Chapter 16: Ironclad Fire Lizard!

He entrusted the task of chasing ducks to Thomas, telling him to go exterminate pests in the farmland of several wealthy households.

Gervas gathered Knight-Leader Lei Meng and his knight retainers and left the castle.

Of course, before departing, he instructed Captain Laurens to keep watch over any unfamiliar travelers in town today, ensuring the blacksmith and his son remained in town awaiting his return.

Immediately afterward, he headed straight south toward the Storm Domain.

In the shrubbery five li south of Wheatfield Town, Gervas and his men moved swiftly through the undergrowth.

Magic grass mushrooms were not hard to find; though their faint magical glow was invisible by day, their rich fragrance could be clearly smelled as soon as one came within a meter.

“My lord, I’ve found another one!”

“My lord, I’ve found one too!”

From within the shrubbery, the exclamations of joy from his men echoed frequently.

After half an hour of gathering, all the magic grass mushrooms in the shrubbery had been collected.

His men piled the magic grass mushrooms together—good heavens, there were fully seventy or eighty stalks.

“So many! My lord, each magic grass mushroom 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 Viscount’s Knight-Leader, had broad experience—he had seen Viscount Patrick specifically purchase ten for his eldest heir, spending one gold coin.

He had even commissioned a caravan to procure them, for such plants, which enhance elemental magic affinity, were truly rare.

“About right, but I’m keeping all of these for myself, so no need to count their value. Lei Meng, pick five for yourself.”

“This is too precious! My lord, I haven’t earned any merit yet—I cannot accept such a reward!” Lei Meng quickly shook his head.

“Who says you haven’t earned merit? Have you forgotten the monster you slew yesterday? Besides, your rapid physical improvement makes the domain safer!”

“Thank you, my lord, for your grace!” Under Gervas’s persistent insistence, Lei Meng finally accepted the five magic grass mushrooms with gratitude, causing the knight retainers to stare in envy.

Of course, everyone understood this was the privilege of a Title Knight.

They themselves weren’t even ordinary knights—they simply couldn’t compare.

“Don’t envy them. When you advance to knight rank and earn merit, your rewards won’t be any less!”

…

Next, Gervas led his men further south.

According to intelligence, a Scalefire Lizard would give birth at the edge of the Death Mountains, within the Black Pine Forest.

That was a third-rank beast; if they could capture its offspring, whether to raise or sell, its value would exceed a hundred gold coins.

But since it lay near the Death Mountains, the area had long been abandoned by humans, making progress extremely difficult.

And the beast roars echoing from the rolling peaks ahead pressed heavily upon them.

Roar!

At that moment, a beast roar suddenly came from the southeast.

“My lord, that sound is close—no more than two li away!” Lei Meng immediately warned.

“Let’s go see. Yueyue reported to me today that a third-rank Scalefire Lizard is giving birth nearby.”

Lei Meng opened his mouth to speak but fell silent, seeing his lord’s unyielding expression—he dared not say more as a subordinate.

Soon, the Black Pine Forest appeared ahead. Lei Meng led the way, and the group cautiously entered the forest’s depths.

After carefully climbing over a dirt mound, a fiery “hill” suddenly loomed before them.

Instantly, the five knight retainers widened their eyes, clamping hands over their mouths, terrified their cries might summon mortal danger.

At least eight meters long, and standing two meters high at the shoulder, its body was covered in dark red scales, radiating a primordial, ferocious aura that overwhelmed them all.

This was precisely the Scalefire Lizard Gervas sought.

At this moment, the Scalefire Lizard was less than thirty meters from them, twisting its body repeatedly among the trees.

Aaaoo!

As the Scalefire Lizard let out a long cry, its first offspring was born.

Over half a minute later, a second Scalefire Lizard cub emerged.

The two cubs were each about one and a half meters long, their dark red scales identical to their mother’s.

Roar!

As the two cubs were safely delivered and the mother lizard began licking them, she suddenly lifted her head toward a nearby thicket and emitted a low, aggressive growl.

Rustle!

No sooner had she roared than the thicket shook violently, and a massive beast wolf leapt into the clearing.

The beast wolf was about two meters long and one and a half meters tall, its claws and fangs gleaming with a metallic silver sheen.

“Third-rank Ironclaw Wolf!” The knight retainers’ voices trembled.

If provoked by the Scalefire Lizard, one might still survive by fleeing fast enough.

But against the Ironclaw Wolf, neither fighting nor fleeing offered any hope—only death awaited.

Roar! Roar! Roar!

After appearing, the Ironclaw Wolf’s target was unmistakable—the newly delivered Scalefire Lizard mother.

Both were third-rank beasts; consuming this Scalefire Lizard might even allow the Ironclaw Wolf to ascend directly to fourth rank.

After circling the Scalefire Lizard several times, the Ironclaw Wolf finally launched its attack.

The Scalefire Lizard mother, though larger, could only defend passively, forced to protect her cubs.

Soon, roars filled the Black Pine Forest, and countless tall black pines were shattered and crushed.

They were snapped and crushed under the impact of the two beasts.

Gervas and his men watched, hearts pounding—third-rank beasts were truly formidable.

Even Lei Meng would have no choice but to turn and flee.

As the battle raged, both sides bore wounds. The Ironclaw Wolf had expected an easy meal.

It had not anticipated that motherhood had awakened in the Scalefire Lizard an unprecedented ferocity—she fearlessly traded blows, even at the cost of her own body.

Seeing no advantage, the Ironclaw Wolf immediately sought to retreat.

But the Scalefire Lizard, eyes red with rage, would not let it escape so easily—she charged recklessly in pursuit.

Left behind, the two cubs cowered in a nearby thicket, whimpering anxiously.

“Now! Lei Meng, take one! Migen, you take the other!”

Though the risk was high, the opportunity was rare—the stronger the Scalefire Lizard, the less Gervas wanted to let it go.

The group swiftly circled behind the two cubs and charged forward.

Lei Meng handled one alone; Migen and the five knight retainers took the other.

The instant they pinned the cubs, they slipped pre-prepared ropes over their mouths like nooses for crocodiles.

This was to prevent the cubs from crying out and summoning their mother, buying time for their escape.

Soon, the group bound the cubs together.

“Go!”

No time to waste—the group fled immediately.

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

Migen and the five knight retainers jointly lifted the other cub.

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

Without pause, the moment the two cubs were placed on the cart, they spurred their horses into a wild gallop.

To mask their scent, Gervas scattered chili powder along the route.

Roar! Roar! Roar!

Just one or two minutes after they fled, a continuous, mournful roar erupted behind them—the Scalefire Lizard mother’s cries sent flocks of birds soaring from the surrounding Black Pine Forest.