Venerable Demon King & The Doting Immortal (QT) novel Chapter 448

Chapter 448: Taking risks.

"Commander," one of the officers ventured hesitantly, "our sensors show no readings... It’s like they’re cloaked. They must have advanced stealth systems."

Sirius gritted his teeth, his gaze fixed on the looming fleet that now bore down on them. They were hopelessly outnumbered, surrounded by a force that could obliterate them in moments. The situation had shifted in an instant, and all his carefully laid plans unravelled like smoke in the wind.

"Han Xin," Sirius growled under his breath, his voice a low rumble of hatred. "This cunning bastard."

His face contorted with rage as he watched the enemy fleet materialize, his curses directed at Han Xin echoing through the bridge. Just as he was about to unleash another torrent of invective, a transmission request flashed on the holographic screen.

"Maximus spacecraft requesting transmission," the computer announced, its voice flat and emotionless.

Sirius’s jaw clenched and unclenched, his eyes narrowed. Refusing the call would be a blatant display of cowardice, a sign of weakness he couldn’t afford. He was trapped.

"Your Highness," his general prompted, his voice laced with a subtle warning.

Sirius gritted his teeth. "Accept it."

Han Xin’s face reappeared on the screen, his expression as impassive as ever. This time, however, Xiang Yu was in the background, casually seated in the debriefing room, his regal bearing and undeniable beauty a stark contrast to the tense atmosphere. Sirius’s eyes flickered to Xiang Yu, a flicker that did not go unnoticed by Han Xin.

"Keep looking at my man," Han Xin said, his voice low and dangerous, an oppressive aura filling the bridge, "and I will gouge out your eyes when I kill you."

Despite the threat, Sirius felt no fear. Instead, he settled into his captain’s chair, beckoning to his attendant. The man swiftly produced a cigar, placing it between Sirius’s lips.

Sirius leaned forward, and the attendant lit the cigar, the tip glowing a fiery orange. He inhaled deeply, exhaling a plume of smoke that curled towards the ceiling.

"You truly overestimate yourself," Sirius said, his voice laced with disdain.

Xiang Yu, his voice calm and steady, responded, "If I beat you, what do you think my man will do to you?"

Sirius pressed his tongue against his cheek, a smirk playing on his lips. "You know... what I want to know is how long you have known that Han Xin is the true heir to the throne?"

He puffed out another cloud of smoke, his eyes glinting with malicious amusement. "It seems to me that you have known for a very long time, and to save your skin... you made him fall in love with you so you could avoid the consequences, and he would marry you, am I wrong?"

Xiang Yu’s expression remained unchanged, but a flicker of concern flashed in his eyes. He wasn’t afraid of Sirius’s words for himself, but for the potential poison they could inject into Han Xin’s mind.

Sirius, sensing the shift in the atmosphere, pressed his advantage. He looked at Han Xin, his voice dripping with venom. "Yu Yu, do you even love him, or are you with him because you’re scared of what he will do to you after all your past transgressions?"

Han Xin’s fist clenched, his knuckles turning white. His anger, previously simmering beneath the surface, threatened to erupt. He knew Sirius was trying to provoke him, to sow seeds of doubt, but the words, like poisoned darts, found their mark, igniting the flames of his inner turmoil.

The air in the command centre crackled, thick with unspoken tension. Xiang Yu got up and moved with a deliberate slowness that amplified the threat he posed.