Venerable Demon King & The Doting Immortal (QT)
Chapter 434: Like a sack of potatoes

Chapter 434: Like a sack of potatoes

The word beauty was like a trigger. Han Xin’s glare shifted with lethal intent towards the shop owner, silence wrapping around them instantly. The shop owner shrank back, words dying on his lips as he retreated into the shadows of his own astonishment.

With a grunt of frustration, Han Zhan released the man, allowing him to sputter free, gasping for air, his face slick with liquid. He sputtered, soup dripping off his chin, the salty scent mingling with the sharp edge of fear that hung palpably in the air.

"Y-you don’t need to be so rough," the one-armed man gasped, wiping his face as he sat up, eyes darting between the two men. The adrenaline-riddled encounter hung heavy like an unspoken challenge in the air, as the man, drenched in soup, finally caught sight of the floating image of Xiang Yu again.

"L-look, I know where he is," he finally stammered, the fight draining from his tone. "Just... just just compensate me? There there is a bounty right? How about you give me ten no no five per cent? That’s not too much to ask right?"

His voice trembled as his earlier bravado crumbled, and in the weighty silence, he sat captive in the eyes of two men who were determined to find Xiang Yu.

Han Zhan’s lip curled in a sneer as he leaned in closer, the intensity of his gaze pinning the one-armed man in place. "How about if it costs you your life?" he spat, venom dripping from his words.

The man’s eyes widened in fear, shaking his head violently, realizing the dire situation he was in. "No! No, please! He is at the arena!" he blurted out, his voice cracking under the weight of dread.

Han Xin’s heart surged, a wild rhythm quickening in his chest at the confirmation that this man held the answer he had been desperately seeking. "Show us," he demanded, his tone almost trembling as the rush of anticipation and adrenaline coursed through him.

The one-armed man flinched under the intensity of Han Xin’s mental power, his body cowering instinctively. Han Zhan swiftly grabbed the man, hoisting him to his feet with a forceful grip. "Lead the way," he commanded, his voice low and unyielding.

Nodding vigorously, the man began to shuffle forward, moving through the bustling market. As he walked, the crowd parted like water around the men and their unwilling guide, whispering and casting furtive glances filled with curiosity and malice.

"Are you not worried this will draw too much attention? Sirius will know where we are," Marshal Wu cautioned, his brow furrowed in concern as they trailed behind.

"The wastelands are too deserted and isolated from the rest of the federation," Han Zhan replied confidently. "They have neglected these three planets for decades, making it the perfect breeding ground for criminals. By the time he figures out we are here, we will be long gone."

"Good," Marshal Wu relented, though his eyes flicked to the people staring at them, their gazes sharp and greedy, hinting at a rising tension in the atmosphere.

They continued their journey, urgency threading through the air until they finally arrived at the arena. A cacophony of excitement and noise was resonating from within. The one-armed man pointed to a closed door, breathlessly declaring, "This—this is the entrance to the arena!"

With a swift kick, Han Xin sent the door crashing open, the wood splintering under the force of his anger. Inside, he scanned the chaos, allowing his eyes to sweep over the swirling crowd, seeking the one face that could ignite a firestorm in his heart. Time seemed to slow when that face finally appeared.

Xiang Yu was standing amid the chaos, a plasma whip swirling around him, tossing his hapless opponent like a rag doll. The moment his eyes met Han Xin’s, a jolt of disbelief struck him. The world seemed to fade away as he froze, thoughts tumbling in confusion. Was he hallucinating?

For a split second, he retracted the whip, which sent Valtor sprawling to the ground. But the distraction was fleeting. Seizing the opportunity, Valtor charged forward, a furious attack aimed squarely at Xiang Yu’s face.

"Stupid," Xiang Yu sneered, anticipation flickering in his eyes as he prepared to counter. Yet, before he could make his move, an unexpected force flung Valtor across the arena, sending him crashing into the spectators with a rudimentary thud that startled the onlookers.

In that moment of chaos, Han Xin strode forward, his steps consuming the distance between them. Driven by fury and unquenched desire, he almost broke into a run, every ounce of his being focused on the man who had caused him endless pain and torment. Xiang Yu’s expression twisted as reality sank in. This was no mirage. He was really here.

Xiang Yu took a deep breath, opening his mouth to say something, anything, to break through the charged silence that hung between him and Han Xin.

But before any words could escape his lips, Han Xin surged forward, sweeping him off his feet and hoisting him over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes.

"What the—?" Xiang Yu stammered, completely flabbergasted, his body betraying him with shock as he hung limply, all ability to react stripped away in a whirlwind of confusion.

"Master!" Lian and Mei screamed in unison, their voices cutting through the noise of the arena. They sprang into action, jumping over startled spectators with an agility that belied their size, desperation propelling them forward.

"Bring back our master, you thief!" Mei called out, her tone a mix of indignation and urgency.

The steward, who had been trailing behind the twins, found his path obstructed by a chaotic throng of people who had gathered to rob the unconscious Valtor, fiercely plundering his possessions with laughs and shouts. He pushed against the crowd but was held back by the tide of the frenzied scavengers.

Meanwhile, Lian and Mei burst out of the arena, gasping for breath, only to skid to a stop, wide-eyed. Their path was suddenly blocked by a familiar figure. The air thickened with palpable tension.

"You!" the old man growled, his voice cracked and shaky yet filled with the weight of authority.

Lian and Mei exchanged nervous glances, a shared understanding passing between them, before bursting out in nervous laughter. "Don’t be irrational, old man," Lian stammered, attempting to lighten the mood with charm.

"Yeah, we only left for a vacation! We needed some fresh air," Mei added, trying to inject a sense of innocence back into the equation.

"And fresh scenery," chimed in Lian.