Transmigration:The Villain Wants A Happy End Without His BeastHusbands-Chapter 21: The Hunt

When Su Ningyan woke up, his head was pounding violently, every pulse sending sharp pain through his skull. His body felt unbearably heavy, so heavy that several long minutes passed before he managed to open his eyes.

When he finally did, he found himself lying on the cold forest floor, his back pressed against the rough bark of a tree.

In front of him stood a large tent. A fire burned nearby, its flames low and surrounding it were two massive tigers standing guard with sharp, watchful eyes.

They were in a forest.

A very cold forest.

Dusk had already settled in. The sun hovered low, bleeding orange and red through the dense canopy.

Ningyan’s heart sank.

He was outside the academy grounds.

His breathing slowed unnaturally, shallow and weak. His fingers barely twitched when he tried to move them.

"No..."

He forced himself upright, pushing against the tree but his strength gave out instantly. His body slid down, collapsing sideways onto the frozen ground. His chest tightened as he gasped for air, vision blurring at the edges.

He was going to pass out again.

He could feel it.

His unfocused gaze landed on the tigers.

"Please..." he whispered hoarsely. "Help..."

One of the tigers stepped forward, its massive form shrinking as it shifted into a guard.

"You’re finally awake," the guard said with a chuckle. "We thought His Highness slapped you straight into the afterlife."

Ningyan laughed weakly or maybe it was just air leaving his lungs. He was certain he would be joining the afterlife soon enough.

"I... I need help," he croaked. "I need to go back..." 𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎

The guard raised a brow and stepped closer. "What’s wrong with you?"

He reached out and touched Ningyan’s neck.

Instinct took over.

Ningyan slapped the hand away with the last of his strength.

The guard snarled. "You little—"

His hand lifted to strike...

"Don’t."

Another guard appeared, grabbing his arm. "If he dies by your hand, Li, it won’t end well for us."

Clicking his tongue, the second guard seized Ningyan by the arm and yanked him to his feet, dragging him toward the tent.

Inside, Rong Chen stood over a map, his expression cold and focused.

The moment he looked up and saw Ningyan who was pale, trembling, barely standing, his gaze hardened into a glare.

"He’s awake," the guard announced.

"Good." Rong Chen folded the map neatly. "We’re about to begin the hunt."

Ningyan tried to speak.

Nothing came out.

His chest burned. His vision swam. It felt like he was drowning on dry land.

And all he could think about was Yan Wuhen.

Where the hell was he?

Wasn’t he supposed to feel Ningyan’s pain?

Wasn’t he supposed to sense his absence or his weakening pulse through the spirit mate chain?

Or did that damned fox prince truly not care...

...that Ningyan was dying at the hands of these tiger beasts?

Su Ningyan swore that if he died, he would come back and haunt every single one of them.

First Mingze.

Then Yan Wuhen.

Then Rong Chen and every last one of his guards.

The guards dragged him deeper into the forest, Rong Chen leading the way. Ningyan barely managed a few steps before the darkness swallowed him again.

Rong Chen didn’t waste the opportunity.

He ordered the guards to dump Ningyan in an open clearing and conceal themselves in the surrounding bushes.

Not long after, a group of armed humans, nearly a dozen, spotted Ningyan’s unconscious body.

They hesitated.

Then moved closer.

They checked his pulse. His breathing. His vitals.

They thought he was human.

They wanted to help.

That was when the tigers struck.

Rong Chen and his guards burst from the shadows, tearing into them ruthlessly. Steel clashed briefly against claws and fangs, but it was hopeless. Blood soaked into the forest floor as bodies fell one after another.

By the time Ningyan woke up, the clearing was drenched in blood.

Human corpses lay scattered around him, limbs twisted unnaturally, flesh torn apart. Broken swords lay abandoned in the dirt. Even in the dimness of night, the scene was unmistakable.

Human cultivators.

Ningyan gagged.

In this world, humans were considered weak even cultivators. But seeing them hunted like animals, slaughtered like rabbits in the woods...

Disgust churned violently in his stomach.

He pushed himself upright, drawing attention immediately.

Rong Chen stood nearby, blood splattered across his robes, his silver tiger eyes gleaming with satisfaction.

"Oh," he said lightly. "You’re looking better."

Ningyan stared at him, bile burning his throat.

"Thank you for your concern," he said flatly.

Despite everything, he could feel it now.

Yan Wuhen was close. Close enough that he could breathe easily now.

Rong Chen’s expression darkened slightly at Ningyan’s tone.

"You haven’t completed your punishment," he said, stepping closer. "You were unconscious for most of it."

Then he smiled.

"But you did serve your purpose."

He gestured lazily at the bodies.

"As bait. Luring these insects to their graves."

Ningyan’s breath caught.

He looked at the corpses again. Really looked this time.

"I... what?" His voice shook. "How...?"

Rong Chen clearly enjoyed the shock and the guilt settling into Ningyan’s face.

"Just know that you performed well," he said. "There will be no further punishment."

Ningyan’s vision blurred.

He had been used. As bait.

What were humans even doing here? This was the heavenly realm. Humans had their own realm.. their own struggles.

The book had never mentioned this.

Humans were never supposed to be part of the beasts’ games.

"Why?" Ningyan demanded, his voice shaking with rage. "Why are you hunting humans?"

Rong Chen scoffed. "Because they don’t belong here. They’re pests. They keep taking refuge in the Drift Forest, treating it like their home."

"They don’t deserve to be killed regardless," Ningyan snapped.

Rong Chen’s eyes darkened.

"Do you remember when I gave you a light slap?" he said coldly. "And it still knocked you unconscious? From what I can tell, you’re a nobody. If you keep provoking me and I kill you, that death will be on your hands. There will be no consequences."

Ningyan clenched his teeth.

"No one sent you to do this," he said fiercely. "You’re killing them because you enjoy it. You hate the weak, don’t you? So you slaughter innocent humans who aren’t even trying to hurt you." His voice broke into a shout. "You’re a coward!"

Rong Chen growled, raising his hand to strike.

Ningyan moved first, stumbling back, his spine slamming hard against a tree. Pain exploded through him, but he didn’t lower his gaze.

Rong Chen lunged murderously. "You wretched..."

"I wouldn’t do that if I were you." A calm, familiar, terrifying voice suddenly came from the shadows.

Rong Chen froze.

Relief hit Ningyan so hard his knees buckled, and he collapsed to the ground.

"Rong Chen!" another voice followed, deep and thunderous with rage.

The guards dropped instantly to their knees, foreheads pressed to the forest floor.

Yan Wuhen stood to the right, his gaze locked on Rong Chen with naked killing intent.

Beside him was Rong Yue, frowning slightly and yes, he looked devastatingly beautiful.