Chapter 52: Meeting a Companion

At that moment, Zhou Ming could only rely on the Thunder Type-2 Revolver in his hand to bluff his opponent. Otherwise, if a conflict broke out, he wasn’t sure whether his right arm could even hold up.

If he missed his target, Zhou Ming would definitely meet his end here today.

Seeing Zhou Ming’s current state, the suddenly appearing young man didn’t dare to take the gamble either.

“You just used a grenade?”

The question seemed to be more about confirming his own judgment.

“Thunderstorm-type, impact grenade — meant for dealing with Ferocious Beasts. But this time, I used it on someone who tried to ambush me.”

“Oh right, I still have one left in my backpack. Want to see what it can do? It’s my first time using something this powerful.”

Zhou Ming’s tone was casual, but every word carried a threat.

A lunatic — and a powerful one at that.

That was the first impression that flashed through the stranger’s mind after hearing Zhou Ming’s words.

“I’ll step back. How about you put down the gun? I want to talk.”

The young man mounted on the Scorpion-Tailed Lion spoke slowly, watching Zhou Ming, whom he had already deemed insane.

“Talk about what?”

“I found a severely injured high-tier—”

“Wait.”

Before the man could finish, Zhou Ming immediately interrupted.

“Don’t tell me you’re talking about a severely injured high-tier Ferocious Beast that you’re planning to hunt?”

Seeing Zhou Ming’s mocking gaze, the young man resisted the urge to snap.

Originally, he had planned to use force to make Zhou Ming his cannon fodder, but under the current situation, that was impossible. He could only try to persuade him to cooperate instead.

Although he’d lost a potential decoy, a powerful companion was even better — if only the other party would believe him.

“Yes.”

Before Zhou Ming could speak again, the young man continued.

“A high-tier Ferocious Beast — a Wyvern, poison attribute sub-dragon. Its materials alone are worth over one hundred million Alliance Coins. If we happen to find a Dragon Crystal, that value can’t even be measured in Alliance Coins — only Source Crystals could.”

Zhou Ming had been ready to refuse, but after hearing that, the words stuck in his throat.

“How do I know you’re not lying?”

“Simple. You can come with me and see for yourself. I originally wanted a decoy, but your strength qualifies you to share my spoils.”

For the sake of the Wyvern’s valuable materials, the young man didn’t bother hiding his true motive.

“Nice words — your spoils. If you could handle it yourself, would you really need help?”

“I can come take a look, but I need three days to recover.”

Even Zhou Ming, usually calm and rational, felt his heart stir at the potential profit from a Wyvern.

“No. At most, one day. Otherwise, with a high-tier Ferocious Beast’s recovery ability, once it regains even ten or twenty percent of its strength, we won’t stand a chance even together.”

Zhou Ming immediately shook his head. He was willing to take risks — but not to die pointlessly.

“Catch.”

A green vial of potion was tossed toward him. Inkband shot out swiftly, coiling around the vial and bringing it safely to the ground.

“You’re really cautious. Aren’t you afraid your Beast might get hurt?”

Seeing the small, slender Inkband, the stranger didn’t seem surprised. He’d seen plenty of small-sized Beasts before.

“Low-tier Healing Potion — quite the generous gift.”

With his solid basic knowledge, Zhou Ming immediately recognized it after uncapping the vial with his left hand.

“You leave first. Once I’ve recovered, I’ll follow you at dawn.”

“There’s a cave not far from here. If you think it’s fine, you can put that thing away and come with me. Surely, you don’t think you’re more valuable than a Wyvern in my eyes, do you?”

“Lead the way.”

Zhou Ming didn’t hesitate. He holstered the Thunder Type-2 Revolver as the stinging in his arm grew sharper — he might as well agree.

The young man glanced at Zhou Ming, then turned his Scorpion-Tailed Lion around and rode off, while Zhou Ming followed behind at a steady pace.

With the Scorpion-Tailed Lion, a dominator among low-tier Ferocious Beasts, no other beasts or mutant animals dared to approach them.

Under a cliff wall, inside a cave shaped like a horn, Zhou Ming and the young man sat across from each other, separated by a campfire. Their Beasts rested quietly beside them.

“What should I call you?”

Zhou Ming glanced down at Inkband and casually replied, “Ten Thousand Serpents. You?”

“Scorpion-Lion.”

Hearing Zhou Ming use a codename, the young man likewise used his Beast’s name as his alias.

“How did you discover that injured Wyvern? Was it wounded by another Official Rank Beast Tamer’s hunt?”

“No idea. I just happened to see a badly injured Wyvern falling from the sky — it couldn’t even fly anymore. That’s why I thought of hunting it.”

Zhou Ming’s expression darkened immediately.

Even if that Wyvern wasn’t the prey of an Official Rank Beast Tamer, the Scorpion-Lion had seen it — meaning others likely had too. What they’d face wouldn’t just be an injured Wyvern, but red-eyed hunters.

“Scorpion-Lion, you don’t think you’re the only one who saw it, do you?”

“I’m not that stupid. That’s why I wanted a decoy to use as bait — but I didn’t expect to find a capable companion instead.”

“Companion? Let’s hope so. Otherwise, the only ‘Big Pineapple’ I’ve got left will be my parting gift to you.”

“See you tomorrow.”

Patting his backpack that held the smoke grenade disguised as a high-explosive grenade, Zhou Ming spoke with arrogant confidence — his intimidation rested entirely on that ruse.

Seeing Zhou Ming’s gesture, Scorpion-Lion twitched at the corner of his eye, half afraid Zhou Ming might actually blow them both up.

Leaving Inkband to guard the area, Zhou Ming moved to a corner of the cave and prepared to use the Low-tier Healing Potion.

Though healing potions were precious, Zhou Ming wasn’t foolish enough to hoard them. After all, a dead man couldn’t use any potion.

He drank half of it himself, then quietly summoned Zhu Yu and fed the remaining half to it before recalling it again.

The potion’s effect was remarkable. Within moments, the scrape on Zhou Ming’s temple scabbed and peeled off, and his right arm fully recovered — his condition returning to peak form.

The soreness throughout his body faded away in waves of soothing warmth.

Half a vial of Healing Potion hadn’t just healed his external wounds — even his internal injuries had been restored.

By Zhou Ming’s estimation, after a night’s rest, his overall strength would increase by at least ten percent.

Feeling the changes in his body, Zhou Ming finally relaxed his guard, recalled the tired Inkband, and fell soundly asleep.

The young man by the fire watched Zhou Ming’s easy demeanor, feeling puzzled. One moment he was vigilant and on edge, the next he’d let down all defenses.

“Interesting.”

He was one of the few people the young man couldn’t quite see through.

After adding some wood to the fire, Scorpion-Lion lay down to rest, while his Beast — the Scorpion-Tailed Lion — stood watch for the night.