Venerable Demon King & The Doting Immortal (QT)
Chapter 398: You truly are like your father

Chapter 398: You truly are like your father

In a dimly lit secret lab, Han Xin’s head hung low, his body sprawled against the cold, unforgiving wall. Plasma cuffs locked his wrists and ankles, the devices biting into his skin with burning precision.

The plasma cuffs left angry burn marks, each movement sending waves of searing pain coursing through him. He gritted his teeth against the agony, his face bruised and streaked with dry blood, a stark reminder of the torment he had endured. The corners of his lip and cheek were swollen, a raw testament to the plasma whip that had lashed at him repeatedly.

Sweat dripped from his forehead, pooling against his brow, while the throbbing of his veins echoed like a drum in his ears. A twitch from his finger hinted that he was on the brink of consciousness, fighting to claw his way back to awareness.

Just then, the elevator doors slid open with a soft hiss, and a tall figure emerged, an aura of menace surrounding him like a dark cloud. The Imperial Lord stepped out, his movements relaxed, seemingly nonchalant, but the anger simmering beneath the surface was palpable. He had just uncovered the truth that made his blood boil. His son had been permanently marked by Han Xin.

The thought of Han Xin undoing all the meticulous work he had done to transform his son into a high-ranking alpha sent waves of fury radiating through him. He had fought with Han Xin that day instead of simply commanding his imperial guards to take him down.

In that fight, he realized for the first time that he had underestimated this brat. Han Xin matched him in power, if not surpassed him. There were moments during their struggle when the Imperial Lord found himself at a disadvantage, and it unnerved him.

The memory of Han Xin striking his face, the taste of blood mixing with shame, ignited his rage even further. The fight had escalated until he had turned his blade towards Xiang Yu, threatening to slit his throat. It was only then that Han Xin reluctantly relented, willingly surrendering to save the young man who was supposed to mean everything to him not the other way around.

Xiang Yu was his son but he wouldn’t hesitate to use him. He was a pawn, a sacrifice. It was an easy choice to make when his power was at stake. With a smirk, the Imperial Lord wiped the blood from his nose and commanded, "Kneel."

Han Xin’s spirit was a tempest, his resistance palpable even in his beaten state. A clash of suffocating auras filled the room, an invisible battle raging between them. The Imperial Lord’s voice cut through the tension, low and threatening. "Kneel, or he dies."

It was that threat alone that forced Han Xin to surrender. The Imperial Lord had come to understand the tether that connected Han Xin to Xiang Yu, just as he knew Han Jing’s weakness was his wife. All he had to do was threaten that woman’s life, and the ’idiot’ crumbled, handing over his authority without hesitation.

From that day onwards he had suspected that Han Xin was Han Jing’s son but he was certain that Han Jing’s wife wasn’t pregnant. He had made sure of it. The chances that she carried a child and gave birth without him knowing was extremely low if not zero. But he still wanted to be sure.

With each step towards Han Xin, the Imperial Lord’s ominous presence filled the room, the tension electric. He grabbed a stool and dragged it towards the cage imprisoning Han Xin. He dropped into the seat with a heavy sigh, his imposing figure sharp against the dim light of the room. With a sneer playing on his lips, he remarked, "Still pretending, are we?"

Han Xin clenched his jaw but offered no reply. The silence stretched uncomfortably, and the Imperial Lord’s irritation grew. "Maybe I should go talk to Xiang Yu instead."

At the mention of Xiang Yu’s name, Han Xin raised his head, eyes narrowing. The Imperial Lord leaned forward slightly, a cruel glint in his eyes. "You truly are like your father. You never met, but you are the same in every way."

Han Xin met his gaze with unwavering resolve, a fierce defiance burning behind his dark eyes.

"How pathetic," the Imperial Lord scoffed, crossing one ankle over his knee. "I take it you already know your identity." He paused for effect, watching Han Xin for any flicker of emotion.

He had ordered a genetic matching test and as expected this kid was really of the former imperial Lord’s and former the imperial queen’s blood.

The Imperial Lord wondered how that woman had managed to pull it off; before he had destroyed her hovercraft and claimed it was a tragic accident, there had been no sign that she had given birth. Yet here was the undeniable evidence in front of him.

Han Xin remained silent, his stoic composure unshaken. The Imperial Lord pressed on, "So what was the plan, exactly? You think you can get close to Xiang Yu and then what? Marry him?"

Han Xin glared at the Imperial Lord, eyes blazing with fierce determination. He did not reply.

The Imperial Lord chuckled derisively, leaning back in his seat with a self-satisfied smirk. "You could have gone anywhere else, but you just had to stay in my proximity. How stupid can you be?"

Han Xin continued to glare, his silence deafening. The murderous intensity of his gaze only seemed to amuse the Imperial Lord.

Standing up, the Imperial Lord straightened his posture, the mood shifting dangerously. "Well, I promise to make your death just as painless as your father’s."

A twitch of Han Xin’s lips betrayed his struggle to break free from the restraints holding him. Pain shot through him as the plasma cuffs scorched his skin, an excruciating sensation, but anger overshadowed the pain.

"Don’t worry," the Imperial Lord continued, his tone dripping with malice, "I wil ensure Xiang Yu will be there to say goodbye to you." With a final, mocking glance, he turned to leave, the smirk fading from his face as cold determination took its place.

As the Imperial Lord stepped into the elevator, Han Xin closed his eyes, suppressing the rush of grief welling in his chest. The agony twisted within him, a heart-wrenching pain that felt suffocating.

Clenching his fists until his nails dug into his palms, he thought of Xiang Yu and the last words they had exchanged.

With each breath, he focused on that connection, a tether anchoring him in darkness. He wouldn’t surrender, not now, not ever. The resolve hardened within him, a flame stoked by love and desperation, even as the world around him threatened to crumble.

Search the lightnovelworld.cc website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.