Chapter 53: The Hidden Rich Man

“Had a good sleep, huh?”

As soon as Zhou Ming opened his eyes, he heard a voice tinged with resentment beside him.

“Scorpion-Lion, don’t be so stingy. Your Scorpion-Tailed Lion wouldn’t have its combat strength affected even if it went several days and nights without rest.”

Zhou Ming stretched lazily, then placed the backpack he had been hugging aside.

“Besides, doesn’t this show that I trust you? First time meeting, and I already entrust you with my life.”

“Then why did you hug your backpack all night?”

The Scorpion-Lion had seen it clearly—Zhou Ming had kept his right hand inside his backpack the entire night. This was called entrusting his life?

He was absolutely sure—if anything had really happened last night, Zhou Ming would definitely have pulled out that Pineapple Grenade and fought him to the death.

“Haha, it’s just an old bad habit from hugging girls to sleep. Ah, now that you mention it, I kinda miss Xiao Hong.”

Whether in his past life or this one, Zhou Ming was a man through and through. Yet faced with the Scorpion-Lion’s question, his response sounded exactly like that of a lecherous rogue.

“Anyway, let’s go check out that Wyvern you mentioned. Someone might already be making their move.”

After offering a simple explanation, Zhou Ming shifted the topic to the Wyvern. As for his earlier bluffing, it was best not to let the other man dwell on it.

If the Scorpion-Lion saw through him, who knew what might happen? Peace was only possible when both sides possessed deterrent power.

“Follow me.”

After glancing Zhou Ming up and down and finding nothing unusual, the Scorpion-Lion turned and walked toward his own beast.

Once the other man had walked off, Zhou Ming peered into his backpack and saw that only a few smoke bombs remained. He instantly regretted not buying another grenade.

Not wanting to arouse suspicion, Zhou Ming sighed inwardly, packed his bag, and followed the Scorpion-Lion along with Inkband toward the Wyvern’s location.

On the way, Zhou Ming could only use some special jerky and clean water to quiet his growling stomach.

An hour later, with the Scorpion-Tailed Lion clearing the way, Zhou Ming and Scorpion-Lion successfully reached the top of a small hill.

“About three li ahead, in that valley.”

Choosing a good vantage point, the Scorpion-Lion directly pointed out where the Wyvern had fallen.

Zhou Ming immediately pulled a single-barrel telescope from the side of his backpack, adjusted the focus, and looked toward the direction Scorpion-Lion had indicated.

Meanwhile, Inkband coiled around Zhou Ming’s left shoulder, keeping constant watch on the Scorpion-Lion’s movements.

Lacking any sense of security, Zhou Ming never liked placing his life in another’s hands.

The Scorpion-Lion, sitting atop his own beast, saw Zhou Ming’s guarded attitude and couldn’t help but wonder—was all this really necessary?

Earlier that morning, he’d seen Zhou Ming tuck a round object into his chest pocket, and then meticulously check his Thunder Type-2 Revolver several times. Was he afraid the revolver would jam?

But Zhou Ming noticed none of this—his eyes were fixed on the enormous figure in his telescope.

The Wyvern stretched over twenty to thirty meters from head to tail, and when standing, it was over ten meters tall. Its body was covered in palm-sized dark green scales, and its massive head alone was two meters wide, surrounded by sharp bone spurs.

Through the telescope, Zhou Ming could see that its left wing had been torn open two-thirds from the root, and there were several meter-long gashes across its chest.

Judging from the marks, it seemed to have fought another high-rank Ferocious Beast. The wounds didn’t resemble those caused by an Official Rank Beast Tamer.

Within a hundred meters around the Wyvern, the ground looked corroded by dragon breath—nothing could grow there.

Zhou Ming also noticed something unpleasant: low-rank Ferocious Beasts that tried to scavenge near the Wyvern ended up becoming its food instead.

After all, while high-rank Ferocious Beasts could use energy particles from the air to heal, that process was painfully slow. Normally, they hunted lower-ranked beasts to consume their flesh and recover faster.

“What do you plan to do?”

Putting down the telescope, Zhou Ming turned toward Scorpion-Lion. From the look on his face, he was already tempted.

But who wouldn’t be? Seeing a heavily injured Wyvern unable to move, anyone would drool at the thought.

The fact that Zhou Ming could stay rational was already commendable.

“Clear the area.”

The tone was calm but carried a chilling bloodthirst.

Hearing his reply, Zhou Ming immediately understood—the man was no pacifist. His earlier generosity with healing potions had clearly been driven by larger profits ahead.

“I have one thing to ask first.”

“Speak.”

“If there’s a Dragon Crystal inside the Wyvern’s body, how do we split it?”

At those words, the air instantly froze.

A Dragon Crystal was essentially a Beast Core—only Lord-level Ferocious Beasts possessed them, serving as the core source of their power.

Since Beast Cores formed within a beast’s body, their energy was already refined. Whether used for potion-making, crafting equipment, or feeding to a tamed beast, they were precious beyond measure.

Even among high-rank Ferocious Beasts, the chance of forming one was small—usually only those with great fortune or exceptionally pure bloodlines.

Dragon-type Ferocious Beasts, however, had a comparatively higher chance due to their draconic blood.

The cores from dragon-type beasts were called Dragon Crystals because consuming one gave a tamed beast a chance to inherit draconic traits. The crystal’s unique dragon aura could also help a Beast Tamer temper their Spiritual Power.

Even though a high-rank Ferocious Beast’s core couldn’t compare to that of a Lord-level beast, it was enough to make Official Rank Beast Tamers fight to the death—let alone two Apprentice Beast Tamers like Zhou Ming and Scorpion-Lion.

“If there’s a Dragon Crystal, it’s mine.”

Scorpion-Lion looked coldly at Zhou Ming, openly stating his claim.

Seeing that Zhou Ming didn’t object, he added, “I can compensate you in other ways.”

“In what way?”

Hearing that, Zhou Ming grinned immediately.

He was greedy, but not stupid.

That grenade was pure bluff, and since his Thunder Type-2 Revolver was already known to the other, Scorpion-Lion would definitely be on guard. If his strength wasn’t enough, he wouldn’t bite off more than he could chew.

Eat only what your stomach can handle—otherwise, you’ll burst.

“That depends on what you want. Judging by you, I’d say you’re a Wild Beast Tamer. Meditation Techniques, Transcendent Ritual materials, advanced Beast Taming knowledge, secret skills, high-grade potions—whatever you want, as long as it’s reasonable, I can get it.”

Rich guy.

Hearing every item Scorpion-Lion listed, Zhou Ming’s eyes shone brighter with each one.

He even considered giving up on the Wyvern altogether and just kidnapping Scorpion-Lion instead.

But judging from the man’s strength—and the fact he could casually offer such terms—he clearly had a powerful background. Zhou Ming had to abandon that thought.

“You’re not some rich young master sneaking out to ‘experience the hardships of the common folk,’ are you?”

“Have you decided?”

Scorpion-Lion frowned, feeling annoyed at Zhou Ming’s overly curious look.

“I’ve decided.”

Seeing Scorpion-Lion’s impatient expression, Zhou Ming immediately replied.

He didn’t dare offend this walking treasure chest—he was already plotting to become his dearest brother-in-arms, sharing blessings and hardships together.

“I want…”