Voyage With The Pirate King

A breeze carrying heat like that of a furnace blew by with a small gustnado of sand but Ji Yao who was lying on the ground didn't feel anything. He was sleeping like the dead. If it weren't for his chest that was rising and falling rhythmically one would have thought he was a corpse.

He lay on a dune surrounded by a vast sea of sand and no greenery in sight. The funny thing was that the place was so bright like it was close to the sun but in actuality, there was no sun in sight. There were no clouds or anything just a blue sky stretching over the horizon.

At a distance, there was a heat haze in the desert horizon and from within the haze emerged a distorted figure of a man. The man was dressed in a crimson robe embroidered with golden Qilins down to the hem.

On top of the robe, he wore red and gold armour with winged shoulders. The belt holding up his attire was blinding to the eye but also tolerable. His black hair was neatly tied up in a half ponytail with a red crown making him so dazzling that one couldn't help but be drawn to him.

The only problem was that his nefarious aura laced with a tinge of narcissism began to manifest itself the closer he got. His expression was unreadable but his eyes were all telling. This man wasn't the kind one should fuck with if they wanted to live.

With an icy stare, he observed the boy lying on the sand. The moment he saw that face he knew something was off. Yes, he had recognized his grandson as he deeply resembled his deceased wife and his disgusting daughter but there was something more.

Squatting down before him he placed his hand on where Ji Yao's aether would be and two seconds later a mist of gold seraphic energy seeped from his palm and disappeared into the boy's body. With his eyes closed, he closely examined him only for his hand to jerk as his eyes widened.

Those emotionless eyes rippled as his jaw clenched tightly. He couldn't bring himself to believe it? How could there be such a coincidence? He had already ripped this out of Qilin Hao only for his spawn to have the same marker.

This marker that had him riled up was the same marker that in past generations determined the next king of Niuq. Though barely visible that Acany was silently hiding inside Ji Yao's aether. No wonder this kid born of Qilin and half-human half Raiju could have two kinds of seraphic energy flowing in his veins. It was because of the Acany. This boy was by old rules next in line to rule Niuq just like his mother should have been.

Overwhelmed with seething jealousy and hate his hand unconsciously reached out to grip his neck and kill him. If his clan found out about this they will undoubtedly appoint this half-blood the king of the Qilin clan before starting a war with the rest of the clans to put him on the throne.

This was always the dream of the Qilin clan. Because when the old system was in place they never had their turn to rule since no child was born with the seed of Acany in their aether. Thus the old rule was abolished before they even had the chance to rule. It was because of this that they clashed with the Huishe clan.

That was the clan's dream but not his. Since he could never win against all the clans he would rather his clan rule on earth and be worshipped like gods. Killing this boy was only natural as he would impact his plans.

But as he gripped the boy's neck he paused. He had just recalled that he still needed this boy to open the rift between the two worlds. Reluctantly pulling his hand away he got up and flung his sleep before kicking him lightly to wake him up.

Ji Yao who had just been kicked twice slowly opened his eyes as his hand reached into his hair to rub his throbbing scalp. With half-lidded eyes, he sat up trying to recall what happened just now.

He was hovering above sea amidst a violent storm only to wake up in a wasteland. He didn't notice someone near him. It was only after raising his head did he notice the middle-aged man standing by his side. His eyes widened in shock as he reached for his sword but as he touched his side there was nothing.

The man clad in red and gold looked at him with a condescending smile as he said, "Even if you wanted to use it you won't be able to. This is the space between the two worlds and right now I am the boss."

Ji Yao narrowed his eyes not understanding a word the man was saying. He looked around and noticed the vast desert with no end in sight. Did this man bring him here? The man looked at him like he was looking at someone stupid. He bent down and flicked his forehead as he said, "The keystones idiot."

Ji Yao smacked his hand away as he leaned his head backwards avoiding him. This man gave him an inexplicable sense of unease that couldn't be shaken away easily. With his hand sinking in the sand he shifted backwards creating some distance with the man.

"I shouldn't have expected anything more from Qilin Hao's son. Like mother like son," said the middle-aged man as he straightened his back. His expression didn't show any sign of anger but his voice was tumultuous.

Ji Yao stopped moving and asked, "You know my mother?"

The corner of the man's lips quirked up into a sneer as he turned on his heels to leave. With his hands behind his back, he said, "Huh... how can a father not know his own child?"

Hearing this Ji Yao's brow furrowed as he hurriedly got up and gripped the man's arm stopping him. This action was subconscious but the man gazed at those fingers clutching at his arm with obvious disdain in his eyes.

To think a face similar to this kid's would gaze at him coldly whenever he tried to touch her yet this person was just grasping at his hand with no thought of the consequences. He tucked away the contempt in his eyes as he freed his arm from his grabby paws.

"I am sorry..... you.... you are my grandfather?" he said with a little hesitation. He never thought other than his parents he would have more relatives. Now seeing the man who held little resemblance to him he couldn't help but be curious.

"Yes... I am sure your mother has said so many bad things about me," he said before taking a small step forward looking for a way to make the boy take the bait.

Ji Yao was silent for a moment with his head lowered like he was thinking.. He didn't like the feeling he got from this man but he also felt like the way out of this place had to do with this man.