Venerable Demon King & The Doting Immortal (QT)
Chapter 131: "You have a beautiful smile,”

Chapter 131: "You have a beautiful smile,”

A heavy silence settled once more over them with the only sound being the gentle trickle of the stream. "I thought..." Han Xin hesitated, drawing in a shaky breath before continuing, "...I thought it was because you don’t like me."

’Fuck,’ swore Xiang Yu internally. Those words struck him squarely in the chest. Why was this stupid immortal so direct with his words? Would it kill him to speak in riddles or not say anything at all?

"I’m done," he abruptly said before shifting away. "I will start a fire. It’s getting too cold."

Han Xin attempted to get up and help but he fell back when Xiang Yu insisted gently yet firmly: "No! No! Sit." He stood up swiftly and began gathering sticks from dry climbing plants and moss growing along the rocks.

Han Xin knew he had been impatient just now and had frightened her but he couldn’t help himself. Now he understood why his cousin said he would feel sorry for whoever he fell in love with. He couldn’t control his emotions anymore.

As he watched her moving around gathering stuff for the fire, he desperately wished for nothing more than to sweep her into his arms right then and there and hold her tight.

As his thoughts spiralled deeper, Xiang Yu could feel his intense gaze resting on him. He couldn’t help but smirk inwardly as he spoke to the Divine Emperor in his mind. "Old man, don’t blame me for this. Your disciple has weird tastes."

The Divine Emperor jumped in to defend his son. How could his stern and upright son be swayed by a half-demon unless he used some form of trickery? "You must have used some sorcery," he said sounding like an old father speaking up for his child at a PTA meeting. "Han Xin has never liked anyone before. You must have bewitched him somehow."

Refusing to let such an accusation fall on his head, Xiang Yu retorted defiantly. "I was mean to him. I mocked him. Heck, I even picked fights with him." He recalled their banter, the way they had sparred not just with weapons but with words that cut deep. Yet here Han Xin was now, looking at him as if he were something precious under starlight.

"How could my behaviour possibly be charming enough to make him infatuated?" Xiang Yu mused aloud within his thoughts. "Like I said he has very strange tastes, just saying."

The Divine Emperor’s voice increased in pitch like he had an ah-ha moment. "You kissed him that’s why."

Xiang Yu nearly burst into laughter at how absurd that sounded. How could one kiss cause all of this? An accidental kiss at that? "That’s ridiculous. Who falls in love after one kiss?" The Divine Emperor who had done just that fell silent. He had accidentally kissed his now wife while attempting to save her and thus began his relentless pursuit until she married him.

"He just feels a sense of responsibility towards you, that’s all," he remarked smugly.

With a soft chuckle escaping his lips again, Xiang Yu countered playfully, "Old man, if Han Xin hits on me later, remember it wasn’t my fault. I am just letting you know."

A moment of silence stretched between them before the Divine Emperor warned firmly, "You better keep your paws off of him."

Just then Han Xin broke through Xiang Yu’s thoughts with a curious tone lingering in his voice, "Why are you laughing?"

Xiang Yu straightened up slowly from gathering some dry moss and turned towards Han Xin. "It’s nothing," he replied casually as he returned to set up a place for a fire.

Han Xin stared intently at him for what felt like an eternity before finally breaking into a smile himself. "You have a beautiful smile," he said simply.

"Thanks," replied Xiang Yu, appearing calm on the surface, but he was freaking out internally, saying to the old man, ’See, see, it’s him hitting on me.’ The Divine Emperor couldn’t stand it anymore. He decided to mute Xiang Yu for the night for his own sanity, a decision he would come to regret very soon.

Xiang Yu finished piling up the sticks and dry moss and clutched the flint rocks tightly in his hands. He struck them together repeatedly each attempt a failure. Frustration welled within him, beads of sweat forming at his brow despite the coldness surrounding him. "Why is this so difficult?" he muttered under his breath, feeling utterly defeated. He had done this countless times before but now he appeared like a novice.

As he prepared to call upon the Divine Emperor for help an unexpected coolness enveloped him. A hand covered his own with gentle authority startling him. His muscles stiffened involuntarily as he turned to find Han Xin kneeling behind him.

Han Xin’s face was close, so close that Xiang Yu could feel his breath brushing against his skin sending shivers down his spine. "You’re being too rough," Han Xin murmured his voice deep and entrancing. He let Han Xin guide him, and just like that, a few sparks shone in the cave. Xiang Yu felt a strange discomfort, like something was pressing against his chest.

"Just like that," Han Xin encouraged softly as those small lights flickered defiantly against their dark surroundings.

"I got it," Xiang Yu said his discomfort heightened. He just wanted Han Xin to let go, but when he turned his head slightly to look at him, his lips accidentally brushed against Han Xin’s cold cheek. The soft caress across his cold skin sent shockwaves racing through him.

Xiang Yu’s body grew numb with shock. He stammered out an apology as heat flooded his cheeks. He looked away abruptly but he couldn’t escape how achingly aware he became of every detail, how handsome Han Xin looked even under the dim light or how their hands felt perfectly matched despite contrasting temperatures.

AN: Congratulations to Han Xin. He has graduated from being an ugly bastard hahahaha.

Han Xin merely watched her silently for a moment longer before breaking into a smile tinged with mischief but softened by tenderness. "No need to apologise," he replied gently but firmly. He didn’t want her to apologise for anything. He just wanted her to kiss him.

"Let’s try again," he suggested wanting to hold her hand even longer and stay close to her.

Xiang Yu cleared his throat and said, "Okay," but his voice was still hoarse. The little sparks appeared again, and some dry moss lit up with red embers. Xiang Yu blew on the dry moss, and when the sticks finally caught fire, he felt a surge of happiness.

He hadn’t done this since he was a kid. He would light up a fire in the forest after catching some field mice to eat. He only did this when his mother threw him out and couldn’t find anything else to eat.

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