Chapter 97 – “I didn’t abandon you.”
Novel Title: 龙血 (Dragon Blood)
Author：水千丞 (Shui Qian Cheng)
Translator: K (@kin0monogatari)
Protagonists: 单鸣 (Shan Ming -MC), 沈长泽 (Shen Changze -ML)
*Please read at Novels Space.space, the original site of translation. TQ*
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After they all rested, they began to search the resort for things that Tang Jingzhi hadn’t taken away in time. They couldn’t find many valuable things, but their manpower was limited and they couldn’t take them all away. After dawn, the sound of gunfire there would have definitely attracted many policemen. They took all the things they could take away and then set fire to the entire resort.
Since it was summer and the humidity in the woods was high, the fire was not burning well for a while. They spent more than two hours just setting the fire and then left before dawn and returned down the mountain the same way.
In the absence of rain, the way down the mountain was much easier. They hiked down the mountain in only five hours and left there by car.
Back at the villa at night, they were all exhausted after a night of fighting and a day of running around.
‘Peregrine Falcon’ lost a teammate this time and several others were injured. At the most annoying moment, Tang Tingzhi finally let Tang Jingzhi get away since the atmosphere was particularly heavy.
Shen Yao’s sudden appearance disrupted their position, making them have to make long-term plans to find Tang Jingzhi’s next foothold or go straight to his lair. But no matter which one it is, they don’t have the slightest clue yet on what to do.
Job said angrily, “Damn, we gotta let him run away. That Shen Yao is so powerful? Why don’t you let us chase after him?”
Tang Tingzhi was contemplating on how to answer. He raised his head and looked at the group of mercenaries. They all looked at him with the same questioning eyes. He then said: “Shen Yao is indeed a very powerful Dragon Blood Man. He has evolved very successfully. And the gene fusion time was earlier. He spent more than 20 years continuously strengthening himself so no one knows for sure how to maximise the power of dragon blood better than him. Even I believe that he knows a lot about the use of dragon blood that we don’t know of. Just relying on the power of pure blood, you are still not his opponent.” He glanced at Shen Changze, “At least you are not his opponent for now.”
Crow interjected: “Shen Yao has already been legendary among us Dragon Blood people. He has a blood purity of up to 60% with perfect use and control of the power of dragon blood. He once single-handedly dealt with an entire army and he is the only one who is the father of a pure blood Dragon Blood Man. Do you understand? He is a legend for the Dragon Blood Man. I really did not expect this legend to appear in front of us. Therefore, I think the judgement of the Colonel makes sense. First of all, he did not take the initiative to attack us. Secondly, we know very little about his strength and the Dragon Blood people he brought with him. Thirdly, we are only guessing about his purpose at present and we cannot say that we know the whole truth. Maybe he is not an enemy. We should act cautiously at this time in order to avoid unnecessary casualties.”
What Crow said made sense. Although they were not convinced, they couldn’t refute it. Job slapped the chair angrily, breaking the round handle of the European-style seat, “Since we let Tang Jingzhi go like this, our mission is not complete yet? I want to deal with that kid with my own hands and avenge what he did to Pell.”
Tang Tingzhi said: “Of course we can’t let Tang Jingzhi go. But the appearance of Shen Yao has made the whole thing complicated. I need to contact my superiors before making the next decision.”
Ayer spread his hands, “Then what should we do? I don’t want to stay in this villa all day long.”
Tang Tingzhi looked at him, “Mr. Mauri, please don’t run around. You are too eye-catching. I don’t want to take the risk of revealing any secrets.”
Ayer raised his eyebrows, “Do you think I’m too handsome?”
Tang Tingzhi said seriously, “No. It’s just that you exude a notorious aura that cannot be concealed. No matter how you pretend to be a gentleman. Ordinary people can’t tell it but those who know about people like you will definitely pay attention to you.”
Ayer snorted contemptuously. He was just about to refute him.
But Tang Tingzhi added, “Besides, your blond hair is too dazzling.”
He said this without the slightest hint of compliment. It was as if he was just stating a fact that one plus one equals to two. He said it in a serious tone as it was one of the reasons why he disapproved of Ayer going out. But it was really comical to others’ ears.
Falcon tugged at Ayer’s golden hair and laughed loudly as he said, “He said your blond hair is too shiny so you can’t go out. Hahahaha. Hey, Dino, your skin is too dark so you must never go out. Hahahahaha.”
Dino scolded: “Turn the joke on me again. Do you want me to poke your other eye blind?”
Lily did not forget to take the opportunity to tease Huang Ying. She winked at him as she curled her hair with her fingers, “Hey, which one do you think is more dazzling? My hair or Ayer’s?”
Huang Ying rubbed his hands together and shook his head in awkwardness, “It’s… both are dazzling.”
Seeing Tang Tingzhi’s earnest expression, Ayer almost couldn’t help but laugh as well.
Complimenting a person’s blond hair is usually suggestive and flirtatious. But Tang Tingzhi said it with such a rigid tone and expression. So the mercenaries were all laughing. Ayer thought to himself that this Chinese man is incomprehensible. He really didn’t know whether to call him boring or funny.
