma name used by the one Doin addressed as senior.
At first, he seemed wary of me, a spirit beast, but upon hearing that I had saved them, his attitude changed.
“…A spirit beast from the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains stopped Bak Gi-gae and saved us?”
His reaction was similar to that of Baekwoon, who had been freed from petrification.
“Thank you so much. Without you… we wouldn’t have been able to stop him.”
He seemed to possess skills a level above Doin.
I used to think bald men all looked similar due to their lack of distinctive features, but Dojeong was different.
He had scars on his face and a beard reminiscent of Zhang Fei from the Three Kingdoms.
He looked quite unlike a typical monk.
“Even if they were frozen, they couldn’t live forever. And forcing the seals open would only take their lives… But a natural warmth melted the ice.”
Wasn’t that because I defeated Cheoldu-ryong?
“It was a warmth I’d never felt before, yet it felt strangely familiar… Yes, it was like the sun.”
Warmth like the sun.
I felt it too, even if only slightly.
“Even though it’s night and there’s no sun, it was truly strange.”
As he said this, he stared at me intently.
“The Black Sun saved us.”
I don’t know what that is, but I’m glad they were saved.
The Black Sun…
…It feels somewhat familiar.
“But… that doesn’t mean everyone was saved.”
As Dojeong said, some monks must have been struck by Cheoldu-ryong’s headbutts rather than the chill.
They had literally evaporated without a trace.
“We can lessen his punishment slightly, but he still cannot avoid being held accountable.”
Doin and Dojeong bowed deeply to me.
"Senior!"
Cheoldu-ryong was taken aback by their actions.
Doin and Dojeong did not stop despite his reaction.
"Komodo... May we entrust Bak Gi-gae to you?"
Cheoldu-ryong would not return to Shaolin.
Even though he had vomited up a purple orb and understood the truth, the fate of the Killing Star likely had not disappeared.
Even if he returned, he would face a punishment akin to death, and Doin and Dojeong would not want that.
The abbot of Shaolin would not want to punish Cheoldu-ryong either, but having killed monks, he could no longer turn a blind eye.
Cheoldu-ryong blankly stared at Doin and Dojeong before assuming the same posture as them.
"…Death with a tail. I stake my entire inner core and humbly ask you. Please… let me devote myself to you."
Cheoldu-ryong would join the Gecko Religion.
It wasn’t exactly according to my plan, but it was a rather good outcome.
He was the master of the Snowy Mountain and still carried the energy of the Dragon Gate.
Even if I expanded my domain, I couldn’t manage everything personally.
I would incorporate the Snowy Mountain into my domain but leave its management and the Dragon Gate under Cheoldu-ryong’s charge.
This would immediately strengthen the Gecko Religion, and having Cheoldu-ryong govern the Snowy Mountain would allow the forces there to continue growing.
Gaining a follower like Cheoldu-ryong was a huge benefit to me.
Though the Killing Star's fate was slightly concerning, it wasn’t something that couldn’t be resolved.
If the Red Dragon, who was his natural counter, breathed fire at him a few times, things would likely settle down.
"Gegek."
"Is… is that true? Thank you… thank you so much!"
Doin spoke with tears in his eyes.
"How… could such a divine spirit beast exist in the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains…?"
Dojeong struggled to finish his words.
His gaze toward me was as if I were some noble and holy divine beast.
…I wish he wouldn’t look at me like that. It makes me uncomfortable.
Also, his shiny head is distracting.
"When I return to Shaolin, I will inform the abbot of your great deed."
"The abbot will likely approve of Bak Gi-gae remaining here. It was thanks to Komodo Dae-hyeop that he survived."
Dojeong added his words.
"The current martial arts world is rotting from its roots. Stories of corruption spread even about Shaolin, known as Mount Tai and the Northern Star, so it’s even worse for other sects and clans."
Shaolin had not decayed.
It only appeared corrupt, but it had its reasons.
Still, I couldn’t trust them completely, but at least I understood their genuine intentions toward Bak Gi-gae.
"They will constantly bide their time, seeking ways to obtain the inner cores of spirit beasts."
I had experienced this firsthand.
It had been the same with Baekwoon, Jang Bong, and even Tang So-yeong.
"Using the descent of the Evil God as a pretext, they might attempt to invade this place, including your Hundred Thousand Great Mountains."
Dojeong was not the abbot of Shaolin.
But it seemed Doin and Dojeong held significant positions within Shaolin.
Considering what the abbot had done for Bak Gi-gae, it seemed highly likely, as Dojeong said, that Shaolin would side with us.
As the saying goes, "All roads lead to Seoul." This was the best outcome.
The reason I tried to stop Cheoldu-ryong was to protect the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains by preventing him from killing anyone.
But if he had died here without evidence, it would only confirm suspicions, and interest in this place wouldn’t completely disappear.
However, by forming a friendly relationship like this?
It couldn’t be better.
