Venerable Demon King & The Doting Immortal (QT)
Chapter 87: Reading other people’s love letters

Chapter 87: Reading other people’s love letters

Han Xin watched Peng Xiu walk away, her hair whipping in the breeze the scent enticing enough to snatch souls and entangle them in a trap.

His soul wasn’t snatched by her but his thoughts were definitely tangled in a web of confusion and suspicion.

Something about her reaction just now seemed off. It was as though she had never written that letter to him or had that portrait drawn of her. She wasn’t timid or embarrassed. Instead, she had on a smile like she had discovered something very interesting. It was like this was her first time seeing it.

He settled down in the carriage his mind still churning. He replayed the scene of Peng Xiu pulling him close. He was trying to make sense of it.

If Peng Xiu was telling the truth and she no longer wanted to pursue him and use him then did it mean she had found someone else to help her complete her agenda and exact revenge for her mother? Her exacting revenge for her mother, was the same as going against the Emperor. It was an act of treason yet she had so callously disclosed her plan to him without a hint of fear, as if she was confident he wouldn’t apprehend her. Why? This question gnawed at him.

Earlier, he had been so distracted by her presence, her words, and her touch that he hadn’t even considered the implications of her confession. Now, sitting alone in the carriage the weight of her words settled heavily on his shoulders.

Why had she been so bold? Was it a calculated move, or was there something more he was missing? Han Xin’s mind raced with possibilities, each one more troubling than the last. He disliked Peng Xiu’s unpredictability the most. She was extremely difficult to read making him very uncomfortable.

Unaware of the turmoil he caused, Xiang Yu strolled back to the carriage, a smirk playing on his lips as he clutched the letter and portrait in his hand. The cramps that had plagued him earlier were now a distant memory, replaced by a bubbling amusement. He climbed into the carriage, sprawling onto the plush seat with a sigh of glee .

With a flick of his wrist, he unfolded the letter and held it above his head, the delicate paper fluttering slightly in the breeze. His eyes scanned the familiar handwriting, and he couldn’t help but chuckle at the earnest, yet clumsy, profession of her love for Han Xin. Xiang Yu was like a teenager cackling as he read his sister’s diary that he had stolen. Reading such intimate words was both funny and cringy.

"Dear Xin-ge," he read aloud, his voice dripping with mock sincerity, "My heart aches having not received a response from you. Believe me when I say that I have long admired your bravery and strength. My heart beats only for you. I don’t expect my feelings to be reciprocated. I would be happy just to be your wife. To show my sincerity please accept this token of my love."

Xiang Yu snorted, shaking his head. This wasn’t how to get a man as steely as Han Xin. Xiang Yu had seen less of his type at the brothel. He was the type that would ignore anyone’s advances and would only pursue not be pursued. His sister was going at it the wrong way.

"Tsk tsk tsk, If only you knew you are playing checkers while Xin-ge is playing chess."

He continued reading, his laughter growing louder with each line. "Your eyes are like the stars, guiding me through the darkest nights," he mimicked, rolling his eyes. "Really, Xiu-er? The stars? How original."

As for the portrait, he wouldn’t judge her for sending what would essentially be coined as nudes in this era. In fact, it made sense that she would take things this far. From what the Divine Emperor said she was obsessed with him. If it was him, heck, he might have done that, too. It was just amusing that she was distributing erotic art like flyers.

Her painted expression was one of demure longing, a stark contrast to the fierce look she gave him in that tent. He held it up, examining it with a critical eye.

"Well, at least the artist captured your best side," he mused, a wicked grin spreading across his face. "My only critique is the added enhancements."

Xiang Yu hadn’t interacted with her much, but he was pretty sure that she didn’t look like that. In other words, she performed a historical photoshop to make herself more appealing to Han Xin’s eye. Her face was untouched but her chest area wasn’t as big, almost spilling over.

Bored, Xiang Yu tossed the portrait aside and returned to the letter, savouring each embarrassing declaration. "I dream of the day we can be together, free from the constraints of distance," he read, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "And here I thought you were just like mother."

His laughter echoed through the carriage, a sound of bemusement. How could he have thought that they were similar? Their mother was a master at the art of winning a man’s heart. She could win any man she wanted with ease. His sister, however, was almost grovelling at Han Xin’s feet, then becoming impulsive and irrational when she couldn’t get what she wanted.

He tossed the letter away and lay flat on his belly, trying to ease the relentless stomach cramps that had started rearing their ugly head again. The cool air streaming in from the outside made him feel so comfortable that soon he was pulled into a deep sleep.

Instead of his regular programming of nightmares, he didn’t dream of anything. Well, that was until his sweet sleep was interrupted. The vast darkness shifted to a serene hot spring in the middle of the familiar forest.

Inside the hot spring, Han Xin was standing shirtless, waist-deep in the steaming water. The mist swirled around him, creating an ethereal atmosphere. His powerful muscles relaxed, and he closed his eyes, savouring the tranquillity.

Xiang Yu’s brow furrowed stirring in his sleep. Aaaaahhhhh, he didn’t want to be blinded by their cringy interaction again, but like his eyes were tapped and forced to stay open, he was forced to watch.

Suddenly, a low growl pierced the silence. Han Xin’s eyes snapped open, and he saw a wolf emerging from the shadows, its red eyes gleaming with a menacing glow. Xiang Yu mocked Han Xin’s vigilance. How could he relax so freely like he was in his home?