Chapter 204
Chapter 204: The Tea Tree Blooms—Its Fragrance Intoxicates the Big Golden Dragon
Zhong Li He had already been preparing to argue.
If Chong Ming disagreed with him, Zhong Li He would’ve called him wasteful, torn into him, and fought him for the right to cultivate Jiang Tea Tea himself. If Chong Ming insisted on keeping her as an accessory, burying her talent—Zhong Li He would’ve shattered their friendship and swung his hammer hard enough to pry her away to Da Xi Nation.
But Chong Ming wasn’t doing that.
He’d been nurturing her all along.
Good. Truly good.
At least his friend’s values weren’t trash.
Zhong Li He asked, “Does Jiang Tea Tea know you’re cultivating her?”
“She knows,” Chong Ming said. “But she has no interest. She needs coaxing. Praise. Benefits. Only then will she cooperate.”
Zhong Li He blinked. “Two whole baskets of gemstones blazing like starlight, and she didn’t care. What kind of ‘benefits’ could possibly tempt her?”
She didn’t care about gems.
With her abilities, if she needed money, she wouldn’t even have to ask. She could lift a finger and people would throw fortunes at her.
So what could Chong Ming offer that would move her?
Chong Ming’s answer was infuriatingly calm. “Secret.”
Zhong Li He had been expecting something world-shaking.
Instead, he got a smug “secret.”
He told himself not to strangle Chong Ming. Fine. Secret. Chong Ming could keep his secrets.
Then Zhong Li He asked, “When she called the storm, I didn’t notice. You did. Does she know you noticed?”
“I mean… you never mentioned she had so many abilities. She’s definitely hiding things. Does she know she’s basically transparent in front of you?”
Chong Ming’s mouth curved, faintly smug. “Everyone has secrets. She doesn’t need to know how many of hers I’ve seen.”
“She’s like a treasure vault. The more you look, the more you find. Always new. Always surprising.”
There it was again.
Rubbing it in Zhong Li He’s face.
Zhong Li He was so irritated he felt he wouldn’t sleep tonight unless he stabbed back, so he aimed straight for Chong Ming’s soft spot.
“She’s right not to register marriage with you. As long as she doesn’t register, she’s a free citizen.”
“And a free citizen’s cub, under Zhen Lin Empire law, belongs to her.”
He drew out the next part with glee. “Think about your Gold Dragon Clan. It’s basically just you and your big nephew left, right? You finally got a third dragon… and it wouldn’t belong to you.”
“It wouldn’t belong to your clan.”
He sighed dramatically. “I’m sweating for you. What a pity.”
Chong Ming’s expression flattened into ice. “Registering marriage is only a matter of time. The cub belongs to her and to me equally.”
Then, with a cool glance, he added, “Unlike you. A lone man with no partner.”
“You don’t date. You don’t find a female. Fine. But you also drag Lieutenant General Kong Que down with you.”
Zhong Li He’s eyes widened.
Was it his fault?
No.
Absolutely not.
It was Kong Que’s own fault for refusing to date.
If Zhong Li He could, he’d gladly help him raise children. But Kong Que refused to cooperate. How was that Zhong Li He’s problem?
Chong Ming stepped back, brushed imaginary dust from his sleeve. “Enough chatting. I’m going to see Jiang Tea Tea—and give my cub some prenatal education.”
“You do as you please.”
He wasn’t about to tell Zhong Li He that he still hadn’t even gotten to touch the cub. He’d only feed Zhong Li He more jealousy.
Zhong Li He actually hopped in place. “Get lost! What are you smug about? Just wait—when I’ve sharpened my hammer, I’m taking Jiang Tea Tea back to Da Xi Nation!”
If he could lure Jiang Tea Tea away, have her cub call him godfather—then he’d be the dragon cub’s dad in everything but blood.
Whoever saw it would give him a thumbs-up and call him capable.
Chong Ming walked away, calm and unbothered.
Then, the moment he was out of sight, he called Adjutant AI in and ordered him to escort Zhong Li He off the warship.
Zhong Li He exploded again in the reception hall, threatening to be Chong Ming’s mortal enemy and swearing he’d steal Jiang Tea Tea away.
Adjutant AI didn’t dare respond. He quietly sent a message to Kong Que, asking him to meet Zhong Li He at the docking bay.
Kong Que arrived, and Zhong Li He immediately started ranting.
“Kong Que! Go buy the brightest gemstones in the galaxy. Bring them to Jiang Tea Tea.”
“And contact Phoenix Clan. Ask what treasures they have—make them hand everything over. If they refuse, tell them I’ll take it by force when I get home.”
“Check how much property I own. How much cash I have. How much subsidy I’ve got. I refuse to lose to Chong Ming in money.”
Kong Que could only respond respectfully. “Yes, yes. I’ll contact them. I’ll verify everything.”
Then he tried, gently, “Chief Executive, there are a few urgent matters I can’t handle properly. How should we address them?”
