Chapter 268: I Only Want One Thing
Almost instantly, Yan Wuhen turned his head.
Those sharp eyes locked directly onto Ningyan. The coldness within them vanished, replaced by an unmistakable wave of pure mischief. It was as though he could plainly read the quiet jealousy written across Ningyan’s face.
The white tiger beast woman noticed Yan Wuhen’s attention shift and followed his gaze. The instant her eyes landed on Ningyan, her expression froze in utter shock.
Her silver eyes widened. Then, her entire face lit up with a radiant, breathless smile.
The sudden, overwhelming warmth of her reaction caught Ningyan completely off guard. He blinked rapidly, his heart jumping into his throat.
Instinctively, he took a step backward.
Without another thought, Ningyan turned on his heel to leave.
Flash!
A burst of red-and-gold light flared before him, cutting off his path in an instant.
Yan Wuhen materialized directly in front of him. Leaning down slightly until their faces were mere inches apart, boundless amusement danced in his eyes.
"And where," he asked with a teasing, intoxicating smile that exposed his fangs, "...do you think you’re going, Yan’er?"
Ningyan held Yan Wuhen’s teasing gaze before instinctively taking a step backward.
Just then, the white tiger beast woman spoke, her voice clear and sweet in the quiet courtyard. "...Su Ningyan?"
Ningyan slowly turned to face her.
She was smiling at him, not with the polite composure of a stranger, nor with idle curiosity. It was warm.... Gentle.... Almost... motherly.
It left Ningyan staring at her in confusion.
"You’re alive..." she murmured softly, her silver feline eyes carefully studying every line of his face. "I thought Wuhen was merely teasing me. You really are..."
A radiant smile gradually spread across her lips. "...as beautiful as everyone says."
Ningyan was immediately flustered. Unsure of what to do under her affectionate gaze, he instinctively shifted a little closer to Yan Wuhen’s side. The woman still felt completely unfamiliar, yet... something about her sharp, expressive eyes reminded him strongly of Rong Chao.
"He gets shy," Yan Wuhen whispered conspiratorially to her.
The woman laughed gently. "We’ve never officially met," she said, smiling at Ningyan once more. "I am Rong Yue’s mother."
She continued looking at him with quiet fascination. After all, the entire three realms had believed Su Ningyan had died three hundred years ago. Yet here he was, alive, standing before her, undeniably real.
Wait.... There was this feeling of deja vu..
Ningyan immediately bowed, his movements slightly awkward. "I... greetings."
He felt inexplicably embarrassed. Rong Yue’s mother... why didn’t I think of that?
The woman stepped closer before gently taking both of Ningyan’s hands into her own. Her touch was warm despite the biting winter air. "It would make me very happy if all of us could share a meal together."
Then, she turned toward Yan Wuhen. "Will Meishan and Haoxuan be arriving soon?"
Ningyan’s heart skipped a beat at the mention of those names.
Yan Wuhen tilted his head thoughtfully. "Perhaps," he smiled smoothly. "But before that... you should rest, Mother. I’ll send you the medicinal tonic I brought with me. Though, if Meishan arrives, his medicine will certainly be far more effective." He flashed a playful grin. "Using both won’t hurt, though. It will only help your recovery."
She smiled gratefully at him. "Thank you."
Finally, she released Ningyan’s hands. "I’ll see the two of you later." With that, she turned and walked gracefully down the snow-dusted corridor.
Only after her figure had completely disappeared did Yan Wuhen lean down. Lowering his voice into a quiet whisper right beside Ningyan’s ear, he murmured, "She was injured by the Lion Beast Queen during the recent battle."
Ningyan’s eyes widened in surprise. "What?"
Yan Wuhen nodded, the playfulness temporarily fading from his eyes. "She hasn’t told Yue’er."
Ningyan looked at him in total disbelief. "Why not? If Rong Yue knew, he would make a completely different decision instead of pushing for a marriage alliance."
The certainty in Ningyan’s tone made Yan Wuhen pause.
"...A marriage alliance..." He clicked his tongue, his eyes narrowing. "So that’s the conclusion he reached."
Rolling his eyes dramatically, he muttered, "it’s exactly what those fools want."
Ningyan frowned, his mind racing. "Then we should tell him. They hurt his mother, he deserves to know so he can make a proper judgment."
Yan Wuhen shrugged helplessly. "She specifically told me not to."
Ningyan blinked. "And you listened?"
"It’s terrible luck to disobey kind family elders," Yan Wuhen said with utter seriousness.
Ningyan stared at him. "Really?"
"Of course." Yan Wuhen nodded solemnly. "Every time I disobey my mother... I somehow end up in serious trouble."
He placed a hand thoughtfully against his chin. "But whenever I disobey my uncles..." He shrugged casually. "...nothing happens. Mostly because they end up dying by my hands."
