The Demon King's gaze locked onto him, the smile on his face vanishing, replaced by an ominous light. He clutched his armchair, his fingers digging into the material, leaving deep marks on the wood. The resemblance was uncanny. It was the same crimson eyes, the same cruel mouth. Father and son, bound by blood and betrayal.
The Demon King rose, his steps deliberate. "Now I understand what your mother felt," he murmured before crouching down. "You are really hard to kill." He ran his fingers through Xiang Yu's hair at his nape his eyes like a beast on the prowl.
His father's touch was a paradox. It was a blend of cruelty and intimacy that sent shivers down Xiang Yu's spine. His fingers, sharp as obsidian, traced the curve of Xiang Yu's nape, the pressure teetering on the edge of pain and tenderness.
Xiang Yu's scalp prickled his nerves screaming. His father's breath, tainted with power accumulated for centuries, brushed against his skin.
Xiang Yu smiled evilly before saying, "How do you think a weak and pathetic half-blood like me survived, huh?" A low, unsettling chuckle came out of his throat. "Your loyal servant and his companion didn't do what you told them to do. They wanted my demon core and flesh all to themselves, but the cultivators attacked, so they decided to come back later and have a... what should I call it... an afternoon snack?"
The Shadow Jade Palace quivered with tension as Xiang Yu's revelation hung in the air like a poisoned blade. He glanced at the concubines sitting around the table before saying,
"From their conversation, they have done it multiple times. They feed on your dead children and make themselves more powerful. Interesting, right?" His voice cut through the tense atmosphere and shattered their souls. The women's faces turned ashen, with one even shedding tears.
The Demon King's eyes narrowed, twin flames flickering with disbelief and rage. His fingers tightened, and Xiang Yu's vision blurred. "Shiren?" the Demon King murmured his voice trembling slightly in rage. "He has been loyal to me. He wouldn't."
Xiang Yu's laughter was brittle. "Loyal?" he said. "No father... he wants to be you."
His father's intense gaze caused the numbness to spread from his scalp to his soul but he showed no fear. The Demon King flung his head in anger before he got up. Xiang Yu, still feeling the after-effects of the paralysis spell, was a little slow to react; thus, his head hit the floor directly, and blood trickled down from his temple.
His loyal servant, Shiren and his companion were summoned. They trembled sweat beading on their foreheads.
"Is it true?" The Demon King's voice was a storm gathering. "Explain yourself!"
Xiang Yu held his head his twisted smile widening. "Tsk tsk tsk... Father," he drawled, "your precious servant has been very busy."
The Demon King's knuckles whitened as he clenched his whip. His gaze bore into Shiren making the man quiver in fear in fright. This was unacceptable. If he could take his children's demon cores, what would stop him from digging out his when he was in a compromised position?
The servant's eyes darted, guilt etched across his face. "My lord," Shiren stammered, "I—I did what I thought necessary. To strengthen me so I could be of better service to you."
This answer had the opposite effect to what Shiren expected. For whose better service? He was obviously doing it for himself. The Demon King's wrath erupted. He lunged his whip slashing through the air. Chunks of flesh tore off Shiren's face, blood staining the marble floor. Each strike echoed his betrayal and the secret power hoarded for himself.
Shiren crumpled, gasping. "Forgive me, my lord," he choked out. "I wanted to ensure your line endured."
The marble floors were soon stained by Shiren's blood as he lay sprawled in a pool of red. His companion was dragged by the hair and thrown out of the window.
The Demon King brushed his untied hair back with his hand stained with blood. His eyes ablaze with fury locked onto Xiang Yu his intentions obvious.
Xiang Yu staggered to his feet, blood trickling from his temple. His aura pulsed with defiance and determination. "Father," he rasped, "I invoke my ancient right... a fight to the death for the throne."
The Demon King's laughter echoed in the hall as he sat down. He picked up the cup filled with some red liquid and gulped it down the smile in his eyes unconcealed. "You?" he taunted. "A pathetic half-breed? How amusing."
But Xiang Yu's twisted smile held no fear. "I have the right," he said. "Why won't you accept it? Unless... you are afraid I will defeat you."
His father's eyes narrowed, red flames flickering within them. "No... it will be a waste of my time," he declared, dismissing Xiang Yu with a wave of his hand. He put his feet up on the table and crossed them at the ankles his expression nonchalant.
Lu Se suddenly knelt before him. "My lord," she implored, "let me fight in your stead. Spare yourself this burden."
The Demon King's amusement twisted on his lips. "Very well," he said. "If you beat her, I will grant you the opportunity to face off with me. Do we have an agreement?"
Xiang Yu's half-smile was unsettling, but what did the Demon King have to worry about when Lu Se captured Xiang Yu without even breaking a sweat?
"Yes... we have an agreement," said Xiang Yu slowly walking towards the table and pouring himself a drink like he owned the place. He raised the cup and toasted his father.
"May the best demon win," he said, drinking the contents of his cup. A split second later, he spat it all out, spraying the liquid all over. He wiped his mouth in disgust while some concubines giggled laughing at him.
"What the hell is this? It tastes like death," he murmured and his father locked gazes with him while drinking another sip in a show of dominance. After drinking, the Demon King sneered, his eyes filled with disgust.
The run-down arena crackled with anticipation as the demons rushed in to see the good show. There had been challenges against the Demon King before but all of them were pummelled to death with no corpses left intact.
The dust rose as the demons cheered seeing Lu Se step forward and bow to their King. Instead, he pulled her into his arms and kissed her deeply a kiss Xiang Yu considered a farewell kiss because he was going to kill her. He was going to kill her in front of them then after that... he would kill his