Chapter 142 Completed

Chapter 142 Completed

By the afternoon of the fifth day of the lunar new year, Xu Qiao had grown quite familiar with the Qin family. Even Marshal Qin, who was usually stern and reserved, nodded slightly as he passed by Xu Qiao. The Black Dragon peeked out from his shoulder, giving her a surprisingly gentle gaze.

Perhaps because there had been too many dragons around lately, each with its own temperament, Xu Qiao had become quite adept at discerning the emotions of dragon spiritual beings. Although the Black Dragon's appearance was indeed the most dignified and aloof.

Yan Mingyu and Qinchi, both skilled in cooking, were preparing dinner in the kitchen, with older brother Qin Shu and Second Sister-in-law helping out, doing the tasks of washing and cutting vegetables.

In the living room, Xu Qiao sat on the sofa with Qin Jiuzhou, Marshal Qin, and Second Sister Qin Xiao. The five children were busy playing with the elders' spiritual beings.

The golden dragon was blindfolded and tasked with finding the children who were hiding, including the Jinwu daughter-in-law, the Black Dragon's eldest grandson and his Northeast Tiger wife, the Jinwu granddaughter, the fire dragon's youngest grandson, and the lotus flower future granddaughter-in-law.

Qin Xiao teased her father, "Dad, why don't you release your spiritual being? In front of Grandpa's golden dragon, your Black Dragon is still a child."

Marshal Qin gave a quick glance at Xu Qiao.

Before Xu Qiao could understand the meaning behind this look, Qin Jiuzhou snorted, "Your dad is afraid that if the Black Dragon comes out, it will fight with the fire dragon. Nowadays, the fire dragon's strength is no less than the Black Dragon's. If the Black Dragon doesn't go all out, it will lose face in front of Xiao Qiao. But if it does, fighting with its own son so seriously is also embarrassing."

Marshal Qin: “……”

Xu Qiao smiled and, turning her head, saw the fire dragon wrapping its tail around the lotus flower's vat, hiding next to the staircase leading to the second floor.

Qin Xiao teased Xu Qiao, "The fire dragon and the lotus flower are really close. Before Little Chi met you, the fire dragon hardly ever showed up unless it was to challenge Father."

Qin Jiuzhou added, "We owe your dad a thanks; otherwise, I wouldn't have gotten to see what the fire dragon looks like."

Marshal Qin: “… After you return to the Southeast Base, what are your plans, Xiao Qiao?”

Clearly changing the subject, Xu Qiao played along, "I plan to work with my mentor to study the key factors of optimal beastification, to see if we can actively trigger the free switching between the human form and spiritual being form of psychics, just like awakening spiritual beings."

Marshal Qin: "That's valuable research. Our researchers will also follow up on it."

Qin Jiuzhou: "And what Little Chi mentioned yesterday, about the energy the fire dragon sensed at the end of the beast tide, that must be the key factor influencing the beast tide. Similar to solar flares, it probably has a cycle. If we can find the source of this energy, we might be able to solve the beast tide issue once and for all."

Qin Xiao: "I don't think so. Just like solar flares, even though we know what they are, we can't stop the sun from flaring. This energy causing global mutations in plants and animals might be some kind of cosmic energy burst from the sun or other planets. Humans probably don't have the means to interfere, so we can only gradually enhance our self-protection capabilities and eventually reach a species balance with the new nature."

Qin Jiuzhou: "You're still so young, why are you so pessimistic? With enough effort, we might just find a solution."

Qin Xiao: "Right now, I'm more interested in helping Mom build the Jishi Base. Let the next generation handle those issues."

Marshal Qin: "Have you decided to move to the Jishi Base?"

Qin Xiao: "Yes, the next beast tide will be at least another ten years. Staying at the Northwest Base is too boring. Building a new base is more meaningful. What about you, Xiao Qiao? Want to come to the Jishi Base?"

Listening intently to their conversation, Xu Qiao: "… I'll concentrate on the beastification project first. After that, I'll see how the Jishi Base develops."

Qin Jiuzhou: "Yes, things need to be done one at a time. Young people don't need to set their goals too far. Anyway, Little Chi flies fast. No matter which base you stay at, it won't stop you two from reuniting."

