Chapter 16

He handed the task of driving ducks to Thomas, instructing him to remove pests from the fields of several wealthy households.

Gervas summoned Knight Captain Lei Meng and the knight squires, then left the castle.

Naturally, before departing, he ordered Guard Captain Lauren to keep watch for strange travelers in the town today and ensure that the blacksmith and his son remained in town until his return.

Immediately, he headed straight for the south of Storm Territory.

Among the shrubbery five li from Wheatfield Town, Gervas and his entourage moved constantly through the undergrowth.

Magic mushroom grass was not hard to find; although the faint magical glow was invisible during the day, its rich fragrance could be clearly smelled once one approached within a meter.

"My lord, this humble one has found another one!"

"My lord, this humble one has found one too!"

From time to time, the joyful cheers of his subordinates echoed from the shrubbery.

Finally, after half an hour of gathering, all the magic mushroom grass within the shrubbery had been completely scavenged by hand.

His subordinates gathered the magic mushroom grass together; good heavens, there were actually seventy or eighty specimens in total.

"So many, my lord! Each of these magic mushroom grasses is worth at least ten silver coins, so this lot is worth at least seven or eight gold coins!"

Lei Meng, who had once served as a Viscount's Knight Captain, was well-traveled and knowledgeable; he had seen Viscount Patrick specifically purchase ten of them for his eldest heir to consume, spending a single gold coin.

Moreover, he had specially commissioned a merchant caravan to procure them, because plants capable of increasing affinity with elemental magic were truly rare.

"About right. However, I will keep these for my own use, so I have no greed for their value. Lei Meng, go ahead and pick five for yourself!"

"This is too precious! My lord, I have not yet achieved any merit; I cannot accept such a reward!" Lei Meng hurriedly shook his head.

"Who said you haven't achieved merit? Do you forget the monsters you slew yesterday? Furthermore, your rapid physical improvement will make the territory even safer!"

"Thank you, my lord, for your benevolence!" Under Gervas's persistent insistence, Lei Meng finally gratefully accepted five magic mushroom grasses, which caused the several knight squires to feel a wave of envy.

Of course, everyone clearly understood that this was the treatment afforded to a titled knight.

They themselves were not even ordinary knights; truly, there was no comparison.

"Do not envy, you few. When you advance to become knights and achieve merit, the benefits will not be lacking either!"

Next, Gervas led the group continuing southward.

According to intelligence, within the Black Pine Forest at the edge of the Death Mountain Range, an Iron-Clad Fire Salamander would be giving birth.

That was a third-tier magical beast; if its offspring could be obtained, whether raised personally or sold, its value would be upwards of one hundred gold coins.

However, because it was close to the Death Mountain Range, this area was already rarely visited by humans, making forward progress incredibly difficult.

And the beast roars occasionally heard from the rolling Shanfeng ahead gave people a powerful sense of oppression.

Roar!

Just then, a beast roar suddenly came from the southeast direction.

"My lord, this sound is very close, certainly within two li!" Lei Meng immediately issued a warning.

"Let's go, we shall go and see. Yue reported to me today that there is a third-tier Iron-Clad Fire Salamander giving birth nearby!"

Upon hearing this, Lei Meng hesitated with words on his lips, but seeing his lord's expression that brooked no refusal, as a subordinate he naturally dared not speak further.

Soon, the Black Pine Forest appeared ahead; led by Lei Meng, everyone cautiously made their way to the depths of the forest.

After carefully climbing over a small earthen mound, a fiery red 'small mountain' suddenly appeared before them.

Immediately, the five knight squires widened their eyes, frightened into immediately covering their mouths, fearing their shouts would invite danger to their lives.

With a body length of at least eight meters and a height while prone of at least two meters, its body covered in dark red scales, possessing a ferocious temperament like a prehistoric vicious beast, it absolutely brought a strong sense of oppression to everyone.

This was precisely the Iron-Clad Fire Salamander Gervas sought.

