Chapter 70
Shen Qi felt defeated by Dragon Chi’s incessant focus on mating. He finally understood that, in Dragon Chi’s mind, emotions were secondary; the ability to mate was the primary concern.
He had been wrong. He shouldn’t have viewed Dragon Chi from a human perspective. Unlike other dragons, Dragon Chi didn’t understand human society. Having spent three hundred years in the deep sea, his ingrained behavior and thought patterns were not easily reversed. Shen Qi needed to give him time to adapt, but time was the one thing he lacked. The pressure building up inside him was about to explode, and he couldn’t hold it back much longer.
Looking at the oblivious dragon before him, eyes shining with anticipation, Shen Qi felt exhausted. He longed for a cigarette to calm down. He feared losing control and hurting Dragon Chi.
Taking a deep breath, Shen Qi said, “As I’ve mentioned before, I won’t refuse anything you ask of me, no matter what it is.”
Dragon Chi’s eyes lit up with excitement. “That’s great! Let’s mate now!”
He hesitated, unsure where to begin. Shen Qi closed his eyes, expressionless. “Please allow me some time to prepare. Given your size, I might not survive midway without proper precautions.”
Dragon Chi looked startled. He glanced down, puzzled. “Really? But I see the others are fine and even seem happy.” He studied Shen Qi’s expression and hesitated. “Are you unhappy? Do you not want to mate with me?”
Although Dragon Chi’s desire to mate was evident — both little dragons were practically bursting — Shen Qi sensed that Dragon Chi could tell he wasn’t interested. The dragon’s enthusiasm clashed with Shen Qi’s reluctance.
As the emotions gradually sank, Dragon Chi felt disheartened. He said with a hint of grievance, “Can you please not talk to me like this? If there’s something that upsets you or that you dislike, just tell me directly. I’m not good at guessing what’s on your mind. Why are humans always so complicated?”
Dragon Chi tugged at Shen Qi’s sleeve, his eyes pleading. “Do you like Allen? I’m stronger and more capable than him. I’ll protect you, and I don’t mind that you can’t lay eggs. Can’t you stop disliking me?”
Shen Qi mentally facepalmed. Not being able to lay eggs was quite the inconvenience!
Seeing Shen Qi’s silence, Dragon Chi’s expression changed. He huffed, “Well, you’ve already formed a bond with me. Even if you like Allen, it won’t matter. You’re stuck with me!”
Shen Qi felt like he might lose control and slay a dragon if he heard that one more time. He gestured for Dragon Chi to be quiet and continued.
“Do you know why I’m unhappy?”
Dragon Chi shook his head.
“For you, mating might be just about mating, but for humans, it’s about liking someone, about love. It’s not just a physical act.”
Dragon Chi blinked. “But no, dragons also mate because they like each other. We don’t mate with dragons we don’t like.”
“Listen to me!” Shen Qi snapped, exasperated. “I can mate with you, and I can like you, but there’s a condition. You need to figure out whether you like me for who I am or just because I can make you… well, you know.”
Dragon Chi looked utterly bewildered, his small eyes staring at Shen Qi with a mix of hurt and confusion.
Shen Qi sighed, recalling how he had been forced to sink into the deep sea for three hundred years when he was still young. Why was he bothering with someone who knew nothing?
Perhaps his smooth romantic experiences in previous lifetimes had set a high bar for his expectations. He struggled to adapt to Dragon Chi’s naive character. It wasn’t that Dragon Chi was too slow; it was Shen Qi who had been too impatient, too eager for him to mature.
But Dragon Chi wasn’t Jiang Changshen or Lu Zhuo. Even Zhao Huaiyu from their initial encounter couldn’t compare in terms of maturity. Dragon Chi was simply a straightforward, clueless dragon.
Shen Qi realized that he had elevated Dragon Chi’s image in his mind from the very beginning. He had demanded too much, and it wasn’t Dragon Chi’s fault for being dense.
At this moment, Shen Qi gained a new understanding of love. No one was perfect; everyone had strengths and weaknesses. He couldn’t complain about the flaws just because he was used to the strengths. Jiang Changshen and Lu Zhuo were charming, understanding, and doting, but Dragon Chi had his own endearing qualities beyond being silly.
With this realization, his disappointment faded away. Looking at Dragon Chi, he no longer felt only dissatisfaction. Smart had its merits, and so did sweet and naive.
Teaching himself a partner seemed like a good idea.
“Let’s go,” he said, taking Dragon Chi’s hand. “Back to the island. We’ll mate.”
Dragon Chi didn’t understand, but Shen Qi would teach him. Whether it was because Dragon Chi liked him or because only Shen Qi could arouse him, it didn’t matter. As long as Dragon Chi was by his side, Shen Qi would make sure he understood that he could only like him in this lifetime. Besides, who else could make him aroused?
Certainly, this teaching process would leave a lasting impression on Dragon Chi.
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And so, that day, Shen Qi and Dragon Chi boarded a boat and left the mainland.
He didn’t bring Mori and York, leaving them with enough money to settle down in a country they liked. After some extravagant shopping, he exchanged their old boat for a new one crafted by an alchemist. Together with Dragon Chi, he sailed into the deep sea and returned to their small island.