He spoke as naturally as if he were discussing what he’d eaten for breakfast.
While his gaze drifted back to Ningyan, admiring the shorter white hair framing his face.
Ningyan simply stared back at the nine-tailed fox with an expression that plainly read, You are completely insane.
"...You killed your uncles?" He asked, his genuine curiosity briefly outweighing his shock.
"There was... a war." Yan Wuhen’s playful expression faded, replaced by something quieter.
"It began when my cousin tried to kill me." He spoke as though recounting an ordinary memory. "Eventually, I grew tired of the throne. I wanted to focus on my family instead."
His gaze settled on Ningyan.
"On you... our children... and helping my sister rule." His voice softened. "But after you were gone..."
He slowly reached out, intending to cup Ningyan’s face. Before his fingers could settle against his cheek, Ningyan lightly knocked his hand away with the flute.
Yan Wuhen withdrew without complaint. Instead, his attention shifted to the red-and-gold flute, the instrument that had once belonged to him.
"They tried to usurp the throne," he continued. "What was I supposed to do after they began hurting my parents... and my sister?"
His smile returned. "I killed every one of them."
He said it so casually that it sent a chill down Ningyan’s spine.
"And after devouring their hearts..." Yan Wuhen wrinkled his nose in distaste. "Their livers would’ve been disgusting. What a waste."
Ningyan stared at him. It was remarkable how casually Yan Wuhen spoke about slaughter. He was... undoubtedly a terrible influence.
"So..." Ningyan asked thoughtfully, "...you’d kill anyone who hurt your family?"
Yan Wuhen’s expression became unexpectedly serious. "I’d kill anyone... who tried to hurt the people I love, Yan’er."
His voice was barely above a whisper. As their eyes met, Ningyan felt goosebumps spread across his skin. There was something hidden beneath those words, a confession Yan Wuhen wasn’t saying outright.
Before Ningyan could dwell on it, a flash of crimson and gold erupted between them.
His flute vanished from his hand.
"What..." Ningyan looked up. Yan Wuhen had already appeared several meters away, twirling the flute between his fingers with a smug grin.
"Hey!" Ningyan immediately ran after him, careful not to release his demonic aura in the middle of the palace.
Just as he thought he was about to catch him, another flash of light blinded him. Yan Wuhen appeared directly behind him instead, lightly tapping Ningyan’s shoulder.
Ningyan spun around with an irritated glare.
Yan Wuhen simply held the flute high above his head.
"What are you doing?" Ningyan jumped to grab it.
Yan Wuhen laughed. Like an incorrigible bully, he placed one broad palm firmly against Ningyan’s forehead, effortlessly keeping him at arm’s length while Ningyan swiped uselessly at the air.
Ningyan’s eye twitched. "What exactly are you looking at?"
Yan Wuhen ignored the question, examining the flute closely. "You never infused your corruption into it." His tone held genuine curiosity. "Why?"
Ningyan frowned. "Why would I? The flute is better left... uncorrupted."
Yan Wuhen looked at him sharply. "Why?"
Ningyan hesitated before answering quietly. "Because it brings back fragments of my memories."
Yan Wuhen’s fox ears perked instantly. "Memories of me?"
"Yes." The answer came without hesitation.
Yan Wuhen’s mischievous smile softened into something tender. He lowered the flute slightly toward Ningyan. "But you still treat me like a stranger, Yan’er." His voice carried an unmistakable trace of disappointment. "...It hurts."
Just as Ningyan reached for the flute, Yan Wuhen whisked it away once more.
"I don’t want to be treated like a stranger... when you’ve already begun remembering me."
Ningyan looked away, his cheeks warming. "Give me the flute, Yan Wuhen."
"No." The fox smiled brightly. "Let’s make a deal."
"Making a deal with a nine-tailed fox sounds like a terrible idea." Ningyan deadpanned.
Yan Wuhen pouted dramatically. "It isn’t a dangerous deal."
"It doesn’t matter."
"I only want one thing."
Ningyan narrowed his eyes. "What?"
Yan Wuhen took a step closer, closing the distance between them. "I want you... to play the flute for me."
He gently rested the cool instrument against the side of Ningyan’s neck. The smooth jade brushed over the faint, dark veins pulsing beneath his skin.
Yan Wuhen lowered his voice into a low, teasing murmur, his eyes curving with wicked amusement. "That’s all. Or... we could find a far more thorough way to warm each other up. I’m certain a little exertion in bed would trigger your memories quite deliciously."
Ningyan’s face flushed a furious scarlet. "You...!"
"What?" Yan Wuhen tilted his head with false innocence, nine tails swaying behind him in complete triumph. "It was merely a suggestion, Yan’er."