When his gaze fell on the crest he almost had a heart attack. The sheath was a fiery red with chimerical creatures on it. When he unsheathed it, it had a sapphire line running down the middle of the blade.

He was familiar with this design because it was exactly like his ex-wife’s sword with the only difference being the type of creature on the sheath. He didn’t need a rocket scientist to tell him what was going on. This was his ex-wife’s gift to their son who had come of age.

Feeling a little flustered he sheathed the sword and gave it to him. “It’s yours….. make good use of it,” he said to Ji Yao but the kid didn’t accept it.

“It’s from her, isn’t it?….. Then I don’t want it,” he said before taking a step forward. Ji Wen wanted to say something when a slight cough drew both their attention.

Rui Fei who had apparently been forgotten was standing there ready to narrate his pitiful story and gain their sympathy. But before he could even utter a single word, Ji Wen spoke first.

“Aren’t you the dorky prince’s son? They must still be hunting you down, am I right? Hahaha Rui must be so pissed off right now,” said Ji Wen finding pleasure in Prince Rui’s misfortune. Earlier on, he had recognized the masked man as Prince Rui’s henchman.

That’s because this wasn’t the first time they had met. The fact that the masked man was here could only mean that this boy in a lovely dress was one of Prince Rui’s runaway children. The statement the enemy of my enemy is my friend lit a lightbulb on top of his head.

“Yes…. *ahem, I am. They have been hunting me and my two siblings down for a while now,” explained Rui Fei with his gaze fixed on the handsome Ji Yao who had zero resemblance to his father.

Ji Yao also looked in his direction only to be drawn in by those eyes. Flashbacks of those eyes staring at him in the dungeon inside Prince Rui’s pavilion and from the countless invasive dreams had him summoning his sabre before pointing at Rui Fei’s throat.

Ji Wen was taken aback by his son’s reaction. This is exactly why this boy had no friends. Ji Yao would go from zero to a hundred in a split second making it difficult for him to have companions.

He gently pushed the tip of the sabre away while trying to create a peaceful dialogue. “Now Ah-Yao, let’s not be hasty. You have to think things through first before you act,” said Ji Wen but it seemed his speech went through one ear and out the next.

Rui Fei seemed to realise what was going on. Who knew his eyes would leave such a deep impression on Ji Yao that he could even recognize him just from that.

He also couldn’t understand why Ji Yao would have this big of a reaction after seeing him. He didn’t say anything offensive apart from telling him to stay which Ji Yao didn’t listen so where on earth was the hostility coming from.

“It’s him,” murmured Ji Yao in a barely audible voice.

Ji Wen understood his meaning but he couldn’t see how that powerful seraphic energy could come from this youth. Each person’s seraphic energy was unique but he couldn’t feel the same suppressive aura from last night and two years ago coming from this boy.

“Miss…. uh sorry,” said Ji Wen as he realised his mistake. The boy wasn’t as pretty as Ji Yao in a dress but it was also easy to forget he was a boy. “What’s your name?”

“Rui Fei,” he replied and the two people started whispering something to each other but how could he not hear what they were saying. Ji Yao was fairly certain that he was the one that had that suppressive aura in Prince Rui’s mansion. Ji Wen on the other hand couldn’t believe it and when he asked for evidence, Ji Yao said the proof is in the eyes.

This is when Rui Fei saw an opportunity to speak up and convince Ji Yao that he wasn’t the culprit when he actually was. “Sorry, you must be talking about my older brother Rui Pianzi. We have the same eyes. He is also the one you freed from that dungeon that day. I haven’t seen him since,” explained Rui Fei lying through his teeth.

If he told the truth now who knows what this pair of father and son’s reactions would be like. With that in mind, he threw his half brother under the bus with no hesitation. He spoke with so much sincerity in his eyes that made it easy for one to believe him. Hell, even Ji Yao was convinced at this point.

“And where are the other two?” asked Ji Wen thinking god knows what at this juncture.

Rui Fei relaxed a little as he replied, “In Xiehe hiding from Prince Rui’s men.”

“Okay, may you give us a minute,” said Ji Wen before dragging his son a few meters away. The two looked like a pair of third graders evaluating a classmate’s resume to see if they qualify to join their gang.

“How about we invite them on board? Look how pathetic he looks,” asked Ji Wen trying to convince his son that it was a good idea to have these children on their side. His reasoning was understandable but there was also another selfish reason he was doing this.

His wife had been robbed by this haughty prince so wouldn’t it piss him off when he finds out his children which he so desperately needed are under the protection of the pirate king? Thinking he could screw Rui over just like he screwed with him he quickly extended an invitation.

Ji Yao glanced over at Rui Fei and scoffed internally. That boy didn’t look pitiful at all but his father was right. Prince Rui was a bastard and shouldn’t get his hands on these kids so he said, “Do whatever you want,” before turning to walk away.

A radiant smile crept up Ji Wen’s face as he beckoned Rui Fei over. “Come, come… from now on you can call him Yao-ge. He will be your older brother.”

Ji Yao, “…..”

He paused his steps and said, “He is not my brother,” without looking back. There was something seriously wrong with his father’s brain otherwise why would he even suggest that.

Ji Wen didn’t seem to hear him as he continued to say, “He is older than you, right?”

“Mn,” replied Rui Fei watching Ji Yao who was walking in front of them with great interest. He never thought things would get this intriguing.

“Then call him that. You are now honorary brothers,” said Ji Wen excitedly. If he could groom this kid to be beside Ji Yao then he wouldn’t have to worry about him in the future.

His son might not have a prospective wife but a close friend would do as well. If only he had known that this decision would seal his son’s fate he most definitely would have reconsidered.. Anyway, he can’t cry over spilt milk as there is no way that milk is returning to its carton.