At this moment, the Iron-Clad Fire Salamander was less than thirty meters from the group, constantly twisting its body among the trees.

Awooo!

Just then, with a long cry from the Iron-Clad Fire Salamander, the first Iron-Clad Salamander cub was born.

After a minute and a half, the second Iron-Clad Fire Salamander cub was likewise born.

The two Iron-Clad Fire Salamander cubs were only about one and a half meters in size, but the dark red scales on their bodies were identical to their mother's.

Roar!

Just as the two cubs were successfully delivered, while the Iron-Clad Mother Salamander was constantly licking the two cubs, it suddenly raised its head to look at a thicket to one side and emitted a low, aggressive growl.

Rustle!

As soon as its roar subsided, the thicket shook, and then a huge magical beast wolf leaped into the clearing.

The magical beast wolf was about two meters in length and one and a half meters tall, its claws and fangs emitting a silver metallic luster.

"A third-tier Iron-Claw Wolf!" The voices of the knight squires trembled.

If one provoked the Iron-Clad Fire Salamander, as long as one ran fast enough, there was still a certain probability of survival.

But facing the Iron-Claw Wolf, unable to fight and unable to run, there was only the path of death.

Growl, growl, growl!

After the Iron-Claw Wolf appeared, its target was very clear: the Iron-Clad Mother Salamander that had just given birth.

Both belonging to the third tier, if it could devour this Iron-Clad Mother, perhaps it would allow this Iron-Claw Wolf to advance directly to the fourth tier.

After circling the Iron-Clad Fire Salamander several times, the Iron-Claw Wolf finally began its attack.

And the Iron-Clad Mother Salamander, although possessing a size advantage, could only defend passively because it needed to protect its cubs.

For a time, within the Black Pine Forest, roars and cries never ceased, and large areas of straight black pine trees around them suffered misfortune.

They were broken and crushed under the collision between the Iron-Clad Fire Salamander and the Iron-Claw Wolf.

Gervas and the others watched with hearts pounding wildly; third-tier magical beasts were indeed formidable.

Even Lei Meng would likely only be able to turn and flee.

As the battle progressed, both sides showed wounds; the Iron-Claw Wolf had originally thought it could come to snatch a bargain.

Who would have thought that motherhood would make it fierce—the mother iron-scaled fire lizard's maternal instinct unleashed an unprecedented ferocity, even unafraid of exchanging wounds for wounds.

Seeing no advantage to be gained, the iron-clawed wolf immediately conceived of retreat.

But the iron-scaled fire lizard, now blinded by rage, would not let it escape so easily, charging wildly in pursuit.

At once, only two hatchlings remained hidden in a nearby thicket, crying out anxiously.

"Now's the time—Lei Meng, you take one; Knight Mi Gen, you and your team take the other!"

Though the risk was high, the opportunity was rare—the stronger the iron-scaled fire lizard, the less Gervas wanted to let it go.

Thus, the group swiftly circled behind the two hatchlings and then charged forward abruptly.

Lei Meng faced one alone; Knight Mi Gen and the other five knight attendants took on the other.

The instant they pinned down the two little ones, they slipped the pre-prepared ropes over their mouths like noosing a crocodile.

This was to prevent the hatchlings from calling out and drawing back their mother, buying time for their escape.

Soon, the group together completed binding the little ones.

"Go!"

Without delay, the group fled immediately.

Lei Meng slung the one-and-a-half-meter-long hatchling over his shoulder.

Knight Mi Gen and the other five knight attendants jointly lifted the other hatchling.

Ten minutes later, the group burst out of the forest.

Without a moment's pause, the instant they placed the two hatchlings onto the cart, they spurred their horses into a wild gallop.

And to mask their scent, Gervas scattered copious amounts of chili powder along the way.

Roar! Roar! Roar!

Just as they had galloped for one or two minutes, a continuous, mournful roar erupted from behind—the iron-scaled mother lizard's cries sent flocks of birds soaring from the surrounding black pine forest.