Just as I was about to ask my sister who might possess the Ice Jade, we were interrupted.
— Squeak, squeak.
The sound of a lizard crying came from beneath my feet. Looking down, I saw a pair of yellow, slit-like eyes glaring at me, as if to demand why I wasn’t tending to the injured.
It occurred to me then that, caught up in our conversation, I had entirely neglected the caregiver waiting below.
Apologizing to the creature staring up at me, I resolved to focus on treating its companion first.
"Sorry for the delay. You’ve been waiting, haven’t you? Let’s treat this one first, and then we’ll continue our conversation," I said, addressing my sister. "This little one has been waiting patiently."
“How remarkable,” my sister murmured. “The lizard seems to understand you perfectly.”
"Understood, So-ryong. Let’s take care of the poor thing first," she agreed. "It looks quite anxious."
I crouched down and showed the small creature a seed, explaining my plan.
“Let’s plant this seed here for now. You’re okay with that, right?”
— Squeak.
Even if it wouldn’t grow much more in this environment, it could release just enough energy to sustain them until we found the Ice Jade to nourish the injured one. For now, planting the Snow Ginseng seed beneath the rock seemed like the best course of action.
Once the seed was planted, I turned my attention back to the injured lizard. I hadn’t gotten a thorough look earlier, distracted by the urgency of the moment.
The first thing I needed to confirm was whether the lizard was capable of self-amputation—a process called "autotomy" in reptiles. Some species can’t perform this action, and not all regenerate their tails after severance.
There are three possibilities:
Upon inspection, the lizard’s tail was visibly rotting and clearly needed to be removed. However, if the creature couldn’t self-amputate, the process would involve physically cutting the tail, which carried significant risks. Self-amputation minimizes trauma since the creature’s own muscles and tissues seal the wound. A direct cut could lead to shock or death.
As I carefully examined the tail, my sister’s voice broke the silence.
“What are you doing, So-ryong?”
“I’m identifying where the tail can detach naturally,” I replied.
“Where it can detach?”
“Yes, lizards have specific points along their tails, called ‘autotomy planes,’ where the tail is designed to break away. I’m searching for those points.”
“‘Autotomy planes’... You mean segments meant for detachment?”
I nodded. “Exactly. While it might seem like the tail can break anywhere, there are specific areas designed for this purpose. Applying pressure to these points triggers the process.”
I felt along the tail until I identified three distinct detachment points.
"Found them," I announced. "Three spots in total. That’s good news."
“You’re surprisingly knowledgeable about lizards. I wouldn’t have guessed.”
My sister’s curious observation brought a small smile to my face. Half the tail was already necrotic, so saving any portion wasn’t an option. To prevent the rot from spreading further, I chose the point closest to the body.
Better to sacrifice more of the tail than risk the creature’s life.
“Alright, let’s get started,” I said softly.
— Squeak.
The guardian lizard’s watchful gaze didn’t waver as I began. Using just my thumb and forefinger, I applied gentle, consistent pressure to the first autotomy plane.
When triggered, the detachment is almost reflexive, happening without conscious control. This is why handling lizards requires such care—accidental tail loss is a common issue during mating or improper handling.
Lizards’ tails don’t regenerate perfectly. The new tail lacks bones and is typically smaller than the original. In some species, regrowth doesn’t happen at all.
As I applied pressure, I could feel a faint pulse beneath the skin, like a rhythmic throbbing. Then came a subtle tearing sensation, followed by a soft, wet sound.
— Rip.
The tail detached cleanly, revealing the exposed muscle underneath. There was almost no blood, as the tail’s design minimizes bleeding. The creature remained still, showing no signs of distress, its eyes briefly fluttering before closing again.
— Thump.
The severed tail twitched weakly on the ground. If it had been healthy, it would’ve thrashed wildly, but its decayed state left it sluggish. I picked up the detached tail to examine the cut end, ensuring the necrosis hadn’t spread further.
The interior of the tail, which should have been translucent pink, was an alarming gray near the root. If we had delayed even a little longer, the rot could’ve reached the body.
"All done. You’ll be fine now," I reassured the lizard. "Keep the wound clean. We’ll be nearby, so call if anything happens."
— Squeak.
Entrusting the care of the injured lizard to its vigilant companion, we made our way back to the campsite. The creature would need nutrients for regrowth, so finding the Ice Jade was now our priority.
“Lady Hwa-eun,” I asked, turning to my sister as we walked. “Who exactly possesses the Ice Jade?”
Her smile turned mischievous, her reply catching me off guard.
“Well... how should I put this? Let’s just say it’s in the hands of a thorny flower.”
“A thorny flower?” I repeated, confused.
“Yes, the Ice Jade belongs to Namgung Seol, the daughter of the Namgung family and one of the Three Blossoms of the Martial World,” she replied with a sly grin.
I sighed inwardly. My sister was clearly still holding a grudge. What in the world had my master told her?
***
After two days, the injured lizard finally regained consciousness. The inflammation that had caused it to collapse had subsided, and its condition seemed to be improving.
