<strong>"The Legend of 14-to-1"</strong>


    Sessfully survived against the coordinated attack of 14 opponents.


    When facing multiple enemies, you will manifest even greater strength.


    Ah, I see now.


    This title must have been granted during the battle with the intruders.


    Were there really 14 opponents at the same time? Or perhaps there’s a precedent where I fought 14 foes before, and the system decided to reward me with this title.


    Either way, it’s quite a good title to have—getting stronger when fighting multiple enemies is a highly useful ability.


    …But wait, <strong>14 opponents</strong>?


    Let’s count: <strong>Tus</strong>, <strong>Pus</strong>, <strong>Nep</strong>, <strong>Queen Fasir</strong>, <strong>Baekrang</strong>, <strong>Red Dragon</strong>, and <strong>Tang Soyeong</strong>—that’s seven.


    And then there’s <strong>First Wolf</strong> through <strong>Seventh Wolf</strong>—another seven.


    Adding them together…


    <strong>“Geeeeek!”</strong>


    <strong>“Calm yourself. As shameless as they may be, no one here would dare take advantage of a sleeping lizard,”</strong> Queen Fasir said with a satisfied expression.


    That’s easy for her to say, but her scales were far too polished and glistening to look innocent.


    She looked as though she had just finished some kind of rejuvenating feast.


    <strong>“Don’t worry,”</strong> she continued. <strong>“Your artifact prevented any real impropriety. If someone truly had such intentions… well, it would take more full moons than you can count for me to finish indulging in you….”</strong>


    Her ominous words sent a shiver down my spine.


    I clutched the pendant tightly around my neck.


    …No, really, nothing happened, right?


    It’s okay.


    Even if my followers have… peculiar tendencies, they wouldn’t go so far as to take advantage of a one-year-old lizard.


    <strong>“Though I can’t deny that the tasting was thorough.”</strong>


    Thorough tasting?


    What the hell does <strong>tasting</strong> mean in this context?


    *


    The chaos within <strong>Gomo-do</strong> subsided… more or less.


    While I had my suspicions, I couldn’t gather any solid evidence, so there wasn’t much I could do.


    And even if I had evidence, what then?


    I could already imagine the consequences—getting wrapped up in spider silk, hearing cryptic lines about how perceptive divine beasts are, and my danger sense screaming at me the whole time.


    Most importantly, though, time was of the essence.


    I gathered all my followers, as well as key associates, to discuss the next steps.


    We moved locations since the lingering heat in my previousir made it unsuitable for meetings.


    There was also the matter of the Ikkaksu fiercely opposing any other males entering <strong>Sarang-gung</strong> (the so-called Pce of Love).


    Fortunately, the Ikkaksu had prepared other buildings—simple but functional nest-like structures equipped with the essentials.


    I chose a ce suitable for discussion and brewed tea to set the mood.


    Here in this area teeming with herbs, all you need is to toss some random leaves into hot water, and voilà—tea.


    If Baek Seol-hwa were here, she’d probably clutch her neck in horror, but thankfully no one present was that particr.


    <strong>“Hehehe… to think we’re drinking tea brewed with Thousand-Year Fo-ti. This is pure luxury….”</strong>


    Tang Soyeong melted into a puddle, her face resembling a squishy rice cake.


    <strong>Thousand-Year Fo-ti</strong>, huh?


    I’ve had it before. It’s not as rare as the name makes it sound. Compared to things like <strong>Thousand-Year Flowers</strong> or <strong>Thousand-Year Ginseng</strong>, it’s just an herb with a fancy name.


    I shared everything I knew during the meeting.


    Each person—or beast—listened intently while sipping their tea.


    <strong>“That Namgung Yeon?”</strong>


    The Red Dragon picked up on the name immediately.


    <strong>“I had a feeling that human wasn’t normal. But Al-Yu? It sounds more like a beast’s name, though I’m not familiar with it.”</strong>


    <strong>“Same here,”</strong> added Queen Fasir. <strong>“It feels like a name my master once mentioned, but it’s been so long I can’t recall the details….”</strong>


    The Red Dragon and Queen Fasir are rtively ancient beings, yet even they didn’t know much about Al-Yu.


    Perhaps we’d need to wait until <strong>Gongbok</strong> awakened to learn more.


