Transmigration:The Villain Wants A Happy End Without His BeastHusbands-Chapter 24: How Troublesome

It was well past midnight in the Celestial Beast Academy.

In the same hall where Su Ningyan had been judged earlier, Rong Yue sat upon the throne.

He wore loose robes that hung open at the chest, exposing a body marked by old claw scars. Pale lines carved into hardened muscle.

His golden hair fell freely down his back, his tiger ears flicking once in irritation as his tail swayed in a slow, measured rhythm behind him.

A massive sword rested in his grasp, held casually by the hilt, its tip pressed against the stone floor.

Below him, Rong Chen knelt.

His forehead touched the ground. His shoulders shook violently.

"Brother," he sobbed. "Please. I was only trying to do what you would have done."

Rong Yue’s eyes narrowed. "I would never waste my time killing humans."

His voice was calm. Flat.

"If their strongest cultivators had been present, do you think you would still be breathing right now?"

Rong Chen lifted his head weakly.

His face was swollen, one eye nearly shut, blood crusted at the corner of his mouth.

"I..I was only.. You know how disgusted I am with—"

"With those weaker than you?" Rong Yue tilted his head slightly. "Yes. I’m aware."

His gaze sharpened.

"And is that why you used a coreless phoenix as bait?"

Rong Chen’s breath hitched.

"I wouldn’t have cared," Rong Yue continued coolly. "Not about the humans. Not about the phoenix."

He leaned forward slightly. "But Rong Chao signaled me."

That alone made Rong Chen stiffen in terror.

"He never signals me," Rong Yue said. "He always handles matters himself. So I became curious."

His grip tightened on the sword.

"And what I found was you indulging in cowardice, disguising cruelty as punishment."

Rong Chen’s eyes widened. "B-brother... I didn’t know Yan Wuhen... I didn’t know he was—"

"You didn’t know he was special to Yan Wuhen?" Rong Yue cut in.

Then he let out a low, dark, unamused laugh.

He rose to his feet, lifting the blade and stepping forward.

The steel pressed lightly against Rong Chen’s throat.

Rong Chen froze, eyes flooded with horror.

"I wouldn’t have cared," Rong Yue said again, his voice dropping. "Not about the humans. Not about the phoenix."

He leaned closer. "But Yan Wuhen."

His jaw clenched. "That fox erased empathy from himself long ago. And yet—"

Rong Yue’s eyes burned. "He bound that phoenix with a spirit mate chain."

Rong Chen stared at him in shock. "Wha..what?"

Rong Yue exhaled slowly.

"You are stripped of your authority to grant punishment or command guards," he said flatly. "Until I decide otherwise."

Rong Chen stiffened.

"That is for nearly provoking an unnecessary war," Rong Yue continued, turning away. "And for causing a rift with a valuable acquaintance."

With that, he lifted his sword, resting it against his shoulder, and left the inner chamber.

The guards bowed as he passed through the hall, none daring to meet his eyes.

Rong Yue entered his sleeping chamber in silence.

He placed the blade back among the others on the rack. Only then did his gaze shift to the bed.

Two tiger beasts lay beneath the covers. One male, one female their bare skin visible in the low light. They were barely awake. Watching him carefully.

"Why aren’t you asleep?" Rong Yue asked coolly. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢

Before either could answer, his attention shifted to the doorway.

Rong Chao stood there, hesitating.

"I was waiting for you to finish with Rong Chen," he said.

Rong Yue nodded and walked toward him.

"Is something wrong?" he asked. "Your friend is safe.. i think."

Rong Chao hesitated, then spoke carefully. "Is he really bound to Yan Wuhen? By a spirit mate chain?"

Rong Yue shrugged. "Yes."

"...Is that bad?"

A soft chuckle left Rong Yue.

"That depends on perspective," he replied. "To most, it signifies ownership. A deeper bond."

His eyes darkened slightly. "I see it as cowardice, impatience. But Wuhen has never been patient fox."

Rong Chao pursed his lips, thinking, then nodded.

"I’ll let you rest, then. Thank you for coming when I called." He frowned faintly. "Rong Chen disgusts me."

Rong Yue smirked. "You really like this phoenix, don’t you?"

Rong Chao stiffened. "No.. I mean.. he’s strange, yes, but he doesn’t deserve this. Still, he doesn’t stand a chance against Lan Meishan." He flushed. "Lan Meishan owns my heart."

Rong Yue grimaced.

"I don’t know what you see in that unsettling prince," he muttered. "But if you want to befriend the phoenix, you’ll have to speak to him. Speak, Achao."

He placed a hand on Rong Chao’s shoulder and turned him toward the exit.

"Now go. I need my beauty sleep."

Rong Chao laughed. "Good night, Senior brother."

When the door closed, Rong Yue returned his gaze to the bed.

The two figures there were fully awake now.

"Your Highness," the female said softly, her smile shy as she met his gaze.

Rong Yue’s lips twitched as she crawled toward him. He reached out, fingers brushing her cheek in a familiar gesture.

"I apologize for taking too long, Jian."

"We were willing to wait," the male replied calmly. "It seems Rong Chen caused you some trouble."

"That he did, Dajing," Rong Yue murmured.

He sat on the edge of the bed. Jian immediately moved behind him, her hands settling on his shoulders, her bosoms pressing against his back.

"He made you so stressed, your highness," she purred.

Dajing rose from the mattress and knelt between Rong Yue’s legs, looking up at him with devotion.

Rong Yue ruffled his hair absentmindedly.

"But that’s why you two are here... to relieve my stress," he said lightly. "Aren’t you?"

"Always, Your Highness," Jian whispered near his ear.

"Always..." Dajing smiled and lifted a hand, his thumb brushing Rong Yue’s lower lip.

And then, for just a heartbeat, Dajing’s face was no longer Dajing’s.

White hair. Violet eyes. A slow, knowing smile.

Rong Yue froze. Then his lips curved, sharp and amused. "How troublesome."