Venerable Demon King & The Doting Immortal (QT) Chapter 118: Territorial man

Han Xin had spent days deciding whether or not to give it to her. To him, it was more than just fabric. It represented unspoken feelings he hadn’t dared confront until now. He thought she would look beautiful in it.

To get it he had to endure his uncle’s pestering. He made the mistake of asking his uncle for a place to get an expensive dress fit for royalty. His uncle was so nosy curiously asking who the lucky lady was. He had to endure the interrogation to get this. He sincerely hoped she loved it.

He watched intently as emotions danced across her face, surprise mingled with delight, and suddenly all those months spent fighting on battlefields felt trivial compared to this mont shared between them. But despite how much he yearned to confess his affections, the words lodged painfully at the back of his throat. He couldn’t say it.

Xiang Yu curiously rubbed the soft fabric. He had lived with won who took looking good as their job, so he could tell an expensive outfit at a glance. This must have cost him a pretty penny to get, but where did he get it from? "Where did you find such a treasure?" he asked curiously while fingering its intricate patterns.

Han Xin snapped out of his trance-like state where only Peng Xiu existed. Gathering himself again proved difficult as he focused on forming coherent thoughts rather than being entranced by how lovely she looked. "Fengmi town," he managed finally through gritted teeth.

Xiang Yu’s brow furrowed slightly in surprise. If it was from that long, it was either he bought it for his lady friend who left a lip hickey on him and she rejected him, or he genuinely bought it for him. "You held onto this for so long?"

"Yes." His voice ca out gruff but sincere, each syllable echoing the deeper aning buried within him. A soft smile crept upon Xiang Yu’s lips as if sunlight broke through clouds after days of rain. It didn’t matter anymore why it was bought. He was just happy that soone other than the twins bought him sothing.

The sight of her smiling lips was so captivating that Han Xin couldn’t help but stare at them longer than necessary. He soon found himself fighting against an overwhelming urge to bridge that gap between them, to close the distance by kissing those lips which seed to be beckoning him to have a taste. He subtly bit his lower lip, his gaze lingering, but he restrained himself and averted his gaze.

"Thank you once more, general," Xiang Yu said gently before glancing toward their campsite where preparations were underway for dinner. "I... I should go get ready." he continued to say.

Han Xin’s heart plumted along with his hope to tell her how he felt. "Okay," he said his voice coming out barely above a whisper. When Peng Xiu disappeared around the corner, he awkwardly scratched at the back of his neck feeling utterly embarrassed for not being able to voice his interest in her... He couldn’t help but wonder how others pursued their beloved? Did they simply speak their hearts openly? Or dance about coyly hoping fate would intervene?

The realisation of the difficulty of this task, hit harder than any blow received on any battlefield. This was true vulnerability, not just risking life among enemies but baring one’s soul before another person whose very existence stirred sothing profound within oneself.

While Han Xin was beating himself up for failing to confess his feelings, Xiang Yu walked back to the carriage and found Lian and i peeping through the window, trying to see sothing outside. "What are you doing?" he asked, his voice calm but curious. Lian and i hurried to sit back down, their faces flushed with guilt. "Nothing," they said in unison.

Xiang Yu placed the gift Han Xin had given him on the small table and lay back down on the cushioned seat. "Call when it’s ti for dinner," he said, closing his eyes as if to rest.

Lian and i exchanged glances before their eyes settled on the box. i leaned closer to Xiang Yu and whispered, "Master, can we see what’s inside?"

Without opening his eyes, Xiang Yu waved his hand dismissively. "Do as you please," he murmured his voice muffled in the quilt.

Lian quickly opened the box, revealing a beautiful dress made of the finest silk. The fabric shimred in the dim light, and they could tell it was expensive. "It feels so soft," Lian whispered, careful not to wake Xiang Yu.

i, her curiosity piqued, whispered back, "Do you think Master likes him?"

Lian shrugged, her eyes still fixed on the dress. "I don’t know," she replied softly. Unbeknownst to them, Xiang Yu wasn’t asleep. He lay there, his gaze fixed on the wall, listening to their conversation.

He closed his eyes and tried to reach out to the divine emperor, who had been missing for so long. But as always, there was no response. He wanted the divine emperor to know that he shouldn’t be held responsible for what would happen next. He was just here to ss up Peng Xiu’s plan but things were getting serious.

***

From the day Han Xin gave him the gift, Xiang Yu noticed a subtle yet undeniable shift in their interactions. During als, Han Xin would quietly sit next to him, not intruding on their conversations but ensuring his bowl was never empty. He would cater to all his needs. His presence was constant, he was like a silent guardian who never strayed far.

When Xiang Yu took his evening walks, Han Xin was always a few steps behind, a shadow that never left his side. Occasionally, he would send soone ahead to the next town to procure snacks and he would always get the good stuff that made it incredibly difficult to refuse. It was so much food that Xiang Yu was starting to feel as though he was being fattened up like a pig for slaughter.

In every town they visited, Han Xin would accompany him, strolling through markets and shops. Anything his eyes lingered on for more than a mont was promptly purchased by the general. Xiang Yu soon realised that the man was territorial in nature. He had anticipated this but he didn’t think it would be this intense.

Han Xin was not one to fall in love easily, but when he did, he was relentless, holding on as long as he believed there was a chance. He knew that Han Xin’s love, once given, was not easily withdrawn.

Xiang Yu could feel the weight of his affection. It was a mix of protection and possessiveness. All his life he had never had soone show such emotions towards him. It was such a foreign feeling.