Venerable Demon King & The Doting Immortal (QT)-Chapter 35: Demon King Xiang’s harem

Before King Yao could agree with his terms and ask where this Lord last saw it, there was a sudden commotion at the door. Two of Xiang Yu’s masked assassins dragged in a stout demon. His cuts and bruises were telling of what he had been through. His eyes blazed with defiance, and his horns curved like scimitars.

Xiang Yu’s sinister chuckle echoed through the hall. "Finally caught," he purred. "Took you long enough."

The stout demon’s knees buckled as he was forced to his knees. "You half-blood mongrel!" he bellowed before he spat on the ground with a contemptuous expression.

The entire grand hall froze. Even the eastern realm demons who had no idea what was going on felt their blood run cold. The stout demon was about to continue with his tirade of curses when he was silenced by the masked assassin holding him down.

Xiang Yu lazily waved his hand gesturing for them to let him continue. "Please carry on," he said. The stout demon trembled a little, but he was still so courageous. He was about to die anyway so why not take the chance to show his defiance?

The courtiers watched, breathless, as Xiang Yu leaned against the backrest of his throne. His elbow rested on the armrest, his head cradled in his fist as he listened with a sly grin.

"... for years, you have forbidden us from doing what comes naturally to us. Eating humans is within our nature but you forced us to repress our true selves making us eat spiritual beasts," he said his speech passionate like he was about to start an uprising. He turned to the demons in the grand hall and continued, "All of you can’t tell me you don’t miss the sweet taste of human flesh? This is our way, our natura—"

Xiang Yu suddenly unfurled his whip, the blade gleaming menacingly. With a swift motion, he lashed out, the whip tearing through the air thick with tension and struck the stout demon cutting his speech off.

"This is my nature," said Xiang Yu the smile on his face replaced by a dark expression. "But do I go on a tirade lashing every demon in my path?" This almost toothless demon had been hunting and devouring children for months. It was one of the few that refused to abide by his rules. He sent his assassins to hunt him down and as expected they caught him and dragged him back to the palace. Because of his disgusting crimes he would make an example out of him. The serrated blades sliced through the air and struck the demon. The demon’s tough skin split open, blood spraying as it howled in pain.

Xiang Yu’s eyes burned with fury as he struck again and again, each lash a testament to his wrath. The demon’s face was unrecognisable by the time it collapsed to the side, whimpering. With slow, deliberate steps, he descended from his throne, his aura terrifying and resolute.

He stood over the fallen demon, his voice cold and commanding. "How many children has he eaten?" he asked his masked assassins.

"Tw-twelve, my lord," one of them stammered.

Xiang Yu’s expression darkened. "One... two.... three" he counted, and with each number, he struck the demon again. The whip tore through its flesh, chunks flying across the grand hall. The demon’s screams echoed, but Xiang Yu didn’t stop.

After the twelfth strike, he handed the whip to Lian. She rushed over and took it from him her eyes curiously staring at the blood pool. With crazed eyes she stared at the skin wondering if master would let her keep it. It was leathery enough to make a bag for sister Mei.

Completely unaware of his disciple’s thoughts Xiang Yu had them pull the demon back up to his knees while he pulled up his sleeve. He crouched down and with a long, sharp fingernail, he tore into the demon’s belly, spilling its contents onto the floor. The stench was overwhelming, but Xiang Yu remained impassive. Within the acidic pool of digest liquid were undigested limbs and bones of the demon’s latest victims.

"Take the body parts," he commanded. "Cremate them and divide the ashes into twelve parts. Deliver them to the families of the victims, along with some compensation."

The masked assassins bowed, their fear and respect for Xiang Yu palpable. He stood tall, his body covered in blood splatters, his aura both terrifying and domineering. The northern demon realm was his, and he would rule it however he so fit.

Mei passed him a handkerchief. The grand hall was steeped in a tense silence as Xiang Yu with deliberate slowness, wiped each of his long, slender fingers. The demons watched, holding their breath, as the stout demon was dragged away, leaving a gruesome trail of blood.

Among the onlookers, the daughter of the Demon King of the East felt her heart flutter. While others were terrified by Xiang Yu’s display of power, she found herself intrigued. Her tummy was full of butterflies, and her face flushed crimson as she watched him.

Xiang Yu’s cold gaze swept over the crowd. "Carry on," he commanded, his voice a low growl. Without waiting for a response, he turned and walked out of the grand hall, his aura still radiating dominance.

Demon King Yao, desperate, tried to stop him. "Please, my lord—" But Xiang Yu raised a hand, silencing him.

"My master is no longer in the mood King Yao. The maidservants will lead you to your temporary quarters. You may leave tomorrow and find what my master asked you to look for. Hopefully, you can find it before your realm falls," said Mei, her tone final with no room for negotiation.

The hall remained silent as the regal figure of the demon King disappeared, leaving behind a palpable sense of fear and awe.

***

Demon King Yao, his daughter, and his entire group of demons were led through the passageway by two beautiful maidservants. The corridors were adorned with dark tapestries and flickering lanterns, casting eerie shadows dancing along the walls. The group finally emerged into a serene courtyard, the air filled with the scent of night-blooming flowers.

Demon King Yao, still reeling from his earlier encounter with Xiang Yu, glanced at the maidservants. Their beauty was striking, their movements graceful. Now that Xiang Yu had refused his daughter he thought he could dissuade her foolish thoughts and show her how much of a terrible husband Xiang Yu would be. "Are you King Xiang’s concubines?" he asked his voice tinged with curiosity.

The maidservants giggled, their laughter light and musical. "No, my lord," one of them replied. "Our King does not have any concubines."

"What about the late Demon King’s concubines?" he interjected and the other maid servant shook her head, her eyes sparkling with amusement.

"The rumour that King Xiang took his late father’s concubines is not true. Most of them left, and those who remained joined the masked assassins."

Demon King Yao, "..."