Transmigration:The Villain Wants A Happy End Without His BeastHusbands-Chapter 68: How Long Can He Stay Celibate?

Qinghe frowned after him, then turned and returned to her chambers.

She found Lanyin just stepping out of the bathing chamber. Her body was wrapped in white fabric, her skin glowing softly, damp hair clinging to her cheeks. Her bunny ears perked up as her silver eyes locked onto Qinghe.

Qinghe smiled and approached her.

"My petal," she whispered.

Lanyin’s face flushed bright pink as Qinghe wrapped her arms around her and pulled her close. Their bodies pressed together, Qinghe’s face burying itself in the crook of Lanyin’s neck.

"My father once told me," Qinghe murmured, her voice low and tender, "that when he met my mother, her scent was the sweetest thing he had ever known. The moment he met her, he knew she was the one. And it was the same for her. Fated mates."

"And you..." She tightened her hold slightly. "I didn’t feel any confusion. I didn’t question why you.. who were supposed to be prey, became my mate."

Lanyin’s eyes widened. She instinctively grabbed the sleeves of Qinghe’s dress before lifting a hand to brush over Qinghe’s ears.

"Why are you telling me this, Qinghe?" she asked quietly.

Qinghe stayed silent for a long moment.

"I think," she finally said, "it’s the same for Wuhen and his pet."

"I think so too," Lanyin replied without hesitation.

Qinghe sighed. "I’m worried about him. How can a beast core that was damaged suddenly be repaired? If he’s a threat to Wuhen—"

"I’ve been keeping an eye on him, Qinghe," Lanyin interrupted gently, a light laugh in her voice. "Ningyan isn’t a threat. He’s young. He’s trying to find his way. And trust me, he doesn’t want to be with Brother Wuhen."

"That’s exactly what worries me," Qinghe said, her expression darkening. "A nine-tailed fox only loves once in their lifetime. I know he might still be infatuated with Rong Yue, like he’s been since we were children but with his phoenix... he might truly love him."

Her voice softened. "He isn’t strong enough. If anything happens to him, Wuhen will become nothing but a shell."

Lanyin smiled and gently rubbed Qinghe’s back. "You’re not worried about him ruining Brother Wuhen’s reputation anymore?"

Qinghe pulled back and cupped Lanyin’s cheek, watching the blush bloom across her face.

"He’s proven himself worthy."

Lanyin laughed. "If you say so."

Qinghe smiled. "Come. Let’s bathe."

She released Lanyin’s cheek, took her hand, and led her back toward the bathing chamber. Even though Lanyin had just finished bathing, she only smiled and followed without protest.

^°••°^

Waking up with the frantic thudding of his heart, Ningyan lay still for several long seconds before realizing he had fallen asleep in Yunyi’s chamber.

She was slumped over the table, fast asleep.

He shot off the bed at once, alert, then carefully lifted her and carried her to where he had been lying. She didn’t stir as he laid her down, which surprised him. Maybe she felt safe knowing he was family.

He gently covered her with the blanket, retrieved his flute from the table, his notes still tucked inside his robe and quietly slipped out of the chamber, stepping into the lantern-lit halls of the manor.

He wondered briefly if Yan Wuhen was looking for him.

The thought made him frown. Don’t think about that asshole.

He rubbed the back of his neck, feeling the familiar weight of the chain resting against his skin, then cracked his neck slightly to ease the stiffness from sleeping wrong.

The halls were empty with no guards in sight. Then again, who would be foolish enough to sneak in here to try and kill him?

...Maybe the same person who had shot an arrow into his back.

His frown deepened as his fingers brushed the scar at the nape of his neck.

Despite everything, he had felt happy with Yunyi. She had spoken about her childhood with Ruyin. Details the novel had never bothered to explain.

The Han family, it turned out, had once been the ruling family centuries ago. Divine Beasts who governed the land before being scattered by war. Their parents were killed. Yunyi and Ruyin survived by working in brothels, until they were separated when Ruyin became Zhaoyan’s concubine.

Ningyan knew Ruyin was supposed to be his mother. But he didn’t like her very much.

Suddenly, a calm yet suffocating wave of spiritual energy washed over him.

Dragon.

He stopped dead, slowly turning toward the direction the pressure was coming from.

Don’t go, he told himself. Just go back to Yan Wuhen’s manor.

But his legs were already moving.

The aura wasn’t violent. It didn’t rage or threaten.

It simply existed in an ancient, overwhelming, and impossibly present way. Its quiet dominance pressing down on everything in its path.

It led him to massive metal doors engraved with coiling dragons, and Ningyan immediately knew it was a cultivation space.

He raised his hand to touch the doors, but before his fingers could make contact, they opened on their own.

Ningyan blinked in surprise, then stepped inside. The doors closed softly behind him.

His breath caught.

At the center of the space stood a colossal tree. Its leaves were not leaves at all, but blue flames, flickering gently. The ground beneath his feet was unreal. It was as though he were walking across the heavens themselves, stars scattered beneath a glassy sky.

And before the tree...

A vast, translucent blue orb floated in midair, pulsing like a living heart.

Inside it sat a figure in a meditative pose. Jun Haoxuan.

His deep blue horns curved elegantly from his head, his reptilian golden eyes closed. Each pulse of the orb sent waves of power surging outward, rippling through the space. An aura so overwhelming it pressed against every instinct Ningyan possessed.

Ningyan stared up at him, violet eyes wide, lips parted in pure awe.

It was unbelievable even as he stood there witnessing it with his own eyes. No matter how many times he encountered sights like this, the sheer presence of true power never failed to leave him shaken.

Suddenly, Jun Haoxuan’s golden eyes opened.

The orb lowered him gently to the ground, dissolving the moment his feet touched the surface. The glow vanished and Ningyan shamelessly felt his mouth go dry.

Jun Haoxuan was... devastating.

His dark blue hair spilled freely down his back, his robe loose and barely restrained around his body, revealing smooth, hardened muscle beneath.

When he tilted his head slightly, gaze locking onto Ningyan.... Ningyan nearly screamed.

He barely managed to control himself, though the heat flooding his face was impossible to hide. He lifted a hand and gave an awkward little wave.

"I—" He gasped and bowed deeply. "Y-Your Highness! I apologize for interrupting—"

He turned to flee.

In the blink of an eye, Jun Haoxuan was standing directly in front of him.

Ningyan stumbled back with a startled yelp.

"You didn’t interrupt me," Jun Haoxuan said softly. "I was just finishing."

"Oh."

Jun Haoxuan smiled.

Ningyan let out a nervous laugh, fully aware of one undeniable truth.

He was doomed. How long can he stay celibate?