Venerable Demon King & The Doting Immortal (QT)-Chapter 154: Painful Separation

Dusk descended, casting long shadows that danced ominously over the cobblestone palace grounds. Peng Xiu sprawled on the ground, her limbs splayed awkwardly as crimson pools formed around her feet like macabre petals fallen from a dead flower.

Her breath came in ragged gasps, pain etched across her delicate features, yet there remained an ember of defiance in her gaze, a fierce spark that refused to be extinguished.

Xiang Yu approached slowly, his presence a palpable force that seemed to warp the very air around him. Though he appeared human, his aura was anything but. It roiled and twisted like a caged beast, a dark, primal energy that surged through his veins, making his skin almost seem to pulse with its intensity.

He moved with a predatory grace, each step deliberate as he hovered over her like a storm cloud ready to unleash its fury. His chest heaved with each breath, the rise and fall a testament to the barely contained power within.

His hand gripped the hilt of another dagger he had carried with him so tightly that his knuckles turned white. The blade itself seeming to hum in resonance with his dark energy. A fresh cut marred his cheek, a stark line of crimson against his pale skin, and his eyes bloodshot and wild, glowed with a malevolent light.

"How satisfying it is," he murmured, lips twisting into a cruel arc that could chill even the bravest soul. "To see how the mighty have fallen."

Peng Xiu chuckled then, a sound so manic it echoed through the empty grounds like shattered glass. "Xiang Yu," she spat defiantly despite her condition, "you can’t kill me. I may have committed treason, but I am still a princess of Yige Country! If you kill me now..." Her voice trailed off momentarily as if tasting defeat before she rallied again, "it would ruin your precious peace treaty!"

A flicker of amusement crossed Xiang Yu’s face at her desperation. "Do you think I care?" he replied coldly. "The only reason I am here is for Han Xin." The name hung between them like poison; sweet yet toxic. "Now that he has agreed to be with me," he continued with chilling nonchalance, "I couldn’t care less about treaties or alliances."

At this revelation, Peng Xiu’s smile faltered entirely, her mask slipping away to reveal raw anguish underneath. She screamed hysterically saying, "Why? Why should you take Xin-ge away from me? Is it because I poisoned you? Is this all because I deceived your feelings in the past? Did I hurt you so deeply that you decided to go seduce Xin-ge to revenge against me?"

Her words were calculated. She had long noticed Han Xin coming their direction and wanted him to hear with his own mouth how Xiang Yu had deceived his feelings just to get to her.

Xiang Yu’s expression morphed into one of disdain as he crouched down beside her. His blade poised dangerously at her throat like an executioner waiting for judgment day. "Naive," he hissed softly through clenched teeth his eyes darkened by memories too painful to articulate fully. "You think I am here because of your drugged letters? No no no... this is about pain you inflicted on Lian when you pierced her flesh. This is about much grief you inflicted on Mei."

"I want you to feel what I felt when you tore at my dantian," he continued mercilessly as if caught up in some fevered dream where morality had no place anymore. A place where only retribution mattered. He leaned down and whispered, "And in each world I will hunt you down and make you pay."

Peng Xiu couldn’t understand what he was talking about. She couldn’t recall ever confronting anyone named Lian and Mei. Before she could comprehend his words he drove his dagger into her shoulder without hesitation.

A scream tore itself from Peng Xiu’s lips. It was a raw and primal cry that shook those who heard it. Shock coursed through every fiber of her being, the pain blossoming fiercely within her.

"Xin-ge, save me from this monster!" she cried out desperately, her voice cracking under pressure. She cried for him to save her.

But Han Xin stood rooted at a distance, not moving forward nor retreating. He simply watched while his emotions churned silently behind those steady eyes. It was like a storm was brewing underneath.

"General!" Peng Xiu begged frantically now as despair clawed viciously at her insides, threatening to swallow whatever hope she had left. Hope that Han Xin cared for her even a little bit. He was a morally upstanding man who would spare the old and young of the enemy country so why couldn’t he save her?

Xiang Yu glanced back momentarily toward Han Xin before dismissing her words altogether. With boredom lacing his tone as though neither life nor death held any meaning he said, "Boring." He was tired of hearing her beg Han Xin. Fearing Han Xin’s heart would soften he took action.

He stabbed her repeatedly until she

finally lay unmoving beneath him in a pool of blood.

It wasn’t until silence enveloped them completely that Han Xin stirred forward cautiously and pulled him up.

"She is dead," he said. Xiang Yu’s breath hitched as Han Xin’s words sank in. The battlefield around them seemed to fade into a distant memory, replaced by the warmth of Han Xin’s embrace. Xiang Yu’s hands, still trembling from the adrenaline, found solace in the steady rhythm of Han Xin’s heartbeat against his back.

