Chapter 70 - Missing Person

"What do you mean?" asked Ji Yao trying to play dumb. He could still feel a tingling sensation where Rui Fei's hand had just been. It felt so amazing being touched by Rui Fei. Now he finally understood why people liked touching each other. It's a nice feeling.

"What do you mean by what do you mean? Ah-Yao, I have been by your side since the day you were born and I am not an idiot so don't insult my intelligence," replied Ji Wen almost losing his shit. It wasn't only the closeness, the touching but it was also the blushing. From this angle, he could clearly see the reddened tips of Ji Yao's ears.

Ji Yao was about to say its nothing when Old Du passed by saying, "They even cuddled last night and the entire crew knows," before vanishing like he hadn't just dropped a huge bomb.

Ji Wen, "....."

Ji Yao, "..."

That secret didn't stay hidden for a very long time. How could there be secrets onboard Red Bane that the captain didn't know about?

"It's good you two are getting along but try and maintain boundaries as friends. This is your first friend but don't cuddle with him like that lest people misunderstand," explained the concerned papa bear that thought his son had no way to differentiate between friends, brothers and lovers. The treatment should never be the same.

Ji Yao took his father's advice seriously. He had no idea how to treat Rui Fei and was more lenient with him giving in more times than he ever gave in to his father or anyone else. He finally made up his mind. The occasional contact can stay but the sharing a bed thing had to go.

Ji Yao watched on as Red Bane set sail into the vast blue sea. He had to do as his father instructed and protect their home. As soon as his father's ship disappeared into the horizon, Ji Yao got busy assigning posts to the remaining crew.

It's a good thing Xunshi Zhe remained behind with him which meant things were a whole lot easier for this young master who rarely assumed a leadership role.

He decided to take part in the night watch so he climbed up the tallest tree on the island and with a clear view of the calm sea he settled down. What he didn't realise was that the calmness on the island didn't extend to Ji Wen and his fleet.

Ji Wen had easily intercepted the imperial fleet that was coming after him. This time they had brought the entire cavalcade which was about seven warships fully loaded with ammunition. From a distance, Ji Wen could see the insignia of the imperial family which would be considered intimidating by most but to him, they were toothless bulldogs.

"Captain, they are getting into formation!" yelled a short man standing at the highest point of the main mast of Red Bane.

Ji Wen stared at the ships forming a line of battle and grinned like a malicious fiend. "Since they aren't polite then I won't be polite as well," he said as he raised his hand shooting up a bright lightning bolt in the air lighting up the sky. The rest of his fleet emerged from the mist taking the imperial soldiers by surprise.

They had sailed towards Ji Wen's island for days using a route the pirate king barely used. They had gone two days with no incident but who would have thought before they even spotted the island they were intercepted by Ji Wen. That vermillion dragon was a sight that insighted fear in many and they weren't an exception.

They feared Red Bane but naively thought she would be sailing alone but Ji Wen had brought the entire concord which meant he planned to send the emperor a clear and concise message. And what could be that message?

"I will let him know never to fuck with me," said Ji Wen as he leapt up in the air with streams of lightning emerging from all over his body.

Zhang Li who was chilling on the main topmast of his ship gazed at the show off sailing next to him and snorted. "Why the fuck did you bring me here when this is clearly a one-man show!" he yelled.

Ji Wen scoffed before sending a warning shot striking the yard he was sitting on. Zhang Li dodged before stabilizing himself with a stream of air on his feet.

"Seriously! His majesty should compensate me!..... Aiyo!" he cried out when a ribbon suddenly whipped him out of the sky. It looked harmless but it was powerful enough to knock him out of the sky like a fly. Zhang Li fell flat on his face on the main deck his leg twitching like he had been electrocuted.

Lady Ching Sei suddenly appeared beside Ji Wen and said, "He was so annoying."

Ji Wen nodded his head and began striking the imperial fleet with no mercy. It was like they had been hit by a severe thunderstorm focused only on their fleet. The weather had drastically changed with raging waves bashing against the hulls of the fleet making the ships tilt side to side.

Explosions and screams could be heard coming from the imperial fleet that was struggling to fight back. They had fired latrion cannonballs but all their efforts were futile. It was all starting to look like a set-up.

Ji Wen was ready to sink the enemy to the bottom of the sea when a fog crawled up the hull of the ship and vanished into his cabin.

Ji Wen, "..."

Who on earth had the audacity to be that brazen in his presence. The ease of this task had him thinking it was a set up for a bigger plan but he just didn't think emperor Yun would be that smart. This had to be the work of a different entity.

"Finish them off for me," he said to the lovely lady before descending from the sky.

"With pleasure," replied Lady Ching Sei with bloodthirsty eyes. She began to tear apart whatever was remaining of the imperial fleet but her gaze occasionally glanced in Ji Wen's direction. She couldn't shake the feeling that something was off.

The sizzling bolts of lightning surrounding Ji Wen earlier had vanished but the fierceness in his eyes remained. He pushed the door of the cabin open and peered inside as he commanded, "Come out!"

His brow creased looking around the cabin but apart from himself, he couldn't see anyone else. The roaring sound of the sea and cries of dying men were amplified but Ji Wen couldn't hear any of it. His senses were stretched taut but he still couldn't react in time when a shadow swept past him grabbing his collar as a familiar face emerged from the hazy fog.

"I apologize but Her highness requests your audience," said the man before their bodies vanished into thin air leaving behind an empty cabin like nothing happened a second ago.. Ji Wen had vanished into thin air.