Venerable Demon King & The Doting Immortal (QT)-Chapter 505: come here

Xiang Yu, who had been glancing at him earlier, immediately looked away as if he had just spotted a scorpion or a snake. The tension in the air felt palpable. He could still sense Han Xin’s presence, heavy and unyielding, a distraction he found hard to ignore.

Han Xin had set a clear boundary. He had told Xiang Yu not to show his face in front of him. And surely enough, Xiang Yu abided by that. He should have felt satisfied, relieved even, but instead, a sense of unease settled in his gut. He knew Xiang Yu was lurking around his territory, unchecked. Despite trusting his people to keep an eye on Xiang Yu, he couldn’t shake the growing irritation.

Day after day passed with Xiang Yu’s distant presence gnawing at him. Finally, after days of holding back his growing restlessness, Han Xin couldn’t take it anymore. He decided to look for Xiang Yu himself.

When they entered the canteen his gaze quickly landed on a table in the corner. There sat Xiang Yu, leaning close to someone who was whispering animatedly at him.

A flicker of irritation sparked within him, an emotion he couldn’t entirely understand. Watching them together pricked at him like a thorn.

Ignoring the food on his plate, Han Xin walked to an empty corner of the canteen and took a seat, Han Zhan sliding in next to him.

"You seem distracted," Han Zhan observed, openly staring at Han Xin.

"Who is that?" Han Xin asked, his tone low and deliberately casual as he gestured toward Xiang Yu.

Han Zhan turned around, following Han Xin’s gaze. His eyes widened slightly as he spotted Da Hei, the young man quietly chatting with Xiang Yu. "Oh, that’s old man Wei’s apprentice. He is obsessed with plants."

Han Xin’s lips pressed together into a thin line as he observed Da Hei enthusiastically animated, his hands moving as he spoke to Xiang Yu whose face lit up with interest. An unwelcome heat rose in Han Xin’s chest. "Tell Xiang Yu to come see me," he snapped before standing up abruptly.

"What about your food?" Han Zhan asked, confusion knitting his brow.

"I am not hungry," Han Xin replied tersely, brushing past the question.

Han Zhan was puzzled. Han Xin had been the one to suggest they get food in the first place, yet now he didn’t seem invested at all. With a sigh, Han Zhan glanced back at Xiang Yu, who was still eating, completely engrossed in his conversation.

Su Jing approached their table, concern flickering in her eyes as she noticed Han Xin’s tension. "What’s wrong?" she asked, her gaze drifting toward Xiang Yu.

Xiang Yu caught her eye for a brief moment. A flash of something maybe fear, passed over her features, though she quickly masked it.

Han Zhan stood up and immediately approached Xiang Yu. "Come with me," Han Zhan said, his voice firm as he approached him.

Xiang Yu sneered, his expression dripping with sarcasm. "What, do you have another job grosser than shovelling manure?"

Lian and Mei glared at Han Zhan, their eyes like daggers as if he had committed an unthinkable crime. Da Hei shifted nervously, glancing between Xiang Yu and Han Zhan, unsure of what might happen next.

"No," Han Zhan replied, cutting through the tension. "Han Xin wants to see you."

Xiang Yu raised an eyebrow, a smug smile playing on his lips. "But he said he didn’t want to see my face. Otherwise, he will kill me." He leaned in closer, the teasing glint in his eye sharp enough to cut. "Can you guarantee me that he won’t kill me?"

Han Zhan hesitated, weighing his words. "I... I will ask."

"Good," Xiang Yu replied, his tone almost playful. "Then get back to me when you can."

Han Zhan cleared his throat, a touch of uncertainty on his face, before turning to walk away, his footsteps echoing softly in the canteen.

Xiang Yu chuckled softly to himself as he went back to his meal, a smirk lingering. Lian and Mei continued eating, though there was an air of apprehension surrounding them. Da Hei, however, kept glancing at Xiang Yu, his brow furrowing with concern.

"What?" Xiang Yu finally asked, noticing Da Hei’s unsettling gaze.

"Aren’t you worried?" Da Hei asked, his voice low and hesitant.

Xiang Yu smiled, a calmness radiating from him. "I survived once, and I will survive again. No need to fret."

Da Hei studied Xiang Yu’s relaxed demeanour, feeling the concern twist in his gut. But what could he say? In the face of Xiang Yu’s confidence, his own worry felt pointless. If Xiang Yu wasn’t anxious, why should he be?

Yet, despite that thought, Da Hei couldn’t shake the unease creeping into his heart. He fiddled with the edge of his plate, his thoughts swirling. It seemed impossible for him to not worry.

Soon Xiang Yu stood before Han Xin, who had his head lowered, busy with his work. The atmosphere felt tight with unspoken tension. Xiang Yu made sure to keep a safe distance, anxious that the lingering scent of manure on him might disturb Han Xin. He scratched the back of his head, hesitating for a moment before he finally asked, "You called me?"

Han Xin paused, his focus shifting as he stopped what he was doing. "Come here," he instructed, his voice steady and firm.

Xiang Yu’s brow arched in surprise. He was sure Han Xin knew he had been shovelling manure and smelled terrible. Sure, he had done his best to scrub his body clean with water, but the odour still lingered, stubborn in its refusal to leave him. Because of that, he hesitated to approach.

Seeing that Xiang Yu was not moving, Han Xin looked up at him, a hint of irritation sparking in his eyes. Without waiting for further permission, Han Xin walked over.

Xiang Yu felt a pang of worry for Han Xin’s well-known sensitivity to cleanliness. He instinctively stepped back, eyes darting with concern.

"Don’t move," Han Xin commanded, his tone brooking no argument.

Han Xin walked closer, stopping just an arm’s length away. He wanted to determine if the lingering smell that had bothered him from their last encounter still clung to Xiang Yu. As he inhaled deeply, he detected the faint, unpleasant scent that clung to Xiang Yu’s clothes.

Although Xiang Yu had washed up, he still wasn’t entirely free of the odour. But it was masked by another scent, one that Han Xin recognized.