Chapter 170: You Are More Important
Ningyan couldn’t help but laugh. "...Something like that."
Shenzhen leaned in, grinning. "So you were with Wuhen, my brother, and Lan Meishan?"
His grin widened. "That’s... beautiful."
Before Ningyan could respond, he was already being dragged forward. "Come with me!"
They moved quickly through the halls, servants and guards bowing as they passed.
Shenzhen didn’t slow. He didn’t stop talking either.
"After the academy incident, my brother went into seclusion," he continued, waving his free hand lazily. "And I was left cleaning up the mess of the dragons following Lan Yunlai’s path."
He let out a scoff. "My kind has always been greedy for power. They’re tearing each other apart for it."
He pushed open the doors to his chamber, pulled Ningyan inside and stopped.
Ningyan’s gaze shifted and widened.
Someone was already there. Seated at the edge of the bed was a wolf beastman.
He had black hair. Sharp yet composed features. Wolf ears flicked slightly as he turned his head, green eyes catching the light, faintly amber at the edges.
His tail swayed once behind him as he rose.
His presence was immediate. Not overwhelming... but unmistakably strong.
He approached them, each step measured. "You must be Su Ningyan." His voice was low and pleasant.
He inclined his head in a small bow. "It’s a pleasure."
Ningyan returned it instinctively. "...Likewise."
His eyes flicked sideways to Shenzhen asking a silent question.
Shenzhen chuckled. "This is Bai Ziru. My husband."
Silence.
Ningyan blinked. Then blinked again.
"You’re married too?"
Shenzhen laughed. "Mm. About a week now."
He waved it off casually. "No one knows. Not even my brother. I’m... avoiding that conversation."
"I will speak to him." Bai Ziru’s voice cut in.
Jun Shenzhen stilled slightly.
"He will not object." Bai Ziru reached out, his fingers brushing gently along Shenzhen’s cheek. A quiet, grounding touch.
Shenzhen’s expression softened. Just a little. It was nice seeing him like this. So in love. Ningyan wondered if this was how he looked with Meishan and Haoxuan.
Ningyan nodded. "Yes. He won’t be against it."
Shenzhen laughed lightly. "Oh, I’m not worried about that."
A flick of his fan. "He’s overprotective. That’s all. And.... he doesn’t like Ziru."
Ningyan’s gaze widened. "...Oh?"
"They were classmates back in the academy. Apparently, they had a big battle that ended in total humiliation. I don’t know the full story, but it is hilarious. Though my brother really hates being humiliated." Shenzhen leaned back toward Bai Ziru, casual again, while Bai Ziru had already returned to the bed, a book resting in his hand as if nothing had changed.
Then Shenzhen’s expression shifted completely. He stepped forward and gripped Ningyan’s shoulders firmly.
"Ningyan." His tone dropped, serious. "There’s something you need to know."
Ningyan stilled. "What is it?"
Shenzhen exhaled once. "We’ve received reports. Lan Yunlai is in the capital."
Ningyan felt his heart skip a beat. "...What?" It came out sharper than he intended.
"He’s here for the banquet."
That was enough.
"No." Ningyan stepped back immediately and stormed out of the chamber fast.
The corridors blurred. His thoughts louder than his steps.
Lan Yunlai was in the Azure dragon clan. This couldn’t be happening.
He reached the private chambers and entered without pause.
Jun Haoxuan wasn’t there. But Lan Meishan was seated still, deep in cultivation.
Ningyan stopped, hesitating from disturbing him. "Meishan..."
Those serpent emerald eyes opened, locking onto him instantly. "A-Yan?"
Ningyan stepped closer. "Your father is here."
He took a deep breath. "Did you know?"
Meishan nodded calmly "I did."
"And you didn’t tell me?" There was a sharp edge in Ningyan’s voice now.
Meishan pressed his lips together. Then rose slowly.
He stepped forward, closed the distance and lifted his hand, his fingers brushing lightly against Ningyan’s lips, gently... Careful.
"I intend to kill him."
Ningyan’s eyes widened. "...What?"
"If he takes me," Meishan continued quietly, "he will come for the crystal next."
His gaze didn’t waver. "I will not allow that."
Ningyan’s thoughts spiraled. He reached out, grabbing Meishan’s arm tight.
"We have to leave."
Meishan’s eyes widened slightly. "A-Yan—"
Ningyan’s fingers tightened around Meishan’s sleeve. "What if he kills you?"
His voice was low, tight, strained. "And even if he doesn’t... he’ll hurt you. Your other side—"
He stopped himself. But the fear was already there. Visible.
Meishan didn’t look away. "I need to try."
His voice was steady. "If I don’t act now, he will come for you next. For the crystal."
Ningyan’s breath hitched. "But you are more important."
The words slipped out raw and unguarded.
"No..." Meishan’s lips curled into a small smile. "You are more important."
Ningyan’s expression broke. "No."
He stepped back, shaking his head. "No, we’re not doing this."
His voice sharpened, urgency cutting through it. "We’re leaving. Now. We can speak to Haoxuan. We can plan—"
"You can’t leave him." The interruption was heavy.
Ningyan froze. "You can’t..."
Meishan’s gaze softened, but only slightly. "You know that."
Silence.
"I couldn’t help you when the crystal turned on you," Meishan continued, quieter now. "But he can. And he is."
Each word landed with weight.
"If you leave him, the pain returns. The hunger returns."
Ningyan’s jaw tightened.
Meishan stepped closer. "He cannot leave with us. He has a clan to rule. You already know that."
That was the worst part. Ningyan did know. That’s why he hadn’t said it.
His hands curled into fists. His eyes flared, violet burning sharp and unstable.
"So that’s it?" His voice dropped coldly. "You’re refusing me?"
"A-Yan—" Meishan stepped forward.
Ningyan stepped back, keeping a clear distance. "Don’t come closer."
Then he turned and walked out quickly, trying to control himself. But the aura spilling from him wasn’t. It flickered, unstable, violent, barely contained.
He stopped at the nearest wall, bracing a hand against it. His eyes closed shut, his breathing uneven.
The pressure in his chest refused to ease. "I don’t want this to end..."
The whisper barely existed. "Why does it have to end like this?"