    <strong>“Al-Yu, you say?”</strong>


    Tang Soyeong—no, my cherished follower—suddenly spoke up as if she knew something.


    <strong>“Keek-keek.”</strong>


    Do you know something, Soyeong?


    <strong>“Well, I am from the Tang n, you know. I’ve read a lot of old books. The Tang n is particrly closed off, so we have many texts others wouldn’t know about.”</strong>


    Right.


    She may look unassuming, but she was indeed one of the Tang n’s key figures.


    <strong>“There’s even a forbidden archive that not even someone like me could ess.”</strong>


    Calling herself “precious” seems a bit much, doesn’t it?


    But let’s hear her out.


    <strong>“But, of course, I found a way inside.”</strong>


    Honestly, isn’t the Tang n chasing her because of stunts like this?


    <strong>“Most of the forbidden texts were too damaged or faded to read. Still, there was one with legible content—and it mentioned you, Great Deity.”</strong>


    A forbidden text about Gomo-do!


    But wait, even that third-rate swordsman Jang Bong knew about Gomo-do….


    <strong>“The name Al-Yu was written there too.”</strong>


    Fine, I’ll set aside my doubts about Soyeong for now.


    She’s a loyal and honorable mid-tier healer of Gomo-do.


    <strong>“I’ll recite what I remember.”</strong>


    We all leaned in to listen.


    <strong>“Its form resembles a cow. Its head is like a dragon’s, its hooves like a horse’s. Its cry is like that of a human infant, and it devours people.”</strong>


    …Sounds like a typical monster description.


    No wonder it seemed sinister.


    <strong>“It was just anothermon beast, or so I thought. But then there was more….”</strong>


    More?


    <strong>“Al-Yu was once a god of the heavens, but it was killed by Yi-Bu. Refusing death, six divine doctors resurrected it with an elixir of immortality. However, it lost its former intelligence and devolved into a mere beast.”</strong>


    A god of the heavens?


    <strong>“Six divine doctors… gods? That part feels strange to me. Anyway, that’s all the text said about Al-Yu.”</strong>


    This feels like a heavy revtion.


    I thought Namgung Yeon was merely an extraordinary spirit beast mimicking humans, but this adds a whole newyer.


    Still, in a world filled with mythical creatures running rampant, the existence of gods isn’t far-fetched.


    I’ve even encountered one before—<strong>Tae-Se</strong>, the evil god.


    Though it wasn’t its true form, I’d been hit by it directly.


    …And I managed to hit back.


    <strong>“So Namgung Yeon was such a being? No wonder I always felt like burning him to ash whenever I saw him,”</strong> muttered the Red Dragon.


    Still, Namgung Yeon clearly didn’t retain the full power of a god.


    If he had, he wouldn’t need such schemes.


    The fall into a beast-like state exins his reliance on tricks and his human disguise.


    At least now we know what we’re dealing with.


    After briefly considering handing Tang Soyeong a <strong>Fengyu Pill</strong> as a reward, I continued the discussion.


    First, I needed to ry this information to <strong>Heavenly Demon Sect</strong>.


    Namgung Yeon targeted me, but it’s likely my master was also a target.


    By killing me, he hoped to provoke my master into a rampage.


    I must ensure my master is prepared for what’s toe.


    <strong>“I’ll take care of contacting your master,”</strong> Queen Fasir offered. <strong>“After all, Heavenly Demon Sect’s disciples are always lurking near my temple. Besides, while I’m there, I may as well… try on certain garments….”</strong>


    Her crypticment aside, Queen Fasir was the perfect intermediary.


    As much as I’d like to inform my master personally, my <strong>gegeking</strong> sounds aren’t exactly ideal for clearmunication.


    With her eloquence and familiarity, Queen Fasir was the best choice.


    With the information shared, the next step was to thwart Namgung Yeon’s ns—specifically, dying the formation of the <strong>Martial Alliance</strong>.


    <strong>“I can handle that,”</strong> the Red Dragon said, raising her hand.


    <strong>“This whole incident with the Mount Hua Sect wasn’t officially sanctioned, was it? Because of the Shaolin Abbot’s objections, they acted independently, bringing only their forces.”</strong>


    She continued calmly, her voice resolute.


