"That's all you need to know," he said, voice clipped. "As for you, I'm giving you two options. One, we find your mother's family and hope they can take you in.
Two, we send you to an orphanage we founded in our mother's honor. You will get access to the best education, and you can change your name if you want. In both cases, we'll monitor you until we're sure you're not a threat."
Yu Xi's reply was immediate. "No."
Jian Rui let out a dry chuckle, laced with scorn. "No to what? The monitoring?"
"No to either," Yu Xi said. "I want a third option."
Jian Rui's smile vanished. His expression hardened. "What third option?"
"I work for you," Yu Xi said. Jian Rui's brow lifted. He hadn't expected that.
"Why do you think you are suitable to work for me?"
Yu Xi met his gaze, steady and unflinching. "You have seen what I'm capable of. I can do missions you don't want your name attached to."
Silence stretched between them, taut and charged. Jian Rui didn't answer immediately.
He studied Yu Xi with a long, unreadable gaze, as though weighing every word against the weight of consequence. Then he spoke, voice low and deliberate.
"What I need is a blade. One that doesn't ask questions. One that follows orders, no matter how ridiculous or ruthless. Are you willing to sign your life away and be my enforcer?" He paused, letting the silence stretch.
"Before you answer, think of the alternative. You could live a free, normal life. Get a good job. Start a family. Leave all this behind."
Yu Xi didn't hesitate with his response. "From the day I was born, I was destined to never have a normal life. So will you let me work for you or not?"
Jian Rui let out a throaty chuckle, but there was no humor in it. "Not if you are interested in my brother, no."
He had only been guessing, but the way Yu Xi's expression stilled confirmed it. He didnt deny it neither did he flinch. It was just quiet acceptance.
"You can't be serious," Jian Rui muttered.
Yu Xi remained silent.
Jian Rui cursed under his breath. "Fuck."
Yu Xi finally spoke, voice steady. "You can analyse my genetic makeup. It might help cure him." That caught Jian Rui off guard. He stared at Yu Xi, the implications settling in.
He felt a knot tighten in his chest. The offer unsettled him. Yu Xi's quiet intensity, his unwavering gaze, the way he spoke of sacrifice without flinching was quite concerning, but if there was even a sliver of hope that this boy's genetic makeup could help cure Jian Ci, he would take it.
"I don't know what your intentions are," Jian Rui said slowly, "but whatever they are, don't ever disclose them to Jian Ci."
Yu Xi's voice was calm. "I never planned to."
"I will hold you to that," Jian Rui replied, then paused. "Any other requests?"
Yu Xi hesitated. "I need help finding my brother."
Jian Rui's brow lifted. "You have a brother? How did he get out of here?"
"I helped him escape," Yu Xi said. "I just want to know if he is safe."
Jian Rui studied him for a moment, then nodded. "Okay then. Welcome to the team."
***
Jian Rui stepped out of the lab, the door sliding shut behind him. Jian Ci was leaning against the wall, arms crossed, looking relaxed.
Jian Wei stood a few paces away, fingers flying across the floating interface as he continued extracting data from the server. His focus was sharp, but his ears were tuned to the conversation behind him.
Jian Ci glanced at his older brother. "Did you have a good chat?"
Jian Rui ruffled Jian Ci's hair with a rough hand, more forceful than affectionate. "He is coming with us."
Jian Ci blinked. "Really?"
At the same time, Jian Wei turned sharply. "What?"
They were two different reactions to the same news. One was curious and the other incredulous.
Jian Ci slipped past Jian Rui and entered the lab, meanwhile, Jian Wei didn't move. He stared at Jian Rui, suspicion etched into his features.
"There's something more to this than you are saying," Jian Wei said.
Jian Rui didn't flinch. "We will talk about it later. Get the server."
Jian Wei narrowed his eyes, the glare lingering before he turned and walked into the lab.
Jian Rui tapped his comm. "Kill every guard. Get the women and children to the space crafts."
A voice responded in his ear, crisp and immediate. "Yes, sir."
The hallway fell quiet again, but the tension lingered, thick and heavy.
***
A line of women and children moved quietly across the scorched ground, guided toward the three stealth space crafts waiting in the shadows. For the children, it was their first time outside, first time seeing stars without bars. Their excitement bubbled in hushed giggles and wide-eyed wonder, even as the adults remained solemn, their steps heavy with memory.
Behind them, the incinerator roared to life, devouring the lifeless bodies of the guards. The flames marked the end of a torment that had stretched across decades, consuming lives and hope alike.
The space crafts lifted off in silence, cloaked in shadow, vanishing into the night sky like ghosts freed from their chains.
Three mercenaries, precise and careful, transported the massive server into the final craft under Jian Wei's direction. He monitored every movement, ensuring nothing was damaged.
Jian Rui stood nearby, spinning three spherical devices in his palm, their surfaces glinting faintly. As Jian Ci emerged from the building with Yu Xi at his side, Jian Rui asked, "Is everything finalised?"
Jian Ci nodded. "Yes. I did a thorough search."
Jian Rui gave a subtle nod toward the ship. Jian Ci understood and walked ahead.
Jian Rui met Yu Xi's gaze and Yu Xi accepted his scrutiny head on. Jian Ci realising that Yu Xi wasn't following turned back. "Yu Xi, let's go," he called out.
Jian Rui said simply, "Go."
Yu Xi lowered his head and followed.
He watched them disappear into the craft, the weight of his decision pressing harder than ever. He was seriously starting to think that this wasn't the right choice.
With a flick of his wrist, he released the spheres. They zipped into the building, silent and precise. He turned without watching the detonation, walking toward the waiting space craft.
As the vessel lifted into the sky, the building below erupted in a burst of red flame. Dust and debris surged outward, swallowing the surrounding dilapidated structures in a cloud of ash. The place that had imprisoned so many, that had stolen years and lives, was finally gone.
Inside the craft, Jian Ci walked over holding a small blanket. Yu Xi sat by the window, eyes locked on the rising flames, his expression unreadable.
Seeing that he was distracted he didn't disturb him. He simply unraveled the blanket and draped it over Yu Xi's shoulders.
Yu Xi turned slightly, lips dry. "Thanks."
Jian Ci smiled faintly and looked away, closing his eyes.
Yu Xi's gaze lingered longer than it should have. He thought of what Jian Rui said. Jian Ci was sick but looking at him now, he appeared fine. He couldn't help but wonder what sort of illness could plague someone so nice.