Chapter 172: I Want My Kiss
Ningyan returned to the sparring ground and found it empty. The silence that lingered was quite unusual.
He lifted his gaze toward the sky. It had begun to darken, the last traces of daylight fading beneath the rising glow of lanterns across the Azure Dragon Palace. His flute rested loosely in his grasp, his eyes faintly glowing beneath lowered lashes.
The entire clan was in motion for the banquet.
Ningyan exhaled softly. He had no intention of attending.
With a quiet surge of energy, his vast, brilliant wings burst from his back.
He rose into the air, landing lightly along the upper edge of the open sparring ground. His wings folded behind him as his gaze drifted outward, taking in the sprawling clan below, lights flickering like stars, dragons cutting through the sky, distant voices blending with low growls and restless movement.
Everything felt... uneasy.
His grip on the flute tightened.
Then, boom. The doors below slammed shut.
Ningyan’s eyes sharpened instantly. He turned.
A figure stood within the sparring ground, looking up at him with sharp, unblinking reptilian red-gold eyes.
"Teacher Chu?" Ningyan said, one brow lifting slightly.
She smiled. "I knew I’d find you here."
Her head tilted faintly. "Something seems to be troubling you."
Ningyan looked away, disinterested. "I would prefer to be alone, teacher Chu. But if you insist on staying..."
His wings stretched, ready to take flight. "I can leave."
He moved and she was suddenly in front of him.
Too fast!
Her presence closed in, overwhelming the space between them.
"Where are you going?" she asked softly.
Ningyan’s eyes widened.
He stepped back instinctively, wings flaring to steady himself midair but her hand shot out, gripping his wrist firmly.
"—!" He stared at her.
And then her face began to change.
A ripple.. no, a distortion.
Crimson light consumed her form, folding inward like burning paper. Flesh melted into illusion, illusion into something far more dangerous....
Nine crimson tails unfurled behind her, each tipped in white.
The air shifted.
What stood before him now was no longer Teacher Chu. It was a grinning, radiant Yan Wuhen.
"Wuhen...?" Ningyan’s voice came out softer than he intended, disbelief laced through it.
Wuhen didn’t answer. He simply pulled him closer, closing the distance completely. "Hello, Yan’er."
His voice dropped, warm and teasing, yet something beneath it sharpened as his gaze swept over Ningyan’s face, lingering on the faint, unstable purple glow in his eyes.
His smile softened. "What’s troubling you?"
Ningyan blinked, still trying to process what stood before him. Then he pushed against Wuhen’s chest, creating space.
"What is going on?" he demanded. "Why are you disguised as the children’s teacher?"
Wuhen pouted. Actually pouted. "That’s your first question?"
Then he grinned, baring his fangs. "Kiss me, and I’ll tell you."
Ningyan scoffed. "In your dreams."
"Come on." Wuhen leaned closer, lips pursed deliberately.
Ningyan’s expression darkened. Without hesitation, he raised his hand and covered Wuhen’s mouth.
"Answer me." His voice lowered. "Wuhen."
Wuhen huffed against his palm. "I want my kiss."
"You’re not getting one."
Wuhen’s eyes gleamed and kissed his palm.. lingering. Then, his tongue traced over Ningyan’s skin, fangs brushing faintly against it.
Ningyan’s eyes widened. Heat rushed to his face instantly. "Wuhen—!"
But Wuhen had already caught his wrist, holding it in place, his gaze half-lidded as he continued his worship.
For a moment, Ningyan forgot what he had been thinking about.
Banquet. Danger. Everything. All gone.
Replaced by one overwhelming thought. This fox is insane.
One moment, he had been drowning in unease, in that quiet, suffocating melancholy and now a nine-tailed fox was licking his palm.
He exhaled sharply. Completely defeated. Trying, and failing, to ignore the warmth spreading through him from the contact.
"...Have you had enough?" he muttered.
Wuhen finally paused. Slowly lifting his gaze.
Those eyes.... the same ones that had watched him earlier, sharp and devouring beneath the disguise now unmistakable.
It had always been him.
Yan Wuhen.
Wuhen released his wrist at last. But only to take his hand more gently.... Reverently.
He pressed a softer kiss to Ningyan’s knuckles... then his fingers... lingering in a way that felt far more dangerous than before.
Ningyan’s lips parted. His face flushed deeper. "Wuhen..."
Wuhen smiled. Satisfied. Though something in that smile hinted he wasn’t nearly done.
Reluctantly, he let go.
"You might not know this," he said lightly, "but I’ve been banned from the Azure Dragon Clan."
Ningyan blinked. "What?"
Wuhen scoffed, folding his arms loosely. "It’s been a while. Haoxuan and I fought when we were younger."
A smirk tugged at his lips. "I won. He disagreed."
Ningyan huffed out a disbelieving laugh. "So you got banned."
"Permanently." Wuhen tilted his head. "But rules are flexible when you’re interesting enough."
His tails swayed behind him, slow and amused. "I come and go. In disguises."
His gaze softened slightly. "I came for you."
Ningyan narrowed his eyes. Suspicious. "You’ve spent your whole life provoking beasts, haven’t you?"
Wuhen’s grin sharpened. "Including you?"
Ningyan rolled his eyes. "Including me."
In a single step, Wuhen closed the distance again. An arm slipped around Ningyan’s waist, pulling him in without resistance.
"I’m here for you, Yan’er," he murmured.
Ningyan pressed his lips together. "Why don’t I believe you?"
Wuhen leaned closer, brushing his nose lightly against Ningyan’s. "Because you’re smart."
His voice dropped. "And because you already know. Lan Yunlai is here."
The air shifted.
"And if he’s here..." Wuhen’s gaze sharpened faintly. "...then you’re in danger."
His hand tightened at Ningyan’s waist. "I’ve missed you, Yan’er."
Ningyan’s expression wavered. The tension in his chest easing despite himself.
"You could have come with us."
"I could have." Wuhen hummed. "But I didn’t."
A faint smile returned. "...I’m here now."
Ningyan gave him a long look. "What did you do to the real Teacher Chu?"
Wuhen blinked innocently. "Does it matter?"
Ningyan stared at him, unimpressed.
Wuhen sighed dramatically, stepping back, his tails flicking with barely contained mischief. "...Nothing."
"You killed her?"
Wuhen gasped, placing a hand over his chest. "What a cruel accusation."
Ningyan’s gaze didn’t soften. "...Did you hurt the children?"
"I taught them things."
Ningyan closed his eyes briefly. He didn’t even want to imagine what that meant. If he had known earlier he would never have left them alone.
He stepped forward instead. His wings stretched behind him before settling again, folding neatly as he came to stand directly before Wuhen. He looked serious now.
"I need your help."
Wuhen tilted his head, curiously. "Hmm?"
"To save Lan Meishan." Ningyan explained.
"Why," Wuhen drawled, "would I help that slippery snake?"
Ningyan didn’t hesitate. "If you help me ...I’ll marry you."
A wide and sharp grin spread across Wuhen’s lips. "Deal."