Chapter 243: The Walls Have Ears
At the overwhelming pressure radiating from Ningyan, the leopard beasts visibly faltered.
The demonic aura pressing down upon them was suffocating, vast and merciless. Snow trembled beneath their feet, and even the wind seemed reluctant to brush past him.
Seeing their hesitation, Ningyan’s lips curved faintly. "Release the ones you’ve bound."
His tone was calm. It somehow sounded more frightening than shouting.
The leopard beastman standing at the front hesitated before turning toward his companions. After exchanging a few looks, he gave a sharp nod.
The bindings were quickly removed.
The captured phoenixes immediately scrambled away, hurrying through the snow to stand behind He Yuting. Their faces were pale, but relief flooded their expressions.
Only after ensuring they were safe did Ningyan speak again.
"I do not remember attacking your kin." His crimson-black eyes settled upon the leopard beasts. "Nor do I remember issuing such an order. So I would appreciate it if you told me exactly which phoenixes attacked your clan."
The leopard beasts exchanged uncertain glances.
The beastman at the front eventually stepped forward. "How do you expect us to trust a demon like you?"
A faint smile appeared on Ningyan’s face. "Do not misunderstand."
His voice remained perfectly pleasant. "I am not doing this for your sake."
The smile widened slightly. "I am doing this for mine. If someone acted without my permission, then I would very much like to know."
His eyes darkened. "As for the dead you’ve lost... I do not care."
Several leopard beasts stiffened.
Ningyan continued smoothly. "But I am willing to let you leave here alive. Just this once."
The leopard beasts looked conflicted. Suspicion remained in their eyes, but so did something else. Hope.
Eventually, the beastman swallowed hard and spoke. "It was a phoenix."
Ningyan waited.
"He had hair as black as night and silver eyes."
The beastman’s voice tightened. "He..."
For the first time, grief cracked through his anger. "He killed my wife."
Silence fell.
Ningyan’s gaze shifted toward He Yuting.
For the first time since this confrontation began, genuine surprise crossed her face.
Her eyes widened. "Zekai."
Ningyan’s expression immediately cooled.
Shi Zekai.
The name settled heavily between them.
He turned back toward the leopard beasts. "You may leave."
The leopard beasts stared.
"Go." His voice left no room for argument. "And should you return to my clan with such force again, I will show no mercy."
The leopard beasts did not need to be told twice.
They quickly withdrew from the phoenix clan.
Soon the courtyard was filled only with phoenix healers tending to the injured and servants rushing to restore order.
Ningyan watched them leave before turning away.
He Yuting followed silently beside him as they returned toward the palace.
Snow drifted around them.
"Shi Zekai was stationed in the Hidden Phoenix Clan in the Heavenly Realm," Ningyan said after a long silence. "Along with Guo Manyu."
His voice was dangerously calm. "Why would they attack the Snow Leopard Clan without my orders?"
He Yuting looked just as disturbed. "I do not know."
Ningyan stopped walking. The snow crunched beneath his boots.
He slowly turned toward her. His crimson-black eyes seemed darker than before.
"Summon everyone." His voice was cold. "Every elder. Every commander. Every court official."
He Yuting immediately lowered her head. "Your Greatness—"
"It seems," Ningyan interrupted softly, "that I have been far too lenient."
The snowstorm around them intensified.
He Yuting took a careful breath. "I understand your anger, Your Greatness."
Ningyan remained silent.
"But if you summon everyone now, you will learn nothing."
That made him pause. His gaze narrowed.
He Yuting continued. "Fear creates obedient tongues. Fear creates lies. They already revere you. They fear you even more. If you question them openly, every answer you receive will be crafted to survive your wrath."
Ningyan stared at her for a long moment. The demonic energy around him slowly settled.
She was right. Unfortunately.
"What do you suggest?" he finally asked.
He Yuting hesitated at his question. Her gaze swept across the corridor before settling back on him.
"We should speak somewhere private," she said quietly. "The walls have ears."
Ningyan studied her for a moment before nodding. Soon, they were standing inside his chambers.
He Yuting raised a hand. Silver light flowed from her fingertips, spreading across the walls in shimmering waves until the entire room was sealed behind a translucent barrier.
Only after the last trace of light settled did she turn to face him.
"Your Greatness," she began carefully, "I know you trust Xie Zhenting completely."
Ningyan folded his arms. "I do."
"I know." She took a breath. "But I believe he is the one behind this. Not Shi Zekai."
Ningyan’s brows rose immediately. "That’s a serious accusation."
His voice hardened. "Zhenting may be overprotective. He may be controlling at times. But he would never—"
"You should hear me out first." For once, He Yuting interrupted him.
The room fell silent. Then she continued.m"Look at everything we have now."
Her eyes held his. "Our clan has returned. We are no longer scattered remnants hiding in forgotten corners of the Three Realms. We have territory. We have influence. We have prosperity. And most importantly..."
Her gaze softened. "We have you."
Ningyan’s expression didn’t change. Yet something flickered in his eyes.
He Yuting pressed on. "You are powerful enough to stand beside the Divine Beast kings. Your presence alone has secured our position among the clans. We already have what generations of phoenixes dreamed of."
Her voice lowered. "A future."
The word lingered. "So tell me, Your Greatness. Why would we still need war?"
Ningyan remained silent. Because he had asked himself the same question many times.
He had spent the last months rebuilding.mHe had focused on growth. Not conquest.
Seeing his silence, He Yuting continued. "You know this already. Every order you have given since your awakening has been about rebuilding our people. You want the phoenixes to thrive."
A shadow crossed her face. "Xie Zhenting doesn’t."
Ningyan frowned. "He wants our people safe."
"No." The answer came immediately. "He wants revenge."
The words struck harder than expected.
He Yuting clasped her hands together. "He lost too much. Family. Friends. His future."
Pain flashed briefly through her eyes. "We all did. But where we mourn, he obsesses. Where we rebuild, he seeks blood. He cannot let go of what was taken from him."
Ningyan looked away. "And isn’t that because our kin suffered?" he asked quietly. "Because countless phoenixes died?"
His gaze returned to her. "Because I died?"