Qin Xiao: "… Just now you encouraged me to solve the root of the beast tide problem?"

Qin Jiuzhou: "……”

After a lively evening, the next morning, Xu Qiao and Qinchi prepared to leave.

Seven-year-old Little Wings hugged Xu Qiao and didn't want to let go, "Auntie Xiao Qiao, can you not go? I like you and want you to stay here."

Qinchi: "You can come with us to the Southeast Base, but Auntie Xiao Qiao has to go. Otherwise, Marshal Lin will come flying over to fetch her."

Xu Qiao blushed and shot him a playful glare.

Qin Jiuzhou said with a smile, "Actually, it's Xiao Qiao who wants to go back. If she really wanted to stay, we could even send Marshal Lin back."

Xu Qiao: "..."

Yan Mingyu hugged Xu Qiao and said with a smile, "It may sound harsh, but it's true. Just remember, the Southeast Base is your home, and the Northeast Base is also your home. If you ever become unhappy there, just let me know, and I'll come get you. And if Qinchi angers you, I'll take you to the Jishi Base, and we'll stay far away from him."

Xu Qiao felt her eyes sting and buried herself in the elder's arms.

In front of the family, Qinchi didn't say anything. Once the fire dragon flew out of the protective shield of the Northeast Base, Qinchi looked at his partner, whose eyes were still slightly red, and gently wiped the corner of her eye. "That day will never come."

Xu Qiao asked, "Which day?"

Qinchi replied, "The day I make you so angry that you want to run away."

Although Xu Qiao couldn't imagine what Qinchi could do to make her that angry, she still said, "Don't make such bold statements too early. Even couples like your uncle and aunt, who were so close when they were younger, ended up divorcing later in life, you and I..."

Qinchi said, "We can learn from other people's mistakes."

Xu Qiao asked, "Is there a possibility that Uncle and Aunt will get back together?"

Qinchi replied, "They haven’t officially remarried, but in the eyes of most people in the Northeast Base, they’re already back together."

The mercenary forums in the Northeast Base had a popular emotional thread that regularly updated on the relationship dynamics between the two. One day, it was about where Marshal Qin and General Yan were seen together, and the next, it might be about Marshal Qin's car being spotted entering General Yan's villa and never coming out...

Before moving to the Southeast Base, Qinchi rarely visited the forums, but for some reason, the old man would send him the link to the thread every once in a while.

After the annual leave, Xu Qiao officially began her research work in Lv Chun's lab. Although Qinchi wasn't transferred to the Southeast Base as a general, he went to the Jishi Base, which Yan Mingyu was building, as planned.

To build the fifth major base, besides the infrastructure of the main base needing to keep up, corresponding safe zones and surrounding levels of danger zones needed to be cleared out.

Yan Mingyu held a press conference for the new base in all four bases, inviting ordinary civilians and psychics to settle in the Jishi Base. New residents would receive the same safety as in the four major bases and enjoy more comfortable living conditions.

The civilians from the Northwest and Southwest bases had concerns about the sea beasts, so not many went. However, some from the Southeast Base were enticed by the conditions Yan Mingyu offered and gradually traveled there by aircraft.

Xu Qiao was immersed in her research on shapeshifting and didn't pay much attention to external matters. Qinchi always came back in the evenings, and if she wanted to know about the construction progress of the Jishi Base, she could just ask him.

Yan Mingyu took good care of his son and even gave Qinchi a day off each week.

On February 16th, the weather was clear, and it was also Xu Qiao's day off. She decided to clean up the more than 100 square meters of vacant land behind the villa and continue planting vegetables.

She first used her water ability to moisten the land for turning, and then she and Qinchi each took a pickaxe to the soil.

Xu Qiao demonstrated the action first and teased her partner, "Actually, we could use our abilities. Are you sure you want to do this manually?"

Qinchi scanned the yard and looked at her. "I’m just curious why you’d doubt my strength."

Xu Qiao: "..."

She glared at him and walked to the other side of the yard, putting some distance between them.

