Chapter 152

“Mom,” Shen Changze called softly.

Zhao Qingling turned her head towards them. She was wearing casual home attire, and there was a touch of femininity that Shan Ming wasn’t quite accustomed to.

She glanced at the two of them and set aside the flowerpot in her hand. “Come, have a seat.”

Shen Changze sat beside Zhao Qingling, and she gently touched his face, “You’ve recovered.”

“Mn.”

“I told you that you didn’t need to be impatient. The effects of medication are never permanent.”

Shen Changze smiled. “The laboratory is now researching Methcathinone. they’re starting to get busy again.”

Zhao Qingling shook her head with a hint of indifference. “Always busy researching those things…”

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Zhao Qingling comforted him, saying, “He can’t leave here right now, and I will always be by his side. If he can never leave for the rest of his life, then I’ll stay here with him forever. Actually, no matter where we live, it’s all the same to me. Despite his resentment towards me, he is still my husband.”

“But Father won’t be willing to stay here forever.”

Zhao Qingling’s gaze remained calm and serene. “There are many things that you can never predict,” she shook her head and changed the subject, “Never mind that. I called you here because I wanted to see Shan Ming, I wanted to see how you two have been doing.”

Shan Ming replied in a deep voice, “We’ve been doing well.”

Zhao Qingling took off a necklace from her neck, which held a jade ring as a pendant. She handed it to Shan Ming and said, “This item was originally meant for my daughter-in-law, but you can have it. There should be someone to inherit it.”

Shan Ming’s expression changed. He couldn’t accept it, but he couldn’t refuse it either.

Zhao Qingling raised an eyebrow and asked, “Are you also feeling embarrassed?”

Shan Ming snatched the necklace and stuffed it into his pocket. “I’ll take it since it’s free.”

Zhao Qingling smiled gently and said, “Take good care of it. It’s something left behind by Changze’s grandmother.”

Shan Ming asked, “Did you call us here just for this?”

“I also wanted to have a meal with you two,” Zhao Qingling said as she stood up and went to the kitchen. She brought out a large pot, and as she lifted the lid, a fragrant aroma filled the air. “I’ve been in Xinjiang for over ten years, so I’m not skilled at cooking delicate dishes any more. Although this stewed lamb might be a bit crude, it still has its own unique flavor.”

She found a tray and filled it with several plates of dishes and bowls of rice, then carried it into the bedroom. She returned after a while and placed several cold dishes¹not dishes that have gone cold, it’s dishes that are made cold, like pickled cucumber on the table. The three of them sat around the steaming pot of lamb and began to eat.

Some meat drippings stained the corner of Shen Changze’s mouth. Zhao Qingling picked up a napkin and leaned across the table to wipe his mouth, her eyes filled with gentle motherly love. Shen Changze smiled at her and took the napkin, wiping the corner of his mouth clean himself.

During the meal, they discussed various matters related to the Dragon Blood experiments. Overall, they had a harmonious and enjoyable meal together.

After finishing their meal, Shen Changze spent another half of the day sitting with Zhao Qingling. It was almost 10 pm when they finally bid farewell.

As the two of them walked out of the mansion, they were searched by the guards at the entrance. From Shan Ming’s body, they found a jade ring, and from Shen Changze’s pocket, they discovered a crumpled napkin he had casually stuffed inside.

The soldier who searched them returned the items to them and saluted Shen Changze. “Major, you may leave now.”

Shen Changze returned the salute, then got into the car with Shan Ming and drove away.

Shortly after the car had driven a short distance, Shen Changze quickly pulled out the napkin, “Dad, look.”

Shan Ming unfolded the napkin and carefully lit a lighter underneath it. Through the flickering flames, faint letters appeared on the thin napkin. It revealed a series of numbers and a password, indicating the locker number and code of a locker in a shopping mall in Beijing.

They exchanged a glance, both speculating that the locker might contain the Sea Dragon’s Horn that Zhao Qingling had been unwilling to hand over.

That evening, they drove back to the city and found a hotel near the shopping mall, which was conveniently located close to the bustling Lantern Market. They checked in and settled into their room.

Due to their respective concerns, neither of them said much after entering the room.

As they went to bed at night, Shen Changze’s tail, as usual, wrapped around Shan Ming’s leg. Shan Ming had grown accustomed to it and hardly felt its presence anymore.

Shan Ming tossed and turned, unable to fall asleep, and finally couldn’t hold back and asked, “If it really is the Sea Dragon’s Horn, what do you plan to do with it?”

Shen Changze remained silent for a moment before responding, “What I’m more curious about is my mother’s intention behind giving me the Sea Dragon’s Horn.”

“Perhaps she doesn’t know what to do with it?” Shan Ming thought for a moment. “But I remember her saying last time that she wanted to destroy it.”

Shen Changze contemplated and said, “It’s also possible that she didn’t have the opportunity to destroy it and wanted me to handle it instead.”

“If… If you obtain it, would you destroy it?”

Shen Changze fell silent once again.

“What are you planning to do with it?”

“Dad, I haven’t made up my mind.” Although he knew it wasn’t a good thing, and he should honor Zhao Qingling’s wish to destroy the Sea Dragon’s Horn, for a Dragon Blood Kin like him, it was an incredibly potent stimulant. Using it would grant immense power and make him stronger, something every man desired. So, Shen Changze hesitated.

Shan Ming turned to face him, their eyes meeting in the darkness. Shen Changze looked at him, his warm hand caressing Shan Ming’s waistline, “What do you think?”

“I say destroy it,” Shan Ming said firmly. “Do you remember what we saw that day in Hanson’s mansion? I never want to see Dragon Blood Kins like that again in my life.”

Shen Changze silently looked at him and softly said, “Dad, give me a kiss.”

Shan Ming was taken aback for a moment, then leaned in and kissed his lips.

Shen Changze smiled and said, “I’ll listen to you.”

The next morning, early in the day, they entered the mall and located the locker. Using the password, they opened the locker and found a seemingly ordinary cloth bag inside. Shen Changze picked it up, his hand trembling slightly.

They quickly returned to the car, then Shen Changze carefully opened the cloth bag and pulled out something that resembled deer antlers. It was sturdy yet flexible, emanating a faint golden glow throughout. This was the first time Shen Changze had seen the genuine Sea Dragon’s Horn, and he couldn’t resist pressing it against his chest. His entire body’s blood instantly surged, and he experienced a peculiar sensation in his mind, as if he could feel the power of the horn. Shen Changze could sense its temperature, its scent, and even its vitality with great clarity.

He knew that he and this horn shared a similar DNA, and they had some kind of intangible connection. It was mysterious yet undeniably real to him.

When he opened his eyes, he found Shan Ming staring at him with a strange look.

Shen Changze said somewhat absentmindedly, “Dad, I feel like it’s a part of my body…”