Chapter 24: Your master spoils you
The now wanted suspect with posters plastered all over the walls of Chang'an had already used a teleportation technique to return to the small fishing village where he had garnered a celebrity status.
Every year at the Red Moon festival Xiang Yu would be there. Even when they had sudden attacks during the year, Xiang Yu would take time out of his busy schedule of hunting down demons to help them. Why would they ask him?
It was because the big sects didn't care for small villages like them unless it was a high-ranking demon terrorising people. On the other hand, small sects usually needed payment to come all the way to assist. This left such a poor village that relied on fishing vulnerable.
Xiang Yu would protect them at the simple cost of a place to stay and a meal. For five years he protected the village and made it much safer that the small monument had become an entire shrine.
The fishing village lay silent in the dead of night the moon casting its glow on the riverbank. Where the soil met the water, a bright red light shone. It was a flare of an ancient technique only exclusive to the leaders of the big sects.
Runes burned into the earth, etching patterns of an ancient language. From the incandescent centre, three figures materialised. Xiang Yu stood at the heart of it, his half-demon aura cloaked. Lian perched on his shoulders, her laughter like wind chimes. Mei clung to his leg tightly like she was afraid of being left behind.
"You can get off now," said Xiang Yu, his voice stern. But the twins giggled, their eyes alight. They clung tighter, defying their master with no scruples.
"Master we are tired," said Lian clinging tightly almost choking his neck.
"Yes, we are tired," chimed in Mei the two of them working together to wear their master down. Xiang Yu pretended to be exasperated. He took a step close to the water and pretended to swing them toward the river's edge. Their laughter echoed like a chorus of starlings.
Xiang Yu shook his leg and Mei screamed while giggling the water almost touching her dress. "No! Don't," she yelled in between giggles her grip tightening. Lian wasn't spared either. Xiang Yu tickled her and she loosened her grip while laughing happily.
This warm scene was witnessed by a figure standing afar. It was Dan Dan and she was all grown up now. As she stood underneath the moonlight her dress flowed like a cascade of silk and stardust. She smiled as she ran over and the twins finally let go of Xiang Yu hugging their dolls tightly.
"Sister Dan," the two called out simultaneously as they ran over. Dan Dan hugged them both. She was excited to see them after so long. Xiang Yu had brought the two injured little girls two years ago to their small village. She and her mother helped to nurse them back to health. From then on the girls would occasionally come and stay with them.
"Look, sister Dan. Master got me a doll. Isn't it pretty? It has seen storms and sunsets," said Lian and Mei almost rolled her eyes. Wasn't she the one who was clamouring about wanting her doll instead?
Unaware of the fight earlier, Dan Dan smiled and said, "Wow, they look so pretty. Your master spoils you," before glancing at Xiang Yu. Xiang Yu didn't say anything. He didn't have much but he still bought it for them. After everything they had been through they deserved the best.
Ten minutes later the two of them were sitting outside the kitchen with the dying embers reflecting on the sides of their faces.
The two girls had already fallen asleep on the straw mat exhausted after a day of visiting the city. Dan Dan handed Xiang Yu a cup of tea before sitting next to him. Xiang Yu raised his cup to take a sip but just before the rim of the cup touched his lips he said, "Dan Dan, can you take care of them for me for a few days? I have to do something and it's too dangerous."
Dan Dan glanced at him with a look of concern in her eyes. She could never understand why Xiang Yu did all of this. Wasn't it good to just to stay in the village and live a simple life. She didn't understand but she knew better not to ask.
By the time the twins woke up the next day their master was gone but they didn't fret. It was as though they were used to him disappearing on occasion.
And where exactly was Xiang Yu? He was perched on a rooftop overlooking Bai Ting town his silhouette blending with the night. He was dressed in black, his aura like that of a malevolent spirit. His crimson eyes were like those of a beast on the prowl. He stared at a closed door with protection talismans pasted to the wood.
For years this town had been terrorised by a demon kidnapping children from their homes at night the moment they turned eight. The space between each abduction was six months to a year but soon it reduced to three to four months. Now they were losing children every two weeks.
The high-ranking demon was elusive and had evaded the cultivators who had come to hunt it down for years. Because of its escalation, it drew the attention of major sects and suddenly Bai Ting was filled with young disciples sent here for experience. They placed tailmans on the wooden doors for the children who were eight years old and waited for the demon to show its face.
Xiang Yu had already encountered this demon in the past but it was too powerful for him then. This time however he would make sure its blood would be spilt and its demon core would finally be his. There were five children at the age of eight in the town hence they were multiple doors to guard but Xiang Yu knew that it would come from this courtyard specifically.
That's because the child was a few hours shy of turning eight and the house was at the edge of the town wall. This child would undoubtedly be an easier target for the demon. Because a lot of the senior disciples from the major sects were having a pissing contest they chose to guard children who had turned eight years old already. This meant only a few manpower was dedicated to this child's home.
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
Andru_9788
Andru_9788 Thank you so much Star_S, Stars_to_fall, PatchworkArtist, Evalynn, MsTempestNova, Pagalu, HaniiX94, Melite, Emma_k, Fitoria_01, FoxAsianHere and Monmot for the amazing gifts. I will continue to work hard
Chapter 25: Truth seeking serpent
Xiang Yu's lips curved and watched in the shadows like a player in an MMORPG waiting to steal their kill. While he was waiting for the demon to appear the air suddenly hummed with a hostile unseen force sweeping in his direction.
