Venerable Demon King & The Doting Immortal (QT)-Chapter 573: Bai Bai

Xiang Yu nodded, acknowledging his concern as he approached the cell door. Inside, he found a thin young man huddled on the ground, hugging his knees tightly. The boy’s eyes were sharp and piercing, like a cornered animal ready to defend itself at all costs.

"Hey," Xiang Yu said, softening his voice as if coaxing a frightened child. "Don’t worry, I won’t hurt you."

But the young man’s eyes glimmered with distrust and pain. He had heard those words before, words that led to the sting of long needles piercing his skin.

No amount of begging or crying had ever stopped the torturous cycle. It felt like a fire burning within him that refused to be extinguished, making him long for death, yet it never came.

When he saw the chance—when the restraints that had bound him for so long were removed, he lunged at Xiang Yu, a desperate instinct driving him. But to his shock, his attack faltered. It was as if Xiang Yu radiated an intangible barrier that rendered his powers useless.

Xiang Yu stood firm, unflinching in the face of the boy’s violent attempt. He could see the raw pain reflecting in those fierce eyes. "I want to help you," he said gently, maintaining eye contact.

A look of disbelief contorted the young man’s features as he stared at Xiang Yu, his face illuminated by the eerie red light spilling from the cell.

Suddenly, fear gripped him tightly. He shuffled back into the shadows, desperate to hide, convinced that this moment was just the beginning of another round of torment.

Closing his eyes tightly, he silently surrendered to his fate, hoping the darkness would shield him from whatever horrors awaited him.

Xiang Yu noticed the shift in the young man’s demeanour and felt a pang of regret for startling him. He didn’t want to frighten Little Bai further. Instead of stepping closer, he crouched down, lowering his voice to a gentle murmur. "Little Bai, don’t you remember your brother?"

Little Bai’s eyes snapped open, shock replacing the fear for a heartbeat. He stared at Xiang Yu as if trying to recall his past but it was useless. He had no memories of a brother or of anything before his life in the lab. His memories before then where as blank as a sheet of paper.

He shook his head firmly, the motion filled with desperation. "No," he whispered, his voice tremulous.

Xiang Yu’s voice cut through Little Bai’s fog of confusion. "If I am not your brother, how would I know your name is Little Bai and that you have a mole underneath your left arm?"

Surprise flickered across the young man’s face, followed by a deep sense of disbelief. His lips trembled, the weight of Xiang Yu’s words settling heavily in the still air.

Xiang Yu continued, maintaining a calm, reassuring tone. "Why don’t you come out with your brother? I will tell you all about it once we get out of here."

The invitation hung in the air, filled with unspoken promises and the possibility of freedom. Little Bai hesitated. A part of him wanted to trust, to take that leap. But years of torment in this research centre had buried deep scars in his heart.

He had already tried to escape several times and failed as they always restrained him with restraint collars and chains that would inject torturous poisons in his body if he dares moved too much.

In the end, he decided to escape with them, but once he was out, he would run away. After a while he finally said, "Okay".

Xiang Yu smiled and said, "Good," before grabbing Little Bai’s hand, helping him up.

Little Bai stood at the threshold of the door, his knees quaking beneath him. After years of not walking a lot, his legs felt like brittle twigs, ready to snap at any moment.

Xiang Yu watched him closely. "Lean on me," he said, pulling him close.

Little Bai nodded, slowly shifting his weight. Their steps were unsteady as they moved out of the cell. He was so excited to finally step out of the cell but his happiness was short lived. His entire body froze when he saw Han Xin, and the moment their eyes met, hostility flared within Little Bai. He clenched his fists, ready to lash out.

But Xiang Yu was quicker. He stepped in front, blocking Little Bai’s path. "Wait wait wait," he said firmly, "that’s your brother-in-law. Don’t hurt him."

The words hung in the air, surprising Little Bai. He opened his mouth, but no words came. Confusion battled within him as he stared at Han Xin, who remained motionless, an unreadable expression on his face.

Seeing that Little Bai had calmed, Xiang Yu smiled gently. "Here, get on my back," he offered. "You can’t walk properly yet." freeweɓnøvel.com

Little Bai’s instinct was to shake his head, to refuse the help. He remained frozen refusing to move.

Xiang Yu, however, would not allow Little Bai’s reluctance to win. "Come on Bai Bai," he insisted softly, bending slightly to make it easier.

"We don’t have much time," Xiang Yu said, glancing at Little Bai. His voice was steady but low, underscored by a hint of impatience. "If you walk it will slow us down. Come on."

Little Bai hesitated, an uncertainty shadowing his eyes. But with no other option, he climbed onto Xiang Yu’s back, his grip tight around the larger man’s shoulders. Xiang Yu adjusted his stance, steadying himself beneath the added weight.

"Let’s go," Xiang Yu urged, casting a quick glance at his boyfriend.

Han Xin, standing a few steps away, frowned. "Let me carry him. Your waist must still hurt." His voice was flat and devoid of emotion, but there was an undeniable edge of concern threaded through the words.

Xiang Yu chuckled softly, a sound that seemed out of place in their tense situation. "Don’t worry about it. Let’s move."

Han Xin’s eyes narrowed, irritation flaring within him. He stole a glance at the hands clinging to Little Bai’s legs to prevent him from sliding down.

Beneath his calm exterior, a twinge of jealousy grew. Why couldn’t it be him being carried by Xiang Yu instead? Even he hadn’t gotten a piggyback ride yet this light bulb got one before him. It was so infuriating.