Venerable Demon King & The Doting Immortal (QT)-Chapter 520: A kiss goodluck

Xiang Yu stepped out first, the car door closing with a soft click. Han Xin followed, his face unreadable. The air was heavy with a metallic scent, and the cracked earth stretched endlessly before them. Han Zhan approached, worry etched into his features.

"What happened in there?" he asked, his voice tinged with unease.

"Nothing," Han Xin replied curtly. "Send in the drones. We need air readings from the cracks."

Han Zhan hesitated for a moment before nodding. His gaze flickered to Xiang Yu, but he said nothing. Together, they set up the drones. The small machines with radiation sensors gleamed in the fading sunlight. One by one, seven drones took to the sky, a synchronized ascent that held an unexpected beauty.

As the machines disappeared into the valley’s depths, Su Jing approached Xiang Yu, her steps light as shadows. She leaned in close, her voice barely audible. "What’s your plan, exactly? Once the drones bring back the readings, they will expose your lies." Who didn’t know that death valley was extremely hostile that a lot of mutated beast suffocated in there.

Xiang Yu smirked, his expression unperturbed. "And what then? Your lord can put a bullet in my heart... it’s simple."

Su Jing stared at him, stunned by his calm acceptance. The man who had clashed with Han Xin several times in the past now seemed eerily resigned. Her thoughts swirled, confusion thick in the air.

Han Xin’s sharp voice cut through. "Xiang Yu! Come here."

Both turned toward him, Xiang Yu’s smirk lingering. He strolled over, his stride relaxed, his bright demeanour contrasting with the heavy atmosphere. "What’s wrong?" he asked, eyes sparkling with mischief.

"Nothing," Han Xin replied tersely, forcing down the irritation that bubbled just below the surface.

Han Zhan interjected, trying to cut through the tension. "We just need to prepare you to get inside Death Valley."

Xiang Yu shrugged, confidence radiating from him. "No need. Like I said, the air in there is safe."

Han Xin frowned. He much preferred that Xiang Yu wore full protective gear and a gas mask but Xiang Yu seemed pretty confident. "Get him a safety harness."

They quickly strapped a harness around Xiang Yu’s waist. As they finished, the driver, who had been silent until now, stepped forward with the final piece. "Raise your arms," he instructed.

Xiang Yu complied, his demeanour cheerful. "Sure, sorry to trouble you," he said, flashing a smile so charming the driver had to do a double take, momentarily caught off guard.

Just then, Han Xin emerged from the side, his presence commanding attention. "I will do it," he declared, the sternness in his voice cutting through the moment.

Terrified by Han Xin’s aura, the driver immediately handed over the harness. Han Xin moved in, lowering his head to concentrate, his expression serious as he began to fasten the safety harness. At that moment, he felt Xiang Yu’s gaze piercing through him, an almost tangible weight that made his skin prickle.

"If you run away..." Han Xin said, raising his head to meet Xiang Yu’s before continuing to say, "I will kill you."

Xiang Yu smirked and said, "And if I don’t run away you can kill me... in bed."

Han Xin’s eyes darkened before tightening the harness. His fingers brushed against Xiang Yu’s waist making him uncomfortable. He quickly retracted his hand his breath caught in his throat. Xiang Yu said, "Do we have an agreement."

Han Xin said, "Don’t mess around."

Xiang Yu chuckled softly. He wasn’t done messing with him. He lowered his head his gaze meeting Han Xin’s eyelashes. Xiang Yu said, "Then how about a kiss for good luck." Han Xin raised his head abruptly and said will you stop.

Xiang Yu looked into those eyes for a second the tension between them intense. Xiang Yu smiled slightly and said okay, I will stop his face, leaning a little closer, his warm breath tickling Han Xin’s skin. It was then Han Xin realised that they way were too close.

Han Xin took a step back, a wave of unease crashing over him. He and Xiang Yu had hovered in a tension-filled moment, oblivious to the awkwardness radiating from those around them.

Han Zhan stood nearby, his jaw slacking in disbelief. He could see the way Xiang Yu’s charm had an undeniable effect on Han Xin, and it worried him. Whatever Xiang Yu was trying to do it seemed to be working.

