Chapter Fourteen: The Double-Pupiled Eyes

Upon hearing the rebuke from the man with the double pupils, Xiang Jiuxi was instantly overcome with shame.

"Who are you?"

He pulled himself together, letting go of fear. He straightened his knees, fixed his gaze, and forced himself to remain conscious under the other's oppressive presence, meeting his eyes with neither arrogance nor servility.

But the double-pupiled man spared him not another glance. No matter how high Xiang Jiuxi lifted his gaze, he could only reach the man's chin. The man was as proud as a deity, descending to the mortal world solely to receive incense and worship.

Yet the defiance coursing through Xiang Jiuxi’s veins would not allow him to yield. This provocative attitude roused his anger, flames of defiance blazing in his chest. He shot back a glare that was as sharp and aggressive as a drawn blade.

A whinny broke the silence.

Feeling Xiang Jiuxi’s gaze, the jet-black steed began to stir, snorting and stamping the ground restlessly, its piercing eyes seeming on the verge of charging at him.

Fortunately, the double-pupiled man tugged the reins in time, and the black horse relented, though it gave a long, disgruntled neigh and shook its head, casting its eyes disdainfully aside.

Xiang Jiuxi suspected even the horse looked down upon him, but he had no proof.

Holding the reins, the double-pupiled man urged his black steed out from the golden light, striding toward Xiang Jiuxi.

As horse and rider emerged, the golden glow shattered and scattered; even the sun above seemed to dim. At the same time, the man’s oppressive presence intensified, as if a mountain weighed upon Xiang Jiuxi’s head, threatening to buckle his knees.

But Xiang Jiuxi would not yield. He braced his legs apart, summoning every ounce of strength to resist the growing pressure.

Yet as the double-pupiled man drew closer, the oppressive force grew ever more brutal and domineering. Xiang Jiuxi’s spine creaked ominously; he feared any further resistance would snap it.

His blood surged, his face flushed crimson, and his body hovered on the brink of collapse. But he would not allow himself to be despised—especially by this man before him.

So he widened his eyes, clenched his teeth until his jaw ached, and swallowed the blood welling in his chest.

His defiance astonished the double-pupiled man. Circling Xiang Jiuxi, he scrutinized him, then reined in his horse, stopping just before him.

"There’s some spirit in you," the man said, head held high, casting a sidelong glance.

"Hmph! My spirit is more than this! Ha!"

With a scornful laugh, Xiang Jiuxi suddenly bellowed, striding forward in a great step.

A popping sound echoed.

The abrupt movement crushed several of his bones; a mouthful of fresh blood spurted from his lips. Yet he forced himself onward, eyes resolute, advancing another step.

A sharp neigh split the air.

Now, Xiang Jiuxi’s head was nearly pressed against the black steed’s. His hawk-like eyes radiated a fierce energy that even surpassed the horse’s, making it uneasy—its hooves pawed the ground as if eager to retreat.

The double-pupiled man pressed his legs to the horse’s flanks, calming it. The steed finally grew quiet, yet all its former aggression had faded; it lowered its head, humbled at Xiang Jiuxi’s feet.

"Not bad. Reminds me of my own bearing in days past."

Though spoken softly, the man’s words crashed over Xiang Jiuxi like a mighty bell, every syllable weighted with power.

Enduring the agony wracking his body, Xiang Jiuxi replied stubbornly, "Enough talk—who are you, and what are you plotting here?"

"You wish to know who I am?"

The double-pupiled man raised a gleaming silver halberd, pointing it to the heavens. "Ignorant youth, I am none other than the Conqueror of Chu!"

His voice thundered across the land, echoing between the clouds and darkness, lingering long after.

"The Conqueror... Xiang Yu?!"

Xiang Jiuxi’s spirit shattered at Xiang Yu’s furious roar. As he hovered on the edge of consciousness, he gazed with boundless reverence at that towering figure.

In courage and might, Xiang Yu stands alone throughout the ages!

Such is the verdict handed down through the centuries. Xiang Jiuxi’s lips curved in a contented smile—he had finally met the war god he worshipped most.

Only then did he notice: the black steed was not without markings. Its four hooves were pure white.

That was the legendary Steed of Snow!

And the weapon, of course, was the peerless Dragon-Crushing Halberd that had swept through countless foes.

The vision before him began to fade; Xiang Jiuxi’s consciousness grew ever fainter. He knew that once the last shreds of awareness vanished, even if he awakened in the real world, he would be little more than a soulless shell.

Yet he felt no regret—only the thrill of meeting the true Conqueror of Chu. In his family’s ancestral records, Xiang Yu was counted among his forebears.

Suddenly, an invisible hand seemed to reach out of nowhere, gathering his scattered consciousness in its palm, drawing it together in an instant.

"Boy, the world’s glory and conquest remain unclaimed—how dare you die so easily?"

...

With a gasp, Xiang Jiuxi’s eyes flew open. He was still at the cave’s entrance.

He had returned to reality. Though his consciousness had nearly dissolved, his physical state was still intact—surely Xiang Yu had intervened.

"The glory and conquest of kings..."

Turning over Xiang Yu’s final words, he finally noticed that the blue crystal before him had vanished. Within his body, a golden light now coursed unceasingly.

That golden light was linked to his consciousness. He could examine it with his mind, and saw within it a crystal.

That crystal... it looked so familiar—wasn’t it the very one that White Bone had given him? How had it changed from blue to gold?

Could it be that the stone’s color altered according to its possessor?

As he pondered, the crystal’s surface began to peel away, as if a masterful hand were carving it with exquisite care, gradually shaping it into the form of a tiny figure.

The little figure stood broad-shouldered and armored, its brow exuding an imposing aura—remarkably similar to the Xiang Yu he had seen in his vision. Yet, it lacked the Steed of Snow and the Dragon-Crushing Halberd.

Soon, the figure was fully formed, the golden light faded, and his consciousness could no longer perceive its presence.

"What on earth is happening?"

Still lost in wonder, a creaking sound came from overhead.

Alert, Xiang Jiuxi gripped his spear, training it on the crack that had suddenly appeared at the cave entrance. The crack grew wider with each passing second.

The grinning-faced monkey had returned!

It had been a long while—perhaps the monkey thought him already dead, come back now to clear away his remains.

He tensed every sinew, scarcely daring to breathe, eyes fixed on the entrance, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.

A sharp snap broke the silence.

Startled, Xiang Jiuxi realized he had gripped his spear’s wooden shaft so tightly in his anxiety that he had splintered it.

The stone blocking the cave mouth paused, then slowly began to slide back into place. The grinning-faced monkey had discovered him...

As the gap narrowed, Xiang Jiuxi’s anxiety mounted. If his attack failed, the monkey would be on guard—there would be no second chance for a surprise.

He could still breathe at the entrance, but if trapped here for ten days or half a month, thirst would claim him soon enough!

In desperation, he reached out to stop the stone from sealing the entrance.

With a casual motion, he flipped the massive stone aside...