Dragon Chi was excited throughout the journey. Shen Qi’s promise to mate with him was one reason, but he also preferred solitude. Returning to the tranquil island was essential, especially since he wouldn’t see that Alan again. If it weren’t for Shen Qi’s potential anger, Dragon Chi would have challenged Alan to prove how weak he truly was compared to Dragon Chi’s strength.
Thinking about this, Dragon Chi showed off during the return trip. He transformed in various ways in the sky, displaying his might. He even dove into the sea and caught a massive shark.
“Look!” He proudly dragged the shark over to Shen Qi.
In the past, Shen Qi would have struggled to find words to express his feelings. Now, he found it amusing. He praised Dragon Chi while curiously touching the shark’s teeth: “Impressive.”
This was the first time Dragon Chi received praise from Shen Qi. Ecstatic, he howled, spread his wings toward the sky, and breathed out a stream of flames. Caught up in his excitement, he forgot he was still holding the shark. The creature landed on the boat, causing it to sway violently, and the mast snapped.
Shen Qi: …
Thankfully, this boat was made by an alchemist and had decent quality. If it were the one Mori and York built, it would likely have sunk by now.
Shen Qi silently repeated, “I’m not angry,” then pushed the shark back into the water and picked up the broken mast.
Dragon Chi knew he had caused trouble. He immediately shrank into a miniaturized form, crouching before Shen Qi with a pitiful expression. He had already learned that Shen Qi liked him better when he was small during their previous trip to the mainland.
“Being small at a time like this is useless! Get bigger!” Shen Qi poked Dragon Chi’s forehead, causing him to fall down. Dragon Chi cooperated by whimpering pitifully on the ground.
Shen Qi rolled his eyes. “You should get bigger to help with the boat. The mast is broken. How do you expect to sail without pulling the boat?”
Dragon Chi’s small body became agile. He flew over, nuzzled Shen Qi’s cheek, and then enlarged in mid-air. He grabbed the rope and pulled the boat.
Back on the island, Shen Qi secured the boat. After all, they would need it for future trips to the mainland. He instructed Dragon Chi to transfer the purchased supplies directly into his storage space, ensuring everything was neatly organized. The items were diverse, covering clothing, food, shelter, and transportation—enough for a comfortable stay on the island.
As the afternoon wore on, Dragon Chi had been anxiously circling Shen Qi. His two swollen… appendages were quite astonishing. Shen Qi regretted his impulsive decision.
These were two… sensitive areas!
He winced just looking at them.
If only he had exchanged for something more practical, like the ability to understand all languages!
But as time dragged on, evening arrived. After a satisfying meal, Shen Qi felt warm and amorous. He lit the alchemical lamp hanging from the cave ceiling, illuminating the entire cavern.
“Are we ready to mate? Can we?” Dragon Chi returned from his bath, wet hair dripping with water. His expression was a mix of eagerness and excitement. When Shen Qi looked at him, a reddish glow emanated from his body—he was already dry.
“Go to the bed and wait for me,” Shen Qi gritted his teeth. Pain was inevitable, but he was determined.
After completing the mission, he vowed to find out who orchestrated these worlds. He promised to make that person regret it!
Dragging his feet, he even went to the kitchen to sharpen a knife. Just in case, if Dragon Chi couldn’t resist and wanted both at once, he’d cut one off.
Sure enough, when Dragon Chi saw him with the knife, he trembled. Jumping off the bed, he cowered in the corner, eyes wide with fear, and let out a low growl: “Ahh!”
“Don’t be afraid.” Shen Qi smiled gently, placing the knife on the bedside table. “I don’t intend to harm you. It’s just a precaution. Have you seen all those pictures I showed you? You know, humans only have one. I’m willing to mate with you, but it has to be like those pictures. If you want both at once, then…” He touched the blade, “Understand?”
Dragon Chi trembled: “I-I understand…”
“Good.” Shen Qi sat by the bed, smiling. He beckoned Dragon Chi over. “Come here. Do you know how mating works?”
Dragon Chi swallowed nervously. He glanced at the sharp knife, then back at Shen Qi. Carefully, he edged closer. “I know…”
Frantically, he rummaged through his storage space, pulling out a pile of items. “These, I got them from the steward. He said that for male-to-male mating, we need these things… It only cost one silver coin!” Not a single gold coin!
Whips, chains, candles, little buckles…
Shen Qi stared, dumbfounded. Alright, very well. He’d remember that steward. Next time, he’d ask him directly who gave him this misconception!!
Meanwhile, Dragon Chi squatted in front of the pile, curiously fiddling with the items. Seeing Shen Qi’s expression change, he picked up a chain and shook it. Confused, he asked, “Are these not right?” His eyes narrowed. “Did that steward deceive me?”
“No, he didn’t. He didn’t deceive you.” Shen Qi took the chain from his hand, his expression unusually gentle. He gently pushed Dragon Chi down, his gaze meaningful. “Are you curious about how to use these things? Let me teach you, one by one…”
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