RAGING FATE (Hiatus)

Chapter 59

 VULNERABILITY

Now striding to the hallway, Sizhui keeps his eyes keenly staring at all the surroundings they will pass by, looking for a spot where clean water still flows, while Wei lazily follows behind him, yawning as the sound of the heavy rain made him feel drowsy.

"Are you sure there's still an unaffected area of the peak with clean water?" Wei inquired, and Sizhui turned to face him, confidently smiling.

"Em, trust me, Prince Wei; there will be, let's hope," he says smiling, his eyes bright with optimism.

Emperor Fen's second son was taken aback by this and remembered Lan Zhan's collected posture after witnessing the youth's positive behavior, which caused him to nod and smile.

Wei Ying had known this fact since the beginning, but he still felt crept out, strange, and bothered, why every time this youth is with him, he will feel the same vibes and sense of easiness that Lan Zhan had made him feel whenever he was around him.

Crazy and odd...

Have I met this young man before? No, perhaps not; how could I meet anyone besides Lan Zhan, my family, and my servants? Also, why does his smile have such a strong resemblance to Lan Zhan's? Is he just Lan Zhan's adopted son or...

Wei started to think carefully but soon grew frustrated since he couldn't come up with anything worthwhile and pleasant. As a result, he decided to just ask the person who was still busy looking for fresh water to drink to make things more easy.

"Sizhui," he called out, now standing beside the youth, who was unbothered and still looking through the corners of the path they were on for any flow of clean drinking water.

"Yes, Prince Wei?" says Sizhui, not looking at him.

"Are you certain that you are only Lan Zhan's adopted son and not his biological child?"

Hearing such a question, Sizhui's gaze shifted abruptly to him, surprised, but radical changes into a gentle expression and a kind smile.

"Of course, Prince Wei. I'm just Hanguang-Jun's adopted son. My mother's name is CheYi and my father's name is Kudo. They're both simple people who died of plague diseases in our village ten years ago, and I, Jingyi, alongside Wen Ning are the only survivors."

"I... uh, I didn't mean to bring back such sad memories to you, forgive me,"

Sizhui shows a simple smile, accepts Wei's apology, and returns his attention to finding the flowing clean drinking water.

"It's okay, Prince Wei, it's already in the past. Without such a past, perhaps I would not be here now. In short, my tragic past was the bridge for me to end up here alongside Jingyi and Wen Ning. I'm so glad to be given another life alongside my childhood friend, so Prince Wei doesn't need to worry," Sizhui replied, eyes shining with honesty and sincerity.

"Also, Bro, Hanguang-Jun had not yet tied the knot with his wife, he was not yet bound in such deep obligation, so Prince Wei did not need to be concerned," he added, his gaze fixed on the second of the Yao clan, whose expression became disturbed for a moment due to his words but was quickly turned collected again.

"Oh, no. I'm not worried; why should I be? He's already married; he can do whatever he wants," Wei responds quickly, oblivious to the forceful expression on his face as he deeply ignores the unknown feeling that's stirring and beginning to grow inside him.

Why should I be worried? I mean, how could I? He's just a friend of mine, a childhood friend to be exact. That's right, he's just a friend, a friend who is also important to me, nothing more.