Venerable Demon King & The Doting Immortal (QT)
Chapter 129: Dejected abandoned husky

Chapter 129: Dejected abandoned husky

He spotted a cavern ahead with even more stalactites and lured the snake there. He began to make shallow cuts to weaken them as he leapt past them. The snake slithered over, trying to attack him. After a while, Xiang Yu stood at a gap at the top of the ceiling, taunting the snake. Enraged, the snake attacked, and he slipped deeper into the tiny space. The snake hit its head against the small gap, trying to get to him, but its head was too big. It kept hitting the wall repeatedly while he crawled back far enough.

Each time the snake hit the wall, the stalactites shook until they all fell at once, stabbing the large snake. As the shards of rock impaled the snake it let out an ear-splitting cry that resonated deep within Xiang Yu’s core. Dust from the centuries-old stones shrouded the cave into darkness. He covered his head as a cloud of dust filled the small space.

Xiang Yu stayed in that position until the chaos died down. His mouth covered he coughed while crawling out. When the dust was beginning to settle, he used his light foot skills and jumped down to check if the snake was dead.

He surveyed what remained. The rubble was scattered haphazardly across damp ground alongside remnants of scales glistening eerily beneath the little moonlight coming in. But the battle wasn’t over. The snake’s tail flickered weakly and Xiang Yu spotted its little movements.

Before the snake could regain its senses fully and retaliate against its attacker it found itself face-to-face once again with a gleaming sword’s edge poised dangerously close to it. In one decisive motion fuelled entirely by instinct, Xiang Yu plunged forward, driving steel straight through flesh!

Blood splattered everywhere, staining his clothes and the ground below. When the serpent was no longer moving, he withdrew the sword and spun it gracefully between his fingers. Blood droplets shimmering under the faint moonlight danced lightly off the blade’s surface. Xiang Yu couldn’t help but admire its feel in his hands. It was a beautiful sword.

Meanwhile, Han Xin stirred, a groan escaping his lips as he became painfully aware of his body’s current condition. He was wracked with excruciating pain, but he could endure it. He winced as he slowly sat up, cradling his injured arm close to him.

In a daze, his fingers brushed against his temple. He felt the sticky warmth of blood on his fingers. He grimaced as he stared at the crimson streaks on his fingertips. It was then he recalled that he wasn’t alone when he fell down here. He looked around but soon realised that he was alone. He felt an overwhelming wave of desolation wash over him. Princess Xiu had left him here. Her absence hurt more than the pain in his body.

A wave of self-doubt washed over him like a heavy fog. It crept into his heart like poison ivy clutching at ancient ruins. Had she left because he was a burden? Useless? The very notion twisted inside him until it coiled tightly around what little hope remained. It was like a suffocating embrace that made it hard to breathe.

He let out a bitter laugh at himself for being so infatuated with someone whose real identity he didn’t even know. Infatuation was an understatement. He loved her; she was his first love, yet she had abandoned him.

His laugh turned into a painful cough each spasm sending ripples of what he felt for this Peng Xiu. He winced, feeling more pain than he cared to admit.

His thoughts spiralled back to their time together, how she had challenged him each time they spoke, how her laughter had been like music woven from stars themselves, so vibrant yet so distant now. Would he ever see her again or was this goodbye?

Feeling dejected, he looked around the cave, only to hear a sound. Just then, something stirred outside. He strained to see past the shadows and saw a figure emerge from the darkness. The figure was covered in dust and blood as they climbed into the entrance, dragging a fresh snakeskin filled with various things. It was Peng Xiu. She climbed into view with surprising grace despite her dishevelled appearance.

Han Xin’s heart raced as embarrassment surged through him. How could he have doubted her when she was the kind of person who wouldn’t even leave a strange young man to suffer at the hands of others? He quickly lay back down on the cool stone floor beneath him and pretended to close his eyes, his heart thumping fast.

Xiang Yu had no idea that Han Xin was playing possum and that he had been panicking like a husky after being left home alone. As he stepped inside shadows danced around him like phantoms. He soon got used to the light and walked towards the small stream flowing quietly against the rock wall. Kneeling beside it, he washed his hands thoroughly. He couldn’t bear to touch Han Xin with dirty and bloodied hands.

"Are you sure this will work?" he asked speaking to the Divine Emperor in his mind as he unwrapped the bundle of herbs he had scavenged.

The response was immediate and thunderous: "Are you doubting me?"

Xiang Yu stifled a chuckle at the indignation radiating from the celestial being. "No," he replied softly, "but usually you need to boil medicine for it to be effective."

"Just do as I tell you!" The Divine Emperor’s tone softened slightly but remained authoritative. How could this little half-demon question this mighty one? Would he harm his own son?

With an exaggerated sigh, Xiang Yu picked up a clean stone large enough for his purpose. He placed the herbs on it and added a few drops of water before crushing them into a paste with another smaller stone.

Meanwhile, hidden just beyond Xiang Yu’s view was Han Xin watching him intently with half-lidded eyes that sparkled under flickering shadows. A giddy warmth swirled within him at the thought that she had come back for him! His heart fluttered wildly that he could barely keep up his act.

Unaware that Han Xin was awake, Xiang Yu took the two sturdy branches he had gathered earlier and set them aside. He tore strips from the hem of his skirt to create makeshift bandages. He gently nudged Han Xin awake with one soft hand on his shoulder, "General Han? It’s me."

Han Xin feigned sleepiness for just a heartbeat longer before opening his eyes fully. His acting skills were so exceptional that Xiang Yu believed he was really sleeping. "Your Highness, are you okay?" he said feeling quite guilty.

"I am fine," Xiang Yu said earnestly before shifting into nurse mode without missing a beat. "I am going to apply some herbs to numb your pain first." He spread out the paste across Han Xin’s injuries delicately yet firmly. "Then I will set it in place. It’s only temporary, so we will have to get out of here tomorrow."

Han Xin nodded his head but he couldn’t look away. He stared at her with a dazzled look on his face, his love for her amplified. He watched her every move, feeling a mix of admiration and affection. Despite the pain, he couldn’t help but feel grateful and deeply moved by her care.