Venerable Demon King & The Doting Immortal (QT)-Chapter 554: A mouse in a cat’s cage.

Xiang Yu slid into the back seat of the sleek black car, the leather cool against his skin. Lian and Mei followed, their laughter muted by the thrum of the engine.

He had expected Han Xin to join them, but instead, he watched with a flicker of confusion as his dear husband chose the car behind.

Through the side mirror, Xiang Yu caught sight of Han Xin. His expression was icy, a mix of frustration and determination as he hot into the car. Da Hei passed by heading towards the car Xiang Yu was in but Han Zhan reached out, grabbing Da Hei by the collar and pulling him inside with a swift yank, almost like a parent scolding a child.

The tension was palpable, and Han Zhan shot Xiang Yu a questioning look. Their eyes locked through the glass, a silent exchange of discontent. Without breaking the gaze, Han Zhan opened the front passenger door, stepping in with a purposeful stride. fгee𝑤ebɳoveɭ.cøm

Xiang Yu sighed seeing that he had also offended Han Zhan. "Isn’t Da Hei coming?" Lian asked, glancing back at the other car.

Mei craned her neck toward the other car, confusion etched on her face. "I can’t see him."

"He won’t be riding with us," Xiang Yu said flatly, trying to keep his voice steady.

Lian furrowed her brow. "Oh, then what about Big Brother?"

"He will be riding with Da Hei," Xiang Yu replied.

Both Lian and Mei gasped, eyebrows raised in disbelief. Just then, the driver’s door opened, and Kai Wang slid into the seat beside Xiang Yu. A momentary hush enveloped the car.

"That’s like putting a mouse inside a cat’s cage," Lian exclaimed, her eyes wide.

"More like a lamb in a den of wolves," Mei added, glancing back curiously.

Xiang Yu rubbed his forehead, frustration bubbling beneath his calm exterior. Was this their first major fight as a couple? He doubted it could get any more complicated.

"What’s wrong?" Kai Wang asked, concern flickering across his face.

"Nothing," Xiang Yu replied, forcing a smile.

At that moment, the car behind them cranked into gear and slowly pulled up beside theirs. Han Zhan, his window rolled down, leaned out slightly. "We will take the lead. Stay vigilant," he instructed, his tone leaving no room for argument.

Kai Wang saluted with a raised thumb, and Han Zhan’s car peeled away, leading the convoy out of the city. As they drove off, Xiang Yu turned his gaze back toward Han Xin. The man remained staring ahead, ignoring his gaze.

"Brother is really mad this time," Mei murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. Xiang Yu nodded, a knot forming in his stomach.

***

As dusk began to settle, five all-terrain vehicles rumbled out of the small city, their engines growling against the silence of the barren wastelands. The horizon glowed with hues of orange and purple, but the colour was lost on the city, which lay behind a wall of intimidating, thick vines. The plants loomed like ancient sentinels, shielding the small town from their enemies.

Atop the wall, Lu Lu stood with binoculars pressed to his eyes. He watched the vehicles leave, kicking up clouds of dust that shimmered in the fading light.

"Shut the gates," he commanded, his voice steady and firm. With a creak and a heavy thud, the thick doors closed, sealing off the city from the approaching night.

Inside one of the vehicles, Han Zhan leaned back in his seat, attempting to lighten the mood. He laughed and cracked jokes, hoping to bring some levity to the tension that filled the air.

As he glanced at Han Xin behind him, dread coiled in his stomach. Han Xin’s expression was a storm cloud, and he looked as though he might unleash his fury on Da Hei at any moment.

Da Hei sat stiffly, trembling slightly. Just hours before, he had been thrilled when Xiang Yu invited him on this trip, imagining a carefree road trip with the man he had long admired.

But reality had shattered his hopes when Han Zhan had yanked him into this car, leaving him to face the fierce lord next to him. He swallowed hard, doing his best to maintain his composure, but inside, he trembled with fear.

The radio crackled, breaking the tense silence. Han Zhan pressed a button to answer it, his eyes flicking to Han Xin. "Zone one is clear," said the voice from the other end, the scouters reporting from the wasteland. They were stationed in the area to monitor any suspicious activity.

"Alright, thanks," Han Zhan replied, trying to keep the atmosphere light. He turned to Han Xin, hoping for some kind of response. "We are all good."

Instead, Han Xin simply said, "Stay vigilant," his tone frosty as he closed his eyes, shutting out the world around him. The air shifted, growing heavier with his silence, and Han Zhan felt the weight of it settle on his shoulders.

He glanced over at Su Jing, who sat across from him. She shrugged, her lips pressed into a thin line, mirroring Han Zhan’s concern. His gaze drifted back to Da Hei, who sat in the middle, caught in the simmering tension of the man beside him.

Han Zhan opened his mouth, wanting to say something reassuring to Da Hei, but the words wouldn’t come. Instead, he fell silent, letting the oppressive atmosphere fill the car, each man lost in his own thoughts as they drove deeper into the wastelands.

As the all-terrain vehicle bumped along the rough terrain, Han Xin drifted into a deep sleep, a rare escape from the weight on his heart. He had thought rest would elude him amid the tangled emotions swirling within, but exhaustion claimed him unexpectedly. Strange shadows danced behind his eyelids, pulling him into a dreamscape he wished never to leave.

In his dream, he sank into a dark abyss, darkness pressing down like an iron weight. Shadows slithered around him, dragging him deeper into an endless pit.

Helplessness washed over him, and he felt the despair creeping in, emptying him of will. He wanted to fight, to swim back to the surface, but every effort only invited the shadows to tighten their grip.