    <strong>“Namgung Yeon will likely exploit this, iming the Abbot’s refusal led to the sect leader’s meaningless death.”</strong>


    That’s how the orthodox sects work—they cling to justifications.


    If news spreads of Mount Hua’s destruction, even the Shaolin won’t be able to hold back the tide for long.


    The Red Dragon’s n was solid. If she exposed the Mount Hua Sect’s corruption and dered its dissolution as acting leader, Namgung Yeon’s momentum would falter.


    <strong>“No matter how persuasive Namgung Yeon is, he’s just an outcast of the Namgung n. Meanwhile, I’m the rightful heir to the Mount Hua Sect’s legacy. Whose words do you think they’ll trust?”</strong>


    Of course, they would believe the <strong>Red Dragon''s</strong> words.


    Though there was the matter of her needing to return to the <strong>Mount Hua Sect</strong> for her n.


    But this time, she wouldn’t be powerless as before.


    After all, she had defeated <strong>Ak Bulhwi</strong>, who had reached the <strong>Flower Realm</strong> in martial arts.


    “…There’s also a personal matter I need to handle. I thought I had ced her somewhere safe, but I think it’s better to keep her by my side,” the Red Dragon said.


    I remembered the story she had told me earlier.


    Her name was <strong>Irhwa</strong>, if I recall correctly.


    A sworn sister who served her faithfully.


    If Namgung Yeon intended to use her as leverage again, it would be better to officially bring her into my fold as a follower.


    This matter was best entrusted to the Red Dragon.


    While I had grown stronger after defeating <strong>Gongbok</strong>, the Red Dragon had also be significantly more powerful.


    If we were to fight again, I couldn’t be sure of victory.


    Roles were distributed clearly.


    <ul>


    <li><strong>Queen Fasir</strong> would contact my master.</li>


    <li><strong>The Red Dragon</strong> would return to the Mount Hua Sect and carry out sabotage.</li>


    <li><strong>Baekrang</strong> would defend my territory and train the other followers.</li>


    </ul>


    There was no weak link in this chain.


    These were the ones I trusted most, each possessing the strength to back it up.


    All I had to do now was focus on my own task.


    And my task was obvious:


    Travel to another volcano and find <strong>Chodo</strong>, the youngest of the <strong>Yongsaengguja</strong> (Eternal Life Beasts).


    If there was time, I could also revisit the rocky mountain once ruled by Gongbok.


    For the first time in a while, I was embarking on a solo mission.


    The <strong>Fox Marble</strong> would apany me, but it was just an artifact.


    If Gongbok awoke, meeting Chodo would be much easier.


    As <strong>Simma</strong> had said, Chodo was another master of <strong>Wood Energy</strong>.@@novelbin@@


    Learning to harness the power of the <strong>Yongmun</strong> (Dragon Gate) and gaining strength to counter Namgung Yeon’s schemes would be invaluable.


    “Chodo… I haven’t seen them myself, but I’ve heard stories. Their personality isn’t supposed to be very pleasant,” Baekrang said with concern.


    But I wasn’t worried.


    Who was I?


    The one who earned <strong>Gongbok’s</strong> recognition.


    And besides, Gongbok was sealed within the Fox Marble.


    As Chodo was the youngest of the <strong>Yongsaengguja</strong>, all it might take was one loud <strong>Gah!</strong> from Gongbok to make them tremble.


    “But… my dear mate, this Chodo… they’re not female, are they?”


    Queen Fasir asked, her toneced with suspicion.


    What? Surely not.


    It’s been a while since I’ve gone on an adventure alone—there’s no way I’d end up entangled with another female, right?


    If that happens, I might as well admit to being cursed with <strong>Peach Blossom Disaster</strong>.


    <strong>“Hehehe… ‘One Husband to Many Wives’…”</strong>


    Yikes! That startled me.


    The <strong>Ikkaksu</strong>, with their sly expressions, whispered among themselves.


    <strong>“Hehehe… Chlorophyll… Hehehe….”</strong>


    Chlorophyll?


    You guys know words like that?


    <strong>“Hehehe… Vines… Constriction… Hehehe….”</strong>


    They seemed to be murmuring something ominous, but surely, it had nothing to do with me.