"…I am truly grateful. You could have coveted Bak Gi-gae’s inner core, yet you showed him mercy as vast as the sea and spared him."
Honestly, it would be a lie to say I didn’t desire his inner core.
At the very least, I really wanted the Ice Bird’s inner core.
But right now, strengthening the Gecko Religion took priority over my personal growth.
This not only meant enhancing my followers but also being mindful of the surrounding political landscape.
Forming a friendly relationship with Shaolin, known as Mount Tai and the Northern Star, would make many things easier.
It would prevent pests from coming after me.
And if these people returned safely, they would investigate the man named Namgoong Yeon.
Cheoldu-ryong’s strange behavior began after he encountered that man.
He knows me, but I don’t know him.
Leaving such a potential threat to Shaolin would be the wisest decision.
"After we recover, we will return with rewards befitting your great deeds… and we must also appease the spirits of the sacrificed Arhats."
Dojeong and Doin led their monks out of the Snowy Mountain.
Doin was injured, but Dojeong and the other monks were relatively unscathed.
With Dojeong, whose strength surpassed the pinnacle level, escaping the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains shouldn’t be too difficult.
"…Thank you once again, Death with a Tail."
Cheoldu-ryong bowed his head.
[The master of the Snowy Mountain, Cheoldu-ryong lv 95, has joined the Gecko Religion.]
His level had decreased.
Was it because he had spat out that purple orb earlier?
…What on earth was that to lower his level by around 40?
[Achievement unlocked: A feat unseen even by Allosaurus!]
An achievement notification.
It had been a while since I’d seen one of these.
[The master of the Snowy Mountain sincerely follows you.]
[Your icy energy is enhanced.]
…This?
I had been disappointed about not obtaining the Ice Bird’s inner core, but this was compensation?
It wasn’t exactly what I’d hoped for, but if it’s being offered, I’ll take it.
I had intended to gift Baekrang an inner core, but this wasn’t a bad alternative.
[The Gecko Religion gains a buff related to cold energy.]
I felt an overwhelming urge to kiss my status window.
‘Croong…’
Not you.
How could it do something so wonderful?
The entire Gecko Religion now benefited from the cold energy buff.
That didn’t mean Tus and Pus would start shooting ice arrows right away.
It likely meant that learning ice-based techniques would become easier, or that individuals like Baekrang, who could already wield cold energy, would see their powers amplified.
It was a deeply satisfying outcome.
…Was I being rewarded for doing good deeds?
[Achievement unlocked: Even Allosaurus Would Be Astonished!]
Unbelievable.
Another one?
[You have significantly improved the relationship between the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult and Shaolin.]
What? What did I even do?
[An ordinary lizard has succeeded where the Shaolin Abbot and the Heavenly Demon Cult Leader dared not.]
An ordinary lizard?
The more you compliment me, the more I find it cute.
[As a reward, you will receive one of Shaolin’s martial arts at random.]
This is ridiculously adorable.
‘Croooong…’
No, you stay back.
After suppressing the Inner Demon trying to approach me, I focused my mind.
A familiar sight appeared before me.
It was like watching a slot machine spin.
Countless Shaolin martial arts scrolled past.
Please, something good!
Ding ding ding.
The slot machine began to slow down.
Musangak?
Not bad at all.
Baekboshingwon?
I’d welcome it with open arms.
Hangma Yeonhwan Seontoe?
This is good too!
Yoraeshinjang?
Huh?
Seriously?
Is it really Yoraeshinjang?
I wiped my eyes and looked again, and sure enough, the beautiful words "Yoraeshinjang" were displayed in the air.
"Gegek!"
Yes.
Spring has come to the life of a lizard at last.
Ding.
…Ding?
[Congratulations, you have acquired "Dongjagong"!]
…Huh?
What?
Just a moment ago, it was Yoraeshinjang!
"Ko-Komodo! Why are you suddenly firing beams at the air?"
"Krururururu…"
What the heck is martial arts RNG?
…Calm down.
After all, it was a martial art I got for free.
Though it couldn’t compare to Yoraeshinjang, Dongjagong wasn’t a bad match for me.
As a symbol of purity, Komodo, paired with Dongjagong, had boundless potential.
[The title "Black Sun" reacts to "Dongjagong."]
[The Gecko Faith reacts to "Dongjagong."]
[The Gecko Religion reacts to "Dongjagong."]
[Your species, Intermediate Dragon, reacts to "Dongjagong."]
[「%! 자■□ LV2」 reacts to "Dongjagong."]
This message…!
It was just like when I acquired the Green Basilisk.
My existing resources were reacting to the new skill, pulling out an advanced form.
What kind of martial art would Dongjagong evolve into?
It would transform into the ultimate martial art befitting a symbol of purity like me.
I was nervous.
Nervous about my transformation.
‘Crorororong…’
[Congratulations! "Dongjagong" has evolved into "Gecko Bedroom Technique."]
Huh?