Venerable Demon King & The Doting Immortal (QT)
Chapter 113: Nice muscles by the way (needs proof reading)

Chapter 113: Nice muscles by the way (needs proof reading)

Xiang Yu handed him the food box Mei almost dropped. With a playful glint in his eyes, he said, "General, we brought this for you... Nice muscles, by the way."

With that, he dragged the twins away, leaving Han Xin standing at the door, the tips of his ears turning red. He closed the door and opened the food box, a small smile tugging at his lips despite himself.

He placed the food box on the table and fixed his robe, his mind drifting back to the moment when Peng Xiu had looked at his chest and complimented him. He had been complimented before, but it had never affected him. Yet, when Peng Xiu said it, he felt something stir within him.

He sat down in the chair and opened the food box, the aroma of the steamed creamy custard buns wafting up. Just then, Han Zhan emerged from his bath, his robe loosely tied. "Did you send them back?" he asked. He thought the hot water wouldn’t be enough, so he asked for some more, but there was more than enough hot water reserved.

Han Xin shook his head, biting into the thick, smooth, milky bun. "It wasn’t them," he replied, savouring the delicious flavour.

Han Zhan tried to grab a bun, but his cousin smacked his hand away. "Peng Xiu bought it for me," Han Xin said, his tone almost bragging. He had eaten these buns before, but somehow, these tasted even better.

Han Zhan’s lips contorted into a smirk as he got up "Why not marry her? She seems like she would make a good wife," he said, walking to the folding screen to retrieve his clothes.

Han Xin yelled back, "Maybe I will!" a smile spreading across his face as he took another bite. The thought of Peng Xiu’s compliment and the taste of the buns filled him with an unexpected warmth.

When he noticed there was only one bun left he pushed the food box towards his cousin. Han Zhan, who had been suffering from that enticing smell, eagerly grabbed the remaining bun. As he took a bite, his eyes widened, and tears welled up. "This is incredible," he mumbled through a mouthful, his voice choked with emotion.

Satisfied, Han Xin stood up and made his way to the door. Han Zhan, who was still in a trance after eating such divine snacks, asked, "Where are you going?"

Han Xin replied, "Peng Xiu’s room to thank her," before closing the door.

"Ask her where she bought this!" Han Zhan yelled after him. It was way better than the Hawthorns earlier. That’s because Xiang Yu paid the stall owner extra and told her to make it fresh and extremely tasty because it was for a VIP VIP person.

Han Xin wanted to thank her for the delicious food and ask her where she bought it but as he approached, he noticed the door was slightly ajar. Voices drifted out, and he paused, listening.

"Where will brother Baihe sleep?" asked Lian, her voice soft but clear.

"My room is bigger," suggested Xiang Yu. "He can stay with me."

Han Xin’s heart skipped a beat. He couldn’t let that happen. Without thinking, he pushed the door open and strode into the room. Baihe looked up, startled, as Han Xin grabbed the back of his collar.

"We have space," he said firmly, pulling Baihe out of the room. Baihe’s eyes widened in relief, and he nodded gratefully. Sharing a room with Peng Xiu had made him nervous, and he was thankful for Han Xin’s intervention.

Xiang Yu chuckled softly as he watched Han Xin close the door behind him. When he turned his gaze he found Lian and Mei giggling happily. He raised an eyebrow, finding it interesting. "What’s so funny?"

Mei grinned as she asked, "Master, you do realise that General Han is jealous, right?"

Xiang Yu’s eyes sparkled with amusement. "Of course he is," he replied smoothly.

Lian shook her head, still smiling. "Your plan failed, master. Now he likes that witch because of you."

Xiang Yu’s grin widened, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Not at all," he said, looking every bit the cunning villain. "I will reveal my true self at the end and when he realises that he fell in love with a man, I will scar him for life."

The twins exchanged glances. Their master’s plan made sense but why did they feel like it wouldn’t work? They kept their thoughts to themselves while cheering on their master.

***

Two weeks later...

The sun blazed overhead, casting a golden hue over the landscape. Han Xin had wisely instructed the party of soldiers to rest, deeming it too hot to continue their march. They found a serene spot by a river and set up camp, the cool water providing a much-needed respite from the heat.

Xiang Yu lounged in a comfortable foldable chair he had somehow procured. Its origins were a mystery to everyone, but they never asked. He sat in the shade of a large tree, fanning himself lazily. Lian and Mei were on either side of him, their fingers deftly braiding his hair as they experimented with new techniques.

Baihe approached, carrying a small basket of fruits he had picked from the forest. He offered them to him with a respectful bow before taking up a fan and gently waving it to create a refreshing breeze. Xiang Yu accepted the fruits with a nod, feeling every bit like a pampered princess as he enjoyed the view.

In the clearing, the soldiers were engaged in hand-to-hand combat training. The sounds of grunts and the clash of bodies filled the air. Yi Nuo, fierce and determined, faced off against another female soldier. With a swift and decisive move, she emerged victorious, her opponent yielding with a nod of respect.

Lian, still working on Xiang Yu’s hair, glanced up and smiled. "Well done, sister Nuo," she called out, her voice carrying a note of genuine praise.

Yi Nuo beamed, her chest swelling with pride. She bowed slightly in acknowledgement before returning to her stance, ready for the next challenge.

Xiang Yu watched the scene unfold with a contented smile. "It’s like watching weaklings go at it," he remarked, taking a bite of a juicy fruit.

Mei nodded in agreement, her fingers weaving intricate patterns into his hair. "Indeed, master you will put them all to shame."

After winning for the nth time, Yi Nuo approached Princess Xiu and said, "Your Highness, would you like to learn some self-defence techniques for your safety?" This wasn’t originally her idea but Han Zhan’s. He instructed her to challenge her highness, but she couldn’t be that direct; thus, she approached her under the guise of training.

Before Xiang Yu could respond, Mei spoke, her voice filled with pride. "My master doesn’t need a lesson. She could destroy ten thousand with just her finger."

Yi Nuo’s eyes widened in surprise. "Is that so?" She turned back to Peng Xiu, curiosity evident in her gaze. "Would you be my sparring partner, then your highness?"

Xiang Yu blinked in surprise. "Are you sure?" he asked, his voice steady but with a hint of hesitation.

Yi Nuo nodded eagerly. "Yes, I want to see how good your highness is."

With a graceful nod, Xiang Yu stood up, his movements fluid and confident. "Don’t hold back," he said, stepping into the training circle.

The soldiers gathered around, jeering and cheering for Yi Nuo. They expected an easy victory for their comrade.