Chapter Text
~ Jinzhou ~
"W-Wait-! You have a son?!" screamed Jiyan and Lingyang in shock.
"...Am I that young looking to you to have a child? I adopted him. He's not my relative by blood. He's young, but he is working already. I think I've known he's working in the City Hall in the shadows." revealed Xiangli. "It's curious though that Ray here haven't met him."
"Are you talking about Jiuyi?" asked Sanhua. "He should be free-"
"G-general-! Mr. Jiuyi....h-he went off to the frontlines!"
"Ah crap...." said Chixia. "Do we have to go there?"
"No. Let Jiuyi handle it. Not only is he a part of the City Hall taking care of the dirty work, he's also under my command as a Ranger. He'll be done in let's say...maximum of two hours if the situation is manageable." answered Jiyan and smirked. "He has two weapons but it's never visible to the eye. If he gets serious, we might hear destruction from here if we are to wait."
".....I damn well told him he's not allowed to be in the Rangers...damn it. I think he tricked me." growled Xiangli.
~ Half an hour later ~
"Swift work, Ranger Jiuyi." said Jiyan as soon as he saw Jiuyi walking in calmly holding nothing. "Hopefully you don't have any injuries to be checked."
"Hmph, when was the last time I was checked, general? It was just after I got adopted. Although I don't mind being beaten to get what I need, I don't tolerate people who harms children for stupid purposes like what the Fractsidus is doing. If I get to have an encounter with Scar, I'll kill him as soon as he's in my sight without any chance of escape. My powers are different if I completely want him off the world with his organization." hissed Jiuyi coldly.
"You. Are. Not. Fighting. That. Mad. Man." growled Xiangli.
"Hold up. Why are you so defensive? He's still alive-" said Yinlin.
"Stop pushing yourself in my business, Xiangli. I'm not dead yet. At least think I can win against him." disregarded Jiuyi. "I'm just adopted anyway, so what's the point? It's not like anywhere is different from what I came from. I don't have to care or be controlled. I can do what I want. Heck I don't even live with you. I'll go write up my reports. I'll be busy this and next week. Don't disturb me. Bye."
"...*sigh* What a stubborn child, I can't blame him though." said Jinhsi. "He's been wanting to change his name back to it's original one before he got adopted. Hadrian Potter-Black. Not Yao Jiuyi. There's only much I can do postponing from signing it. He's much commited, but his cold mannerisms maintain his levelheaddedness both in work and out in the front lines with the best possible results."
"Not if I have a say in this." said Xiangli heatedly.
"Uhh...Ray, should we go talk to him?" offered Yangyang.
"I don't believe that's...a good idea. Someone tried sending him files personally on his day off but they got electrocuted by his defense system that prevented strangers or unauthorized people not in his list. The only people that are permitted is Baizhi, me, Madam Magistrate, and a few other elder employees in the City Hall who already memorized his manners and disciplines. He won't work if it's day off. If it's time to eat, he eats, strictly starting and ending on the specific time of our food breaks. If he's exhausted, he asks one hour naps if necessary and locks his office with a lot of codes and locks to prevent anyone from disturbing him as his room is fully soundproof as well as his door that prevents noise getting in or out. If we are in meetings, his suggestions are far out of our thinking that even impressed some negotiators and politicians from other lands. In his work free times, he tends to be found mostly in the deepest parts of the library reading stacks of books or sorting them. He also gets in work and out of work on the dot. Not a second late or early. A clean freak too might I add. His office is neat but his desk is also messy in the way it is clean so you can easily spot what you need. His private life though...he lives near the walls. He buys groceries that stocks him for a month each and his budgeting is quite impeccable. He can cook anything from the ingredients he has or if he doesn't have a fresh one, he hunts. He's mastered four out of five weapons, he hates the rectifiers for some reason and replaces his with bows. He also grows vegetables in his garden. That's basically everything in his papers." said Sanhua. "He doesn't have some problems with clothes though. He opts for battle ready but comfortable work appropriate clothes."
"That's a lot-" commented Encore.
"This was information he gave willingly in his resumé."
"By the looks of it, he has problems with you, Xiangli." said Calcharo looking at Xiangli.
"I'll just send him a message before we go to his abode. It's near Wuming Bay, so it's a far walk." said Sanhua and immediately sent a message.
~ House ~
"It's not a house, it's a damn mansion!" exclaimed Chixia in awe as the gate opened. "Creepy..."
"Sanhua, Madam Magistrate..what are they doing here, not that I mind some visitors?" said Jiuyi who showed up holding a sword and a gun. "I might wanna use them for target training practice."
"Eh!?" said Encore.
"Just kidding. I don't do it to kids." said Jiuyi and chuckled. "Come in. Dinner is almost ready. Just call for Cielo if you're hungry."
"Young master, you should stop exhausting yourself as well." reminded Cielo who showed up out of nowhere. "And...Master Xiangli. A pleasure as always, even though your...son is so hostile."
"*sigh* Xiangli is fine, Cielo. You've practically raised both of us since father died..." said Xiangli and shook his head. "Although. I thought I told you to stop with the formalities."
"I tried. He won't do it." said Jiuyi and huffed. "I'm not a child anymore! I'm nearing eighteen!"
