Obtaining spiritual medicine.
That’s always good news, no matter the context.
Lately, I’d been feeling oddly drained, especially after sleeping alongside my followers. It made me realize how much I needed spiritual medicine.
I’d already consumed a fair amount of spiritual medicines and neidan over time, so I often let my followers have the less potent ones.
Even when I defeated powerful spiritual beings, I would opt to subdue them rather than kill them to harvest their neidan.
But just because I’ve been sparing doesn’t mean I don’t need spiritual medicine myself.
And this time, it’s not just any medicine—it’s the True Dragon’s. How could I possibly pass up such an opportunity?
I’ll distribute it among my followers and keep the leftovers for myself.
Back in the day, the Snake Queen used to toss me a dose of medicine whenever I scratched my belly in front of her.
Since I’m a lizard with a keen sense of gratitude, I’ll set aside some of the stolen medicines for her this time.
I should also consider giving some to my mentor.
While he might not need spiritual medicine anymore, it wouldn’t feel right not to offer any.
After all, there’s a bond of trust between us.
Though, to be honest, I can’t help but think that if I give him some, he’ll be so pleased he’ll casually toss even better treasures my way.
It’s like trading a ten-year-old fo-ti root for a thousand-year-old one.
He might even reward me with a rare Gerorong as a show of approval.
...While that’s a tempting thought, the most important thing is that the medicines I’m about to steal belong to the True Dragon.
Since he’s using them to recover, stealing them would slow down his recovery.
And what we need most right now is time—there’s nothing better than this opportunity.
“If the True Dragon hears news of his medicine stores being destroyed, he’ll undoubtedly be furious. But don’t worry too much. While he might retaliate, he’s in no condition to act directly,” Docheol explained.
Even in his injured state, the True Dragon is a formidable opponent, but it’s said that he rarely moves when wounded.
Given his recent injuries, he’ll be even more reluctant to act.
While he might send subordinates, that would work in our favor.
Much like Kaichal Goa-Thal’s mistake, it would likely lead to me growing even stronger.
“The medicine storage sites are centralized locations where spiritual medicines from all over are gathered. The highest proportion comes from the Ten Thousand Great Mountains.”
I’ve thought about it before, but the Ten Thousand Great Mountains are far beyond the scale of ordinary mountain ranges.
It’s a vast land where even the people of the Heavenly Demon Cult could coexist, and enormous spiritual beings could live without encroaching on each other’s territories.
It’s fascinating that places as opposite as snowy peaks and volcanoes exist within the same area.
Of course, this is likely due to the unique properties of the Dragon Gate.
“Even a frontal assault would be enough to annihilate the enemies. But that would only result in a hollow victory.”
This didn’t sound like something Docheol would say.
Based on her past behavior, I expected her to chant “chaos, destruction, mayhem” and suggest charging in immediately.
“If we go in head-on, the spiritual medicines would likely be destroyed. The True Dragon’s subordinates might even consume all the medicines in a desperate final act.”
For her to consider this much, she’s at least on par with Sishishi, if not a step ahead of Soyeong.
“What’s with that look? Anyway, it’s better to discreetly siphon off the medicines little by little and then strike decisively at the end.”
She’s thinking more strategically than I expected.
But her plan has a flaw.
Sneaking in discreetly to steal the medicines is easier said than done.
“Discreet infiltration isn’t that hard.”
That’s exactly what makes it hard!
How are we supposed to infiltrate without being noticed?
“A way to infiltrate discreetly...”
Docheol’s hands started poking and squishing my cheeks.
“It’s right here.”
“Gegegek...?”
What’s that supposed to mean?
*
I basked in the wind from atop Docheol’s shoulder.
Unfortunately, as she was currently disguised as an old man, this was the only spot I could stay.
If I went into the compact space below, I’d quite literally end up as dried lizard jerky.
I’d left the management of our domain to Nephila and Baekrang, so there wasn’t much to worry about.
This task shouldn’t take too long, anyway.
“Remembering the path is fine, but it’s better to forget it. I’ll be coming back when the time is right, and depending on the situation, I might bring your followers along.”
The destination was farther than expected, so I clung tightly to Docheol’s shoulder.
After hours of travel, an artificial structure came into view.
The Ten Thousand Great Mountains truly spanned an enormous area.
To think that a place like this could be constructed, even evading my mentor’s notice.
What came into view was a stone structure—resembling a castle in design.
There was a large gate, as big as my Crocodile King Lizard form, with two armored humans standing guard.
They seemed fairly strong, likely at the pinnacle level.
“Who goes there?”
One of the guards drew his sword as Docheol approached.
She, of course, didn’t answer, merely staring at him.
“H-Huh!”
One guard covered his mouth, visibly shaken.
“D-Docheol!”
The other guard hastily sheathed his drawn sword.
“What brings you here...?”
It seemed they recognized Docheol even in her elderly guise.
Their trembling underscored just how infamous she was.
“What brings me? I’ve brought something useful, that’s why.”
“Something useful?”
The guards looked relieved.
Even though Docheol had a chaotic reputation, they didn’t believe she’d cause trouble at the True Dragon’s medicine storage.
But “something useful”?
So, this is how we’re infiltrating.
The plan was for Docheol and me to get inside together and start looting the medicine.
“It’s a specimen worthy of offering to the True Dragon.”
“Of course...! The True Dragon will surely appreciate your offering, Docheol.”
“Indeed.”
“Then... may we inspect it?”
Not a bad strategy.
“Here, have a look.”
Docheol handed the “offering” to the guard.
