Maurice, who had been robbed of his cigarette and gum, looked away, embarrassment and apprehension mixing on his face. He didn’t dare make a peep, feeling a little shaken. They didn’t normally look terrifying but right now they looked like they had crawled out of the depths of hell.
Mei took the cigarette back, a slight smile on her face that mirrored their master’s. There was a glint in her eyes, a playful rebellion that stirred excitement in Lian’s chest.
Meanwhile, in the corner of the blood-soaked room, Xiang Yu had Peng Xiu pinned down. His hands were steady as he cut her countless times, each slice deliberate. His eyes glimmered with dark energy, glowing like embers in the shadows.
"Please, brother... just kill me," Peng Xiu whispered hoarsely, her voice barely more than a breath.
Xiang Yu leaned in closer, catching her words like delicate threads. He spun the blade between his fingers, a sinister smile creeping onto his face. "You would love that, wouldn’t you?" he taunted as he crouched on the ground beside her.
Peng Xiu breathed weakly, her eyes pleading, yet something darker simmered within them. They were fierce, like coals ready to ignite, filled with the promise of retaliation.
Xiang Yu chuckled softly, brushing the tip of the blade against her blood-stained jacket, the strong stench of iron enough to turn one’s stomach.
He was unbothered, reveling in the moment. Poking the deep gash on her arm with the tip of the blade, he watched with satisfaction as she grimaced in pain.
"I will show you no mercy," he declared, his eyes gleaming with an evil light.
With a swift motion, he slashed her skin again, the sound of tearing flesh filling the air. "Actually, I should thank you," he continued, an unsettling calmness in his voice.
"Because if you hadn’t interfered back then, I wouldn’t have fallen in love with Xin-ge. I would have missed out on my soulmate."
Xiang Yu leaned in closer, his voice dripping with malicious intent as he spoke directly to Peng Xiu. "He is mine. He is my soulmate," he said on purpose, aiming to provoke her.
As expected, her expression contorted with rage. Gathering all her strength, Peng Xiu growled like a feral beast, a raw sound that echoed off the walls.
In a sudden burst of movement, she lunged forward, aiming to bite his neck, a desperate act as if to join him in death. But Xiang Yu was more than prepared. He sneered, meeting her attack head-on, and with a swift motion, he drove the dagger right into her eye.
Peng Xiu screamed, a guttural sound of pain and fury. Xiang Yu twisted the blade, pushing it deeper, his gaze holding a cold detachment as though he were merely a spectator, a resentful ghost out for blood staring at the wall.
It was a fraction of a moment before Peng Xiu stopped moving, her breath faltering until it ceased entirely. Xiang Yu withdrew the dagger, stepping back to survey the lifeless body sprawled on the floor. With a swift kick, her body was flung a few feet across the room.
"Is she dead?" he asked aloud, his voice calm.
"Yes, she is gone," replied Hex that had been censoring its observations during the bloody scene.
"Good," Xiang Yu said, his eyes fixed on Peng Xiu’s lifeless form, hatred painting his features.
"About all those things you said..." Hex began cautiously.
Xiang Yu turned, a gleam of mischief sparking in his gaze. "Cute AIs like you shouldn’t ask too many questions."
Hex fell silent, perceiving the subtle praise. It felt a flicker of happiness at being called cute by Xiang Yu. Outside of that, nothing else mattered.
A few minutes later Xiang Yu stepped out. As he entered the elevator, he glanced back at Lian and Mei. They stood behind him, guilty expressions twisting on their faces as they tried to hide their shame. The elevator doors slid shut, sealing them in.
Suddenly, Xiang Yu smiled, a playful glint in his eyes. "You two smoked."
"What?" Lian exclaimed, her surprise spilling over.
"No, no," Mei protested, her voice high and quick.
Xiang Yu listened to their feeble defenses without glancing back. "You have learned to lie to me," he said, amusement lacing his tone.
Lian and Mei lowered their heads, shame washing over them. "I am sorry, Master, we did," they said in unison, their voices trembling.
"I am not mad that you smoked," Xiang Yu replied, his expression shifting slightly. "But I am mad that you lied about it."
"Master, we are so sorry," Lian pleaded.
"We really didn’t mean it," Mei added, desperation coloring her words.
"It’s fine," Xiang Yu said, and relief surged through the girls, visible in their relaxed shoulders and released breaths.
But just as the elevator doors slid open, he added casually, "No ice cream for a week."
Wails of pure sadness erupted from both girls as they realized the consequences of their actions. Xiang Yu stepped out of the elevator, a smirk curling on his lips hearing them wail in anguish. "Go clean up," he commanded, his tone firm but calm.
"Yes, Master," they replied in unison, obedient and willing, as they left for their cabins. Behind them, the cleaning robot whirred to life, following in their wake and whizzing to work on the bloody footprints they had left behind.
As they walked through the corridor, mercenaries along the way couldn’t help but take a second glance. The strong stench of blood hung heavy in the air, almost suffocating.
These men had seen gruesome things in their lives, had tortured numerous prisoners to extract information. Yet they had refrained from using such bloody methods because it was too messy and too hard to clean. They preferred mental torture, equally dangerous but less visually disturbing.
Seeing the blood-soaked figures of Xiang Yu, Lian, and Mei surprised them, even if their expressions remained stoic. After this, they understood that Xiang Yu, like their imperial lord, was not someone to be easily messed with.