Chapter 174: Yunyi’s Gift.
Ningyan froze.
For a moment, he thought he had misheard Jun Haoxuan’s words. Then the meaning settled. And everything inside him... dropped.
The warmth from moments ago vanished, replaced by sharp and tight worry mixed with rage.
His fingers curled at his side as he forced himself to breathe, shaking his head once as if to clear it.
No. No, this wasn’t happening.
"Did you and Meishan plan to rip my heart out together?" he asked flatly.
The words landed harder than he intended.
Across from him, Jun Haoxuan faltered. "It’s not like that."
Ningyan’s eyes narrowed. "Then what is it like?"
His voice sharpened. "Why are both of you so intent on dying in the name of protection?"
The air shifted. Anger rose hot and fast.
He had just found a way... just found something to stop Lan Meishan from throwing himself into danger and now this?
"Ningyan," Haoxuan said quietly, "this is war."
Ningyan stepped forward, closing the distance instantly. "War that I can participate in."
His voice cut clean. "I am not a fragile ornament you can place behind glass."
Another step.
"And what happened to you staying by my side?" he pressed. "What happened to stabilising the crystal? Or does that only matter when it’s convenient?"
The purple glow in his eyes flickered but dimmed again under the influence of the cultivation space.
Haoxuan exhaled slowly. "You are not an ornament—"
"Then stop treating me like one." The interruption was immediate.
A second passed.
Then, quieter, more dangerous, "...Does your father plan to kill you too?"
Silence.
Haoxuan didn’t answer. He didn’t need to.
Ningyan’s jaw tightened. "...Of course he does."
A humorless breath left him. "Of course."
His gaze darkened. "Insufferable family."
Then, under his breath, "Pathetic old beasts."
He lifted his head again, eyes blazing now. "I am not losing either of you."
Each word landed with force. "You are both mine."
That made Haoxuan freeze. His eyes widened.
But Ningyan had already turned.
Enough. If they wouldn’t listen, then he would act.
He moved toward the exit but a hand caught his wrist.
"Where are you going?"
Ningyan turned sharply. "To make sure nothing goes wrong."
His voice trembled slightly, not from fear but from something far more volatile. "If your family needs to run, fine. But I am not letting things reach that point."
His gaze locked onto Haoxuan’s. "This does not end like this."
For a moment, Haoxuan said nothing.
His pupils narrowed slightly, something unreadable passing through his golden eyes. His lips parted, as if he wanted to speak but no words came. Only silence.
His grip tightened briefly then loosened.
Reluctantly, he let go.
Ningyan scoffed softly and then he moved, grabbing Haoxuan’s collar without warning, pulling him down and crashing their lips together.
The impact stole the breath from both of them.
Haoxuan froze.
A sharp inhale escaped him, startled and unprepared, but Ningyan gave him no time to recover. He smashed deep into the kiss. It wasn’t gentle. It wasn’t careful. It was a collision of everything Ningyan refused to say out loud, the anger, the desperation, the fear, all of it poured into that single, breathless moment.
Haoxuan stiffened, a sharp hitch in his breath. For a second, he fought it. Then his fingers dug into Ningyan’s arm. He wasn’t pushing away anymore; he was holding on for dear life.
As the space around them flickered faintly with blue flame, and the stars beneath their feet trembled.
Jun Haoxuan breath was stolen, his thoughts blank. All he could feel was the lingering heat on his lips, the echo of it.. burning. The desire crawling through his veins.
By the time Su Ningyan pulled away, his chest was rising sharply, his face flushed, his gaze fierce.
Haoxuan was still trying to catch up. Trying to understand... what had just happened.
"You self-sacrificing beasts," Ningyan snapped, voice tight with anger. "You both need to stop this."
Then he turned and walked away.
The space responded instantly.
The door manifested, opened and slammed shut behind him.
Silence.
Haoxuan remained where he stood, still staring.
Slowly, his hand lifted, fingers brushing against his lips careful like he was afraid the moment would disappear if he moved too quickly.
His eyes widened further, gold almost swallowed by black as his pupils dilated.
A shaky breath escaped him. "He... kissed me."
The words came out quiet, unsteady, disbelieving.
His palm rose to cover his mouth as if to contain the reaction threatening to spill out of him.
The composed dragon beast prince was gone completely.
Then, slowly, he lowered his hand and a bright, unrestrained smile spread across his lips.
His chest rose and fell faster now, his heart pounding wildly against his ribs. "I want to do it again."
^°^
Ningyan did not slow down.
By the time the servants finished dressing him, he stood before the mirror draped in white.
The robes fell perfectly against his frame, gold threads catching the light with every subtle movement. His hair was bound with a fine golden piece, tassel earrings brushing lightly against his neck.
Behind him, the servants whispered their praises and admiration.
He barely heard them.
His reflection stared back at him calmly. Too calm.
Then he turned and left.
Lan Meishan’s chamber was empty.
Of course it was.
Ningyan’s jaw tightened. "I see."
A sharp breath left him.
He had been too soft. Too accommodating. Too willing to trust. And now they thought they could decide everything for him. Treat him like something fragile. Like something to be protected.
"...a fragile ornament," he muttered.
His fingers lifted. Two fingers. Purple light flickered and his flute appeared in his grasp.
He gave it a long and quiet stare.
The glow in his eyes deepened and a slow, dangerous smile formed on his lips.
"It seems Yan Wuhen is rubbing off on me." His grip tightened.
His teeth pressed lightly into his lower lip as that smile sharpened. "But..."
He let out a soft exhale. "If a Beast King dies by my hand..."
His gaze darkened. "What does that make me?"
The flute vanished and in its place, a small vial appeared in his palm. Within it, a red pill shimmered faintly with condensed spiritual force.
Yunyi’s gift.
A sharp, unpleasant memory flickered. The soul amplifier pill.
Ningyan smiled anyway. "It’s finally time."
His fingers curled around the vial as his eyes gleamed. "...How exciting."