"She’s dead," Han Xin repeated in a murmur, his voice a soothing balm to Xiang Yu’s chaotic emotions. Xiang Yu let himself be pulled even closer into Han Xin’s embrace, feeling the warmth seep into his bones.

Han Xin’s breath, warm and gentle, grazed Xiang Yu’s ear, sending a shiver down his spine. The itch on his earlobe was a stark contrast to the cold, sticky blood on his hands.

"Have you vented out all your anger?" Han Xin whispered, his lips brushing against Xiang Yu’s ear. Xiang Yu closed his eyes, taking a deep breath to steady himself. The rage that had consumed him moments ago had now settled.

"Yes, kind of," he whispered back, his voice barely audible. Han Xin’s arms tightened around him like he was afraid that he would leave.

"Don’t you think I am a monster, like Peng Xiu said?" Xiang Yu’s gaze drifted to her lifeless body sprawled on the ground, her once fierce expression now frozen in death. Han Xin’s grip on him tightened, his voice firm and resolute.

"No, you aren’t. The only monster here was Peng Xiu," Han Xin said, his words pleasant to hear. Xiang Yu smiled, a small, weary smile, as he caressed Han Xin’s arm wrapped around his waist.

"You really are good at fighting, even with one arm. It’s cool," Xiang Yu said, his voice tinged with admiration. He felt a blush creeping up his cheeks, a stark contrast to the courage he had shown the previous day when he had pressed Han Xin against the wall and stroked his hardness.

"You really think so?" Han Xin’s voice was playful, a hint of pride in his tone. "I wanted to show off in front of you, so you would see how cool your man is."

"Mission accomplished. My man is definitely cool," Xiang Yu replied, his smile widening. Han Xin nuzzled Xiang Yu’s neck, ignoring the chaos that still lingered around them.

"By the way," Han Xin said suddenly, his voice soft and sincere, "I agreed to be your wife, not for Yige, but because I love you."

Xiang Yu turned around, his eyes searching Han Xin’s for any hint of doubt. "Really?"

"Really," Han Xin confirmed, pulling Xiang Yu into a tighter embrace. "I will marry into your family and be your loyal wife if you will still have me."

"What about your family? Won’t they oppose?" Xiang Yu asked, his voice tinged with worry.

"Even if they do, I will still run away with you," Han Xin said, his voice filled with determination. Xiang Yu’s heart swelled hearing his words.

Xiang Yu held Han Xin tightly, feeling the warmth of his body seep into his own. His lips pressed urgently against Han Xin’s, their mouths moving in perfect harmony. Han Xin’s breath caught as he felt the intensity of Xiang Yu’s kiss, a kiss that ignited a fire in his veins.

Xiang Yu’s hands roamed freely over Han Xin’s body, exploring every inch of his skin, his fingers leaving trails of blood . Their tongues danced, tangling together in a passionate embrace, sharing a moment of pure, unadulterated desire.

Han Xin moaned softly, his body arching towards Xiang Yu, eager for more. The taste of Xiang Yu’s kiss was like a sweet elixir, an addictive blend of passion and longing. His hands tightened around Xiang Yu’s waist, pulling him closer. Their bodies pressed together, chest against chest, creating a delicious friction that sent sparks of pleasure through their nerves.

As their kiss deepened, something extraordinary happened. The air grew colder, and the comforting presence of Han Xin began to fade. Xiang Yu’s eyes snapped open, and he found himself standing in his spiritual space. The familiar surroundings of his sanctuary felt alien and empty without Han Xin. His muscles froze, his entire body numb with shock.

Behind him, the twins stood, their faces etched with concern. "Master," they called out, their voices trembling. "Master, what’s wrong?"

Xiang Yu didn’t respond. His heart pounded in his chest, his vision blurred with unshed tears. He had thought they could have more time together, that he could defy the divine emperor’s instructions and spend some time with him before leaving this world. But now, Han Xin was gone, ripped away from him without warning.

A bitter laugh escaped Xiang Yu’s lips, filled with self-deprecation. "You really couldn’t wait, could you?" he said to the empty air, knowing the divine emperor could hear him. "You could have given me more time, but you didn’t."

The divine emperor’s voice echoed in his mind, feigning ignorance. "I don’t know what you are talking about."

"Really?" Xiang Yu’s voice dripped with mockery. "You had no control over how I left that world?"

The divine emperor’s silence was telling. Xiang Yu knew the truth. The divine emperor had always been resistant to his relationship with Han Xin, and now, he had taken matters into his own hands.

Xiang Yu’s fists clenched at his sides, his nails digging into his palms. "You did this on purpose," he whispered, his voice filled with a mix of anger and sorrow. "You couldn’t stand me staying with him a little longer."

The twins moved closer, their presence a small comfort in the vast emptiness of his spiritual space. "Master, we are here for you," they said softly, their voices a balm to his wounded heart. Xiang Yu took a deep breath, trying to steady himself.