The Shadow-Hunting Lizard's Story

"Isn't this Zhou Hao's Shadow-Hunting Lizard? So it's staying at your shop."

Zhang Yun's words cut Xu Ran short just as he was about to offer a longer introduction.

"You know this Shadow-Hunting Lizard?"

"Yeah. I'd recognize that scar at the corner of its left eye anywhere." Zhang Yun pointed at the Shadow-Hunting Lizard. "I know its Beast Tamer."

Xu Ran blinked.

Having spent three days with the Shadow-Hunting Lizard, he naturally knew about the distinctive scar at the corner of its left eye.

The fact that Zhang Yun had recognized it instantly ruled out any chance of mistaken identity.

Xu Ran, who had been wondering how to comfort the Shadow-Hunting Lizard, brightened.

This customer knew the Shadow-Hunting Lizard's Beast Tamer!

In that case, might he know what had happened between the Shadow-Hunting Lizard and its Beast Tamer?

"Come to think of it, this Shadow-Hunting Lizard has had it pretty rough." Zhang Yun sighed, then took out his phone to transfer the money. "At 6,666 yuan a day, I've sent you a week's boarding fees. I'll leave my Stone-Armored Dragon in your care."

Some Beast King Foster Shop. They couldn't board a thing!

"Of course."

Xu Ran accepted the payment, but instead of settling in the new arrival right away, he asked, "Mr. Zhang Yun, could you tell me about the Shadow-Hunting Lizard and its Beast Tamer?"

"To be honest, its Beast Tamer didn't leave any contact information. The Shadow-Hunting Lizard has been feeling down ever since it arrived. I'd like to help it feel better, but I don't know the full story."

Zhang Yun gave Xu Ran an approving look.

Taking the initiative to comfort a dejected Contract Beast wasn't part of the boarding service. Xu Ran's willingness to do so showed that he had made the right choice.

"Since you want to know, I'll give you a quick rundown." Zhang Yun checked the time. Since he no longer had to visit the Beast King Foster Shop, he actually had more time to spare.

Zhang Yun then gave Xu Ran a rough account of what he knew.

After their conversation, understanding dawned on Xu Ran's face.

The problem between the Shadow-Hunting Lizard and its Beast Tamer, Zhou Hao, wasn't actually complicated.

It all stemmed from the second Contract Beast Zhou Hao had contracted a while ago.

Zhou Hao was a professional beast battler. Fighting other Beast Tamers and steadily growing stronger was both his passion and his profession.

As Zhou Hao's first Contract Beast, the Shadow-Hunting Lizard was far from weak, but it certainly wasn't among the very best. After relying on it to gradually establish himself, Zhou Hao had paid a considerable price to obtain a powerful second Contract Beast-a Brilliant Dragon Sparrow.

Even among commander species, some were stronger than others. Brilliant Dragon Sparrows were born with four two-star skills and an exceptional instinct for combat, making them one of the finest Contract Beast species.

However, Brilliant Dragon Sparrows had one small flaw.

They were very likely to have a jealous disposition.

Unfortunately, Zhou Hao's was one of them.

As soon as the jealous Brilliant Dragon Sparrow contracted with Zhou Hao, it became hostile toward the Shadow-Hunting Lizard, which had been contracted before it.

The Brilliant Dragon Sparrow was also extremely clever.

Rather than openly causing trouble, it used all sorts of tricks to provoke the Shadow-Hunting Lizard into attacking it, then acted pitiful in front of Zhou Hao.

In short, it played the innocent victim.

After several such incidents, Zhou Hao realized that peaceful coexistence between his two Contract Beasts had become impossible. He could only choose between them and send one away for long-term boarding.

The one he chose to keep was the Brilliant Dragon Sparrow.

The reason was simple: the Brilliant Dragon Sparrow had greater potential and value than the Shadow-Hunting Lizard, and could be more useful in his work.

So the Shadow-Hunting Lizard had to be the one sacrificed.

"That's more or less what happened." Zhang Yun sighed. "Once a Beast Tamer has several Contract Beasts, he has to find a way to help them get along. An irreconcilable situation like this is the hardest to deal with."

"Yeah."

Xu Ran nodded, feeling even more sympathy for the Shadow-Hunting Lizard.

Now that he understood the situation, he had a few ideas about how to comfort it.

"All right, it's getting late. I'd better get going." After checking the time, Zhang Yun gave the Stone-Armored Dragon one last hug. "Be good while you're here. I'll come back for you!"

"Roo~"

The Stone-Armored Dragon rubbed its large head against its Beast Tamer and waved its tail in farewell.

Looking back every few steps, Zhang Yun finally left the boarding area.

"This will be your living space from now on." Xu Ran quickly built a mound of pebbles like a small hill for the Stone-Armored Dragon.

"Roar!"

The Stone-Armored Dragon's eyes lit up, and it expertly burrowed into the pebbles.

The smooth pebbles wouldn't wear down its stone scales much, and burying itself in a pile of rocks was its favorite way to play.

"Play for a while. I'll get your food ready."

After calling out to the pile of stones, Xu Ran turned and headed for the Preparation Room.

The Stone-Armored Dragon ate three meals a day. Two could be served alongside the other two Contract Beasts' meals, but it needed an extra meal in between.

Xu Ran soon finished preparing the food with practiced ease and returned carrying the bowl.

Catching the irresistible aroma that made its mouth water, the Stone-Armored Dragon abandoned its pebble game, quickly wriggled out of the pile, and crawled over to the bowl.

It swallowed hard. The bowl of food before it seemed like an alluring temptress, leaving it unable to resist the urge to taste it.

"Go ahead. This whole bowl is yours." Seeing that the Stone-Armored Dragon was a little shy in its new surroundings, Xu Ran spoke with a smile.

"Roo!"

At Xu Ran's words, the Stone-Armored Dragon abandoned its restraint and took a huge mouthful from the bowl.

As it savored the wonderful texture of the food and the rich aroma filling its mouth and nose, its gaze gradually grew dreamy.

This flavor...

In its daze, it seemed to see a beautiful female Stone-Armored Dragon approaching, and the tingling sensation it had felt during its grooming returned.

"Roo~~"

[Happiness Points from the Stone-Armored Dragon +10]

[Happiness Points from the Stone-Armored Dragon +10]

[From...]

After putting away the Stone-Armored Dragon's food bowl, Xu Ran turned and walked toward the Shadow-Hunting Lizard hiding in the shadows of the Stone Forest.

"You heard everything Mr. Zhang Yun said about you just now, didn't you?" Sitting casually on the ground, Xu Ran looked at the patch of shadow before him and suddenly spoke.

The Shadow-Hunting Lizard poked its head out of the shadows and looked at Xu Ran with a complicated expression.

It had recognized Zhang Yun and the Stone-Armored Dragon the moment they appeared.

That was precisely why it had crept a little closer when Zhang Yun started recounting its experiences, overhearing their conversation.

It had thought its little movements had gone unnoticed, but Xu Ran had been keeping an eye on it the whole time and had easily picked up on them.

"Now that I know what happened to you, can we have a proper talk?" Xu Ran smiled.

This time, the Shadow-Hunting Lizard had poked its head out instead of refusing to communicate as before. That was a good start.

It also gave him more confidence in his plan to help it.

"Do you want to surpass that Brilliant Dragon Sparrow?"