Transmigration:The Villain Wants A Happy End Without His BeastHusbands-Chapter 99: A Beautiful Master

"Beautiful master! Beautiful master!"

A little boy came running toward Ningyan, clutching a pink seashell in his small hands. His sharp hazel eyes narrowed into faint slits when he smiled, and dark scales were visible along the side of his neck.

Ningyan was barefoot, his feet sunk slightly into the sand. A bamboo hat shaded his face, sleeves rolled up as he carried a sack of vegetables freshly picked from the garden.

"Oh?" He stopped, blinking as his gaze fell on the shell. The boy beamed, practically vibrating with excitement.

"Is that for me?"

"Yes!" the boy said proudly. "I found it and decided to give it to you."

Ningyan smiled. He set the sack down, crouched, and carefully accepted the shell, studying it as though it were the greatest treasure in the world. The sight only made the boy grin wider.

"Thank you," Ningyan said softly. "I’ll treasure it forever."

The boy giggled and before Ningyan could fully process it, several other children came rushing toward him, all holding shells.

"Mine is prettier, Beautiful Master!"

"Take mine!"

"No, mine!" 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

"Noooo, mine!"

Ningyan laughed, gently accepting each shell and placing them into the sack. The children soon scattered back toward the shoreline, splashing into the sea and searching eagerly for more treasures.

Many of them already displayed faint beast traits despite not having begun cultivation. Watching them swim effortlessly through the water brought a quiet smile to Ningyan’s face.

He slipped the first shell into his robe before lifting the sack once more and walking away from the shore toward the large house. Beastmen, young and old, worked together there, carrying meat, fish, and vegetables, laughing and chatting as they cooked.

Ningyan set the sack down among the others and rubbed his hands together before slipping away from the crowd. He followed the wooden walkway leading to a narrow bridge, which connected to a small building closest to the water. Behind it stretched an endless view of the blue ocean.

Inside the quiet house, Ningyan stretched before sitting at the table, where a jar of water waited for him. He removed the bamboo hat, revealing white hair that had grown longer, falling just past his shoulders.

He drank it all, then settled into a meditative pose. Eyes closed, palms pressed together, a pleasant wave of white-gold energy flared around his body. He remained like that for hours, cultivating in silence until the noon sun slipped from the sky and began its descent.

Ningyan had grown accustomed to this quiet life in the lower districts of the Water City. He tended the garden in exchange for a place to stay, and the arrangement suited him well. There was no drama here. He dimmed his presence easily, blending in with the others, and even earned spirit crystals, carefully saving them away.

It had been nearly six months since he left that chamber in the main city. Despite keeping a low profile, he still tried to stay informed, slipping into the main city at night with his illusion mask whenever he could.

As for the male leads, there was little dramatic news. What caught his attention most was Jun Haoxuan’s prolonged seclusion following the academy battle, reportedly to strengthen his beast cultivation and attempt an ascension to the divine beast stage.

Lan Meishan, however... there was no news at all.

The silence unsettled Ningyan. He wanted to reach out, but he knew Lan Meishan could take care of himself wherever he was. Still, he couldn’t help but hope he wasn’t with Lan Yunlai.

Lan Yunlai himself had been unusually active. Reports of demon tools surfaced more frequently, along with large-scale beast exterminations. Ningyan paid little mind to it. None of it was his responsibility. He wasn’t a hero, nor a villain.

And he was relieved, deeply so, that none of the male leads seemed to be searching for him.

Life went on.

He had settled into this quiet, undramatic existence, and it was everything he had ever wanted. Whenever he had the chance, he taught the beast children whatever random knowledge came to mind, watching them learn with bright eyes and easy laughter.

Once he finished cultivating for the day, Ningyan decided to bathe at the spirit pool in the nearby hills. He had been using it to strengthen both his body and cultivation, and tonight, no one else would be there. The swimming festival ensured that.

He gathered the things he needed just as a strained voice called from outside.

"Yan Yan?"

Ningyan immediately poked his head out to see an elderly woman standing there, smiling warmly. The sky had already darkened considerably.

"Granny," Ningyan said, stepping toward her.

"I wanted to check on you," the old woman said warmly. "We’re having a swimming competition, and my grandson is really hoping you’ll come."

Ningyan chuckled softly. The elders had been trying to set him up with their children and grandchildren for a while now.

"I’m sorry, Granny. Maybe I’ll stop by around midnight," he replied.

She nodded, smiling so brightly it made her wrinkled face look oddly adorable. After that, she turned and headed back toward the beach, while Ningyan hurried off in the opposite direction, making his way toward the hill.

Suddenly, the old woman stopped short, her expression shifting as if she had just remembered something important.

"Oh."

She turned back but Ningyan was already gone. She pinched her cheeks in frustration, muttering to herself, "I forgot to tell him about that handsome spectacle beast asking after him. Ah... what should I do?"

With a sigh, she continued toward the main beach, where the locals were already gathered, laughing, dancing, and celebrating.

Her eyes soon landed on a black-haired young man dressed in black and white, speaking calmly with the villagers as they gushed over him.

"Ah, young master," she called as she approached.

Meishan turned immediately, his expression softening. "Yes, Granny?"

"It’s about the picture you showed me. Yan Yan—"

"No, Granny. His name is—" Meishan leaned closer and whispered into her ear, "His name is Ningyan."

"Yes, yes, Yan Yan," she said, waving it off as she straightened. Then she leaned closer again and lowered her voice. "Go to the spirit pool by the hill."

Meishan’s eyes widened.

He hadn’t fully believed her when he had asked, and showed her the sketch before but now, certainty settled in his chest. Bowing respectfully, he turned and hurried past her without another word.