Venerable Demon King & The Doting Immortal (QT)-Chapter 492: Fourth World

"What do you want me to do?" she asked a fiery determination sparking in her chest.

The cloaked figure smiled, satisfaction gleaming in their eyes. "All you have to do is kill Han Xin." Their voice was smooth like oil. "If he dies by your hand, we can seize his soul. Finally, we can enact the next phase of our plan."

With a flick of their wrist, a divine weapon appeared. The dagger materialized from thin air, shaped like writhing red blood vines twisting together. "You just need to kill him once," they said, handing it to her.

Peng Xiu stared at the blade, her heart pounding. She sensed the overwhelming power emanating from it. It pulsed with intense dark energy. If she listened closely, she could almost hear the tortured screams of demons, their life force being drained away. A shudder ran through her, and she hesitated, gripping the dagger tightly.

"How will I get it into the new world... will I remember my mission?" she asked, uncertainty creeping into her voice.

"You don’t have to worry about that," the cloaked figure said with a dismissive wave.

Peng Xiu’s gaze continued to roam over the shimmering blade, its allure drawing her in. The whispers from it grew louder, more insistent, echoing in her mind with terrifying urgency. The tone was haunting, a chilling reminder of the darkness she was about to embrace.

Suddenly, the blade began to melt into her palm. Pain shot through her, sharp and excruciating. She gritted her teeth, forcing herself to endure as the veins of the weapon penetrated her skin, merging with her very essence. It felt like a poisonous vine coiling around her core, squeezing tighter and tighter, suffocating her spirit.

Her dark eyes shifted to a fierce crimson, glowing with newfound power. An aura of malevolence enveloped her, intensifying like a storm about to break. She stood tall, no longer shrouded in despair. Instead, she radiated the presence of an evil queen, ready to unleash chaos upon the world.

Peng Xiu looked out at the cave, the shadows twisting around her like loyal servants. She felt unstoppable, a villain born anew. The world was about to burn, and she would ensure that Han Xin was at the heart of the flames.

***

Xiang Yu stood in his spiritual space, which now resembled a whimsical spa. He stared at the twins nestled comfortably in their own mud baths, looking blissfully relaxed. They had somehow convinced him to indulge in a day of pampering, and regret gnawed at him from the inside.

He had pictured a gentle afternoon of nail polish being brushed onto his nails, them doing his hair, and perhaps a refreshing face scrub. Instead, the twins had opted for a mud bath, and there was no escaping it now.

He eyed the murky brown water, thick and gloppy, his disgust crystallizing in the pit of his stomach. "Really?" he said, his voice laced with incredulity.

From her bath, Lian, her face partially covered with cucumbers, looked at him with a serene smile. "Master, it’s really not that bad. Just try it."

Mei gleefully swirled her hands through the mud, splattering it playfully. "Master, please try it!" she urged, her eyes twinkling with mischief.

Xiang Yu sighed, hovering at the edge of the bath. He dipped a toe into the sludge, recoiling slightly at the cold, slimy feel against his skin. "What are the benefits of doing this?" he asked, barely suppressing the shiver that ran up his spine at the thought of that muck spreading all over him.

"Detoxification and relaxation," Lian said, pulling off a cucumber slice and munching on it.

"Yeah, it’s great!" Mei chimed in, gesturing with her muddy hands. "And you seem really stressed, Master."

"Don’t you want to have dewy skin for when you see Brother Xin again?" Lian added, a playful grin on her face.

At that, Xiang Yu was rendered speechless. The idea of seeing Han Xin with glistening skin suddenly felt surprisingly appealing, despite the utter absurdity of the situation.

"Fine," he huffed, finally relenting. "I will try it." The twins cheered excitedly waiting for him to try. He hesitated at the edge of the mud bath, the earthy scent rising to meet him.

With a deep breath, he slid in, the thick, cool mud clinging to his skin like an unwelcome embrace. It was irksome, the way it oozed between his fingers and toes, but he steeled himself. This was supposed to be relaxing, after all.

"See?" Lian said, her voice cheerful. "Not so bad!"

Xiang Yu grimaced but couldn’t deny the warmth creeping through the tension in his body. Perhaps, just maybe, this ridiculous spa day wasn’t so terrible after all.

"Master, is it good?" Lian’s voice broke through the stillness, her tone curious.

Xiang Yu shifted uncomfortably, the mud tugging at him as though it had a will of its own. "It’s... not that bad," he replied, his voice betraying a hint of reluctance.

"Yay!" Mei clapped her hands, her enthusiasm infectious.

Gradually, Xiang Yu let himself sink deeper, the weight of the mud pressing against him in a way that was oddly soothing. His breathing slowed, his mind drifting as the world around him faded. Drowsiness crept in, and he closed his eyes, surrendering to the moment.

But then, a strange sensation jolted him awake, a sinking feeling, as though the mud itself was pulling him under. He opened his eyes, his heart steady despite the unease. The mud had swallowed him whole, covering him from head to toe. Yet, something was wrong. The texture, the colour. It wasn’t mud. It was blood.

Xiang Yu cursed under his breath as he dragged himself upright, the weight of his body pulling against the sticky, foul substance coating him. Blood and rotting flesh clung to his skin like a grotesque second layer. freёweɓnovel.com

He struggled to his feet, the slurry beneath him threatening to pull him down again. Despite the sickness swirling in his stomach, he pushed forward, each step a battle.

Pain shot through his abdomen, sharp and agonizing. He glanced down, his heart sinking as he saw his clothes crusted with dried blood. A jagged wound marred his stomach, scabbed over yet still raw. "Damn it."