Tang Tingzhi probably didn’t understand why they were laughing like this. A hint of confusion flashed in his eyes. But he repeated: “Don’t go out. This is a suburb. There are few foreigners and it’ll make us look suspicious. You can ask us for supplies and the likes. Please wait patiently for my next instruction.”
Jushi yelled, “We want wine!”
“Yes, we want wine!”
Tiger Shark frowned and cleared his throat heavily.
Everyone fell silent.
Tiger Shark said in a deep voice: “What nonsense. We are on a mission. Follow the orders of the client and go to bed honestly.”
Everyone dispersed angrily except for those who would keep watch for the night and those who took care of the patients. The rest went back to their respective rooms to rest.
Shan Ming took a good shower and threw himself on the bed. He didn’t want to move anymore.
After Shen Changze finished washing, he lay down beside him and covered him with a blanket. He then raised the temperature of the air conditioner up by two degrees.
Shan Ming opened his eyes and looked at the ceiling, “What are you thinking in your heart?”
“What?”
“About your… I mean, Shen Yao. About Shen Yao. You were crying and looking for him when you were young.”
Shen Changze leaned on his arm and said softly: “My memory of him is too vague. He seldom went home before. I can still remember some things about my mother. But I have almost no impression of him. To me, let’s just say…” Shen Changze hesitated before saying, “He is a stranger.”
Perhaps it was because he already has someone else he called ‘Baba’ or perhaps it was because he was separated from him when he was young, the relationship has been diluted for more than ten years. It’s hard for Shen Changze to say that he has any deep feelings for his biological father who suddenly appeared in his life. He doesn’t even know whether to be happy or worried.
He felt very confused. Especially since Shen Yao was on Tang Jingzhi’s side.
Shan Ming asked, “What if he’s really a racist Dragon Blood Man?”
“I can’t agree with him.” Shen Changze said affirmatively, “I am a human being and most Dragon Blood people agree that they are human beings who have acquired superpowers. They will not regard Dragon Blood people as a separate species. Moreover, I am now a Chinese soldier. Although the military rank is dispensable to me, I need a sense of belonging, especially after you abandoned me. Only this identity recognized me.”
Shan Ming said in a muffled voice, “I didn’t abandon you.”
“If you don’t call it abandonment then what do you call it?”
Shan Ming was uncomfortable with being refuted so he said forcefully: “Anyway, I didn’t abandon you. I just let you accept your fate.”
Shen Changze narrowed his eyes and said coldly: “But you really abandoned me. You chose ‘Peregrine Falcon’ and gave up on me. You threw me to Tang Tingzhi.”
As soon as this was mentioned, the two of them became anxious. Shan Ming was too lazy to argue with him. Besides, he still needs answers for the important questions, “Let’s not talk about this. You answer my question about Shen Yao first. In case Shen Yao really has something to do with the Dragon Blood Man with a strong racial consciousness, will you really ‘eliminate’ him as Tang Tingzhi had said?”
Shen Changze was silent.
Shan Ming also kept silent, waiting for his answer.
After a while, Shen Changze said: “I don’t know. I want to find him as soon as possible and find out his real purpose. And then… Anyway, I don’t know for now.”
Shan Ming also expected such an answer. Although he hoped that Shen Yao would disappear completely, he couldn’t force Shen Changze to kill his own father.
When he thought that this threatening figure would frequently appear between him and Shen Changze in the future, he was filled with an ominous premonition.
He felt it in his heart that the development of the situation will become even more complicated and dangerous because of the appearance of Shen Yao. The contradictions between Dragon Blood people and between countries would definitely be inextricably linked with this Shen Yao. In the end, it will also come back to haunt them.
Although Shan Ming had never prayed for any peaceful days, he at least hoped that he would not die because of a Dragon Blood Man like Lin Qiang.
Moreover, he couldn’t help worrying that Shen Changze, the only pure-blooded Dragon Blood Man, would be the centre of all these conflicts and interests in the entire huge event. How much more trouble would he encounter? How much more would he have to experience? Shan Ming couldn’t imagine it.
Looking at his young son, Shan Ming worries about his future.
Seeing that he was silent, Shen Changze turned his head and glanced at him. Shan Ming’s solemn expression made him feel a little uncomfortable.
“I don’t know what you’re worried about. But no matter how the situation changes, one thing won’t change.” Shen Changze stole a goodnight kiss from Shan Ming, “I will always protect Baba.”
Shan Ming rubbed his hair and sighed vaguely, “Protect yourself instead.”
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*Translator’s Note: I’m straight up confused. Isn’t Crow supposed to be dead in Chapter 94? But the author still included him here and in the next chapter so I was like…who died??? I’ve checked over and over and it was really like that in Chapter 94. It wrote there that Crow’s heart stopped beating so… Meh. But anyway, I’ll just translate it like how the writer wrote it even though I’m confused as fuck. -K
*P/S: I’ve fixed Chapter 94. Thanks to Lizz for correcting me. Crow is still alive. -K (2023.07.06)
Next update: 2023.–.–(*TBA)
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