Venerable Demon King & The Doting Immortal (QT)
Chapter 254: Making the new dad swear an oath

Chapter 254: Making the new dad swear an oath

The room erupted in a mix of approval and relief. Han Jin’s decision was final. He would no longer protect Xiang Yu. The dragon head had spoken and his fate was sealed.

***

Xiang Yu had no idea that Han Jin was about to hand him over to the Die clan. He stood outside Little Bai’s room, feeling a deep sense of guilt for dragging the young man into this dangerous mess. The poor kid had been so frightened that he passed out from fear. Han Zhan had informed Xiang Yu that Little Bai was awake now and that he was going to get some food for him. Xiang Yu decided it was time to speak to him.

He knocked softly on the door, and a gentle voice responded, "Come in." Xiang Yu entered to find Little Bai curled up like a ball under the quilt, his head barely poking out. Despite not being a child, Little Bai’s youthful appearance and small stature made him look like one, especially compared to the towering figures of Xiang Yu, Han Zhan, and Han Xin. It was hard not to see him as such.

Xiang Yu pulled a chair from the small desk where Little Bai had been practising his art and sat next to the bed. He pursed his lips before speaking. "I am sorry about today," he said, pinching the bridge of his nose. "I shouldn’t have involved you in this mess."

Little Bai, though terrified earlier, didn’t blame Xiang Yu. He had been scared half to death but was glad he was there for the twins. If he had to do it all over again, he would. Xiang Yu continued, "I will send you away soon, you and your mother. I will send you out of the country. Don’t worry about anything; I will cover it all, okay?"

Suddenly, Little Bai sat up, distress evident on his face. "No, I don’t want to go," he said, his voice trembling. "Brother Yu, you were the only one who helped me when I first came to the city."

Little Bai had come to the city after leaving high school, looking for a job to support his sick mother. An employment agency had promised him work, but after taking his fees, they disappeared without helping him. He had slept in public bathrooms at night while searching for a job during the day. If it weren’t for Xiang Yu extending a hand, he would have been in a terrible situation. To him, Xiang Yu and the twins were like family, and family protects family.

Xiang Yu tried to convince him, saying he could return when it was safer, but Little Bai was resolute. He refused to leave and was stubborn about it. Xiang Yu sighed and relented. "Okay, you can stay, but on two conditions."

Little Bai shuffled closer, his feet sinking into the soft carpet. "I am prepared to do whatever it takes," he said earnestly.

"You should train to fight and learn to use a firearm. It will make me feel at ease," Xiang Yu said.

Little Bai was more eager than Xiang Yu expected. "Okay, I won’t disappoint you, brother," he said with determination.

Xiang Yu smiled and ruffled Little Bai’s hair, just as he did with Lian and Mei. He walked out of the room only to bump into Han Zhan. "Can you help Little Bai with training? I am really sorry to trouble you," Xiang Yu asked.

Han Zhan, holding a bowl of noodles he had brought for Little Bai, nodded. "Sure, it’s no trouble. In fact, I wanted to do that even if you didn’t ask," he said, recalling how pitiful Little Bai had looked during the attack. His heart ached at the memory.

Xiang Yu patted Han Zhan’s shoulder. "Thank you," he said before walking away.

Han Zhan was about to say it was fine when he noticed Little Bai’s feet sticking out from under the blanket. Like a mother hen, he exclaimed, "Aaaahhhhh, do you want to get a cold? You were already coughing in your sleep." He put the bowl on the table and tucked Little Bai’s feet back under the quilt. Little Bai could only manage a sheepish smile.

Xiang Yu walked down the dimly lit passageway, his phone buzzing in his pocket. When he saw it was from Old Song, he immediately opened the message. His brow furrowed as he watched a video of Peng Xiu shooting Agent Lu. The quality of the video was disturbingly clear. There was also a picture of Agent Lu in a clinic, surrounded by medical equipment. Xiang Yu quickly replied to Old Song while making his way to the twins’ bedroom, but found it empty.

"Uncle Qing, where have they gone?" Xiang Yu asked, spotting the older man straightening the cushions on the couch.

"They went to Master Han’s office," Uncle Qing replied.

"Okay, thank you, Uncle Qing," Xiang Yu said, turning to leave.

"Master Xiang, wait," Butler Qing called out suddenly.

Xiang Yu stopped and turned back. "Butler Qing, I already told you, you can call me Yu-er."

Butler Qing let out a soft chuckle. "Ah, I forgot. Anyway, I bought a few things today that you might find useful. I put them in the bedside pedestal in Master Han’s room. Don’t stay up too late."

Xiang Yu wanted to ask what it was, but the old man was already bustling away. With a sigh, Xiang Yu headed upstairs. He found Han Xin sitting in his office with the lights off, while Lian and Mei, held red candles, their faces eerily illuminated as they made Han Xin swear an oath.

Xiang Yu stood in the doorway, speechless. Lian and Mei chanted, "... promise to run into the burning flames and rescue Xiang Yu, even at the cost of your life."

Han Xin, looking resigned, responded promptly, "I promise."

Lian’s face looked terrifying under the candlelight as she insisted, "No, you have to say it."

Mei chimed in, "Yes, say it."

Han Xin sighed deeply. "I promise to run into the burning flames and rescue Xiang Yu, even at the cost of my life."

Xiang Yu turned on the light, breaking the eerie atmosphere. "What are you doing?" he asked, his voice a mix of amusement and exasperation.

"Nothing," Lian and Mei said in unison, their innocent faces betraying nothing of their earlier intensity.

Han Xin smiled, watching them act so well-behaved. They didn’t look like the same little girls who had threatened him just moments ago.