The fire dragon was also helping. While Qinchi and Xu Qiao used pickaxes, it burrowed directly into the ground. Even without using its abilities, with its strength and the hardness of its scales, it easily turned the soil.

Just as the fire dragon had almost turned over half the yard, Qinchi suddenly forced it back into its crystal core.

Xu Qiao looked over in confusion.

Qinchi said, "I lost interest and decided to quit halfway through."

The fire dragon, now trapped in the crystal core space: "..."

Unaware of what had happened, Xu Qiao didn’t give it much thought and continued digging where the fire dragon had disappeared. After taking only a few steps, as she dug her hoe into the ground, it made a sound as if it had hit a hard object.

Xu Qiao paused, then glanced over at Qinchi. He was also drawn to the anomaly and stopped what he was doing, asking, "Hit a rock?"

Xu Qiao swung her hoe to dig deeper, and by the time Qinchi walked over, she had successfully unearthed an aged-looking brass box about twenty centimeters long, secured with a rusty lock.

"Could it be that a former owner of this villa left it behind?" Xu Qiao speculated.

Qinchi said, "Someone who lives in the central district wouldn’t hide things like this. It’s most likely from the old era."

The lotus spirit poked its head out. "Open it. I want to know what’s inside."

The fire dragon didn’t bother to join in.

After some thought, Xu Qiao said, "Let’s take a look. If it’s something valuable or an antique, we can hand it over to the base and let them investigate the previous owners of the villa for clues."

Qinchi used his wind powers to clear the rust from the box and the lock, then asked Xu Qiao, "Should you open it, or should I?"

Xu Qiao said, "You open it. I’ve never tried using psychic power to unlock something."

Qinchi: "...Neither have I."

Xu Qiao said, "Let the fire dragon do it. It has so much experience retrieving treasure chests from the ocean floor."

Qinchi had Xu Qiao hold the box and let the fire dragon out. The dragon resisted the urge to scratch him and extended a sharp claw into the lock. The lock clicked open after a couple of tries.

Excited like someone opening a treasure chest, Xu Qiao slowly lifted the lid of the brass box.

Inside was another small box inlaid with precious gems, similar to a jewelry box you’d see in an old-period drama.

Xu Qiao was even more astonished.

Qinchi took the box and handed her the jewelry box.

Xu Qiao’s mind wandered, wondering about the identity of the owner of the jewelry box, and with curiosity, she opened it.

The bright spring sunlight poured in from the side, illuminating a ring on the black velvet inside.

The body of a golden-red dragon formed the ring's band, with the dragon’s head and tail together holding up a jade lotus the size of a fingernail.

Though small, the lotus had intricate, overlapping petals, and the tips of the petals were pink, just like the lotus spirit’s.

Xu Qiao stared at the ring in awe, then turned to look at Qinchi.

Qinchi, looking into her eyes, said, "Tomorrow is my birthday."

Xu Qiao: "...I know."

She had prepared a gift, and Sun Fushan had also meticulously planned a grand birthday party. Meng Li and Lu Yang would be attending.

Qinchi said, "Before attending the birthday party that Xiao Shan has prepared, I want to ask you to accompany me to a place where the gift I desire most is located."

Xu Qiao bit her lip and looked at the dragon-supported lotus ring.

The lotus spirit poked its head closer and asked Qinchi, "Does it have two hundred ninety-seven petals?"

Qinchi used his water psychic power to answer, "Yes, I carved it myself."

The lotus saw it, and so did Xu Qiao.

Such a small lotus, she didn’t even bother counting the petals, yet Qinchi had the patience to carve them out one by one.

As she imagined Qinchi carving the ring, Qinchi suddenly walked up to her. He bent down on one knee...

Before he could finish that cliché move, Xu Qiao quickly turned away from him. "If we’re doing this, let’s just do it, but no kneeling."

Qinchi smiled and wrapped his arms around her from behind. He took the ring and slid it onto her left ring finger.

Their shadows intertwined on the ground.

The lotus pressed sweetly against Xu Qiao.

The fire dragon finally emerged, wrapping around both their waists. Its fire dragon’s face pressed against the lotus from the other side.

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