Venerable Demon King & The Doting Immortal (QT)-Chapter 456: Revenge 2

They passed by cells filled with prisoners. Most of them sat quietly, their eyes downcast, as if lost in thoughts far away from their grim surroundings. Their docility was unsettling, a reminder of the power that held them in shackles.

With each step deeper into the prison, the security intensified. Thick doors lined the corridor, each more formidable than the last. The murmur of guards echoed, a relentless reminder of the endless watch.

After passing through two thick security doors that groaned shut behind them, they approached the last barrier, a massive steel door fortified with blinking red lights.

As Xiang Yu pressed closer, a familiar figure came into view. Maurice stood outside the door, clad in his viper mercenaries gear. Gone was the scrawny boy they had once known. He was no longer just a shadow. He had filled out, muscles gaining definition, and a glimmer of happiness danced in his eyes. Surprise flickered across Xiang Yu’s face, but it was brief.

"Greetings, Your Majesty," Maurice bowed low, his voice a blend of respect and apprehension.

Xiang Yu raised an eyebrow, sensing the undercurrent of tension. Lian stepped forward, her expression warm yet serious. "You seem to be doing well, Maurice."

Mei, ever the pragmatic one, chimed in, "How is your mother?"

Maurice kept his head lowered, awaiting permission from Xiang Yu to relax. A sense of guilt washed over him, the weight of his past choices lingering like a shadow he couldn’t shake. He felt unworthy to meet their gazes directly.

"At ease, Lieutenant," Xiang Yu finally commanded his tone both firm and inviting.

Maurice sighed, the weight of his anxiety lifting slightly as he raised his gaze. Yet the guilt still lay heavily on his shoulders. "All thanks to Your Majesty, I have been well. My mother is also well," he replied, his voice steady but tinged with lingering remorse.

Xiang Yu nodded, a hint of relief gracing his features. "Good. I am glad you are doing well." He turned, stepping toward the security panel that stood guard in the inner sanctum of the prison. Scanners whirred, analyzing his biometrics before the door hissed open before him. fгee𝑤ebɳoveɭ.cøm

"If Your Majesty needs me for anything, please let me know," Maurice said, his voice carrying a touch of eagerness, hoping to be of service.

"Thank you," Xiang Yu replied, stepping through the now-open entrance. Lian and Mei followed him in, exchanging knowing glances before they disappeared behind the door.

As the steel door closed with a resounding thud, Maurice pulled out his communicator, fingers trembling slightly. His message to Han Xin was direct: His majesty is here. Almost eagerly, he awaited a reply, his heart hanging on every second.

In a heartbeat, Han Xin’s response lit up the screen: "Keep them safe. If anything happens to them, I will hold you personally responsible."

"Understood, Your Majesty," Maurice muttered, a knot twisting in his stomach as he focused on the now-closed door.

As the heavy door creaked open, Xiang Yu stepped inside the dimly lit chamber. The air was thick and stale, carrying an unsettling silence that felt alive with tension.

His gaze fell upon Peng Xiu, chained to the cold, unforgiving wall. Her limbs were bound in heavy chains, each link glinting in the faint light. Her head hung low, a curtain of dishevelled hair obscuring her face.

Xiang Yu’s lips curled into a devilish grin. The collar around her neck gleamed ominously, a device meant to keep even the most dangerous criminals in check. One wrong move, one flash of defiance, and she would experience the cruel sting of electricity.

Peng Xiu had given in to her exhaustion. After countless shocks, her body trembled with the remnants of her struggles. Her makeup, once a mask of fierce beauty, had long since crusted over, drips of colour mingling with the sweat and tears that traced lines down her cheeks. Her palms were bloodied, the skin torn from her nails digging in deeper with every futile attempt to break free.

"You can stop pretending," Xiang Yu said coolly, his voice echoing in the silence. "I know you are awake."

A soft chuckle emerged from her throat, hollow at first, but it quickly escalated into a loud, sinister laugh that danced in the air like a haunting melody. While Xiang Yu seemed unfazed, Lian and Mei exchanged nervous glances.

Fear lingered in their eyes, the events of the past still in their minds. Yet they found solace that their master stood before them, their beacon of strength in the face of danger.

Peng Xiu’s laughter faded, leaving behind a low growl like a beast restrained by an unbreakable leash. Her ash-coloured face contorted with rage, veins standing out as she strained against her bindings. With a sudden burst of defiance, she spat at Xiang Yu, the fluid hitting his cheek.

Unflinching, he wiped the spit away with a handkerchief, a mock gesture of disdain. Lian, sensing the tension, moved to grab a chair from the corner of the room. The chair squeaked loudly as she placed it before Xiang Yu. He settled into it, crossing his legs at the knees, exuding an air of casual confidence.

"You really are just like our mother," he said, a smirk playing at the corner of his lips, "so fierce even when you know you are about to die."

Peng Xiu’s eyes flared with indignation as she screamed, "that bitch is not my mother!"

Xiang Yu chuckled, the sound melodic but cold. "Not in your world. In our world, our mother is dead."

Confusion washed over her features, but it quickly morphed into a torrent of emotions, all battling for dominance. She gasped, searching his face for signs of deception.

"It doesn’t matter," Xiang Yu continued, the casualness of his tone contrasting sharply with the gravity of her predicament. "I don’t even know why I am bothering you with this."

Her breaths came in sharp hitches, an inner storm brewing. Despite her chains, despite the collar, a fire burned fiercely within her, flickering against the darkness of despair.