Venerable Demon King & The Doting Immortal (QT)
Chapter 394: "Mark me permanently if you have to."

Chapter 394: "Mark me permanently if you have to."

Xiang Yu staggered back, clutching his head as waves of excruciating pain coursed through his mind. The neural link with Valkyrie had been violently severed, leaving him disoriented. Critical warnings flashed before his eyes, bright and insistent. High-pitched alerts filled the cockpit, but they grew increasingly distant as his vision began to blur.

Outside, the audience erupted in alarmed exclamations. Concern rippled through the arena, a wave of anxiety that echoed against the walls. In the midst of this chaos, Han Xin sprang into action. He dashed into the arena, activating his mech, Zeus, with a swift motion. The giant mech moved with surprising grace, catching Valkyrie just as it began to collapse.

Inside, Xiang Yu felt his senses fading. The warning sounds faded into a dull hum, blending with the frantic heartbeat in his ears. His strength waned, and darkness threatened to envelop him. Just as he was about to succumb, a biting chill and a familiar intoxicating fragrance crept into his awareness, pulling him back from the abyss.

His eyes fluttered open, and he found Han Xin’s panicked face hovering above him. "Xiang Yu! Xiang Yu! Stay with me!" Han Xin’s voice was filled with desperation, cutting through the fog in Xiang Yu’s mind. With a monumental effort, Xiang Yu managed a weak smile. "I am... still here," he murmured, feeling the icy grip on his consciousness loosening.

"Stay awake. Don’t sleep," Han Xin urged, his voice steadying but firm. He carefully lifted Xiang Yu from the cockpit, cradling him as he carried him out of the mech. Valkyrie retreated into storage, its presence fading behind them.

Outside the arena, the imperial lord rose to his feet, worry etched across his face for his son. Emperor Xandr’s brow furrowed with concern for Sirius. But when he saw Sirius walk out of his mech, seemingly in better condition than Xiang Yu despite the loss, he relaxed slightly.

Peng Xiu, however, was not relaxed at all. In fact, she was infuriated, struggling to hide her malice as she watched Han Xin carry Xiang Yu out of the arena. She had aimed to embarrass Xiang Yu, to make a fool of him in front of everyone. Instead, he had been sent into the arms of her beloved. Anger boiled within her as she stood to leave, only for her father to call her back.

"Come with me," he commanded, his voice brooking no argument.

Peng Xiu’s brow creased slightly as she put on a pitiful face, her voice trembling. "Father, but brother is in trouble. I want to check on him."

The imperial lord glared at her, and Peng Xiu knew she had no choice but to follow him.

As they moved, Sienna and her sister passed by, holding up her heavy skirt as they rushed out of the VIP room in the arena. Emperor Xandr did not stop them. He let them go fully aware that stopping his daughter now would only result in an argument.

***

Han Xin strode into the private room, the heavy door sliding shut behind him. The people who had followed him hesitated, their eyes flicking nervously between Han Xin and the open doorway.

"But His Highness needs help," one of them ventured, his voice trembling slightly.

Han Xin turned, his glare sharp enough to cut through the tension. "Get Doctor Bai here. No one is allowed inside," he commanded. His voice was firm, laced with an authority that left no room for argument. The weight of his presence pressed down on them, a silent threat that felt as potent as facing the imperial Lord himself. The followers exchanged worried glances and quickly left, the door closing with a soft thud.

As the room fell silent, Han Xin approached the couch where Xiang Yu lay. The sight before him was alarming. Xiang Yu was drenched in sweat, his eyes swollen and bloodshot. He struggled to breathe, his veins throbbing visibly at his neck and temples.

Han Xin knelt beside him, his heart racing. He brushed the damp hair from Xiang Yu’s forehead, his expression filled with concern. "Where does it hurt?" he asked, his voice low and urgent.

Xiang Yu managed a weak smile, attempting to reassure him. He placed his hand gently on Han Xin’s, resting on his cheek. "It doesn’t really hurt," he said softly, though the lie was evident. Just then, a wave of pain hit him, and he bent over, groaning as his body tensed. It felt as if his nerves were being torn apart, the agony concentrated at the back of his neck.

He leaned heavily against Han Xin’s shoulder, gasping for air. Han Xin steadied him, releasing his pheromones in hopes of calming the turmoil within Xiang Yu. The emergency kit lay useless nearby. Nothing in it could match the healing power of Han Xin’s presence.

Xiang Yu felt a slight reprieve, but it was fleeting. His fingers clenched into Han Xin’s arm, but he held back any sound, enduring the pain silently. In a moment of desperation, Han Xin whispered, "Bite my gland. Mark me permanently if you have to."

Xiang Yu hesitated, knowing it was impossible to leave such a mark on Han Xin. Yet, Han Xin exposed the back of his neck, urging him gently to continue. The vulnerability of the gesture stirred something deep within Xiang Yu.

As Xiang Yu caressed Han Xin’s skin, his breath came in heavy gasps. The warmth of Xiang Yu’s body sent tingles down Han Xin’s spine, a mix of tension and longing. He should have resisted and should have been guarded as an alpha. But the closeness drew him in. Xiang Yu’s hot breath against his skin ignited a fire within him.

Xiang Yu leaned closer to Han Xin, his breath warm and shaky. With a sudden surge of determination, he pressed his lips against Han Xin’s gland. He lingered there, savouring the moment as if he could taste the intoxicating scent that surrounded them.

Gently, he licked the sensitive area, the taste a mix of warmth and something uniquely Han Xin. Then, with a swift motion, Xiang Yu’s teeth sunk into Han Xin’s gland. The moment was electric.

His plumeria pheromones seeped into Han Xin, mingling with his own. Han Xin felt an intoxicating warmth spread through his body, a soothing blend of woody and floral scents enveloping them both.

But as Xiang Yu pulled back, the relief was short-lived. Xiang Yu’s body began to heat up, more feverish than before. His eyes glazed over, slipping in and out of consciousness. Panic flared in Han Xin’s chest as he noticed the change. "Why? Why didn’t it work?" he asked, desperation creeping into his voice. "It always works!"

Xiang Yu’s breathing grew shallow, his grip on reality fading. Han Xin felt the heat radiating from him, a dangerous sign. In a frantic rush, he called out for Zeus. "Get Doctor Bai on the phone now!"

The phone rang, and after a few moments, Doctor Bai picked up, his voice breathless. "How far are you?" Han Xin asked, urgency spilling from every word.