Chapter 64: The Hooligan Youth and the Silver-Haired Lady.
Jié Jié took another deep breath, stomped his foot, and cracked the ground before compacting it even further. His breathing steadied as he tried to sense the flow of his blood vessels or pulse. There were no signs of imbalance; the enhancements from consuming the宝玉 had optimized his body. The toxin-based upgrades likely produced corresponding protein antibodies within him to avoid self-harm. Unfortunately, during battles with other monsters, the tail of the Savage Jaw Dragon mainly served for balance, rarely showcasing its toxic effects.
After a moment of introspection, Jie confirmed that the Totem of the Hōng Lóng had been unlocked. He left the less-than-delicious corpse of the Hōng Lóng behind and strode forward, attempting to distance himself from the young Savage Jaw Dragon trailing behind like a loyal younger brother, even jogging to keep up.
When Jie turned around to glare at the young Savage Jaw Dragon, the latter raised its nasal crest, seemingly ready to rub against him affectionately.
“Brother! You’re male!” Jie leapt sideways in shock, glaring at the young dragon. At that moment, their eyes met, and the young Savage Jaw Dragon’s heart seemed to leap into Jie’s. With no hesitation, Jie coldly shut the metaphorical window to his soul.
He understood now. This Savage Jaw Dragon had suffered greatly at the hands of the Thunder Wolf Dragon clan in the forest, forced to live on the outskirts. Monsters have the ability to learn, and this experience led it to mimic the Thunder Wolf Dragons, seeking companionship among its own kind for mutual support.
Not only did Jie’s appearance and subsequent victory over the Hōng Lóng and the Thunder Wolf Dragons confirm his strength, but they also gave the young Savage Jaw Dragon hope. “Savage Jaw Dragons must unite!”
These were Jie’s speculations, but they likely weren’t far off. Though surprised, he closed the window again, his gaze filled with sympathy and refusal. “I’m not just a Savage Jaw Dragon.”
Jie spread his wings in front of the young Savage Jaw Dragon and let out a long roar. The powerful wind pressure from the Fire Dragon’s wing beats caused the Savage Jaw Dragon to shake its head, then lift it to watch Jie soar away into the sky.
Confusion replaced rejection, and soon a new idea sparked in the young Savage Jaw Dragon’s mind. If one door closes, another will open. Jie may have slammed the window shut, but he’d also ripped off the roof.
Wisdom grows through exposure to diverse ideas. The Savage Jaw Dragon’s instinctual understanding shattered when it saw a fellow Savage Jaw Dragon transform into a Fire Dragon. In awe, it reshaped its worldview. Perhaps, it thought, trying something different could work?
It turned back to continue devouring the remaining Hōng Lóng corpse while Jie flew toward the last known location of the hatchlings, hoping to find his offspring. But before finding them, an unexpected encounter occurred.
It was the Female Fire Dragon encountered earlier alongside Big Lei. She might have built her nest nearby, appearing mature, possibly having been driven back from Ancient Tree after mating?
The Female Fire Dragon showed extreme caution upon this meeting, letting out a low-pitched roar. Her intention was to forbid approach, not to challenge for territorial dominance.
“Aaaang!”
Jie responded with a loud roar that froze the Female Fire Dragon mid-flight, causing her to drop half a body length. Before she could retreat, Jie respected her request by maintaining distance and flying past her.
With one flap of his wings, he covered considerable distance. Confused, the Female Fire Dragon turned and continued flying forward.
Following the scent of the Male Fire Dragon, she looked down and spotted the Savage Jaw Dragon still feeding on the Hōng Lóng corpse.
Food. The notion of seizing it arose in the Female Fire Dragon’s mind. Preparing for the nurturing period, she needed substantial provisions. A Fairy Deer in the morning and subsequent hunts barely filled her stomach.
If only a Male Fire Dragon would provide for her. Unfortunately, inexperienced youth ran straight to the center of the Ancient Tree, expecting a good husband after mating. Instead, she was driven out by the alpha female, becoming a single mother.
Why not find an excellent Male Fire Dragon elsewhere and maintain a model couple?
“Aaaang!”
The Female Fire Dragon roared, hoping the Savage Jaw Dragon would retreat without causing injury at this stage.
“Paat.”
Seeing a large piece of meat flung by the Savage Jaw Dragon land near her, she became momentarily baffled. Having experienced such situations before, her mind quickly conjured possible outcomes. She prepared for simple expulsion, acceptance of the prize if the Savage Jaw Dragon retreated, and even abandonment.
But she hadn’t anticipated being offered free food.
This smells delicious.
“Aaaang!”
Another piece of meat landed. Truly delightful.
As the Female Fire Dragon contemplated begging for more, her eyes met those of the Savage Jaw Dragon.
Let’s split the spoils fifty-fifty and move forward together?
Hmm…
We can pull off something big too, right?
The Queen of the Land lowered all pretenses, flapping her wings to fly, her sharp eyes scanning below for prey. The Savage Jaw Dragon followed closely on the ground, pausing briefly to drink water and cool down until spotting a group of Thunder Wolf Dragons.
Youthful hooligan versus the silver-haired temptress once again locked eyes.
No way we can win, buddy!
Giving the Thunder Wolf Dragons no chance to drive him away, the Savage Jaw Dragon turned and ran.
The Female Fire Dragon hesitated for a moment but ultimately chose not to abandon the team. Confirming the Thunder Wolf Dragons had ceased pursuit, she hovered above a lone one.
Once the Savage Jaw Dragon identified the isolated target, it charged forward with great strides. Fireballs from above crossed with fiery tongues from the ground, igniting the fur of the lone Thunder Wolf Dragon and charring countless Thunder Light Bugs.
The young Thunder Wolf Dragon whimpered and cried, perhaps calling for more Thunder Light Bugs from the forest to replenish its ranks. However, the Savage Jaw Dragon’s bites and the Female Fire Dragon’s aerial dives already intersected effectively. The advantage of coordinated attacks from sky and land proved highly effective, leaving the lone Thunder Wolf Dragon unable to escape.
In the end—
Fifty-fifty split.
Perhaps someone ate a little extra to fill their belly, but the remaining carcass still had plenty of flesh.
Full, unable to eat more.
The Female Fire Dragon grabbed the leftover meat and flew away, indifferent to the Savage Jaw Dragon’s lack of concern. Thus, the Forest Hooligan and the Silver-Haired Temptress reached an unspoken agreement: “See you next time.”
