Transmigration:The Villain Wants A Happy End Without His BeastHusbands-Chapter 42: Jun Haoxuan

Dark gray clouds loomed overhead, the wind sharp and cold, the metallic scent of lightning after rain lingering in the air.

Yet despite the brewing storm, the sky was lit with fireworks. Bursts of flame and color tearing through the darkness.

Laughter, murmurs, and clinking cups echoed throughout the Dragon Manor.

Ningyan felt painfully out of place.

Even dressed in a pristine white robe embroidered with gold, an outfit clearly meant for someone important, he felt like an intruder standing at the center of a world that could crush him without a thought.

Fox guards followed behind them, each carrying ornate boxes of gifts.

Ningyan walked beside Yan Wuhen, with Yan Wuyin trailing just behind his cousin, his expression unreadable.

The dragon guards at the entrance greeted them with respectful bows before leading them into the main ceremonial hall.

The space was vast, illuminated by glowing lanterns suspended high above.

Dragons filled the hall, all immaculately dressed, seated in clearly divided sections.

Each section bore different colors and sigils of different dragon clans, banners hanging behind them. Conversations flowed between tables with politics breathing in every corner.

The guards guided them to the Vermillion Fox Clan’s designated area.

Ningyan sat beside Yan Wuhen. Yan Wuyin took a seat across from them at the long table. Servants arrived swiftly, placing dish after dish of delicacies and jars of wine before them before retreating without a word.

As soon as they left, Ningyan reached for a cup.

He needed something. Anything to calm the restless tension twisting in his chest.

Wuyin cleared his throat sharply.

"You shouldn’t drink now," he said coolly. "Do you want to embarrass the Vermillion Fox Clan?"

Ningyan frowned. "I don’t belong to the Vermillion Fox Clan," he replied flatly. "So I believe I have every right to drink when I want."

Wuyin’s expression darkened. "You—"

Yan Wuhen’s lips twitched. He shot his cousin a warning glance. "Leave him. He can do whatever he wants."

Wuyin scoffed and stood.

"I need air," he muttered. "This place is stifling."

Without another word, he walked away.

Ningyan poured himself a cup and drank it in one go.

Yan Wuhen turned toward him, brushing a loose strand of hair from his face with a gentleness that stood out sharply against the charged atmosphere of the hall.

"Are you alright, Yan’er?"

Ningyan didn’t know if he wanted to answer that question.

He parted his lips, then stopped.

Across the hall, the Tiger Clan was settling into their section.

Rong Yue arrived first, dressed exquisitely in robes of silver and gray. Rong Chao and Rong Chen followed behind him, guards in tow, each carrying ornate boxes of gifts. Ningyan’s gaze lingered for only a second before he looked away.

Then his eyes shifted again.

Lan Meishan had entered the hall.

As usual, he was dressed in refined black and white, his appearance neat and composed, spectacles resting perfectly on his nose. But Ningyan’s attention didn’t stay on him for long.

Behind Meishan walked another man.

Older. Taller. His serpent eyes glowed faintly, the pressure radiating from him so heavy it made the surrounding space feel tight, suffocating. His presence alone made Ningyan’s chest feel constricted.

He looked... Familiar.

Ningyan blinked.

Then he remembered.

The serpent beastman he had seen the first day he met Fang Lingbo. The one who had looked at him as though a flick of his fingers would be enough to erase him from existence.

They took their seats in the Serpent section.

Ningyan looked away immediately.

"Lan Yunlai actually showed up," Yan Wuhen said casually, amusement coloring his voice as he popped a roasted piece of meat into his mouth. "I thought it was just a rumor."

Ningyan felt a cold spread through his body. "...Lan Yunlai?"

Wuhen glanced at him. "Yes. A great divine beast king. Meishan’s tyrant father."

Ningyan kept his eyes on his cup.

In the book, Lan Yunlai was the one who laid the foundation for demon qi.

He hadn’t perfected it. He hadn’t even dared to use it openly.

But Book Su Ningyan had.

He had taken that half-formed power, molded it, refined it until it became something undeniable. Something terrifying. Until it drove him mad.

Before entering the Celestial Beast Academy, Book Ningyan had desperately searched for ways to heal his shattered core. Every chance he got, he snuck out of the manor and sought information brokers from different clans.

He found nothing.

Some mocked him. Others told him to seek the Heavenly Realm.

None of them helped.

Ningyan exhaled slowly, rubbing his temples.

Book Su Ningyan never healed his core naturally.

But he had.

And he’d done it without trading his life away.

Book Ningyan hadn’t been so fortunate.

He’d discovered demon qi only after seducing Lan Meishan after learning that Meishan’s tyrant father was secretly cultivating demon qi alongside beast qi, attempting to create an entirely new realm of power.

An eighth level of beast cultivation.

Ningyan couldn’t help but wonder if Lan Yunlai was doing exactly that right now. Trying to create another level of cultivation.

Originally, there were only seven.

And in this room, Ningyan was certain of one thing. Lan Yunlai was the only one standing at the seventh stage.

He was deliberately suppressing his spiritual energy, holding it back just enough to keep the space from collapsing under his presence.

Even so, the pressure around him felt tight, like the air itself was resisting him.

His thoughts darkened. 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

If he was no longer meant to be the villain... then was Lan Yunlai going to take that role instead?

At that moment, a loud announcement echoed through the hall.

"Great Divine Beast Prince Jun Haoxuan of the Azure Dragon Clan is gracing us with his presence."

Everyone rose to their feet.

Everyone, except the divine beast princes and Lan Yunlai.

Even Rong Chao and Rong Chen stood. Ningyan followed suit, lifting his gaze.

And there he was. Jun Haoxuan.

His long, deep-blue hair was braided at the ends, his tall frame draped in dark azure robes threaded with black. Gold reptilian eyes swept calmly across the hall beneath curved blue horns. His skin gleamed faintly, pale as polished gold.

Handsome wasn’t the right word.

He walked with authority, flanked by two black-haired beastwomen dressed in matching blue, black horns emerging from their foreheads. Guards followed close behind.

Jun Haoxuan took his seat upon the head throne.

The beastwomen remained at his sides, expressions severe.

Everyone clasped their hands and bowed.

Jun Haoxuan smiled.

Ningyan stared.

He couldn’t believe it.

He’d heard the name countless times but seeing Jun Haoxuan like this, in the flesh, not bound by book descriptions, made it real in a way nothing else had.

For the first time, all the male leads were in the same room.

"Welcome," Jun Haoxuan said, his voice deep and pleasant, soothing without being weak. "You may all sit."

The hall obeyed.

Ningyan sat and immediately reached for his wine, taking a slow drink.

"I am grateful to the other divine beast clans for celebrating this festival with us," Jun Haoxuan continued. "And Your Majesty, King Lan Yunlai. It is an honor to have you here. This is the first time you have attended the Dance of Dragons."

Lan Yunlai raised his cup calmly. "Indeed. I didn’t wish to miss today."

"We are honored," Jun Haoxuan replied with a practiced smile.

Lan Yunlai drank, pride evident in his eyes.

Ningyan nearly scoffed.

In the book, Lan Yunlai had died early. That was why he had forgotten about him.

But now?

Now Ningyan understood.

Lan Yunlai needed to be removed.

Because this time... he wasn’t a background tyrant.

He was going to be the villain.