CHAPTER 56: BROTHERS FIGHTING

Lynx’s interface flickered, accessing deeper archives. "There are only two documented cases of Level E espers. They were low-ranking and emotionally unstable displaying tearful responses. Both occurred during psychic collapse following traumatic severance from bonded guides."

Jian Ci’s jaw tightened. "Only two?"

"Yes," Lynx confirmed. "Both cases involved irreversible emotional trauma and complete psychic disorientation."

Jian Ci stared at the screen, heart heavy. It didn’t make sense at all. This reasoning didn’t apply to Yu Xi’s situation.

"One additional case," Lynx added, its voice steady and clinical, "involved the use of illegal serums designed to forcibly suppress psychic output. The esper’s powers were restrained to the point of emotional implosion. Tears were recorded as a side effect of psychic suffocation."

Jian Ci stared at the screen, the words reverberating through his chest like a distant quake. Psychic suffocation. The phrase clung to him, heavy and suffocating in its own right. He thought of Yu Xi’s silent tears, the way he had clung to him in the dark, trembling. Jian Ci’s chest tightened.

"Lynx," he said quietly, "save that report."

"Saved," the assistant replied.

Jian Ci turned off the floating screen, but the question gnawed at him. Yu Xi had been with Jian Rui and Jian Wei all day. Whatever had happened, whatever had pushed him to that breaking point, must have happened then.

A surge of anger rose in Jian Ci’s throat, sharp and uninvited. He got up and stormed through the corridor until he found Jian Rui, who was mid-conversation on his communicator. The screen wasn’t set to private.

Jian Ci caught a glimpse of the contact name: S. Jian Rui was typing angrily, his words laced with fury.

Jian Ci stepped forward. "Who is S?" he demanded. Jian Rui, caught mid-sentence, blinked when he realized his communicator hadn’t switched to private mode.

His expression didn’t falter. With a smooth motion, he shut off the floating screen and leaned back in his chair, arms folding across his chest.

"Since when did you start snooping around?" he asked coolly.

"Since now," Jian Ci shot back, his tone sharp.

Jian Rui caught the edge in his voice and sneered. They rarely fought, but when they did, it wasn’t like the playful bickering he had with Jian Wei. No, when Jian Rui and Jian Ci clashed, it was like tectonic plates grinding beneath the surface.

Jian Ci sat down across from him, eyes locked. "What did you do to Yu Xi?"

"So that’s what this is about," Jian Rui said, voice low.

"Yeah, he—" Jian Ci stopped himself. He wanted to say he cried but he held back. The words hovered on his tongue, but he swallowed them. Yu Xi wouldn’t want that shared with others.

"He is not okay," Jian Ci continued. "You did something to him. Both of you."

Jian Rui’s gaze hardened. "Do you really think we’d force him to do something he didn’t agree to?"

Jian Ci’s aura flared without warning, psychic energy rippling through the room like a pressure wave. He didn’t even realize it.

In the lab, Jian Wei’s communicator buzzed violently. He glanced at the alert, eyes widening. "Damn it," he muttered, grabbing a tray of suppressants and sprinting for the door.

"Who are you showing your fangs to?" Jian Rui snapped, his voice low and dangerous.

He was already on the edge because Stannis had been hounding him all day, and now his younger brother had barged in, throwing accusations like knives. Jian Rui’s psychic power shimmered around him, unstable and sharp, ready to break loose.

Jian Ci’s own aura flared in response, the tension between them crackling like a storm about to split the sky. They were seconds away from colliding.

Then Seraphyne’s projection materialized in the room, her voice slicing through the air like a blade. "Not in my fucking house," she growled. "Take it outside. And if you ruin my lovely garden, I swear I will kill you both the moment I get the chance."

The room froze. Jian Wei entered just in time to see Jian Ci’s aura spike dangerously. Without missing a beat, he tossed auto injectors of suppressants toward him. "If you are going to fight, keep it down. Some of us need silence to concentrate."

Jian Ci caught the them, his eyes still locked on Jian Rui. Neither moved. The air was thick with fury.

Seraphyne’s voice cut in again, colder this time. "Take it and walk away."

Jian Ci narrowed his eyes. Jian Rui smirked, baiting him.

Jian Ci’s body tensed, having taken the bait. He lunged forward but Seraphyne roared, "Jian Ci!"

The force of her voice made him shudder. Fuck, he thought, she is still terrifying... even like that.

Jian Ci took the suppressant and injected it into the side of his neck with practiced ease. The cooling sensation spread through his veins, dulling the sharp edges of his psychic surge. He stood up slowly, calm on the surface, but the anger still simmered beneath his skin like a low flame.

Meanwhile, Yu Xi had no idea what had transpired between the brothers. He slept deeply, his body finally surrendering to rest. When he woke the next morning, soreness clung to every muscle, and the thought of training made him wince. Instead, he stayed in bed, watching one of Jian Ci’s favorite shows—a chaotic comedy that Yu Xi never quite understood. Still, Jian Ci had insisted he give it a chance, so he did.

Eventually, Yu Xi made his way downstairs. Breakfast was already laid out, the scent of eggs and spiced broth lingering in the air. Jian Rui, Jian Wei, and Jian Ci were seated, but the usual chatter was absent. The silence was thick and tense. Yu Xi hesitated at the threshold.

Jian Ci glanced up at him, then lowered his head, focusing on his plate.

"Good morning," Yu Xi said softly, stepping forward.

He moved to sit beside Jian Ci, but Jian Rui pulled out the chair next to him. "Sit here."

Yu Xi paused, looking at Jian Ci. Jian Ci froze for a heartbeat, then resumed eating, his expression unreadable.

Yu Xi sat down slowly, the unease settling in his chest like a stone. Something was definitely wrong.