Venerable Demon King & The Doting Immortal (QT)
Chapter 352: The rat is back

Chapter 352: The rat is back

Determined, Hex squeezed between Xiang Yu and the pillow, a toothy grin spreading across its face. As if sensing the disturbance, Xiang Yu shifted in his sleep.

Hex, undeterred, used all its might to push the body pillow farther, until it finally tumbled to the ground, discarded.

Han Xin had the option to shut off the surveillance, to ignore the scene unfolding before him but instead he got up from his bed heading to Xiang Yu’s bed chamber. Each step was purposeful as he crossed the silent hallway.

He realised that him having access to Xiang Yu room was the most convenient thing ever. He slipped into the dimly lit room and headed straight for the bed. The moment Hex noticed him, it’s eyes widened in terror as if it had seen a ghost.

The storm outside rumbled, lightning flashing across the sky, and in an instant, Hex vanished, retreating to its virtual domain, only to find itself trapped in darkness. Panic surged as it realized something was amiss, but soon, all went black. Hex had no understanding of demons, yet it was certain that that body pillow was possessed by one.

Han Xin moved toward the bed, picking up the body pillow. He glanced at Xiang Yu, who seemed to be sleeping uneasily, his brow furrowed. He wanted to place the pillow beside him but hesitated, feeling a sudden reluctance. Instead, he sat on the edge of the bed, his heart pounding in his chest.

Slowly, his hand reached out, fingers hovering above Xiang Yu’s face. For a fleeting moment, he paused, uncertainty gripping him. But then, his fingertips traced Xiang Yu’s cheek and lips, a soft caress that sent shivers through him.

"Xin-ge, come to bed," Xiang Yu murmured in his sleep, his voice a melody that drew Han Xin closer.

With a deep breath, Han Xin surrendered to the moment, lying down beside Xiang Yu. Xiang Yu smiled happily in his sleep, instinctively wrapping his arms around Han Xin, pulling him nearer. Xiang Yu nestled his face against Han Xin’s neck, inhaling his scent, relaxation washing over him.

Han Xin’s heart raced, a mix of exhilaration and regret flooding through him. He lay there, caught between desire and anxiety, as the warmth of Xiang Yu enveloped him, and for that brief moment, everything else faded away.

***

Morning light spilt through the curtains, casting a warm glow across the room. The heavy rain from the previous day had finally ceased, leaving behind a fresh, earthy scent that filled the air. Xiang Yu lay fast asleep, wrapped in the cosy embrace of the sheets.

As he stirred, he caught a familiar, grounding aroma that distinctly belonged to Han Xin, and it made him feel safe. His fingers curled instinctively, searching for the soft body pillow.

But when he opened his eyes, confusion washed over him. The bed was empty, the body pillow nowhere in sight. He sat up abruptly, scanning the room, only to spot the pillow discarded on the floor, the gaping hole in its fabric having grown bigger.

"What the...?" he muttered, his brows furrowing in concern. The body pillow now looked worse than before. "Hex!" he called, his tone serious.

He waited, but the silence was deafening. "Hex!" he tried again, a hint of worry creeping into his voice. Still, there was no answer.

Xiang Yu’s brows creased further. Normally, Hex was quick to respond, but today it was as silent as a grave.

He tapped his communicator, and a floating screen appeared, revealing a notification that made him even more confused. Hex had been barred. What was happening? Xiang Yu wondered if his communicator was malfunctioning.

He quickly removed the restrictions on Hex. "Hex, are you there?"

If Hex had on its physical form, it would have trembled like a leaf in fear of what happened last night. "I am here, Yu Yu," it finally replied, but there was a nervous edge to its tone.

Xiang Yu’s concern deepened. "What happened to you? Why were you barred? I didn’t do it."

"It must have been an error or something. I just found myself in the black room," Hex said, avoiding the mention of the creepy, possessed body pillow.

It didn’t want to risk bringing up the incident, fearing that it might provoke the pillow into attacking again. Xiang Yu felt a twinge of suspicion but decided not to press further.

"Look, the rat is back," he said, trying to lighten the mood.

Hex, eager to avoid any involvement with the ominous pillow, replied, "Maybe I should buy more traps."

"Check the surveillance," Xiang Yu instructed, feeling a mix of hope and dread.

"There’s nothing on the surveillance except you last night," Hex reported. "It fell when you moved."

Xiang Yu’s disbelief washed over him like a wave. "That can’t be right," he said, frustration creeping into his voice. There was no way he would ever let go of the body pillow while sleeping. It would be like letting go of Han Xin, which he would never do.

With a heavy sigh, he lay back down. He couldn’t shake the feeling some unseen force was at play here.

***

Xiang Yu had his day meticulously planned. Since he didnt have to go to the academy today he decided to attend to other things. His plan concerned the sword he had acquired at the auction the other day. He intended to swap it with the real Bloodreaver stored in the vault.

He tapped a wall, a hidden panel lit up, and the wall shifted to reveal a neatly arranged armory filled with various weapons. Xiang Yu knelt down and waved his hand. One of the plasma rifles rippled and transformed, revealing the replica of Bloodreaver in its sheath.

"Hex, are you sure you can break into the vault?" Xiang Yu asked.

Hex, who seemed to have recovered some of its vitality, responded confidently, "Of course. There is an old man responsible for the vault. All I need to do is replicate his biometrics to get you access."

The grand vault was so valuable that not even the crown prince had access to it. Only two people had access: the old man known as Old Tong and the Imperial Lord. If there were an Imperial Empress, she would also have the right to access this vault.

To get Bloodreaver, Xiang Yu needed to borrow Old Tong’s biometrics. This was relatively easy. He just had to chat up the old man while Hex worked its magic.

Xiang Yu took the sword and placed it in his interspatial storage. As he left his room and walked down the stairs, he was met by the anxious steward.

"Your Highness, you are finally awake. Are you hungry?" the steward asked.

"No, but why do you look constipated?" Xiang Yu replied, his tone casual.

The steward was taken aback. "Constipated? No, Your Highness, it’s not that. Haven’t you heard what happened to the Raunet family?"