Obsessed with a High-Ranking Esper (BL)-Chapter 139: Family matters

Yu Xi hadn’t seen Jian Ci or Jian Rui for two days, and the silence gnawed at him. He cornered Jian Wei in his lab, his tone sharp with worry. "Where are they?"

Jian Wei’s eyes flickered, betraying knowledge he refused to share. "I don’t know," he said flatly.

Yu Xi narrowed his gaze. He knew Jian Wei was lying, simply unwilling to tell him. That meant he would have to find Jian Rui himself. And there was only one person who could help him—Eros.

Yu Xi took Xiaobao to a high-rise condo. Once inside, he called his grandfather. The screen lit up with Eros’s face, his eyes sharp as he studied his grandson. Yu Xi asked for his help to find Jian Rui.

"Bao Bao," Eros said gently, "please leave me with your brother for a bit."

Xiaobao nodded. "Okay," she said, slipping out of the room.

Eros leaned forward, his gaze piercing. "Are you staying for that boy?"

Yu Xi stiffened. He thought Xiaobao had told him, but Eros could read it on his face.

"There is nothing you can hide from me," Eros chuckled.

Yu Xi looked away, lips pressed tight.

"That’s why Jian Rui is confident you will never betray him, isn’t it?" Eros said softly.

Yu Xi exhaled, his voice steady. "Are you going to help me find him?"

Eros leaned forward, his voice low and sharp. "He is a weakness. In this business, a weakness is a liability."

Yu Xi’s gaze hardened, his words cutting back with quiet defiance. "Just like my mother."

The pain in Eros’s eyes was immediate, his jaw clenching as though the memory itself was a blade. "Just like your mother," he admitted, his tone heavy with regret.

"I know," Yu Xi whispered.

Eros’s expression darkened, his eyes gleaming with devious intent. "If you want to snatch him up, you know I can make it possible." His aura was suffocating, the infamous chaos that earned him the title God of Chaos radiating from every word.

For a fleeting moment, Yu Xi considered it. His love and desire for Jian Ci had only grown stronger with each passing day. He never dared cross the line, never touched him, but every night he fantasized about what they could be. The thought crept in, dangerous and consuming until Jian Ci’s smiling image appeared in his mind. He shook his head, silently telling him no.

Eros smiled knowingly. "The offer will remain on the table. If you ever change your mind, I, your grandfather, will go to war for you." His tone was deadly serious. He would do anything to repay the pain and suffering his grandchildren endured because of his failures. He had failed his daughter, failed his wife, and the guilt gnawed at his soul even now.

Yu Xi steadied himself. "It won’t get to that."

Eros leaned back. "If you say so. Jian Rui is at these coordinates. You will need a stealth spacecraft to get there. I will have my men escort you."

"It won’t be necessary," Yu Xi replied firmly.

Eros’s eyes narrowed. "It wasn’t an option."

Yu Xi exhaled, his lips tightening. "Mn."

***

The coordinates Eros had sent Yu Xi led him to a barren stretch of desert, winds sweeping across the endless dunes. Yu Xi had no idea that this was a secret base—one of many Jian Rui had scattered across the territories. These bases were hidden so well that no irrelevant personnel ever knew of their existence.

Yu Xi sat in the spacecraft, his belt crossed over his torso, watching the horizon blur as they descended. The engines roared, kicking up a storm of sand that rose in a swirling cloud beneath them. Just as the craft steadied, two other ships shimmered into view, their cloaking shields dropping to reveal sleek, armed vessels.

A sharp voice crackled through the comms. "Unknown spacecraft, you are approaching private airspace. Turn back or we will fire."

The weapons on the cloaked crafts powered up, their targeting systems locking onto Yu Xi’s vessel. The tension inside the cabin thickened.

Yu Xi rose from his seat, calm but resolute, and walked to the pilot console. His voice was steady as he spoke into the comms. "Code 82760 Zeta. Requesting permission to land."

Silence followed. The opposing pilot didn’t respond immediately, the pause stretching long enough to make the threat of fire feel imminent. Finally, the voice returned, clipped and cautious. "Standby for confirmation."

Yu Xi exhaled slowly. Jian Rui had given him this code. It was a code only specific to him. It was his personal key, one he could use anywhere if he ever needed assistance. A reply soon came: "Permission to land granted."

The desert floor shifted, the ground splitting open to reveal a vast hangar hidden beneath the sands. The pilot guided the spacecraft down smoothly, engines humming as they descended into the underground chamber. Once they landed, the pilot turned to him. "Young master, we will go with you."

Yu Xi shook his head. "No need. Just stay here."

He stepped out into the hangar, the air cool and heavy with secrecy. Amelia approached, her smile sharp. "What a surprise."

Yu Xi inclined his head. "It’s been a while."

Her gaze flicked to the spacecraft, noting the lack of any emblem. She smiled knowingly. "His Highness is waiting for you."

"Okay," Yu Xi replied, turning to follow her.

They walked through the corridors until they reached the training room. Inside, Jian Rui was a storm of motion, engaged in brutal hand-to-hand combat with one of his mercenaries. Sweat dripped from his brow, his strikes precise and merciless, each movement carrying the weight of suppressed rage.

Yu Xi stood at the doorway, watching intently. His eyes traced Jian Rui’s technique, analyzing every feint and strike. He knew immediately, the mercenary had already lost five moves ago. Jian Rui’s dominance was absolute, his fury channeled into every blow.

Jian Rui pinned the mercenary down with a final, crushing move, and the man tapped out in defeat. Without hesitation, Jian Rui rose to his feet, stripping off one glove as sweat glistened across his brow. His gaze locked onto Yu Xi, sharp and unyielding. "Everybody out," he commanded.

The room emptied quickly, leaving only the two of them in the charged silence. Jian Rui peeled off his second glove, his voice low and edged. "Why are you here?"

Yu Xi didn’t answer right away. Jian Rui snorted, dismissive. "Why bother asking."

Yu Xi’s tone was steady. "Where is he?"

"These are family matters," Jian Rui replied coldly. "You can’t intervene."

"I won’t intervene," Yu Xi said firmly, "but he is the reason I am here."