Venerable Demon King & The Doting Immortal (QT)-Chapter 519: Is this all a setup

Han Xin watched in shock as Xiang Yu brazenly held onto his hand, a bold move that caught him completely off guard. His heart raced with annoyance and disbelief. If he didn’t need Xiang Yu as a hostage, he would have thrown him out of the car and let him walk the rest of the way. With a swift motion, Han Xin took his hand away, but Xiang Yu was quicker, tightening his grip and preventing him from pulling free.

The tension between them escalated. Han Xin tried to move his hand again, but Xiang Yu held on even tighter, determination flickering in his eyes.

The driver, witnessing the odd display of tugging hands, felt a surge of horror rise within him. In his panic, he pressed down hard on the brake, causing everyone in the vehicle to jerk forward in their seats.

Han Xin shot a warning glare at the driver. "What are you doing?"

"Sorry, my lord!" the driver exclaimed, his voice trembling. "I thought I saw something." He quickly resumed driving, this time keeping his eyes firmly on the road ahead, not daring to glance back lest he see something equally shocking again.

It took Han Xin a brief moment to realize that Xiang Yu was still holding his hand, the warmth enveloping his skin. Despite his irritation, the feeling lingered and was difficult to ignore. He attempted to pull away once more, but Xiang Yu refused to let go.

"What are you doing?" Han Xin whispered, his voice low but laced with exasperation.

Xiang Yu turned his head to meet Han Xin’s gaze, a mischievous smile playing at the corners of his lips. "It’s a down payment. Now stop making a fuss... otherwise, everyone will know we held hands."

Han Xin gritted his teeth, glaring at him with a mix of frustration and confusion. Xiang Yu could see that Han Xin was far from pleased, and after a moment of thoughtful contemplation, he loosened his grip. "I don’t like forcing people," he finally said, withdrawing his hand but still keeping his eyes on Han Xin.

As their hands drifted apart, the atmosphere in the car turned thick with an awkward silence. Even though they were whispering, the other passengers could feel the tension radiating from the front seat to the back. The only sounds that filled the space were the tyres rolling over the dusty wastelands and the distant whisper of the wind outside.

Han Xin clenched his fist, the heat lingering from the brief moment he had held Xiang Yu’s hand. The sensation pulsed through him, a reminder that left him questioning his own thoughts and feelings.

He suddenly recalled what Xiang Yu had said about not wanting to force people. An unsettling thought crept into his mind. How many people had Xiang Yu held hands with? How many had he entered relationships with?

The road stretched out ahead, and silence enveloped them for the remainder of the journey. Han Xin didn’t speak, and Xiang Yu didn’t try to bridge the gap either. An unspoken tension hung between them, heavy and thick.

Eventually, the lead car flicked on its hazard lights, prompting Han Xin to grab the radio. "What’s going on?" he asked, his voice steady but laced with concern.

Han Zhan’s voice crackled through the static. "We have reached Death Valley."

Han Xin turned to Xiang Yu, his heart pounding slightly. "Can we go around it?"

There was a pause on the radio before Han Zhan replied. "The location is in Death Valley. What should we do?"

Han Xin’s mind raced. "Wait," he said, then turned to Xiang Yu, the suspicion in his voice sharper. "Is this a setup?"

An electric tension filled the car. Death Valley was notorious, not mapped out by them for good reason. The toxic gases seeping from the ground were a real danger, a risk they had always avoided.

And now, Xiang Yu had led them right into its heart, claiming there was water somewhere within. Han Xin felt a wave of frustration crash over him. Why had he even trusted Xiang Yu? Was it desperation or the lingering spell of Xiang Yu’s intoxicating fragrance?

As the vehicles turned in an arch and parked, dust swirled around them like a thin veil. The passengers inside the car stepped out, leaving Han Xin and Xiang Yu alone. Han Xin signalled for the others to exit and drew his gun, his instincts flaring to life.

Han Zhan, meanwhile, moved toward Han Xin’s car, his expression serious, but the driver quickly signalled for him to stay back. A muted understanding passed between them. The driver knew, perhaps more than anyone else, that they were in a precarious situation.

Han Xin stared at Xiang Yu, anger simmering beneath the surface. "So you were messing with me?" he said, the words sharp as knives. It was the most reasonable explanation for Xiang Yu’s actions. Everything clicked into place. His proposal for a relationship despite being enemies, the overt charm and seductive scent targeting only him, it was all just a bait to lure him out.

Xiang Yu raised an eyebrow, unperturbed. "Do you really think all this was a ploy to eliminate the top Awakened in your faction and give the Overseer the upper hand? Is that it?"

Han Xin kept glaring at him, his expression cold and unyielding. The intensity of his gaze felt like a challenge, one that Xiang Yu seemed more than willing to meet.

With a sigh, Xiang Yu reached out suddenly, grabbing Han Xin’s hand, the one that held the gun, and forced it to point at himself. Han Xin’s heart raced as the muzzle rested against Xiang Yu’s chest.

"I am not lying to you," Xiang Yu said, his voice steady. "If it makes you feel any better, you can put me at the forefront. If I lie, you have permission to shoot me right here, in the heart."

The silent continuation of his thought echoed in his mind: my heart belongs to you anyway. It was a notion that hung in the air, unspoken yet profoundly felt.

Han Xin clenched his jaw, his heart pounding. He could see sincerity shining in Xiang Yu’s eyes, a depth that unsettled him. Logic screamed for him to shoot, to end this threat once and for all.

But a nagging feeling in his gut told him he would regret it if he did. There was something about the moment that felt fragile, like a delicate thread that might snap with the slightest misstep.

The radio crackled beside them, breaking the tension. Han Xin pressed the button, a sense of finality edging into his voice. "Take out the gear. We are going in."

Han Zhan sighed outside the car, scratching the back of his head in frustration. "Okay, you heard him. Let’s go," he replied, still trying to make sense of what his cousin was planning.