— Squeak, squeak!
— Squeak!
When we approached their rock, shaped like the human character for “person,” the lizards greeted my sister and me with visible excitement. Over the past few days, they had grown accustomed to us, and one of them even dashed out from the rock like an eager puppy.
‘A lizard acting like a dog? If this were my previous life, this would’ve gone viral for sure.’
Its appearance was like a mix between a pet-tailed gecko and a large pinecone lizard. Although it wasn’t yet fully recovered, the injured one stayed back while the healthier one approached. I reached out my hand toward it.
The rough texture of the bumps on its head and the coolness of its skin were immediately familiar to me.
‘Ah, this is why lizards are so charming.’
Relishing the feel of a lizard in my hands after so long, I asked, “Have you been doing well?”
The little creature didn’t flinch, even as I petted its head. Encouraged, my sister cautiously extended her hand as well. But strangely, the lizard recoiled slightly, its eyes scanning her.
— Squeak!?
“Why... Why is it avoiding my hand?” my sister asked, her tone tinged with disappointment.
The lizard seemed to be searching for something, its gaze lingering near my sister’s shoulder. I realized it might have something to do with the fact that she had been carrying O-Gong the other day. Rolling up her sleeve, I showed the lizard that O-Gong wasn’t there.
— Hiss!
The lizard recoiled instantly, startled, and moved away from my hand. As expected, the sight of O-Gong had scared it.
“It seems they think Lady Hwa-eun still has O-Gong with her,” I explained.
“I don’t have them. They’re with So-ryong, not me,” she said, deflecting blame onto me to coax the lizard closer.
After seeing that her arm was free of any centipedes, the lizard hesitated before finally allowing her to pet it. As she gently scratched its chin, the creature closed its eyes, clearly enjoying the attention. By now, it had grown used to human contact and no longer showed any signs of fear or caution toward us.
Knowing we needed to find the Ice Jade as soon as possible, I spoke to the lizards. “We have to leave now.”
— Squeak!?
— Squeak!?
Their eyes widened in surprise, and even the injured one blinked, startled by my words. Smiling, I explained further.
“It’s not like we’re leaving forever. We’re going to find food for you, so you’ll be okay. The Snow Ginseng won’t grow any further, you see.”
I paused and added, “By the way, since it seems like you can’t stay here forever, how about this? If we bring back food for you, would you come with us?”
At my suggestion, the two blue lizards turned to look at each other, their gazes seeming to communicate something silently.
***
After leaving Bing and Seol behind, we returned to the Tang Clan in Sichuan.
In our absence, several pieces of news had arrived, the most significant being related to the Blood Cult. The Murim Alliance had captured a spy from the Blood Cult and raided a hidden base near Wuchang, right under the Alliance's nose.
Despite enduring severe torture, the spy had refused to speak. However, the location of the hideout was discovered when they followed the owl that the spy had been raising.
Among the reports was also a mention of the venom techniques I had discovered with the Hobanyu Snake. The venom extracted from the snake we captured had been sent to the military and used during the raid on the Blood Cult’s hideout, reportedly contributing significantly to their success.
Additionally, a decree had been issued by the Alliance Leader, calling for an all-out purge of Blood Cult members across the Central Plains.
“The Alliance Leader sent a handwritten letter of gratitude. So-ryong, you should be very proud,” my master said, his tone both proud and affectionate.
Indeed, one of the items waiting for us at the Tang Clan was the Alliance Leader’s letter of thanks. As for the rewards the military had promised, they needed more time to compile the necessary materials.
Once we had caught up on the delayed updates, my master turned to me with a question.
“By the way, did you manage to catch the stone lizard? I’d like to see what it looks like myself, perhaps even study it for the Venom Compendium.”
“Well... we did catch it, sort of,” I replied hesitantly.
“Sort of?”
“Yes, it’s a bit complicated...”
I explained to my master about Bing and Seol, and the situation regarding the Ice Jade.
As expected from someone of his stature, my master immediately offered his support. “The Ice Jade... It won’t be easy to obtain, but I’ll see what I can do. Don’t worry.”
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At that, my sister spoke up in a cautious tone. “Father, there’s something I need to tell you about the Ice Jade. The truth is, I know someone who has it.”
“You do?” My master looked at her, surprised.
“Yes, Father. That’s why I was thinking of traveling with So-ryong to meet them, if that’s alright.”
“And where exactly are you planning to go?” he asked, his brow furrowed with concern.
Smiling playfully, my sister answered, “To Anhui Province, where the Namgung family resides.”
“The Namgung family?”
“Yes, Namgung Seol possesses the Ice Jade. I’ve seen it with my own eyes.”
My master paused, deep in thought. After a moment, he turned back to us with a suggestion.
“Hmm... If you’re going, would you mind running an errand for me on the way? There’s something I need delivered.”
An errand on the way. That seemed convenient enough, but I couldn’t help a certain thought creeping in.
Are we getting paid for this?
After all, I’m still at the age where I should be receiving payment for running errands.