"Try more ways, I'll tie you up and lecture you." glared Xiangli menacingly as they were led inside by Cielo.
"What's with you two?" said Mortefi.
"Nothing." said Xiangli. "We often bicker, but we never physically fight-"
*crash!!!*
"What's that!?" said Yuanwu as they ran to the fields to see Jiuyi in a fight against someone.
"That's-! Scar of the Fractsidus-!" squeaked Ray and got out his weapon before they noticed the large scythe. "Woah....How can he lift something so big?"
"It's specifically crafted just for him. It's lightweight, but it's very heavy if it's not it's owner that's weilding it." said Cielo. "It's sentient. It obeys his commands. Seeing him with this weapon will make Fractsidus lose one of their pillars of power. He's serious of killing him."
https://youtu.be/54NzRChRQxg?si=goqajfRcLHpMMugn
"...Then, I shall also get serious as well then." said Xiangli and took off his coat before revealing his gauntlets and sword on his hip. "Hope you don't have a sore spot, Scar of Fractsidus. As this day is your last. Do your worst."
*swish*
"Pathetic." said Xiangli who caught Phrolova's actions who was trying to attack him.
https://youtu.be/d1yJUdaSUBc?si=CRUweIE4dMocDzcT
https://youtu.be/v1sd5CzR504?si=A0ctyPYNw3uBjuT9
https://youtu.be/PaE2nQacXOs?si=uhLCjBrFAFR4KCgm
*cough!* *splat!*
"YOU'RE NOT GETTING ANYWHERE, FRACTSIDUS!" screamed Jiuyi as soon as Scar touched the barrier, he screamed. "My wards will detect any enemy of these sacred lands! In my property, you are my prey until you die and rot! I won't let you go, until you beg for death."
"ATTACK HIM NOW!"
"Wrong move." said Jiuyi and revealed his gear.
https://youtu.be/ePpjzqtsbjs?si=6yTYm5HeH4urAZDG
"*gulp* H-He just- Cut his head off like that!?" said Chixia and looked sick.
"*sigh* I should've know he's this insane when killing enemies." said Mortefi and groaned. "Sure he hasn't got an injury while working, but when he was adopted and got checked by doctors, Xiangli had a mental breakdown on how abused a child like him could be. His back is full of scars that'll never heal within a long time. You can't say the same for worse because his mental health is also down. The only way was taking out intense emotions like fury and anger against Fractsidus when encountering them. I'm not even sure if I heard him laugh sincerely even. One like a madman, sure."
"Young master?" called CIelo as Jiuyi was in a daze before dropping his gear and weapons before collapsing. "Jiuyi-!"
"Let me check him." said Verina gently and inspected him. "Hmm...I can't seem to know this...but...He's too exhausted. And it seems like an...infection?"
"No...*cough!* *splat!* It's taboo." said Jiuyi who was barely awake. "...I suppose you can call me a world traveler. My soul was broken beyond repair...tainted with a soul shattered into seven pieces...so it took solace with my old childhood body that has stopped feeling emotions. I was dead. Fought a war and survived seeing many deaths of my comrades who sacrificed themselves. I knew someone planned for me to die.....once the prophecy I was tied to was done. This is a curse slowly killing me. You can't heal it. My domain over the dead is too much of an asset to Fractsidus...or even the city. Death is just like an old friend visiting me again in my dreams. I'm not afraid waiting my death."
"These words.....You're a descendant of Peverell, are you?" asked Jinhsi and figured it out. "...It's a curse over your ancestral bloodline. Descendants cannot kill each other, but rather they are destined for change."
"...Madam Magistrate, would you care receiving my memories, if I get through the week?" said Jiuyi with a slight smile. "...I've hidden it for years, terrified of people might think of the horrors I've seen as a mere child soldier. The legacy of my ancestors will continue to be passed to each generations of their children. And I happen....to be the last descendant and reincarnation of my own ancestor and last remnant of my dead family. Getting possessed myself won't have any side effects. I just ask that you listen to grandfather explaining while my soul is mending on it's own. By the time I close my eyes, he'll show himself...ready for explanations."
"Rest." said a whisper as Jiuyi finally closed his eyes.
"Lord Ignotus." said Cielo and bowed immediately seeing the ghost spirit that formed out of thin air.
"Just Ignotus." said the man and smiled. "...Long time no see...for Solaris III. Pity, I'm already dead, but my descendant uses his powers for something...unexpected, as always. Selfless, hm. Guess it's a passing trait."
"It's you..." said Ray.
"Ray Joyce. It's you." said Ignotus and recognized him. "...How could I not recognize you. Your parents had the same features, especially the rare gold eyes of yours. Enough talk. Xiangli, get him inside, now. Let him sleep for a week, child. Someone like the Fractsidus will be sure to seek him out for power just like how people used him for a war he fought for. As the True Master of Death, he has complete control of feeling when the living is near their time. As such, even Tacet Discords are not insusceptible to the natural laws of life."
"Yes, sir." said Xiangli and carried Jiuyi back inside as they all were pushed into another domain.
"If you all have questions, I'll be glad to answer." said Ignotus. "I hate seeing my child look like a kicked puppy, even though he's feisty that came from his mother, I have no doubt he's a born warrior."