Venerable Demon King & The Doting Immortal (QT)-Chapter 523: How about my down payment

Lu Lu’s shadow fell over him, towering and silent. Xiang Yu didn’t bother looking up. "What do you want now?" he asked flatly, his focus never leaving the plant.

Lu Lu stayed quiet for a moment before speaking. "Why did you save me?" His voice held an edge, low but not aggressive.

Xiang Yu didn’t answer right away. He kept working, hands methodical. Lu Lu crouched beside him, hesitant at first but eventually joining him, his hands moving to help dig. The gesture felt unnatural as if his pride resisted every scoop of dirt.

"Be gentle," Xiang Yu instructed without looking up. "I need the roots intact."

Lu Lu scowled, biting back a retort. This man had saved him—annoying as he was. He stayed silent, his fingers brushing the soil with care. "I still hate you," he muttered. "So why did you help me?"

"Wow, so direct." Xiang Yu finally glanced at him, a flash of amusement in his eyes.

Lu Lu’s expression hardened as if to say, ’Quit joking around.’

"Are you loyal to Han Xin?" Xiang Yu asked suddenly, his voice sharp and clear.

Lu Lu’s brow furrowed at the unexpected question. "Yes," he answered after a pause. "He helped me save my sister."

Xiang Yu smiled, satisfied. "Good."

"Good what?" Lu Lu demanded, his tone edged with suspicion.

"It means," Xiang Yu said, brushing soil off his hands, "that as long as you stay loyal to him, I will keep rescuing your clumsy ass."

Lu Lu’s lips twitched, but no words came out. He shot Xiang Yu a sidelong glare but returned to digging in silence. The quiet stretched between them, broken only by the sound of dirt being moved.

"Careful with the plant," Xiang Yu said, his tone commanding. "Put it in a bag with soil."

Lu Lu gritted his teeth, resisting the urge to snap back. But as Xiang Yu adjusted his injured shoulder with a soft wince, muttering "Mm, it hurts a little," Lu Lu clenched his jaw and did exactly as he was told.

Xiang Yu spotted a larger one hidden behind the rock. His eyes narrowed with determination as he moved toward it leaving Lu Lu behind. He crouched down and began to dig along its sides. The soil was stubborn, clinging to the roots of the plant he sought, but Xiang Yu’s hands worked with practised precision.

A few minutes earlier...

From a distance, Han Xin watched. His gaze lingered on Xiang Yu and Lu Lu, both crouched low, their movements deliberate. A frown tugged at his lips, his eyes narrowing. He didn’t like the sight, though he couldn’t quite explain why. He was about to stride over when Han Zhan approached, holding a bottle of water.

"It passed," Han Zhan said, his tone calm but curious. "The water quality is good. From the looks of it, it even has health benefits. Want to try it?"

Han Xin took the bottle, his fingers brushing against the cool surface. He drank, the liquid crisp and refreshing as it slid down his throat. It was unlike anything he had tasted before. "There’s no water like this anywhere on the continent," he murmured, almost to himself.

Han Zhan tilted his head, his curiosity deepening. "How did Xiang Yu know this place was here? We have searched everywhere for so long. Do you think he researched us? Maybe he is planning to use it against us."

Han Xin’s jaw tightened. His eyes flicked back to where Xiang Yu and Lu Lu had been, but the space was empty now. Both of them were gone. His brows furrowed, unease prickling at the edges of his thoughts. Without a word, he started walking, his steps quick.

Behind the large rocks, Xiang Yu stood, washing his hands in a small pool of water. The coolness soothed the dirt and heat from his skin. He didn’t hear Han Xin’s approach and didn’t see him until it was too late.

Han Xin’s hand shot out, grabbing Xiang Yu’s arms and pressing him against the rock. The movement was rough, but there was a careful restraint in his grip, as though he couldn’t bring himself to hurt his shoulder.

"Do you think this is funny?" Han Xin’s voice was low, edged with frustration. frёeweɓηovel.coɱ

Xiang Yu blinked, confusion flickering across his face. "What are you talking about? I was just washing my hands."

Han Xin’s eyes darted around, searching for Lu Lu, but he was nowhere to be seen. Realization dawned, and with it came a wave of irritation at himself. He couldn’t believe he had let his thoughts spiral, imagining Xiang Yu seducing Lu Lu. The idea was absurd, and yet it had consumed him.

"Xin-ge," Xiang Yu said softly, his voice breaking through Han Xin’s storm of thoughts.

Han Xin didn’t even register his method of address, too caught up in his own frustration. His emotions churned, a mix of anger and embarrassment that he couldn’t quite untangle.

Xiang Yu tilted his head, a small smile playing on his lips. "How about my down payment?"

Han Xin blinked, confusion flashing in his eyes. "What?" he asked, his voice uncertain.

Before he could react, Xiang Yu closed the distance between them in a single, fluid motion. His hand shot out, gripping Han Xin’s waist with a strength that bordered on possessive, pulling him flush against the cold, unyielding rock of the cave wall.

Han Xin’s breath caught in his throat as Xiang Yu’s lips crashed down on his, a brutal, demanding kiss that left no room for resistance. It was a kiss that spoke of pent-up desire, of weeks of stolen glances and unspoken words.

Han Xin’s initial instinct was to push Xiang Yu away, to maintain the careful distance he’d always kept between them. But the soft, insistent pressure of Xiang Yu’s lips betrayed him, drawing him into a fierce, heated exchange.

Their tongues clashed, a battle of wills and desire, as Xiang Yu’s hands roamed dishonestly, grasping at Han Xin’s shirt and tugging him closer. Han Xin’s palms pressed against the rough stone behind him, his veins throbbing with a mix of adrenaline and arousal.

The kiss was raw and primal, a collision of need and want that left them both breathless. Xiang Yu’s taste was intoxicating and Han Xin found himself surrendering to the moment, his inhibitions melting away under the force of Xiang Yu’s passion.