Venerable Demon King & The Doting Immortal (QT)
Chapter 60: Clingy little brother

Chapter 60: Clingy little brother

After getting the old man to do what he wanted, Xiang Yu picked a piece of the steamed fish and ate it with a devilish smile. The twins wanted to know what he was smiling about but they were too hungry to think straight. It was only after their tummies were bulging that they slowed down and began to chatter their laughter filling the room.

Suddenly, the curtain was thrown open with a force that sent a gust of cold air through the room. A young man, his clothes dishevelled and his hair in a wild disarray, stumbled in. His eyes were wide with panic as he yelled, "Brother!"

Xiang Yu’s chopsticks paused mid-air, a piece of steamed fish precariously balanced. He turned to face the young man while conversing with the old man. He didn’t know that this crown prince had a younger brother, to begin with. He still hadn’t received the memories belonging to the man he had replaced so he could only pester the Divine Emperor.

"Uh, old man. Who is this young man calling me brother? You see this is why I asked for this man’s memories. Are you sleeping on the job old man? If I can’t get your disciple’s soul fragment, it’s won’t be my fault," he nagged and nagged until the Divine Emperor’s eye was twitching and his veins bulging.

"Have you ever considered that maybe, just maybe, this god who created all multiple universes would be busy with something else?" he said, and Xiang Yu didn’t respond for a very long time. This god almost thought there was a network issue, and he was lagging.

"Nope, I never considered that. I thought you were omnipresent. You should consider taking some classes on multitasking," he finally replied almost giving this divine emperor an aneurysm.

"You!... I can only give you his memories while you are sleeping; otherwise, you will be too overwhelmed, and your brain will explode," replied the Divine Emperor through gritted teeth. His wife’s fingers were digging into his skin warning him not to lose his temper and upset this little devil. "That man is called Xiang Wei and he is your brother. He is also incredibly smart and very loyal. You can trust him."

"Thank you very much," said Xiang Yu as he glanced at this brother of his. His so-called brother was panting heavily, his face flushed like he had run all the way here. He couldn’t help but wonder if he would have been able to get along with his brothers if he had been given a chance to meet them. From the records he dug up from the past he had several brothers that had been sentenced to death by his father along other countless sisters.

"What’s the matter?" Xiang Yu asked, his voice calm.

Xiang Wei took a deep breath, trying to steady himself. "I um... I just was worried so I came to see you," he said his voice getting lower and lower. He had rushed over here with so much momentum. He was extremely worried for his brother after Yu Ze woke him up. He had told him that Xiang Yu had ordered them to imprison the princess of Yugi. Not just imprison her in one of the tents but toss her into a cage... a cold, wet cage.

Ever since his older brother started receiving those letters from the Princess of Yugi, he had changed. At first, he ignored them. But once he started accepting her letters and writing back, he read them obsessively. He didn’t sleep without reading and sniffing them. Xiang Yu’s behaviour was so abnormal that Xiang Wei thought they might be laced with something addictive. It was as though he had been bewitched by them.

Xiang Wei had tried to steal them once, to get them tested. But who would have thought he would be caught by his brother and beaten up so badly that he couldn’t walk for a week? And now... now his lovesick brother put his beloved in a cage. After hearing the story. he couldn’t believe it. He had to see for himself.

Xiang Yu looked at his younger brother who was awkwardly standing at the entrance. "Come, sit with us," he said, gesturing to the empty spot at the table. The twins glanced at Xiang Wei curiously, but they remained silent, their expressions neutral. They didn’t want to have an uncle especially when that uncle was clingy to their master.

Xang Wei hesitated for a moment before taking a seat. He couldn’t help but feel a pang of unease, but he didn’t question it. He was pretty sure that the woman of Yugi had bewitched him in some way otherwise how could his brother who never cast a glance in a woman’s direction suddenly be obsessed with a woman he had never laid eyes on.

His eyes widened in surprise when Xiang Yu placed a piece of chicken on his plate. "Eat more, brother," he said, his voice softer than usual.

Xiang Wei’s eyes filled with tears, but he quickly blinked them away. For a moment, he had believed his brother no longer cared for him, but this simple gesture proved otherwise. Though he was already full, he ate the meal heartily, savouring each bite. After a few moments of silence, he gathered his courage and asked, "Dage, why did you throw that princess Xiu into a cage? I thought you liked her a lot."

Xiang Yu’s expression darkened slightly, but he didn’t look away. "What makes you think that?"

The young man gasped like he had heard the most ridiculous question in his life. He animatedly described how his brother had gathered the finest jewels in Z country for her and proudly defied their parents just to be with her. He even pointed at the scar on his temple and complained about how his dear brother had hit him after catching him trying to steal one of the letters. The twins who were listening to this young man retell the tales of this bewitched crown prince glared at their master, the words ’how could you’ almost written on their foreheads.

Xiang Yu, "..."

"Little brother doesn’t have to have to worry anymore. I don’t like her at all," he said simply.

Xiang Wei stared deeply into his eyes as though trying to detect any deception. Looking into those serious eyes he realised that his older brother meant it. He felt a surge of relief and happiness. The princess had taken his brother away from their family, and now it seemed Xiang Yu had had a change of heart. Now they could join hands as brothers and take down Yugi country. "Brother, you are back," he said as he lunged forward. He couldn’t hold back his emotions any longer. He threw his arms around Xiang Yu, hugging him tightly and nuzzling into his brother’s shoulder as tears streamed down his face. "Brother," he sobbed, his voice choked with emotion.

Xiang Yu, "..." AAAAHHH help, he didn’t sign up for this.

Mei and Lian were also taken aback, but the longer they watched, that emotion changed to that of growing jealousy. This was their master, and no one was allowed to touch him except their mother. They exchanged a glance, a silent agreement passing between them. Without a word, they moved to Xiang Yu’s side, wrapping their arms around him and pushing Xiang Wei away.

Xiang Wei didn’t expect this outcome. This was his brother so why was he getting ousted? He tried to wiggle his way back in, desperate to maintain the connection with his brother, but a firm hand shoved him aside. The entire time Xiang Yu’s face remained cold and impassive, his eyes fixed on a distant point as he repeatedly told them to let him go. "Enough," he finally said, his voice low and controlled. "Let me go."

But the twins clung tighter, their jealousy fueling their grip. Xiang Yu’s patience wore thin, and his voice rose in frustration. "Let me go, or there will be no more tea parties!"

The twins froze, their eyes wide with shock. Tea parties with their master and their dolls were their favourite pastime. Reluctantly, they released their hold, stepping back with downcast eyes.

Xiang Wei stood off to the side, confused by what sort of relationship his brother had with Princess Xiu’s maidservants, but he didn’t dare to voice his frustration. He watched as Xiang Yu straightened his robe, his expression still cold. The sweet moment had passed, leaving a lingering tension in the air.

Xiang Yu glanced at him, his gaze softening slightly. "Wei Wei, I need you to do something for me," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. Xiang Wei’s tears sprung up again but he swallowed his emotions as he tried to compose himself. His brother hadn’t called him that for years, so how could he not feel emotional?

The twins, still sulking mouthed Wei Wei mockingly. Their jealousy still simmered but they contained it. The room seemed peaceful, but the undercurrents of emotions lingered in the air with the strong smell of gunpowder lingering in the air.