Venerable Demon King & The Doting Immortal (QT)-Chapter 557: I love you

Han Zhan removed Han Xin’s hand, glancing over at Kai Wang. "Is that all of them?" he demanded. freewebnoveℓ.com

"I should be," Xiang Yu replied. He kicked the man on the ground, rolling him over. The assassin groaned in pain, blood oozing from a deep gash in his thigh.

"I thought they liked to commit suicide when caught," Xiang Yu mused aloud.

Han Zhan scoffed, "He tried it, and I bashed his teeth in."

As the assassin looked up, despair turned to rage, and he spat out a torrent of curses aimed directly at Xiang Yu. Han Xin tensed, annoyance flashing through him.

He took a step forward, intent on silencing the man for good. But Xiang Yu held up his hand, urging him to stop.

Xiang Yu moved with measured steps, circling the man like a predator. He looked down at him with disdain, a sneer creeping onto his lips. "Do you know me?" he taunted, daring the man to respond.

The assassin spat again, blood and saliva splattering against Xiang Yu’s boots. Unfazed, Xiang Yu stepped back, his expression hardening.

"You are a fucking traitor," the assassin snarled, a last vestige of defiance showing in his eyes.

Xiang Yu crouched down, his demeanor shifting. He appeared fierce, a stark contrast to his earlier casualness. "How about you give me some useful information so I can make your death less painful?" he offered, his voice low and menacing.

The man, desperate and defiant, spat directly in Xiang Yu’s face. The mixture of saliva and blood landed with a sickening splat. Fury coursed through Han Xin, and the tension in the air thickened as the silence hung heavy around them.

Xiang Yu wiped the blood and saliva from his face with the back of his hand, a chilling smile curling at the corners of his lips. In an instant, that smile vanished.

His expression morphed into something fierce, like the grimace of a resentful ghost. The assassin, once brimming with defiance, felt his blood run cold. Fear flickered in his eyes, unmistakable and raw.

Xiang Yu seized a handful of the man’s hair, yanking it upward. The man cried out, pain surging through him as if his scalp was being ripped from his skull. Xiang Yu’s fists connected with his face, relentless and unforgiving. For a moment, the man who often smiled and laughed was gone. In his place stood the demon king, rage radiating from his every move.

Han Zhan and Kai Wang exchanged astonished glances, struggling to reconcile the fierce figure before them with the bubbly, easygoing Xiang Yu they knew.

It was Han Xin who stepped forward, sensing the danger in Xiang Yu’s fury. He placed a firm hand on his shoulder, urging him to stop.

Slowly, Xiang Yu relaxed his grip, shoving the man’s head back down to the dirt. Rising to his feet, he wiped the remnants of the struggle from his cheek with his hand, then commanded, "Find out how he knew we were here."

Han Xin swiftly nodded. He had already anticipated this. Cautiously, he gestured to Han Zhan, who understood the silent exchange. Han Xin set off after Xiang Yu, catching up to him as they moved away from the scene.

As he walked, Han Xin pulled out a handkerchief. Spotting Xiang Yu wiping his face again, he frowned. "No, don’t touch it."

With a swift motion, Han Xin opened his flask, pouring cool water onto the handkerchief. He began to wipe Xiang Yu’s face carefully, his focus intense as though he were performing a sacred ritual.

Xiang Yu’s expression softened, a smitten look replacing the earlier ferocity. The gentle touch was soothing, and he felt a wave of comfort wash over him. As Han Xin continued to clean the blood from his skin, he noticed the wounds on Xiang Yu’s knuckles.

Finally meeting his gaze, Han Xin’s voice lowered, concern threading through his words. "You got hurt... you didn’t have to do that. I would have dealt with him."

Xiang Yu’s brow furrowed slightly, determination returning to his voice. "They tried to kill you."

Han Xin, who had been focused intently on cleaning Xiang Yu’s fingers, lifted his head, his heart stirring at the protectiveness in those words. He returned to the task, carefully wiping each slender finger, a slight blush creeping up his ears as he worked.

Xiang Yu watched Han Xin with a mix of emotions, biting his lip as uncertainty clouded his thoughts. Han Xin hesitated, wanting to say something but holding back. Finally, unable to restrain himself any longer, he blurted, "Do you like me that much?"

"I don’t like you," Xiang Yu replied, a hint of surprise in his tone.

Han Xin lifted his head his eyes turning visibly cold. He felt a lump form in his throat, unsure of what to make of Xiang Yu’s words. But Xiang Yu continued, his voice steady. "Xin-ge, I love you."

The declaration struck Han Xin like a thunderbolt. He let go of Xiang Yu’s wrist, momentarily stunned into silence. "I thought I told you before," Xiang Yu added, his sincerity shining in his eyes.

Han Xin was bewildered. How could this be? Just weeks ago, Xiang Yu had tried to kill him. Now, here they were playing house and Xiang Yu confessing his feelings. As he looked into Xiang Yu’s eyes, he saw that the man meant every word.

Xiang Yu reached up to touch his ear absently, then stopped short. Remembering he hadn’t washed his hands with soap, only having them wiped clean, he quickly retracted his hand. "I don’t expect you to give me a response. I just wanted to let you know."

For Han Xin, the idea of having a relationship seemed like a distant dream. In this post-apocalyptic world, he had lost so much, his parents, trust in others, and nearly his own life countless times. Love was a luxury he never imagined he could afford. Yet, hearing Xiang Yu confess his love struck a chord deep within him.

Overwhelmed, Han Xin leaned closer, the instinct to kiss Xiang Yu surging. But Xiang Yu covered his mouth with a hand, shaking his head. "No, I am dirty."

Han Xin blinked, then responded with a chuckle. "Oh," he said, grabbing Xiang Yu’s wrist to lead him back toward the car. "Let’s clean you up."