Transmigration:The Villain Wants A Happy End Without His BeastHusbands-Chapter 89: Two Birds. One Stone

Rong Yue sat upon the head throne of his manor as three tiger beastmen entered the chamber. One of them wore a mask. They approached in silence and bowed in perfect sync.

His blue feline eyes narrowed. "Any news?"

"Yes, Your Highness." The tiger beastman at the front lifted his head slightly. "The bounty has been confirmed. Approximately two hundred assassins have set out to kill Su Ningyan."

Rong Yue’s expression didn’t change.

"Only around twenty are confirmed to be wielding demon tools," the tiger continued. "They’ve openly announced it, boasting about their power. The rest remain unverified for now."

Rong Yue let out a slow, measured sigh. His head tilted slightly, palm resting against his cheek as he processed the information.

"Well," he said calmly, "that is inconvenient."

The tiger beastman bowed deeply.

Ningyan was in far more danger than anticipated. Two hundred assassins was only the visible number. There were always more lurking in the shadows.

Rong Yue’s gaze shifted to the tiger beastman on the right. "Have Rong Chao escorted to Earth City immediately. If he resists—"

His lips curved faintly.

"—knock him out."

"Yes, Your Highness." The tiger bowed and left at once.

Rong Yue turned his attention back to the remaining two. "You may go."

The second tiger bowed and exited, leaving only the masked one behind.

Rong Yue rose from the throne and descended the steps with unhurried ease, never once taking his eyes off the masked figure. He stopped directly in front of him.

"What," he asked coolly, cocking his head, "is a dragon doing in a tiger’s den?"

The beastman stiffened, then removed the mask.

In an instant, the tiger ears and tail vanished. Deep blue horns curved from his head, silver reptilian eyes brightening with amusement. His build shifted, settling into a lean, shorter frame, and his clothes morphed into a vivid blue robe.

"How did you know?" Shenzhen asked, clearly entertained.

Rong Yue’s eyes narrowed. "Dragons have a scent."

Then, more sharply, "Now tell me. What are you doing here?"

Shenzhen grinned at Rong Yue. "I came here to satisfy my curiosity. I didn’t expect to hear that my friend has two hundred assassins hunting him."

His expression creased briefly with something close to irritation flashing across his silver eyes before the grin returned.

Rong Yue said nothing. He only stared, his gaze sharp enough that Shenzhen instinctively stepped back, restoring a respectful distance.

"My brother mentioned that you snuck into the manor during the Dance of Dragons," Shenzhen continued lightly. "I wish I’d attended. But Wind City was far more entertaining than standing around pretentious beasts pretending to be allies after trying to kill one another, only to go back to killing each other afterward."

Rong Yue’s lips twitched. "So you know why I snuck in."

Shenzhen’s amusement faded, replaced by a more serious look.

"The Dragon Crystal," he said plainly. "That’s what you want, right?"

Rong Yue nodded. "And how do you know this?"

Shenzhen sighed. "Let’s call it an educated guess."

Rong Yue tilted his head slightly. "Are you here to satisfy your curiosity," he asked calmly, "or mine?"

Shenzhen exhaled. "The Lans are here to take the Dragon Crystal by force. They won’t care if the academy is destroyed in the process."

His eyes flicked briefly toward the doors. "But you already know that. You wouldn’t be sending Rong Chao away otherwise."

Then he straightened. "So, let’s make a proposal."

Rong Yue raised a brow. "Go on."

Shenzhen lifted the mask in his hand. "This was a gift from my Yunyi-jie. Illusion masks made by nine-tailed foxes. There are only a handful left in the world."

Rong Yue’s eyes sharpened.

"I can help you hide the Dragon Crystal," Shenzhen said evenly. "Remove it from the academy entirely. You can retrieve it whenever you wish."

He paused, then smiled. "In return, you help get me engaged to Bai Ziru."

Rong Yue scoffed. "Bai Ziru?"

"I know," Shenzhen said quickly. "Unexpected. But you tigers have close ties with the wolves, and you, my brother, Lan Meishan, Yan Wuhen, Yan Qinghe and her lover, and Bai Ziru are the only ones at the Saint Beast stage in the academy. It makes things... smooth."

Rong Yue chuckled, low and incredulous.

"So you came all this way to ask me to help you get engaged to a beast who spends most of his life in seclusion, in exchange for a crystal that could start a war?"

"Yes," Shenzhen said cheerfully. Then his eyes darkened just a touch.

"But mostly because the Lans won’t get it. I want to see their faces when they fail."

Rong Yue smirked.

"You don’t just want to hide it from them," he said softly. "You want to hide it from me, too."

Shenzhen shrugged lightly. "Two birds. One stone."

Rong Yue let out a slow breath. "If I secure the engagement for you," he asked evenly, "will you tell me where you hide the crystal?"

Shenzhen’s smile widened, bright and unapologetic.

"That’s the point of the deal, Your Highness. I hide the crystal, it throws everyone off guard. And I tell you because you’re giving me something I want."

With that, he slipped the mask over his face.

In an instant, his form morphed, his lean dragon features reshaping into the tall, solid build of a tiger beast guard. Without another word, he turned and walked away.

Rong Yue scoffed softly after him, then returned to his throne, resting his elbow against the armrest, eyes dark with thought.

^°^

Meanwhile, Shenzhen crossed the academy grounds, heading toward the Azure Dragon Manor, still cloaked in his false form.

He looked up at the sky, serene and glowing as the sun began its descent. When suddenly, a figure darted across the rooftops above.

"Huh?"

Shenzhen leapt onto the roof in one smooth motion, narrowing his eyes just in time to see Ningyan vault onto another rooftop, then disappear from sight entirely.

A quiet smile tugged at his lips.

"Poor Ningyan," he murmured. "I wish you all the safety in the future you’re about to face."

He reached up and slowly removed the mask. His true form flowed back into place, blue horns gleaming faintly, silver eyes softening.

"I can help you kill some of those assassins, you know," he added lightly, as if speaking to thin air. "You are my dearest friend."

Then, with a small giggle, he continued, "And you might even become family. I think my brother is interested in you."

Still smiling, Shenzhen turned and sprinted off, vanishing toward his manor as the sky darkened behind him.