Chapter 196: It Was A Battle
The dining hall was full.
Warm light spilled across the long table, where every surface was laden with carefully prepared dishes. Overlapping voices filled the space with light conversation and quiet laughter, creating a rare sense of ease.
The entire Jun family was present.
Jun Haoxuan sat at the head, composed as always. Beside him were the others, his parents in attendance, along with An Moshang, Yan Wuhen, and Rong Yue.
Only one seat remained empty. Lan Meishan.
Ningyan didn’t look at it. Not even once.
When the children were brought in, the atmosphere was brighter.
Curious eyes turned toward them, filled with warmth and acceptance rather than scrutiny.
They were welcomed without hesitation, drawn into the gathering as if they had always belonged.
Ningyan found himself barely eating.
His attention stayed on them. On the way they hesitated at first, then slowly relaxed.
Jun Sheng and Jun Li had already taken it upon themselves to close the distance, their excitement impossible to contain.
Hai Miao’s hazel serpent eyes shimmered as he laughed, his shoulders shaking as Jun Li tickled him mercilessly.
It was... warm. So warm it almost hurt.
"If you keep staring like that," Wuhen murmured near his ear, "people might think I’m the one who got you pregnant."
Beside him, Rong Yue choked on his wine.
Ningyan lowered his head at once, pretending to focus very seriously on his food as heat rushed to his face.
Jun Haoxuan shot Wuhen with a flat look.
Wuhen only grinned, completely unrepentant, his fangs flashing as his tails swayed lazily behind him.
Ningyan cleared his throat and continued eating as if nothing had happened, even as two of Wuhen’s tails curled into his space and brushed against him in quiet mischief.
He ignored it. Mostly.
"Is Xiao Mian a phoenix?" Jun Haoxuan’s voice cut cleanly through the noise.
Ningyan looked up, a small spark lighting his expression. "You noticed."
Jun Haoxuan inclined his head.
"She remembers her parents," Ningyan added, softer now. "But... they’re gone."
Jun Haoxuan’s expression immediately turned thoughtful. "You should give her your name."
Ningyan blinked. "...Su?"
Jun Haoxuan smiled. "The phoenix clans are scattered. Hidden." His gaze flicked briefly toward the children. "But you found one. Took her in. It’s only natural."
Ningyan nodded slowly, unable to stop the small smile that spread across his face.
Beside him, Wuhen’s tail flicked up, brushing lightly against his cheek.
Ningyan didn’t even react this time. He was still thinking, still deciding, until the realization finally struck him. It wasn’t just Yue Mian; it was all of them. They were his.
The decision settled quietly but firmly, staying with him long after the dinner ended.
^°^
Later that night, the rain fell softly outside as Ningyan made his way to Jun Li’s chamber. He wasn’t alone; Jun Haoxuan, Rong Yue, and Jun Shanyuan followed him without question.
Inside, the sight that greeted them was enough to still everyone. The children had fallen asleep together carelessly, limbs tangled and blankets half-kicked away, scattered across the bed as if they had claimed the entire space for their own.
A quiet chuckle broke the silence. "It seems they’re getting along well."
Jun Shanyuan stepped forward, her voice soft as she gently lifted Jun Sheng into her arms.
No one disagreed.
Ningyan ended up carrying Su Miao.
Rong Yue took Su Ruo. Jun Haoxuan carried Su Mian.
They moved quietly through the palace, each child placed carefully into their chambers, blankets adjusted, warmth secured.
Only when everything settled did Ningyan finally step away. His path led him somewhere else, to Lan Meishan’s chamber. He pushed the door open to find it empty.
A faint unease settled in his chest.
But then he felt a familiar presence. It was Yan Wuhen, coming from the bathing chamber.
Ningyan followed it without hesitation.
Inside, steam lingered faintly over the surface of the pool.
Wuhen crouched near the water, his red-gold eyes reflecting something beneath the surface.
Ningyan frowned. "What are you—"
The words died instantly.
There was a body in the water, a massive grey-scaled serpent beast that had been torn apart violently.
Ningyan inhaled sharply. "...Heavens."
Wuhen glanced back at him.
"It was a battle," he said simply, rising to his feet. "This beast didn’t come here by accident. Meishan killed it."
Ningyan exhaled slowly and stepped closer, then, without a word, wrapped his arms around Wuhen and rested his head against his chest.
Wuhen didn’t hesitate. His arms came around him immediately, holding him close, his tails shifting lazily behind him.
"Using me for comfort?" he murmured.
Ningyan didn’t lift his head. "What if I am?"
Wuhen chuckled softly, the sound low and warm.
"You’re allowed," he said. "Anytime."
His hand moved through Ningyan’s hair, slow and absent-minded, while his gaze flicked back to the water.
"This was too quiet," he added. "We didn’t sense anything. And there’s no demonic aura."
Ningyan followed his gaze. "Tomorrow."
Wuhen’s ears twitched. "Tomorrow?"
Ningyan lifted his head, just enough to look at him. "Let’s end it. Lan Yunlai."
Wuhen’s lips curved. "And after that?"
A glint in his eyes. "Will we finally get married?"
Ningyan huffed a quiet laugh, letting his head fall back against Wuhen’s chest. "Yes. After that.... we will get married."
Wuhen seemed entirely satisfied with that answer.
"...And Rong Yue?" he added after a moment.
Ningyan froze but he didn’t pull away.
"I don’t know," he admitted.
Wuhen didn’t press. They stayed like that for a while, just breathing and existing, until Ningyan shifted. His hand lifted to brush lightly against Wuhen’s cheek in a silent pull.
Wuhen leaned in, crashing their lips together in a hungry, devouring kiss. He clutched Ningyan as if for dear life, while Ningyan gripped Wuhen’s shoulders to steady them both.
Wuhen controlled the rhythm with a smooth, desperate intensity that made Ningyan shudder; the heat of the bathing pool seeped into his skin, blurring the line between the water and the beast prince.
When Wuhen finally broke away to trail slow, drawling kisses along Ningyan’s neck and up toward his jawline, Ningyan let out a shaky breath. "Not here," he managed, his voice strained. "Not in front of a corpse, Wuhen."
"Oh..." Wuhen breathed against his skin, his grip remaining tight, refusing to let go.
"I am aware, Yan’er," He moved his lips back to claim Ningyan’s once more.
All of a sudden, an emerald portal materialized beneath their feet, swallowing them whole.
It burst outward, expanding until the light consumed the water and the mangled serpent, whisking everything away in a heartbeat. Before they could even draw breath, the damp heat of the bathing chamber was gone, replaced by the shadows of a forest.