The divine emperor sat in silence, as if the weight of the world resting on his shoulders like a heavy cloak. He leaned back in his chair with a deep sigh, his gaze fixed on the mirror before him. In that glass, he saw the reflection of a man haunted by choices.
Xiang Yu had imprisoned his father for far too long, and now the demon lord’s soul lay in tatters. Bits and pieces, torn and scattered, yet somehow, it was better than before. At least now, the demon could speak. The words were slow and laboured like molasses struggling to escape a jar.
But something gnawed at the divine emperor’s mind, sharper than a fox’s tooth. This damage was not simply the cruel work of years spent in this mirror. It was more than that. Shadows whispered of a more sinister force that had twisted the demon lord’s essence. He needed answers.
He had long come to a realisation that someone had tempered with the mirror to make sure he would never remember what he did in the past. He needed find a solution. The corners of his mind raced trying to find another way to recover the demon’s memories.
Just as his thoughts spiralled deeper, a familiar voice broke through the haze—a sweet sound that wrapped around his heart like a warm blanket. His wife’s voice resonated in his mind, joyous yet insistent. "Hurry up and see our son."
In a heartbeat, he vanished from his seat, the air shimmering as he transported himself to his son’s palace. The world materialized around him, and there lay Han Xin, blinking in the soft light of the room. His mother knelt beside him, whispering his name like a gentle prayer.
"Xin-er!" the divine emperor called anxiety wrapping around his chest like a serpent. "Can you hear me?"
The man’s pupils danced, flickering in recognition, but his mouth remained sealed, like he couldn’t speak. It was as if his body was a vessel with no captain. Han Xin could hear the voices of his parents, though they felt far away. It was like a distant echo across a vast ocean.
He felt a deep yearning, a pull to the world outside himself, yet it slipped through his fingers like sand. A part of him understood that he shouldn’t be here, that he should be searching for something important.
But as he lay there, heavy and unmoving, fatigue washed over him. His eyelids fluttered, making a slow descent until they finally closed, enveloping him in darkness. The sounds of his parents’ cries faded, their love echoing like waves retreating from the shore.
In a cave, the stillness was only broken by the soft splash of water against the stone. A figure sat near the edge of a crystal-clear pool. She wore a stunning blue dress that shimmered in the dim light, but it was wrinkled and worn.
Her hair was dishevelled, a wild mess that framed a face marked by distress. Peng Xiu hugged her knees to her chest, trembling slightly as she gazed into the water, her reflection muddled and distorted. She looked pitiful, a mere shadow of her usual self.
At that moment, the figure cloaked in darkness glided into the cave, its body almost floating above the ground. When they caught sight of Peng Xiu, a sneer twisted their lips. "Didn’t I tell you that love is a useless emotion?" they said, their voice laced with disdain.
Peng Xiu remained silent, her eyes still fixed on the swirling water. The cloaked figure continued, their tone dripping with derision. "How pathetic. Your obsession with that pathetic immortal will consume you. It’s like a parasite, festering... and growing until it destroys you from the inside."
A flicker of anger danced across Peng Xiu’s face. Her lips twitched, but she did not respond. Han Xin was hers. He was meant to be hers. She had met him first and spent years admiring him from a distance.
She even attempted to get close to the divine empress, keeping her company every chance she got. In her mind, she was already envisioned as Han Xin’s future wife.
The goddess herself took a liking to her, fashioning moments for them to get to know each other. Yet, during those moments that were precious to her, Han Xin was indifferent, nearly silent. It was actually Han Zhan who struggled to include her in their conversations as it was awkward.
Peng Xiu felt a sadness bloom in her heart, but she believed there was still time. At least decades, she thought. They could develop something deeper. She felt no sense of crisis as there was no oneself near him.
But as time went on, her once-patient heart twisted, and obsession sprouted like a dark seed inside her. It burrowed deeper and spread like a devilish vine, wrapping around her thoughts until she was no longer content to watch from afar. Instead of following her father’s instructions, she dreamed only of Han Xin.
When her father died she thought she could just forget about the plans they had plotted since her birth but in came the cloaked figure here to collect debts. They wanted to proceed with the plan but Peng Xiu just wanted the chance to get Han Xin.
The cloaked figure was at all worried. They knew their plan would be achieved either way. It would even be better if Peng Xiu could win Han Xin’s heart but they should have known that Han Xin was stubbornly in love with Xiang Yu. They were starting to think that idiot of a demon King picked the wrong twin from the beginning.
The cloaked figure loomed over Peng Xiu, their presence suffocating as they spoke, "You have failed, even when I gave you an advantage. You should have followed your father’s footsteps."
The words dripped with contempt. "Your father... to get the perfect specimen, he slept with multiple women. There are plenty of flowers in the field, so why waste your time on someone who wouldn’t even spit on you while you are on fire?"
Peng Xiu raised her head. A sneer danced on her lips, a flicker of defiance in her darkened eyes. It seemed as if the cloaked figure had snapped some sense into her, yet deep down, she held tight to her resolve. She was not about to give up. She would have Han Xin in the end or die trying. After all, she was a demon.