Venerable Demon King & The Doting Immortal (QT)
Chapter 341: So much vinegar

Chapter 341: So much vinegar

Imperial Lord Xiang looked at his son’s face, which clearly looked happy, and knew this narrative would help, but that wasn’t the main issue. The main issue was who he was hallucinating about. He had to find out and nip this in the bud before it was too late.

Xiang Yu had no idea he was being plotted against by his own father. He had changed into his training gear and walked out of the changing room with a skip in his step. He was obviously in a good mood despite having suffered through gruelling hours of classes.

That was because Han Xin had sat beside him in every class and even had lunch with him. When Han Xin had asked to have lunch with them, Xiang Yu’s mind had gone blank for a moment.

Before Xiang Yu could even respond, Han Xin had said, "I am your attendant, remember? Naturally, I will go wherever you go." Xiang Yu had replied calmly, saying, "Sure," but he was doing cartwheels internally. The four of them had lunch together, and for once, it felt like they were back in the second world, having pleasant dinners together.

Xiang Yu sat next to Lian and Mei, who were looking at the training humanoid robot at the centre of the training mat. "What is going on?" Xiang Yu asked.

Lian said, "We are supposed to fight that thing."

Mei added, "Hand to hand. They said it’s new training to improve our endurance."

Lian sighed, "I say it’s torture, and Han Xin is the guinea pig."

Xiang Yu tore open the second packet of hangover nutrient supplement Han Xin had bought for him. As he drank it, his eyes were fixed on Han Xin, who was listening intently to Lieutenant Sian explain what to look out for during their training.

Just then, Peng Xiu peeked through the door of the training room, looking for Han Xin. She had been in class during lunch and had decided to buy him something to drink and chat with him a bit. But she saw he was engaged in a conversation with their instructor.

She decided to give the drink to someone else to pass on to him when she noticed Xiang Yu sitting in the stands, drinking the exact same hangover nutrient supplement and it was the exact same brand Han Xin had bought that morning. Peng Xiu knew her half-brother too well. He never drank such things, let alone bought them. He always drank the ones prepared specifically for the imperial family, so he must have gotten it from Han Xin.

Peng Xiu clenched the bottle of unsweetened iced tea in her hand, crushing it until it cracked. Xiang Yu felt a malicious aura coming from the entrance, so he glanced over. When he met Peng Xiu’s gaze, he smiled slyly and raised his middle finger at her.

Han Xin caught a glimpse of what Xiang Yu was doing and glanced at who Xiang Yu was looking at. When he saw Peng Xiu standing at the entrance, he instantly understood.

Peng Xiu sneered and stormed off. Xiang Yu laughed with Lian and Mei. When Xiang Yu met Han Xin’s sharp gaze, he instantly stopped laughing and mouthed, "What?"

Han Xin said nothing and looked away. He must have been stupid just now to think that Xiang Yu’s smiling face was cute. Xiang Yu was completely unaware that his smile had drawn a certain someone’s attention.

Just then, Maurice came and sat in front of him, acting as though he wasn’t there for Xiang Yu, but he was. He was just being secretive about it, as this was what Xiang Yu had told him to do in the past.

Xiang Yu leisurely rested his elbow on his knee while biting on the nutrient supplement pack that he was drinking. He leaned in and said, "You don’t have to act like you don’t know me. Aren’t we classmates?"

Maurice’s hair stood on end on the side where Xiang Yu came close to him. His muscles stiffened as he bowed slightly, saying, "Yes, Your Hi-Highness."

Mei found it amusing and teased, "Your ears are red. Is it because you are nervous?"

Maurice felt the colour spread to his cheeks and neck, leaving him resembling a cooked lobster. Lian chuckled and chimed in, "Who could blame you? His Highness is the most handsome man in the Republic, don’t you agree?"

The heat on Maurice’s face spread to his brain, and he almost couldn’t think straight anymore. Xiang Yu could tell the young man’s brain might get cooked through and through, so he said, "Okay, okay, that’s enough teasing."

Lian and Mei chuckled, finding it very funny. Xiang Yu asked Maurice, "What did you want to talk to me about?"

Maurice glanced back and said, "Well, the doctor you recommended called me, but we would like to delay treatment for now."

Xiang Yu was a little surprised, but he had a strong feeling that it had something to do with Han Xin. This was until he recalled that in this world, Han Xin never interacted with Maurice until much later in the plot. Xiang Yu thought that maybe he was mistaken. "Is your mother in a safe place?" he asked.

Maurice’s eyes flickered slightly, but it was fleeting. His leg shook nervously as he said, "She... she is."

Xiang Yu patted his shoulder to reassure him and said, "She will be fine."

Xiang Yu’s actions didn’t miss Han Xin’s eyes. He was half-listening to the Lieutenant while watching Xiang Yu talking to Maurice. He felt annoyed seeing them talk, especially when Xiang Yu smiled at Maurice. The sight of Xiang Yu’s smile directed at someone else stirred a mix of emotions within him.

Lieutenant Sian asked, "Han Xin, do you understand?"

Han Xin replied, "Yes," as he glanced at Xiang Yu out of the corner of his eye. Lieutenant Sian continued, "Okay, everyone pay attention. The class president will demonstrate first, then you will all have a go at it."

While she was talking, Han Xin watched Xiang Yu’s hand slide onto Maurice’s shoulder, those fingers squeezing gently. Maurice’s cheeks and ears were flushed. Looking at Maurice now, one wouldn’t even think he was an alpha. Han Xin felt a surge of emotion rush up in him, and he prematurely engaged the combat humanoid robot, swinging at it.

The combat humanoid robot activated quickly and dodged the attack. Because Han Xin had acted impulsively, he didn’t expect to get hit hard in the abdomen. He felt the force striking his flesh in waves.

The noise attracted the attention of the class and the Lieutenants, who hadn’t told him to start yet. Lieutenant Joel looked at Lieutenant Sian as though asking what had happened.