The little demon scurried ahead, its clawed feet leaving smudged prints on the blood-soaked ground. Xiang Yu followed, his senses assaulted by the sights and smells of the demon realm. Filthy streets stretched before him, littered with gore and rotting flesh.
After a few minutes of walking, they reached a place similar to a market. There were stalls lining the path. Unlike markets in the human realm where there were a variety of stalls selling different things this place was a ghastly marketplace with demons haggling over chunks of flesh. Some wielded cleavers, hacking away with glee, while others examined the flesh like discerning customers at a butcher shop. Xiang Yu's stomach churned, struggling to keep down his lunch that had long been digested.
The air buzzed with energy the atmosphere filled with harsh discordant sounds of growls, hisses, and guttural laughter. There were demons of all shapes and sizes jostling past him. Some had horns, others wings, and a few bore scales that shimmered like obsidian. The high-ranking ones, though, were different. They had human features, marred by subtle traits of their lineage.
A brawny demon, muscles rippling, bumped into him and he stumbled a step back. He turned his head and met those sharp eyes fearlessly. The demon spat on the ground near his feet with a look of contempt. Xiang Yu's lips twitched in disgust.
"Don't start trouble. Let's go," said the little demon having noticed the conflict that was about to erupt. Xiang Yu turned his gaze away and stepped over the spittle on the blood-soiled ground.
This place was a milder version of the underworld, a twisted funfair of horrors. The stench of death clung to the air, suffocating and unrelenting. The little demon led the way, trembling with fear. It was worried that this half-blood would offend a high-ranking demon while in his presence and it would be implicated in the process.
The Shadowed Jade palace was nothing like he expected. It was nothing like the rest of the dilapidated buildings around it. It stood like a sentinel against the abyss, its black walls rising from the blood-soaked earth. Red lanterns hung everywhere, casting eerie glows that danced upon the obsidian surface. The air smelled of incense and decay, a heady mix that clung to Xiang Yu's skin.
The entrance was packed with demons, high-ranking or otherwise festively dressed. They had gathered to pay homage to their Demon King during the Red Moon festival. In their hands were treasures that they had robbed from the human realm and some even held beauties they had kidnapped to offer to their king.
As Xiang Yu stepped inside moving with the crowd, the little demon who had led him here vanished. Fear clung to its scales being near this place. It didn't want to be implicated for aiding a half-blood into the demon realm.
Xiang Yu couldn't concern himself with that little demon anymore. He pushed through the crowd with one goal in mind. Curses followed him as he pushed his way through the crowd up the thousand stairs. Their words spat like venom but it did not affect him.
Occasional curses like 'half-breed', 'disgusting hybrid' and 'filthy mongrel' rang through the air their disgust palpable. But to Xiang Yu, it was white noise. His mind was purely on his father and sister the intensity of his anticipation overwhelming him.
His sight kept looking in between the shifting bodies trying to catch a glimpse of the throne but his view was still obscured by the writhing crowd. Just when he thought it would take him a long time to reach the front, he was pushed forward, out of the crowd.
He stumbled forward before steadying himself. In front of him were demons clad in armour holding back the ground while three beautiful female demons checked the gifts to see if they were valuable enough. If it was they would let the demon enter the court.
He was beckoned over by a female demon, her silk dress revealing more than it concealed. Her skin bore intricate patterns, and her eyes glinted with mischief. She was one of the gatekeepers, assessing the gifts.
Xiang Yu grew nervous when he met her gaze. He brought nothing valuable with him. Her head tilted slightly as she studied him, her gaze lingering on his features.
"What do you offer to our King?" She asked her voice like silk, winding around him.
Xiang Yu's mind raced for a moment. "Myself," he finally said, his voice steady.
Her smile was enigmatic. "Your face is handsome," she added, her eyes lingering on his lips. "That's a rare gift indeed." With a flick of her wrist, she beckoned him forward allowing him to proceed. Xiang Yu stepped forward his heart pounding.
The court could only be described as grandiose. Its black pillars soared toward the vaulted ceiling, their surfaces etched with ancient runes. Dragon statues flanked the entrance, their eyes gleaming with malevolence. Each scale seemed to be pulsing as if the creatures would come to life at a moment's notice.
At the heart of the court stood an elevated platform and on it was a throne, more opulent than that of the emperor. Its back rose-like twisted wings adorned with onyx and crimson gems. Seated on it was the demon he had been looking for.
Xiang Yu's eyes locked onto him unable to move. His father was resplendent in a crimson robe adorned with gold embroidery. His features were a reflection of Xiang Yu's own. They had the same sharp jawline and the same phoenix eyes. Unlike his youthful aura, his father exuded an otherworldly allure. His lips, stained red from blood, curved in a cruel smile.
Around him were twelve of his harem members. The women comprised of human, demon, and half-breed race. Their revealing dresses clung to curves, their beauty a weapon. Some served the king with eagerness, while others lounged with pride, their eyes challenging anyone who dared to look at them. The rest cowered not daring to make a sound.
One concubine, her skin a dusky hue, sat on the king's lap. Her green dress left nothing to the imagination, and her hand rested possessively on his chest. Xiang Yu's brow creased slightly his thoughts unknown.