Venerable Demon King & The Doting Immortal (QT)-Chapter 524: Those lips tasted good.

Xiang Yu’s hands were everywhere, his touch both urgent and reverent. He pulled Han Xin’s shirt from his pants, his fingers tracing the contours of his waist and his hips.

Han Xin shivered at the contact, his body responding to Xiang Yu’s touch with a hunger he had never acknowledged before. The cave seemed to shrink around them, the world narrowing to the two of them and the relentless rush of the waterfall.

But just as the kiss deepened, a voice cut through the air, shattering the intimacy of the moment. "Is he here?" Han Zhan’s voice echoed off the cave walls, his footsteps approaching with purpose. Han Xin’s eyes flew open in shock, his heart pounding in his chest as he realized they were no longer alone.

Xiang Yu’s lips broke away from Han Xin’s, a smug smile playing on his lips as he turned slightly, his arm still wrapped around Han Xin’s waist. Han Zhan’s eyes widened as he took in the scene, and his expression shook.

Han Xin’s cheeks flushed with embarrassment, his body stiffening as he pushed Xiang Yu away, creating a small but significant distance between them.

"Han Zhan," he managed, his voice tight with mortification. Xiang Yu, however, seemed unbothered, his smile widening as he leaned casually against the wall, his eyes never leaving Han Xin.

Han Zhan raised an eyebrow, his smirk deepening. "Ca-carry on," he said, his tone light, before turning on his heel and walking away, his footsteps echoing off the cave walls.

Han Xin’s face burned with shame, his earlier desire replaced by a wave of self-consciousness. Without a word, he turned and stumbled away, his boots slipping slightly on the wet ground as he made his way toward the others. The cool air was a relief, but it did nothing to ease the heat in his cheeks or the turmoil in his chest.

Xiang Yu watched him go, his expression unreadable, though a hint of amusement lingered in his eyes. Slowly, he licked his lips, savouring the taste of Han Xin, a low chuckle escaping his throat.

"Those lips tasted good," he murmured to himself, his voice barely audible over the roar of the waterfall. He straightened his gaze following Han Xin’s retreating figure, a determined glint in his eyes.

The car ride back to the city was steeped in silence. Han Xin had refused to share a car with Xiang Yu, so Xiang Yu found himself sitting beside Su Jing.

She didn’t say a word to him. Her mood was grim, her pride bruised from being proven wrong by Xiang Yu one too many times. Mocking or bullying him required energy she didn’t have.

When they reached the city, Xiang Yu stepped out of the car, his boots crunching lightly on the pavement. Before he could take another step, Lian and Mei came rushing over, their excitement palpable.

"Did you find it?" Lian asked, her eyes wide with anticipation.

"Yep," Xiang Yu replied with a grin. "And I found this..." He held up the potato plants he had carefully brought back.

Mei giggled, leaning in close to whisper, "Master, you always find potatoes." Her lips curved into a wink.

Xiang Yu laughed heartily, shaking his head. "Let’s go find Da Hei. I want to transfer one of these into a pot and give it to you-know-who."

Lian nodded knowingly. "He will like it," she said with certainty.

The three of them walked off together. Nearby, Su Jing flicked her cigarette to the ground and crushed the smouldering bud beneath her heel. She muttered something under her breath as she turned to deal with the logistics of the water truck and pipes.

At the greenhouse, Da Hei was meticulously sprinkling water over his mutant plants. His movements were careful, almost reverent, as if tending to fragile children. When he saw them enter, his face lit up with joy.

"Did you get more water?" Da Hei asked, his excitement bubbling over.

"What do you think?" Xiang Yu replied, setting the potatoes down on the table.

Da Hei’s reaction was explosive. His face broke into a wide grin, his happiness so infectious that it bordered on ridiculous. Mei arched a brow, her expression playful. "Brother, I feel sorry for your future wife. She’ll have to compete with your plants."

Lian chimed in, unable to resist. "Yeah, she will die of jealousy."

Da Hei flushed at their teasing, his gaze dropping to the floor. "My future spouse will bring me plants to make me happy," he mumbled, the words awkward and sincere.

Lian paused, clearly puzzled by his response. She exchanged a look with Mei as though asking if she also found his response awkward.

Meanwhile, Xiang Yu was lost in his own thoughts. He mulled over his plans, wondering if gifting Han Xin a potted potato plant was too plain, too practical. Perhaps something more romantic like a bouquet of vibrant flowers. They would at least make a better impression.

He snapped out of his reverie and pointed to the table. "The small one, do whatever you want with it. Maybe people can finally start eating potatoes again. As for the big one, can you transfer it into a flower pot for me? I will pick it up later."

Da Hei raised a curious brow but didn’t press the question. He nodded and got to work, his hands steady as he handled the plants.

***

The sun hung heavy in the sky as Han Xin worked alongside the others, their hands busy connecting water pipes that stretched toward the city. Days had passed without a glimpse of Xiang Yu, and Han Xin didn’t ask about him.

Perhaps it was easier this way. That kiss had shaken him, left behind a lingering unease he couldn’t quite shake. The memory felt too sharp, too close, and Han Xin wasn’t ready to face him yet.

Sweat rolled down his temple, and he wiped it away with the back of his hand. Han Zhan appeared at his side, handing him a flask filled with cold water. "We are almost done," Han Zhan said casually. "You didn’t really have to be here all this time."

Han Xin took the flask and drank deeply, the chill refreshing against the heat. "A lot of hands make things faster," he replied curtly, avoiding Han Zhan’s gaze.

Han Zhan wiped his own neck with a handkerchief, his movements deliberate. "Yeah, we are almost done," he said again, his voice edged with curiosity. "So, are you really going to be with Xiang Yu? He kept his end of the deal."

Han Xin didn’t answer. He tilted his head back, finishing the water as if it could drown out the question. Han Zhan had asked before, tried to pry the truth from him, but Han Xin had remained tight-lipped. This was just another attempt to get him to talk.