Chapter 271: That Is The Problem
From the palace balcony, Yan Wuhen watched the carriage in the courtyard below.
It was already deep into the night. Lanterns illuminated the stone courtyard in soft, golden pools as servants hurried back and forth, loading several heavy chests and artifact boxes into the carriage.
Rong Chao was speaking animatedly with Tang Ruifeng, the latter occasionally barking orders to the attendants while Ningyan stood nearby, casually inspecting the arrangements.
Ningyan looked completely at ease.
Wuhen’s nine crimson tails swayed slowly behind him, his red-and-gold eyes fixed intently upon the familiar figure.
The next instant, crimson-gold light erupted around him, and his figure vanished into thin air.
He appeared within a deserted servants’ chamber which stood at the far, shadowed edge of the palace.
Inside, a phoenix beastman lay bound in heavy, spirit-suppressing chains. His black hair was matted with dried blood. Raw claw marks burned across one side of his face, while fresh crimson trickled from his nose, mouth, and ears. His body trembled weakly, barely conscious after the brutal beating he had just endured.
Yan Wuhen stood over him, his nine tails burning behind him like living, malevolent flames.
He had caught the phoenix’s scent the exact moment the spy had crossed the palace boundary. He hadn’t bothered asking questions before beating him half to death. The mere fact that the beast had been stalking Ningyan was reason enough.
Wuhen lifted his boot, pressing it firmly against the phoenix’s bruised face.
The beast’s eyes snapped open in terror. "Please..." his voice cracked violently. "Please, don’t kill me."
Wuhen stared down at him without the slightest flicker of sympathy. "Why shouldn’t I?"
The phoenix’s lips trembled before he broke into outright sobbing, the sheer pain and terror overwhelming whatever dignity he had left. "I—I was ordered to follow His Greatness..."
Wuhen’s eyes narrowed into slits. "By whom?"
The phoenix froze. His hesitation lasted only a second, but Wuhen caught it immediately. The spy was desperately calculating which master he feared more.
That realization made the last trace of warmth drain from Wuhen’s face.
"By whom?" he repeated, his tone dropping an octave.
"Lord... Lord Xie Zhenting!"
A dangerous glint flashed through Wuhen’s eyes. "Is that so?"
He crouched down, bringing his face level with the trembling spy. "So you were going to report everything you saw back to him."
The phoenix swallowed hard, cold sweat pouring down his neck. "I..."
"You were watching Ningyan."
"No...."
"You have been following him."
The phoenix’s face turned deathly pale.
Wuhen smiled, a cold, terrifying expression. "You didn’t expect to be caught."
The phoenix shook his head wildly. "His Greatness belongs with us!" his voice suddenly became frantic, as though clinging to the belief could somehow grant him mercy. "He will help us! He will help us destroy the beasts who took everything from our people! Lord Xie Zhenting said..."
His words cut off in a choked gasp.
Wuhen’s hand had already driven straight through his chest.
A sickening, wet sound echoed through the silent chamber. The phoenix’s eyes widened in horror as his breath caught in his throat.
Slowly, Wuhen withdrew his hand. A still-beating heart rested within his bloodied palm.
Without another word, the phoenix collapsed onto the cold stone floor, lifeless.
Wuhen stared at the organ for a silent moment before casually tossing it aside like trash. "mmmh," he muttered and glanced down at the lifeless spy, his gaze darkening. "If this one managed to slip past the outer wards... then the others will come, too."
With a flick of his bloodied wrist, crimson-gold fox fire erupted across the corpse. The intense flames consumed the body in seconds, leaving behind not even a single bone only a fine layer of ash.
Wuhen stood in total silence amid the dying embers, his nine magnificent tails glowing faintly in the dark room.
He was going to slaughter every last one of them.
^°^
It was almost time to leave for Earth City.
Tang Ruifeng and Rong Chao were making the final preparations, checking the artifact chests and ensuring every box had been properly secured onto the carriage.
Ningyan, meanwhile, simply wanted to leave quickly. Preferably before Rong Yue or Yan Wuhen discovered what he was doing and decided to melt his brain with yet another lecture about Jun Haoxuan.
He glanced toward the couple. The peacock beastman leaned close, whispering something low into Rong Chao’s ear. Rong Chao immediately flushed a deep, brilliant red.
Ningyan blinked, a faint smile tugging at his lips despite himself. They were an adorable pair. Rong Chao, who could speak so freely and boldly around everyone else, somehow turned completely shy whenever Tang Ruifeng pressed too close. There was something endearing about it.
Ningyan was still quietly watching them when a low voice murmured directly beside his ear.
"Where are you heading to, little bird?"
Ningyan nearly jumped out of his skin. He spun around on his heel. Rong Yue was standing right there.
Ningyan stared at him in disbelief. When had the Tiger beast king arrived? He hadn’t heard a single footstep or felt a whisper of energy. Had his vigilance really dropped this much? The realization irritated him far more than it should have.
Instantly, Ningyan straightened his posture, schooling his face into an expression of pure, unbothered innocence. "I am going to Earth City with Rong Chao and Tang Ruifeng."
Rong Yue regarded him quietly, his blue feline eyes sharp. "What do you intend to gain from this?"
Ningyan’s innocent smile became slightly strained. "Why would you ask that? Why can’t you simply believe that I want to spend some time with my closest friend and his husband?"
His tone was matter-of-fact enough to make the corner of Rong Yue’s lips curl.
"You may look like an innocent little doll, little bird," Rong Yue said smoothly, "but you are currently a demon beast who craves blood and death to survive properly."
Ningyan’s smile disappeared completely. "I want to stretch my legs."
Rong Yue’s expression made it abundantly clear that he believed absolutely none of it.
"There is no golden cage here," the king continued calmly, "which is why I am coming with you."
Ningyan’s face fell instantly.
"...And so is Wuhen."
As if summoned by his very name, Yan Wuhen showed himself beside Rong Chao and Tang Ruifeng. He was already inspecting one of the artifact chests with shameless curiosity.
Ningyan’s expression turned utterly miserable. He slowly turned back to face the Tiger beast. "I can handle myself."
"You can," Rong Yue agreed, stepping a half-pace closer. "That is the problem."