Venerable Demon King & The Doting Immortal (QT)-Chapter 447: Never underestimate Han Xin

When Sirius finally glanced at the images transmitted by security drones, surprise struck him. In the wasteland, there had been a brief glimpse of an expensive spacecraft. It was a suspicious sight, especially for that desolate region.

After that the drones had suddenly gone dark as if shut down at once, piquing his curiosity further. What made matters worse was learning that Selene had visited one of the planets weeks prior. This news fueled his suspicion and convinced him to retreat from his battle. He had come expecting to find Xiang Yu but instead he found him sitting on Han Xin’s lap.

Sirius gritted his teeth, a flash of displeasure coursing through him. Across the bridge, Han Xin returned his gaze, cold and unyielding, a deadly glare that seemed to pulse with tension.

Han Xin’s grip around Xiang Yu tightened, pulling him closer, a clear declaration of territory. Xiang Yu found the whole situation amusing, burying his face in the crook of Han Xin’s neck, a smirk playing at the corners of his mouth.

Sirius’s lip curled into an even deeper sneer. "You are in violation of Federation space," he announced, his voice low and dangerous. "Surrender your vessel immediately, or..." he let the threat linger.

"Dream on," Han Xin replied, his tone icy and unshakeable.

The sinister smile on Sirius’s face only widened, his gaze still fixed on Xiang Yu. "And here I thought the Republic had issued warrants for the arrest of their disgraced fake prince. Who would have thought he would be nestled in the arms of their new Imperial Lord?" His voice dripped with malice. "I wonder how the people of the Republic will feel seeing their Imperial Lord fraternizing with a traitor’s son. They will probably think he is... bewitched."

Han Xin sneered in response, fingers gently stroking Xiang Yu’s hair, running through the soft strands, as if to emphasize their relationship.

For a brief moment, Sirius’s eyes darkened, a flicker of something unidentifiable flaring within him. He was lost in the sight, jolted from his thoughts only when he realized the implications of that gentle gesture.

"You know your current circumstances," Sirius said, his voice wavering slightly with anger. "You are outnumbered." An evil smile crept back onto his face. "How about this... you give me Xiang Yu, and I will let you leave the Federation. You can live to fight another day."

Han Xin glared daggers at Sirius, his gaze so sharp it felt as though it could slice through the air. Every muscle in his body was taut with simmering anger. He exuded a fierce protectiveness over his man.

Sirius, however, didn’t back down. He met Han Xin’s glare with one of his own, an icy resolve behind his calculating eyes. "You wouldn’t want the Republic to mourn you without a body, ri—" he began, but Han Xin cut him off, decisive and unyielding. With a swift gesture, he ended the transmission, silencing Sirius’s taunts.

As the screen flickered dark, the command bridge fell into a heavy silence. The atmosphere was thick with tension, almost suffocating. Strained breaths echoed in the confined space as everyone waiting for Sirius to react. freēwēbηovel.c૦m

On Maximus.

The command bridge hummed with a tense energy, the red glow of the tactical display painting the faces of the crew in a lurid light. Xiang Yu’s gaze was fixed on the holographic projection of Sirius’s fleet, a swarm of predatory vessels poised to strike.

"How are you going to handle him, Xin-ge?" Xiang Yu’s voice, usually a booming command, was low, almost a whisper.

Han Xin turned, his eyes, dark and sharp, locking onto Xiang Yu’s. He reached out, cupping Xiang Yu’s cheek, his thumb gently tracing the line of his jaw. The simple, intimate gesture, in the midst of impending battle, sent a ripple of warmth through the tense atmosphere.

"Are you afraid?" Han Xin asked, his voice soft, a hint of amusement playing on his lips.

Xiang Yu met his gaze, his eyes unwavering. "No."

A slow smile spread across Han Xin’s face, a smile that spoke of unwavering confidence and deep affection. "Good." He could see the trust in Xiang Yu’s eyes, trust that seemed to have been forged for thousands of years.

Meanwhile, Sirius watched the transmission cut off, his eyes gleaming with malicious delight. He threw his head back and let out a chilling laugh, a sound that echoed through the bridge, sending shivers down the spines of his crew. It was a laugh devoid of joy, a sound of pure, unadulterated evil.

Suddenly, the laughter ceased, replaced by a violent outburst. Sirius slammed his fist into the control console, the metal buckling and groaning under the force of his blow. A large dent marred the smooth surface.

"Since I can’t have it," he hissed, his voice laced with venom, "I will destroy it."

He straightened, taking a deep breath, smoothing the folds of his immaculate uniform. "Blow them up," he commanded, his voice cold and precise. "When it’s over, announce to the Republic that their precious Imperial Lord died because of the traitor’s son, Xiang Yu."

"Yes, Your Majesty," the general responded, his voice betraying a hint of unease. Sirius turned to leave, his steps echoing on the metal floor.

"Your Majesty," the general called out, his voice urgent.

Sirius paused, his brow furrowed and turned back. "What is it?"

He followed the man’s gaze towards the observation deck. His eyes widened slightly. He had anticipated Han Xin’s strategic mind and his ability to prepare. However, what he saw surpassed his expectations.

The display zoomed in, and Sirius’s brow creased. Emerging from the shadows of the void was a formidable flee, a deadly armada. One by one, the shadows resolved into unmistakable forms: Assault carriers, their gunmetal hulls bristling with weaponry; sleek battlecruisers with their curved, predatory designs; and frigates arrayed in disciplined formation. At the heart of the fleet loomed two colossal warships, their running lights casting an eerie glow that cut through the darkness like eyes opening in a nightmare.

The bridge fell silent, save for the faint hum of the warship’s systems. The crew stared at the display, their expressions ranging from disbelief to dread.

"How..." one of them stammered, "How did they—?"

Sirius slammed his fist on the console, silencing the question. His jaw tightened, his teeth grinding audibly. "How did this bastard sneak an entire fleet into Federation territory without us knowing? And why in the void didn’t we detect them earlier?" His voice rose with each word, his frustration boiling over.

A low growl rumbled in Sirius’s throat. He had underestimated Han Xin, and he knew, with a chilling certainty, that this was going to be bloody.