Venerable Demon King & The Doting Immortal (QT)
Chapter 374: Sister in law

Chapter 374: Sister in law

Peng Xiu’s eyes scanned the room before she took a delicate bite of her mango mousse, savouring the moment as she plotted her next move.

A few seats from her, Xiang Yu sat, engrossed in Princess Sienna’s excited chatter about the dessert. "It’s simply divine!" Sienna exclaimed, her eyes sparkling as she gestured animatedly. Peng Xiu’s lips curled into a smirk. She had to choose her moment carefully.

Her heart raced as she recalled the images she had uploaded to StarNet. They were images of the staff member Xiang Yu had beaten. She had hidden her tracks so well that no one would ever suspect her involvement.

She knew that her family’s reputation was fragile, especially with the envoy from the Federation in the imperial capital. Anything concerning them would spread like wildfire.

A fleeting thought crossed Peng Xiu’s mind. How would Emperor Xandr feel about marrying his daughter to a man capable of such violence? If Xiang Yu could harm someone without a second thought, what would he do to the princess of the Federation? The marriage would never happen, and Xiang Yu’s reputation would be in ruins.

Suddenly, she feigned a gasp, her eyes widening as she glanced at her communicator. The action drew the attention of everyone at the table. She covered her mouth, pretending to be embarrassed.

"Father, I am so sorry," she said, bowing her head. Her voice trembled slightly, a careful act that concealed her true feelings. Nervousness flickered through her, but she felt exhilarated

The imperial lord, sensing something was amiss, beckoned her closer. Peng Xiu stood up, smoothing her gown before walking over. She leaned in and whispered, her voice barely above a murmur. "Father, look." She held out her floating screen acting like it was in privacy mode but she made sure the others could see too. She could just pretend it was an accident.

The headlines blared across the screen in flashy colours: "Xiang Yu’s Dark Side: Staff Member Disappears After Brutal Assault!" The room fell silent, every eye drawn to the display. The atmosphere shifted, tension thick in the air. Peng Xiu’s heart raced with satisfaction as she watched the expressions on their faces change, knowing she had thrown the first stone in a game that could change everything.

Below the headline, damning images showed the aftermath of violence, alongside blurred messages hinting at fear and retaliation.

Gasps erupted around the table. Eyes widened in disbelief, mouths fell open in shock. All except for Xiang Yu. He sat still, a calm expression on his face as he raised his cup of coffee to his lips. The rich aroma filled the air, contrasting sharply with the tension that crackled around him. He set his cup down slowly, unfazed by the chaos unfolding

Han Xin, standing a few paces away, narrowed his eyes. He knew Xiang Yu only beat up Xiao He because of him. He didnt expect that would be used against him. Now the entire Star Net was filled with scorn for Xiang Yu. The comments were merciless, with some users angrily denouncing him as a disgrace to the Republic.

Imperial Lord Xiang’s face darkened with rage. "Did you do this?" he thundered, his voice slicing through the air like a knife. The somewhat peaceful dinner shattered into pieces, the clinking of forks and knives falling silent.

Sienna, her eyes glistening with tears, placed a trembling hand on Xiang Yu’s arm. "Is this true?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. The steward by the wall prepared to bow, ready to plead for Xiang Yu’s defence. But before he could speak, Xiang Yu broke the silence.

"Yes, I did it," he replied, his tone unnervingly calm and collected. The words hung in the air, heavy with consequences.

In a flash of anger, the Imperial Lord grabbed a glass and hurled it at Xiang Yu. The crystal arced through the air, but Xiang Yu didn’t flinch. He wasn’t concerned about getting an injury. He could always use the healing capsule for that. But before the glass could shatter against him, Han Xin sprang forward, catching it effortlessly in mid-air.

For a fleeting moment, Han Xin’s aura surged, a dark and powerful presence that made the Imperial Lord’s blood run cold. The familiar intensity of Han Xin’s expression reminded him of someone he had killed with his own hands. The memory flashed through his mind like lightning, and he shuddered subconsciously. It was like seeing a ghost.

The tension in the room thickened, and all eyes darted between Han Xin and Xiang Yu, the air heavy with unspoken words.

Xiang Yu’s cold expression cracked as Han Xin stepped forward, catching the crystal glass mid-air. A flicker of surprise crossed Xiang Yu’s face, quickly replaced by irritation.

He didn’t want Han Xin to involve himself in his matters with the Imperial Lord. Well, at least not yet. Han Xin wasn’t powerful enough to take on the Imperial Lord, and any attention drawn to him could spell trouble.

"Step back," Xiang Yu hissed through clenched teeth, his glare fierce and commanding. Han Xin’s desire to protect Xiang Yu surged within him, fueled by rage at the Imperial Lord’s actions.

But seeing the intensity in Xiang Yu’s eyes, he reluctantly took a step back, appearing docile. Yet, in his mind, he had already skinned the Imperial Lord a dozen times, relishing the thought of revenge.

Peng Xiu watched, her eyes widening at Han Xin’s unexpected defence of Xiang Yu. She wanted to check on him, to ensure he was unharmed. But instead, she knelt before her father, her voice trembling as she pleaded, "Father, please have mercy on my brother. He must not have meant to hurt that staff member. We shouldn’t care about what the people on Star Net say." Her words dripped with sincerity but in fact she was adding fuel to the fire.

The Imperial Lord recovered from his momentary daze, his glare now fixed on Xiang Yu. Despite the tension, Xiang Yu sat nonchalantly, as if the chaos didn’t concern him at all.

"Sister in law," Peng Xiu continued, turning to Princess Sienna, her tone shifting, "don’t be dissuaded from marrying my brother. He is truly a good person; he doesn’t usually act like this

At the mention of the words "sister-in-law," Xiang Yu’s patience wore thin. Who said he was marrying Sienna? His vinegar jar of a boyfriend would never allow that to happen. The thought made his blood boil. He would rather have his name slandered than let Han Xin think he was entering into an arranged marriage without telling him first

"I did it because he betrayed me," Xiang Yu said, a smirk curling on his lips.

AN: You play stupid games, you win stupid prizes. Oh well...

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