“Gegegek?”
Wait... the offering is me?
Hold on a second.
I’m the medicine?
“This is...!”
The guard’s eyes widened in astonishment.
He seemed shocked by the sight of this sacred lizard—but there was something odd in his expression.
“I apologize, Docheol. I’m far too unworthy to comprehend this...”
“Don’t recognize it, do you?”
Of course, they wouldn’t. I’m not listed in any medicine registry.
“It’s not cataloged in any record...”
“So, you don’t know.”
No kidding—I'm not even medicine in the first place!
“We’re deeply sorry!”
“Hmph. Is that all you’ve got?”
“...Forgive me, but to my eyes, it just looks like a lizard...”
The other guard hesitantly spoke, earning a sharp glare from Docheol.
“...Did you just imply that I, Docheol, would offer the True Dragon something as lowly as a mere lizard?”
That’s not exactly what he said...
“P-Please forgive him! He’s new here!”
“We’re terribly sorry!”
At least their reactions were immediate.
“Hmph. No sense of discernment, as expected. Take a closer look.”
The guards scrutinized me with exaggerated focus.
“Hoo...”
“Gegek.”
What are you looking at?
“Gasp!”
When I mimicked biting at them, they flinched in alarm.
“Q-quite remarkable...”
“Though its eyes seem dull at first, they’re strangely sharp. Its teeth are perfectly aligned, and its belly looks soft...”
Are they insulting me?
“Gegek.”
“And that tail... so long...”
Yeah, my tail is long, but why does everyone always comment on it?
“Indeed. This should prove highly beneficial to the True Dragon.”
“Absolutely!”
“And those who offer it will be rewarded as well.”
“T-That means...!”
“Thank you!”
Updated from freewёbnoνel.com.
The guards, who had looked wary before, now brightened with relief.
They were likely terrified that someone as unpredictable as Docheol might wreak havoc but were reassured that her presence actually benefited them.
But they didn’t know.
They had no idea that this was all part of a plan to destroy this medicine storage and bring down the True Dragon.
Let’s go, Docheol.
It’s time to head inside.
Your act wasn’t half bad.
Plop.
Docheol dropped me into a basket.
Was this to make my journey more comfortable?
How thoughtful of her.
“Take good care of it. It needs to be delivered alive, so keep it away from any danger.”
“O-Of course, ma’am! You have my word!”
As expected of Docheol.
Look at the level of her performance—it’s almost like she really plans to hand me over and leave.
Rattle.
Wow, this basket is impressive.
It’s designed so it can’t be opened from the inside.
“Take care!”
...Wait, what?
*
Docheol abandoned me.
Well, not really—this was probably part of the plan.
After all, the result was that I infiltrated the storage.
There’s a saying: To fool the enemy, first fool your allies. By that standard, this was a brilliant move.
...Still, couldn’t she have told me?
While I could undo my miniaturization at any moment to handle any dangerous situation, it still stung a little.
I was expecting a thrilling escapade featuring the master thief lizard and the disguise genius Docheol.
But sneaking in like this wasn’t too bad either.
“Kiiek.”
“Krkrk, krkrk.”
Currently, I found myself in a place resembling a small cave.
Judging by the continuous sound of insects chirping around me, this was likely a storage area for living spiritual medicines.
Living medicines like Hwarina, Geumgu, or Geumwa—creatures that were both spiritual beings and treated as spiritual medicines. It wasn’t strange to find such beings here.
“Kwieeek!”
A black mantis swung its scythe at me, trying to intimidate me.
If I were still in my Green Basilisk form, I might have fought it to the death. But now, it barely registered as a threat.
I could quite literally look at it as if it were just a bug.
“Kwiik...?”
The mantis seemed startled by my lack of reaction. Then, as if reevaluating the situation, it cleared its throat.
“Ahem. So, you’re new here?”
It spoke—not in a roar, but in actual words I could understand.
Wait, mantises can talk? Why couldn’t I?
“A rock lizard, huh. You look a bit like a Byukho,” it muttered, circling me and providing commentary.
The mantis began explaining things—what this place was, the rules I had to follow, how I should behave, and how it had been here longer, making it my senior.
It went on about respecting it, the five crickets it had eaten, and other tedious details.
The lecture was so boring I almost yawned but held it in.
“Ha... a yawn? You dare yawn in the presence of your senior in the Ten Thousand-Year Venom Cave?”
The mantis’s scythe came swinging toward me without warning.
What’s with the sudden hostility?
If it kept this up, it’d regret it.
Even in this shrunken form, my dragon scales would easily break its scythe in two.
I was already preparing to mourn for the soon-to-be one-armed mantis when—
Thunk!
Someone smacked the mantis on the head.
Thud!
Thanks to the timely intervention, the scythe struck the ground instead of me.
The mantis was lucky.
“Kwieek! Can’t you see I’m teaching it some manners?”
The mantis glared at the one who had struck it.
It didn’t realize this bug had just saved its arm.
“Kiek...! Why are you acting like this? We’re all in the same boat here.”
Whoever this was, they seemed reasonable.
As a lizard with a strong sense of gratitude, I decided to remember this bug and repay it later.
Curious, I turned to look at the voice’s owner.
It was a long-bodied creature with countless legs and sharp mandibles.
Unlike other bugs, its face looked oddly honest and familiar.
“Hmm...?”
The centipede seemed to recognize me too, raising its third leg to its head as if trying to recall.
“Gegegek!”
It was the kind centipede I’d met in the Silver Dragon Cave!
Wait, you’re alive?