Chapter 242: Old Memories
After Xie Zhenting’s revelation regarding the proposed marriage alliance, Ningyan finally decided to leave his chamber.
Wrapped in a thick cloak that shielded him from the biting winter cold, he made his way through the snowy grounds, deliberately avoiding the main paths in hopes of not running into any elders or court officials eager to discuss his marriage prospect.
The thought alone was enough to irritate him.
He headed toward the library instead.
As he passed, servants and guards immediately lowered their heads.
"Your Greatness."
"Your Greatness."
Ningyan acknowledged them with a nod, though inwardly he was still grimacing at the mention of Zhang Wangji.
Grabbing a random book from the library shelves, he suppressed his presence and wandered toward one of the quieter balconies overlooking the servants’ quarters.
Just as he stepped outside, a sharp voice cut through the air. "What do you think you’re doing? Did you really enter the palace just to steal?"
"No... no, please! It’s a misunderstanding!"
The trembling reply made Ningyan pause.
Following the commotion, he soon found several servants gathered around one of the quarters.
The moment they noticed him, they hurriedly parted and bowed.
"Your Greatness."
"Your Greatness."
Ningyan stepped into the small room.
Inside stood one of the head servants, her expression stern, while a younger servant knelt before her with his head lowered. The youth looked painfully thin, his frail body trembling from fear.
"What is happening here?" Ningyan asked.
The head servant immediately bowed. "He was caught stealing food from the kitchens, Your Greatness."
The younger servant remained silent, his head still lowered as his shoulders shook.
Ningyan studied him for a moment before speaking. "Stealing is wrong."
The young servant visibly stiffened.
"But I doubt this level of humiliation is necessary." Ningyan turned his gaze toward the head servant. "He serves under you. If he has made a mistake, then discipline him appropriately. Bullying him achieves nothing. As his superior, you should be guiding him, not placing him in a position where he is mocked and cornered."
The head servant looked stunned by the reprimand.
She quickly lowered her head even further. "I am deeply sorry, Your Greatness."
Ningyan gave a small nod. "Leave. All of you."
"Yes, Your Greatness." The servants hurried out.
Soon, only Ningyan remained in the room.
Silence settled.
Ningyan slowly looked around.
Something felt... familiar about this place.
His gaze drifted across the worn walls.
Then suddenly, a flash.
There was a woman.A female serpent beast.
A sharp sting exploded across his cheek as a younger version of himself was struck across the face.
The image vanished almost as quickly as it appeared.
Ningyan froze as more fragmented scenes followed. Broken pieces of memories of a different world. A completely unfamiliar place.
And this room.. No. Not this room.
An older, darker, abandoned version of this room.
His breathing grew uneven. "What was that...?"
His hand immediately rose to his temple.
The headache came without warning.
Ningyan staggered a step toward the wall, pressing his fingers against its surface as though trying to anchor himself.
His brows knitted tightly. "Is this... my past?"
His voice came out barely above a whisper. "Why does it feel so..."
"Your Greatness!" The sudden voice shattered the memory.
Ningyan blinked and turned.
General He Yuting was already entering the room, her expression tense.
She immediately bowed. "Your Greatness."
Ningyan steadied himself and lowered his hand. "What happened?"
He Yuting raised her head. "There has been an attack on the western district of the clan."
At once, every trace of confusion vanished from Ningyan’s face. Only cold focus remained.
^°^
As soon as they arrived at the western district of the phoenix clan, Ningyan saw them.
A group of masked beasts stood amidst the snow-covered grounds, their faces hidden behind carved masks. From the spotted ears and tails visible beneath their cloaks, they appeared to be snow leopard beasts. Several phoenix beasts knelt before them with their hands bound, forced into the freezing snow.
The cold wind swept through the courtyard.
Ningyan stepped forward, He Yuting at his side. Her expression had already darkened with fury.
"It is rather rude to enter another clan with such force, don’t you think?" Ningyan asked calmly.
One of the masked leopard beasts stepped forward.
"It is indeed rude," the beastman replied coldly. "Just as it was rude when your phoenix clan infiltrated the East Snow Leopard Temple Clan and slaughtered our kin. It is only fair that we return the favor."
Ningyan’s brows furrowed.
"What are you talking about?" He Yuting snapped immediately. "We never launched any attack against the Snow Leopard Clan. And how dare you speak to him in such a manner? Do you know—"
"The Demon Beast King." The leopard beast cut her off with open disdain. "Of course we know who he is. We came here for retribution, not respect. We will not bow to a forsaken demon."
A murmur of agreement spread through the other leopard beasts.
Ningyan remained silent for a moment.
They truly had not attacked the Snow Leopard Clan.
In fact, ever since returning from Fire City, he had focused almost entirely on rebuilding the phoenix clan. Construction projects, trade routes, the academy, festivals, his attention had been devoted to strengthening his people rather than continuing military campaigns.
Yet several phoenix beasts here were injured. Some had fled the area entirely.
Whether these leopard beasts had come seeking genuine vengeance or had fabricated an excuse to provoke conflict, Ningyan could not tell.
And honestly?
He did not particularly care.
Still, he offered them a chance.
"Like General He said, we did not attack your clan." Ningyan’s voice remained steady. "Release my kin and leave immediately. I will overlook what you’ve done here today."
He took a single step forward.
The leopard beastman’s eyes narrowed. "He is calling us liars!"
The other leopard beasts erupted instantly. "Those were our kin!"
"They were slaughtered!"
"You think we would invent something like this?"
Rage spread through their ranks like wildfire.
Ningyan listened to them for a few seconds before letting out a slow breath.
He had given them an opportunity. Apparently, they did not want it.
His expression cooled.
"I did not attack your clan," he said. "And I have already offered mercy."
He took another step forward. "But you do not seem interested in accepting it."
The moment those words fell, his violet eyes darkened. Crimson-black flooded his irises. A horrifying wave of demonic energy exploded from his body.
The snow beneath his feet shattered. The surrounding air trembled.
The temperature plummeted so violently that even the falling snow seemed to freeze in place.
The bound phoenix beasts stared in horror.
Even He Yuting instinctively tensed.
Ningyan’s gaze swept over the masked intruders. There was no warmth left in it, only killing intent. "You have accused me of a crime I did not commit."
Black-and-red mist coiled around his body like living shadows. "And I gave you a chance to leave. Since you refuse to honor it..."
The demonic aura surged once more, crushing down upon the entire area.
The leopard beasts immediately paled beneath the pressure.
Ningyan raised his hand. His crimson-black eyes glowed beneath the falling snow. "You are all going to die now."