The man looked to be around forty, but he was unusually handso. His peach blossom eyes were particularly striking—beautiful and captivating. Even with his cold expression, his eyes seed to hold a hint of a smile, drawing people in without them even realizing it.
The Princely Heir had once tasked Jiang Shi with investigating Father Zhi’s life story. Jiang Shi was always ticulous and had even procured a portrait of Father Zhi at the ti. When the Princely Heir was reviewing the information, he had been standing behind him and had caught a glimpse of the portrait.
He looked identical to the man standing before him now.
And when he recalled the Miss’s identical eyes, a wave of horror washed over Chen Jiu.
’Could this man before be the late Jurong County Magistrate, the Miss’s biological father?’
At this realization, Chen Jiu broke out in a cold sweat.
’How can this be?’
’Didn’t Father Zhi pass away five years ago?’
’But if this man isn’t Father Zhi, who is he?’
’Why do they look exactly alike?’
For a mont, Chen Jiu was filled with confusion and unease.
’I have to report this to the Princely Heir as soon as possible.’
The man was indeed the black-robed figure.
Seeing Miss Liu, he paused, his voice cold. "You’re not dead?"
"I’m not dead. You must be very disappointed, Big Brother," Miss Liu said, her fists clenched and her expression utterly chilled. "They said you blew up the ship for the jewels, knowing full well the brothers were still on board. I didn’t believe it. But now that I see you, I finally do.
How heartbroken must the brothers be in the netherworld?
The Big Brother they had always respected didn’t care if they lived or died!"
"Since you’re not dead, you should live well." The man paid her no mind, holding the door and starting to close it. But Miss Liu reached out to stop him. "I barely escaped with my life, and you’re going to shut the door in my face, Big Brother?" As she spoke, she touched her stomach. "If you won’t acknowledge , will you refuse to acknowledge your own child, too?"
The man, who had been indifferent, suddenly lunged forward and grabbed her by the neck upon hearing her words. His voice was filled with killing intent. "Miss Liu, that child is not mine. Don’t you dare spout such nonsense!"
Her neck suddenly constricted, Miss Liu’s face instantly turned purple. She struggled to breathe. "I admit... I used dishonorable ans... but this child is truly yours! Fine, if you want to kill , then kill ! Let die with my child!"
Seeing this, Chen Jiu quickly suppressed his shock and stepped forward to intervene. "Brother, let’s talk this out. Miss Liu is just a woman. Why lower yourself to her level? Besides, the child in her belly is innocent."
The man paused at his words, finally releasing his grip. He turned his back and said, "Get out. Don’t let see you again!"
The man’s back looked injured. It was covered in a dark, sticky-looking poultice. But what shocked Chen Jiu was the tattoo on the man’s left shoulder.
The design of the tattoo was the sa as the ones on the pirates, only the one on this man was larger.
’So he really is a descendant of King Jin?’
At this thought, Chen Jiu’s pupils contracted.
The suffocating threat of death just monts ago left Miss Liu frightened, furious, and regretful.
She loved this man so much and had done everything for him, yet she couldn’t even get him to spare her a single proper glance.
’He truly is heartless!’
Miss Liu could bear it no longer and shouted, "You really don’t want this child? Your wife has been dead for so many years! Why won’t you look at , or any other woman?"
Hearing this, the man spun around in a sudden rage, striking out at Miss Liu with his palm. "Shut your mouth! You’re not worthy of ntioning her!"
Horrified, Chen Jiu quickly pulled Miss Liu aside to dodge.
Even though he reacted quickly, his shoulder was still grazed by the force of the palm strike. His qi and blood surged, and he imdiately spat out a mouthful of fresh blood.
Seeing this, the man couldn’t help but give Chen Jiu a second look. In a low voice, he asked, "Who are you?"
Chen Jiu wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth. "I’m just a nobody. But you, sir, why would you use such a heavy hand against a woman?"
The man didn’t answer his question. Instead, he looked at him thoughtfully. "I heard Miss Liu was tricked by her lover, which is how everyone in the stronghold ended up in the Governnt’s hands. You must be that lover, right?"
Chen Jiu choked for a second, then said awkwardly, "Sir, your words are too harsh. What ’lover’? I just felt sorry for Miss Liu, so I grew a little closer to her..."
The man snorted coldly, cutting him off. "I don’t care what your relationship is. But you’re with the Governnt, and for that, you deserve to die!" As soon as the words left his mouth, he leaped toward Chen Jiu, aiming for his vital points.
Miss Liu hadn’t yet recovered from the man’s ruthless attempt to kill her. Seeing him now about to kill Chen Jiu, she snapped back to her senses and, without a second thought, jumped in front of Chen Jiu.
"Chen Jiu, you’re no match for him! Get out of here!"
"Idiot, he’s deceiving you!" the man roared, shoving her aside.
But Miss Liu clung desperately to his leg. "Big Brother, please let him go! He’s not very capable; he won’t harm us."
The man rebuked her angrily, "Last ti you led the wolf into our den and got all the brothers captured, have you still not figured it out? He’s a spy sent by the Governnt!"
Miss Liu thought of how Chen Jiu had just spat up blood to save her and shook her head firmly. "Last ti, he had no choice. He was forced. He won’t harm this ti. He’s the one who saved and helped escape from prison."
The man’s face turned ashen with anger. "Unbelievably foolish!"
He paid Miss Liu no more mind, kicked her away, and turned back into the house.
Seeing this, Chen Jiu secretly breathed a sigh of relief and quickly helped Miss Liu to her feet.
But when the two of them entered the house, they found it empty.
"Big Brother!"
Miss Liu called out several tis but received no answer. Only then did the two realize the man had already left the small courtyard.
"Big Brother abandoned again..." Miss Liu murmured, slumping into a chair, utterly crestfallen.
A glint appeared in Chen Jiu’s eyes.
’That Big Brother is certainly sharp. However, n from the Heir’s Faction should have arrived at the sa ti he did and already be lying in ambush nearby.’
’They should be tailing him by now.’
"What’s your Big Brother’s family na?" Chen Jiu asked, as if nonchalantly.
Miss Liu paused for a mont before replying, "We all just call him Big Brother. No one dares to use his real na. I’m not really sure what it is, but one ti, I ran into a friend of his who was visiting. I think he called him Zhi Ye."
"Zhi Ye?" Chen Jiu was inwardly startled. He imdiately found a brush and paper and wrote down the na. "Is this it?"
Miss Liu tried to recognize it, then shook her head. "I only heard his friend call him that. I’m not sure if those are the exact characters. But you... why are you so interested in my Big Brother’s na?"
"I’m not really interested, just curious. After all, the surna Zhi is quite rare," Chen Jiu said evasively.
"Speaking of the surna Zhi, it seems that ’Miss’ of yours has the sa surna," Miss Liu suddenly recalled.
Chen Jiu put on a look of sudden realization. "Now that you ntion it, I hadn’t thought of it. They do have the sa surna."
"What a coincidence. The surna Zhi is so rare, yet we know two people with it. Could it be... they’re related?" The more Miss Liu spoke, the more plausible it seed. Just then, she also rembered that Zhi Wan also had a pair of beautiful peach blossom eyes, and her features were sowhat similar to Big Brother’s.
At this thought, her eyes widened abruptly. "Zhi Wan couldn’t be Big Brother’s daughter, could she?"
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