The moment Zhong Li He heard “urgent matters,” he snapped into seriousness like a switch flipping. “What urgent matters could you not handle? I’m telling you—it’s because you haven’t handled enough.”
“Come. We’ll go to my office. You handle it first, I’ll review, then I’ll teach you again.”
“Listen. You need boldness. You need vision. Handle everything with people’s welfare first and the nation second, and you won’t go wrong.”
Kong Que followed one step behind, obedient as a loyal dog. “Yes, Chief Executive. You’re right. I’ll learn.”
Zhong Li He quickened his steps, still scolding Kong Que to hurry.
Kong Que didn’t speed up or slow down. He kept his normal pace, eyes fixed on Zhong Li He’s back.
Meanwhile, Jiang Tea Tea finished showering and changed back into Camp 59’s patrol uniform. She didn’t paint her face. She didn’t wear her hat.
When she stepped out of the washroom, she found Chong Ming sitting on the sofa. A lightbrain tablet rested on his knee, holographic screens floating in front of him while his fingers flew across a virtual keyboard.
Jiang Tea Tea sat on the sofa opposite him without speaking and opened her own lightbrain.
Messages flooded her screen.
“Have you seen Sister Tea yet? When’s Sister Tea coming back?”
“Sister Tea ditched us because we’re too useless!”
“Sister Tea only dislikes you. She doesn’t dislike us. We’re smart.”
“Day 1 missing Sister Tea…”
“Day 2…”
“Day 3…”
“Without Sister Tea, I sleep badly, eat badly, drink badly, and I don’t even have strength to beat bugs. I got scratched by their claws!”
“The Insect Clan space weapons exhibition zone feels off. I reported it. Be careful.”
“Tell Sister Tea to be careful too.”
“I think someone’s been tailing us.”
“I’m sure now—there are at least 10 people watching me.”
“Don’t alert them. Find their purpose…”
After scrolling through 99+ messages, Jiang Tea Tea replied: “I completed the mission safely. I’ll be back this afternoon.”
The others were probably busy. Nobody replied right away.
When she looked up, she caught Chong Ming staring at her. The holographic screens had vanished, and the lightbrain on his knee was already stored away.
“Done?” she asked.
“Done.”
She smiled slightly. “Can I drink a little blood?”
The wound on his throat had already healed after ten days. His recovery was fast.
“Come here,” Chong Ming said.
Jiang Tea Tea closed her lightbrain and moved instantly.
One time was an accident. Two times was familiarity. Three times… you ended up in the pot.
She climbed into his lap like she’d done it a hundred times, straddling him, arms wrapped around him. Like a cat nuzzling for a better angle, she rubbed against his neck.
Before his scales could rise, she opened her mouth and bit down.
As she worked her teeth into his skin, golden scales surged out around the area—hard, sharp, covering everything except the exact spot she was biting.
Jiang Tea Tea drank his blood, her eyes fixed on the scales.
And her mind drifted.
If she could refine Phoenix Clan fire into a weapon…
What about dragon scales?
Dragon blood, dragon flesh, dragon bone, dragon scales, dragon whiskers—every part of a dragon was treasure to demons. A great tonic. A material for forging.
Dragon bone was impossible to obtain.
But dragon blood? Dragon flesh? Dragon whiskers, mane, scales?
Those were possible.
With a Phoenix-fire weapon already forged, if she could make a second weapon from dragon materials…
She’d return to the Demon Clan and be terrifyingly impressive.
Chong Ming felt the heat of her gaze. He smelled the scent rising from her body, growing richer and richer.
Then he saw it: from her black hair, a bud pushed up. Under his gaze, it bloomed.
White petals. Yellow stamens.
Fragrant. Beautiful.
Jiang Tea Tea didn’t notice a thing. She was too busy biting into his flesh—and thinking about taking more.
Chong Ming watched the flower, breathed in the scent, and held her waist.
The bite on his neck hurt, but he barely felt it.
After almost twenty minutes, Jiang Tea Tea felt the half-tenth of magic power she’d spent on summoning weather had mostly recovered thanks to the dragon blood.
Delight flickered through her.
She wiped her mouth. “Chong Ming, I have a question.”
Chong Ming’s gaze finally lifted from the flower in her hair. His voice was hoarse. “Ask.”
Jiang Tea Tea, still sitting on his lap like it was the most normal thing in the world, asked bluntly, “How often does the dragon clan shed their scales?”
Chong Ming answered, “It varies. It depends on the dragon. It depends on ability level. Even body size and growth differ.”
Jiang Tea Tea pressed, “Use you as an example.”
Chong Ming said calmly, “I hatched on the battlefield. From hatching until I was ten, my scales were never fully grown.”
Jiang Tea Tea blurted out, “So you were missing scales as a kid? You had a defect?”
Chong Ming laughed softly. “No. I was just too weak in human form before age ten. Fighting in beast form was more practical. I tore enemies apart with my teeth.”
“When they counterattacked, they clawed off my scales and ripped open my flesh.”