Xiang Yu's instincts kicked in but his reaction was slow . The impact sent him flying across the star-strewn sky for a distance of two football fields. His body slammed into several trees before he fell to the ground. Xiang Yu got back up on his feet his eyes blazing and ferocious.
The sharp wind returned and struck him down like a blade. He staggered backwards the taste of rust in his mouth. He spat out a mouthful of blood and stood up the dark aura around him suffocating.
Blood slowly trickled at the corner of his lips. He wiped the blood away the taste of iron lingering on his tongue. The back of his hand grazed his lips like a lover's touch smudging the blood on his face.
His red eyes were both as mesmerising and terrifying as embers. The moon traced his silhouette amplifying the killing intent emanating from him. He suddenly chuckled the sound eerie. "Why not show your face," he murmured, "coward."
The clearing held its breath the tree branches trembling with the wind. Just then a figure appeared dressed in white, ethereal as the moonlight.
"Where are they?" he said, his voice a breeze through fallen leaves. Xiang Yu had no idea who was this 'they' he was referring to but he had no intentions of answering him. He felt his blood itch to provoke this immortal. His smile widened "Where do you think they are?" he said before drawing his sword and launching an attack.
The forest trembled from their intense clash causing the poor little creatures caught up in this mess to flee. Xiang Yu knew he stood no chance but his half-demon nature wouldn't allow him to yield. He lunged at the man with a vengeance but Han Xin stood unmoved. His lush silver hair flowed with the breeze his eyes like winter storms watching him with a cold gaze.
Xiang Yu's strikes were fierce yet futile. Han Xin didn't raise his hand, yet the force struck him down like a primal fury. Xiang Yu was tossed around like a broken doll but he was so stubborn.
He stumbled to his feet, bloodied and dishevelled. Soil clung to his hair, dirt smeared across his face but that creepy smile on his visage remained. Han Xin's gaze held no pity at all.
Xiang Yu was able to stand his ground after being struck so many times but when the man unfurled a golden whip, dread clawed at his insides. The scars on his back from the injuries inflicted by his father's whip burned the heat seeping from his flesh to his bone and deep into his soul.
The whip, unlike his father's, was a divine weapon its links forged from celestial fire. Xiang Yu's creepy smile fell his mask shattered. His defiance wavered as he took two small steps back his complexion turning sickly pale and his body trembling slightly.
"I take it you already know what this is," said Han Xin having misunderstood his fear. "Tell the truth and the whip will be merciful."
He stepped closer and swung towards Xiang Yu. The whip weaved through the air like a serpent before wrapping around his arms, binding him and he was forced to his knees. The golden links seared his skin, their power unyielding.
"Where are the twin girls you were with in Chang'an?" Han Xin's voice as sharp as a blade.
Xiang Yu laughed menacingly having realised how much his father's whip traumatised him. He had buried his emotions deep within but the moment he saw another whip those emotions surged up like a geyser. He stared at the tip of a blade the man was holding and moved forward till the blade was pressing into his skin. Blood trickled down his neck.
He met the man's gaze. "Is it any of your business?" he asked. Han Xin's eyes narrowed. He had one word he could use to describe this person which was 'lunatic'.
"Tell me," he demanded, his voice like winter frost. "Or suffer."
Xiang Yu refused to answer his question. But his stubbornness was met with the whip's retaliation. It glowed fiercely, tightening around him, burning into his flesh. His veins throbbed, the pain agonising. He fought against it, but the whip held him like a truth-seeking serpent.
Sweat dripped, mingling with blood. Xiang Yu's defiance wavered. He clenched his jaw but soon he was talking against his will. "In... a small vill- village with... with Dan Dan," he stammered through the answer and the whip simmered down as he was telling the truth.
Having found reprieve Xiang Yu's breaths came in ragged gasps. His chest heaved, sweat pouring down his face and neck, dampening his clothes. His red eyes glared fiercely at the man promising violence. He wanted to tear him into pieces but Han Xin remained calm, his demeanour unwavering.
"What about the other children from Bai Ting? Where did you take them?" He demanded his voice cutting through the tension, each word deliberate. Xiang Yu smiled evilly the sinister laughter in those eyes petrifying.
"Speak," said Han Xin and the whip sprung into action tightening around him. Xiang Yu didn't want to answer. Why should he answer him when he did nothing wrong? But soon the pain was unbearable his veins on the verge of bursting.
"You ugly bastard... I didn't take an-... any children," he answered through the agony. With a loud gasp, he fell to his side the whip calming its fury.
Han Xin who had been called ugly, "???"
His grip on the whip eased as he asked, "Then why are you here?". This time Xiang Yu answered without any delays.
"I want to kill it... I want to drive my nails into its flesh and tear its torso with my bare hands. I want to dig out its core and shatter it while it watches... then I will watch the light in its pupils slowly dim before it vanishes," he confessed, his voice raw. He thought this righteous fellow would frown in disgust or at least show an emotion shattering his cold demeanour. He wanted to elicit some type of reaction from him but Xiang Yu was bound to be disappointed. The man didn't react at all like he was a wooden board.
Xiang Yu clicked his tongue and murmured, "How boring," as he shifted his gaze away.
Han Xin glanced at the whip that was silent and felt complex emotions. He couldn't help but wonder if it was broken. Were his father's forging skills that unreliable?
Somewhere in the heavenly realm, the heavenly king felt something stir in his heart like he had been offended. That's right. His good old son had called his divine weapon a dupe.
CREATORS' THOUGHTS
Andru_9788
Andru_9788
Xiang Yu: Ew, ugly
Han Xin: Am I really ugly?
Truth-seeking serpent left the chat.
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
200+ Power
Ranking 
654 Power
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