Venerable Demon King & The Doting Immortal (QT) novel Chapter 21

Chapter 21: The truth of his mother's death

The image of his father merged with the demon adding fuel to the flames. He lunged forward and they clashed the fight fierce. The treacherous creature seemed to notice his weaknesses. It tore at his injuries inflicting more pain. Xiang Yu's back screamed, the wounds reopening, but he pushed through. The girl couldn't watch anymore. She covered her ears her head buried in her bent knees.

His blood searing with rage, Xiang Yu gripped the demon's neck his fingers sinking into flesh. His torn body quivered, his demonic blood desperate for a full awakening. It was an insatiable hunger for power grew stronger. He wanted strength and craved it like a starving beast. It was after all in his nature.

His fingernails lengthened and with unimaginable force, he tore into the demon's flesh slowly his flaming eyes staring straight into its eyes. His actions were deliberate, extending the torture. A twisted smile appeared on his lips imagining that face being his father's.

He dug into its flesh looking for the demon core. Blood dripped, mingling with his own as the demon squirmed, its life force pulsing between Xiang Yu's fingers. As he ripped it out the demon let out a shrill cry tearing through the air.

Blood coating his fingers he stared at the demon core, pulsating and malevolent in his palm. He crushed it the gem yielding to his rage. The demon's blood agitatedly danced on his fingers in a gruesome waltz. Xiang Yu absorbed it into his body his eyes more demonic than those of his father.

His eyes snapped shut, and the world shifted. Memories flooded his mind, images that weren't his own. Memories of that night flooded in overwhelmingly. It was as though his demonic self had merged with his human self, forging a new entity.

He suddenly collapsed, the ground rushing up to meet him. The demonic energy from the core pulsed within him, its malevolence seeping into every fibre of his being. Haunting whispers of his mother's voice calling his name echoed in his mind as his vision blurred. He could see her pale and slender hand reaching for him from the depth of the steaming water.

"Mother," he whispered weakly before he lost consciousness. The young girl stared, wide-eyed her body shaking like a leaf. She stared at her saviour and then at the demon corpse lying nearby. It had turned into a dry husk, drained of life. She whimpered softly not daring to be loud. She was too scared to move.

***

Xiang Yu's eyes snapped open his gaze staring at the broken beam. He scanned the room a little confused. He didn't recognise this place. The room had rough walls and he was lying on a straw mat.

His chest rose and fell his breathing quickening. He sat up, wincing at the pull of the scabs on his back. It was then he recalled the wounds on his back that should have been fatal.