Xiang Yu grinned as he strolled toward the edge of the cliff. "Don’t miss me too much," he teased, throwing a glance over his shoulder. The words only deepened the scowl on Han Xin’s face, his eyes narrowing further.

The group watched in silence, a mix of incredulity and judgment etched on their faces. Everyone was glaring at Xiang Yu, except for one woman in the team, who turned away, unable to hide her smile.

With a slight creak, the rope followed Xiang Yu as he began his descent into the valley. His boots skimmed the jagged rock pillars that rose into the sky like ancient sentinels, their shadows pooling in the crevices below.

As he descended, flickering patches of light danced across the desolate terrain, illuminating the rugged landscape. When his feet finally met the ground, a soft crunch echoed in the vast silence, and a plume of dust billowed out around him.

The stillness was overwhelming but strangely comforting. Xiang Yu stood still for a moment, his gaze scanning the cracked earth and towering rock formations. He traced the jagged lines that etched themselves into the horizon, feeling a sense of peace amidst the wasteland’s merciless expanse.

He had already forgotten to signal back to the others to let them know he was safe. Instead, he became captivated by a burst of life against the barren soil. A small flower, defiantly swaying in the heat-rippled air, caught his eye. Intrigued, he pulled off the safety harness and strode closer, kicking up dust with each step.

His fingers gently brushed against the flower’s waxy leaves, tracing the knotted vines that had managed to thrive against all odds. Kneeling down, he studied it closely, marvelling at its resilience.

Meanwhile, back at the cliff’s edge, Han Xin checked the time. "How long has he been down there?" he asked, his voice tight with impatience.

"Seven minutes," Han Zhan replied, crossing his arms, a hint of concern flickering in his eyes.

"Pull him up," Han Xin commanded, his tone brooking no argument.

The team moved into action, grasping the rope and starting to pull, but something felt off. The rope felt unusually light, and they exchanged wary glances, each of them hesitating to voice the rising uncertainty. One of the team members turned to Han Zhan, their expression revealing their unspoken fear.

Han Zhan misunderstood the silence that followed. With a frantic gesture, he urged them to hurry up. They pulled on the rope, anticipating Xiang Yu’s return, but as the rope came up, all they found was an empty safety harness. Confusion rippled through the group.

From where he stood, Han Xin had been studying the map. When he heard Han Zhan call him, he turned around, impatience flaring within him. His heart dropped when he saw the safety harness in Han Zhan’s hand. Anger surged through him. Without a second thought, he ripped the harness from Han Zhan’s grip, strapping it onto himself with fierce determination.

"Ah-Xin, this is a bad idea," Han Zhan tried to reason, urgency in his voice. "You can’t risk going down there!"

Ignoring him, Han Xin tightened the harness around his waist and snapped it into place. His mind was racing. "What were the readings?" he demanded, his voice a low growl, barely containing his frustration.

"It’s safe, but—" Han Zhan began, but Han Xin had already made up his mind.

In a surge of rage, he leapt off the edge, his anger propelling him downward like a force of nature. As he descended, his awakened power surged within him, quickening his fall.

His mind raced with thoughts of what he would do to Xiang Yu when he caught him. He would lock him up, make him pay for the deception that had twisted his stomach into knots.

All his life he has been a relatively calm person able to deal with every situation calmly and decisively. But ever since Xiang Yu came back around he had become irrational, irritable and constantly getting angry.

If he was a bomb then Xiang Yu was the trigger. Even when Xiang Yu didn’t say anything to him he would illicit a response. He has tried to restrain himself but the more he tried the harder it was.

If he repressed his emotions too much, the pressure would build and he would wind up exploding. It terrified him seeing himself change but he couldn’t help it. It was all Xiang Yu’s fault. Since Xiang Yu had provoked him first then he shouldn’t dare think of running away.

Han Xin’s descent was blisteringly fast, his awakened power coursing through his veins like a storm unleashed. His feet barely touched the ground as he reached the bottom, his movements fluid, electric. He spun around, his eyes scanning the area. Xiang Yu was nowhere in sight.