Venerable Demon King & The Doting Immortal (QT)-Chapter 493: City gates

He surveyed the scene around him accessing the situation. Multiple corpses lay scattered on the ground, their lifeless forms sprawled in gruesome positions. Among them, a beast-like creature with matted fur and soulless eyes lay lifeless and rotting.

Xiang Yu realized he was in the next world, but this time it felt like he had been thrown in without warning or preparation. Clenching his jaw, he called out to the divine emperor in his mind trying to find out what was going on But there was only silence.

He tsked in annoyance, shaking his head as he began to look around for any supplies. The ground was harsh beneath his feet, hot and arid as if the very life had been sucked from the landscape. Each step was a reminder of his injuries. His ankle twisted slightly making him walk with a limp.

As he trudged through the grim scene, Xiang Yu abruptly stepped on something hard. He paused, looking down to find a sheathed blade half-buried in the dirt. Without thinking, he bent down and gripped the hilt, pulling it free. The weight felt reassuring in his hand. Who knows, it might come in handy.

Xiang Yu trudged through the barren land his blood stained clothes sticking to him and his abdomen tearing each time he moved. Yet he wore a mask of stoicism, swallowing back the agony that gnawed at him.

In this world, the earth was dry and cracked, a desolate wasteland drained of any hint of life. The sun blazed above, relentless and unyielding, casting harsh shadows across the stony ground.

He paused, uncertainty swirling in his mind. This place was unfamiliar, far removed from the worlds he had known. The silence felt oppressive, broken only by the faint sound of his own laboured breathing.

He could remain, waiting for that old man to appear in his mind, but how long would he have to wait? Waiting here might attract something sinister so he could only move forward.

With one last glance at the pile of bodies behind him. The sight of the beast, lifeless and sprawled out, made him think deeply. From what he could conclude this party was ambushed and robbed of all their possessions. But there had to be clues on which direction they had come from.

He scanned the arid landscape, his instincts honed in on the tracks etched into the ground. Several tyre tracks fanned out, converging into one path, their dark marks a stark contrast against the ochre soil. His heart sank envisioning what had transpired.

Yet there, isolated from the rest, was a single set of tracks. A flicker of hope ignited within him. Xiang Yu set his course, limping painfully as he followed the indentations left in the dust.

The heat cascaded around him like a shroud, each step jarring his wounded abdomen. Sweat dripped from his brow, and his lips cracked, parched from thirst.

If any supplies remained, they were long gone. The robbers had been thorough, stripping everything valuable from the lifeless bodies. Xiang Yu pressed on, the land shifting slowly beneath his weary feet.

Hours passed, each moment stretching into eternity, but the heat gave way to the sight of small, dry bushes scattered across the landscape. As he moved further, the patches thickened, and before long, he stumbled upon dilapidated buildings that stood like ghosts of a forgotten time.

Weathered and crumbling, the structures leaned into one another, remnants of lives once lived here. Dust swirled at his feet, and the air was heavy with the scent of decay.

Xiang Yu hesitated, a mix of apprehension and determination igniting within him. He could sense he was getting closer to something significant.

As he staggered forward, he finally caught sight of a group of people. They stood in the open, their faces set in ugly expressions. Some were smoking, the curling smoke rising above their heads like ghostly tendrils. Others moved their hands cautiously near their weapons, eyes narrowed in suspicion. To them, he was not a traveller in need but an enemy.

Xiang Yu felt their gaze, sharp and unyielding, but he chose to ignore it. His injuries burned with each step, and his priority was clear: find a clinic or someone to help. His mind was a whirlpool of pain and desperation. He had no time to waste on their hostility.

Unbeknownst to him, the moment he had entered this strange territory, a scouter had spotted him. The news had raced back to the small city, setting off a ripple of alertness.

He pressed forward, limping toward the large iron gates that loomed ahead. They were solid and closed. Above, figures stood on guard, their silhouettes tense and watchful. Xiang Yu could sense their intent. They meant to stop him from entering.

Still, the weight of his injuries pushed him on. He called out in his mind, wishing the old man would appear.

"Now would be a great time to show up, old man," he thought, but there was only silence in response. The divine emperor remained absent, leaving Xiang Yu feeling even more alone.

With a deep breath, he approached the gates. His heart raced, an adrenaline rush flooding his senses. He ignored the whispers of doubt that crept into his mind and focused on reaching those gates.

Suddenly, a woman appeared atop the jagged edge of the fortress. Her name was Su Jing, a vision of lethal elegance. She stood tall against the battered skyline, her tailored military gear hugging her frame with precision.

Blackened leather plates gleamed under the sun, faint etchings of ancient runes tracing patterns across the surface. A silver braid spilt over her shoulder, shining like a river of moonlight, contrasting sharply with the fierce sneer that twisted her scarlet-painted lips.

Her piercing gaze bore down on Xiang Yu, the lone figure at the foot of the wall. He sensed her contempt even from below as if her eyes could cut through flesh and bone. Xiang Yu stood there, battered and worn, bloodied ceremonial clothes draped over his frame like a cloak of shame.

To refer to him as the excommunicated wife of their lord felt like mockery. He was nothing but Blackrock scum sent forth with sinister intent.

To be frank, she was surprised that he had even survived after being thrown out of the gates with extensive injuries.