Transmigration:The Villain Wants A Happy End Without His BeastHusbands-Chapter 44: Not A Slave

Watching each Divine Beast clan present their gifts to Jun Haoxuan made Ningyan increasingly uneasy.

A strange nausea curled in his stomach. Not strong enough to make him vomit, but persistent. Like something building slowly, patiently, waiting for the right moment.

The serpent clan presented their gifts right after Rong Yue.

Lan Yunlai remained seated, watching everything with cold attentiveness.

Servants and guards bowed deeply as Lan Meishan stepped forward, presenting the gifts with practiced elegance. Jun Haoxuan observed him carefully.

Ningyan couldn’t help wondering whether Jun Haoxuan had been close to the sibling who died. Whether he resented Lan Meishan for it.

But Jun Haoxuan simply rose, accepted the gift boxes, and handed them to his guards.

The two beast princes bowed to one another with flawless courtesy before Lan Meishan returned to his seat.

Then Yan Wuhen and Yan Wuyin stood.

Their guards followed immediately.

Ningyan didn’t rise at first.

He didn’t want to.

The pause drew attention.

He felt eyes on him from every direction before he reluctantly stood as well.

"No. Stay," Wuhen said quietly.

Relief washed over Ningyan so strongly it almost made his knees weak.

He remained seated as Wuhen and Wuyin approached Jun Haoxuan. The Azure Dragon prince lifted his gaze. And for a brief, unsettling moment, his eyes met Ningyan’s.

Ningyan’s heart skipped. He looked away immediately.

Jun Haoxuan did the same, accepting the gifts from Wuhen. They bowed to one another, and soon after, the ceremony began to dissolve into quiet movement.

Dragon clans filed out. Tiger beasts followed.

Dragon servants approached Lan Meishan and Lan Yunlai, bowing deeply before escorting them from the hall.

"It seems the snakes are staying over," Wuyin said, frowning slightly.

"As expected," Wuhen replied. "Lan Yunlai likely wants a private conversation with Jun Haoxuan."

"Or maybe he wants to apologize for having Jun Haoxuan’s little sister killed," Wuyin said with a smile.

Wuhen snorted. "He didn’t kill her. She was already dying."

"You can’t expect a healer to succeed every time," Ningyan muttered. "It wasn’t the healer’s fault. Or the serpent clan’s."

Wuyin shot him a sharp glare but said nothing.

Wuhen, however, studied Ningyan more closely.

His face had gone pale. The color had drained from his lips. Sweat beaded faintly at his forehead.

"Yan’er," Wuhen said, pressing a hand to his forehead. "Are you alright?"

Ningyan frowned. "Yes. Why?"

"You look like you’re about to lose consciousness."

Ningyan opened his mouth. "But I feel—"

"Yan Wuhen." Jun Haoxuan’s voice cut in sharply.

He stood before them now, two guards at his back.

Wuyin and the fox guards immediately rose and bowed. Dragon guards bowed to Wuhen in return.

"Jun Haoxuan. You look pleasant," Yan Wuhen said with a sneer, not sparing Haoxuan a glance.

Jun Haoxuan’s gaze lingered openly on Ningyan before he smiled, polite and composed every bit the dignified divine beast prince.

"So it’s true," he said calmly. "You’ve taken a phoenix as your lover. I didn’t expect a spirit mate chain, though."

Wuyin’s eyes widened. "A spirit mate chain?" he asked, staring at Wuhen in disbelief. "You went that far?"

Jun Haoxuan’s attention returned to Ningyan. "He’s beautiful," he said mildly. "I see why you trapped him. Though... a little pale."

His golden gaze sharpened slightly. "Are you alright?"

Ningyan blinked. "Yes."

Wuyin immediately stood. "I’ll wait outside with the guards."

Wuhen nodded. Wuyin left swiftly, the guards following him out. The vast hall fell quiet.

Jun Haoxuan hummed thoughtfully and gestured for his own guards to leave as well. They obeyed, leaving only the three of them.

He didn’t sit.

"What did you want to speak to me about?" he asked.

Anticipation rushed through Ningyan’s veins.

He actually wanted to meet the phoenix.

"There have been rumors," Wuhen said evenly, "that you keep a phoenix as a slave. I have a phoenix as my lover. You know how rare phoenixes are, exploited, hunted, forced into hiding. It would be good for him to have company."

Jun Haoxuan chuckled softly, as though Wuhen had made a joke.

The smile on Wuhen’s face vanished.

"Company?" Jun Haoxuan repeated. "If that’s what you want, then break the spirit mate chain."

His eyes flicked briefly to Ningyan.

"Knowing you," he continued calmly, "he didn’t consent to it, did he?"

Ningyan’s heart skipped violently.

Wuhen met his gaze with a dull stare. "I don’t believe you have the right to question my actions, Jun Haoxuan."

Jun Haoxuan’s expression cooled. "Because you like to do whatever you want and expect everyone else to accept it."

He turned away abruptly.

"Unfortunately, I won’t be telling you anything. Return to your manor."

"Wait!" The word slipped out of Ningyan’s mouth before he could stop himself.

Jun Haoxuan paused, then turned back slowly. "Yes?"

"May I see your phoenix," Ningyan said, voice steady despite the pounding in his chest. "Just me."

Jun Haoxuan studied him carefully now. "She’s not a slave."

Ningyan’s eyes widened. "Then... who is she?"

Jun Haoxuan’s gaze shifted to Yan Wuhen, who was watching him with a distinctly unimpressed expression.

"Why," Jun Haoxuan asked calmly, "did you allow Yan Wuhen of all beasts to trap you?"

Ningyan’s eyes widened. "What?"

"You heard me."

Wuhen scoffed. "Why are you asking him that?" he said, placing a hand over his chest in mock offense. "You make it sound like I’m some kind of evil beast."

Both Ningyan and Jun Haoxuan stared at him flatly.

Wuhen rolled his eyes before turning to Ningyan, his tone softening. "Don’t listen to him, Yan’er. I’m good to you..."

He cupped Ningyan’s cheek, thumb brushing gently against his skin.

"Am I not?"

Ningyan swallowed hard.

He looked back at Jun Haoxuan, who was watching him closely now. Those pure gold, reptilian eyes sharp and unwavering.

"I..." Ningyan hesitated. "I didn’t have a choice. I was weak. My core—"

"Your core?" Jun Haoxuan interrupted, interest sparking. "You’re the so-called coreless phoenix everyone’s been gossiping about? The one who stabbed his brother?"

Of course.

"Yes," Ningyan said quietly.

Goosebumps rippled down his spine as Wuhen’s fingers trailed from his cheek to his neck.

"...Though that description," he added stiffly, "needs to stop."

Jun Haoxuan hummed. "It likely will. I can feel your presence clearly. You are very much a phoenix beast."

Ningyan froze.

At the same moment, Wuhen’s fingers stilled.

His hand slid down and pressed firmly against Ningyan’s abdomen.

Ningyan’s heart slammed violently in his chest.

"...Interesting," Wuhen murmured. "It’s pulsing freely."

Ningyan’s breath hitched. Tears burned behind his eyes.

He wasn’t damaged anymore.

Jun Haoxuan observed the exchange silently before speaking again.

"Hm." His gaze returned to Ningyan. "Then you now have a choice."

His voice was calm.

"You may stay here, caged by a selfish, psychotic nine-tailed fox..."

Wuhen’s eyes darkened.

"...or you may leave," Jun Haoxuan continued evenly, "and walk freely as my disciple."

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A/n: From tomorrow, I shall be updating four to five Chapters daily.

Thank you so much for your supports! ^^