Transmigration:The Villain Wants A Happy End Without His BeastHusbands-Chapter 27: You Can Eat Me

It did not take Ningyan long to realize that from the very moment he had met Meishan, the snake beast prince had been able to see the spirit mate chain.

That much was clear.

But what Ningyan couldn’t understand was how did Meishan know the other end was connected to Yan Wuhen?

The thought lingered in his mind as he walked around the compound.

He had wanted to look for Tu Lanyin, to show her that he was fine, but the fox manor was far away, and he was already running late for lectures. In the end, he turned toward the classroom instead.

The moment he entered, Ningyan felt it.

Curious gazes followed him as he slipped into a seat at the back. He glanced around instinctively, searching for Rong Chao, but the tiger beast was nowhere to be seen.

Hours passed. And the students quietly read the scrolls the teacher had handed out.

Ningyan ignored them entirely.

Instead, he pulled out the books and scrolls Meishan had given him and began reading.

One page held a bold illustration of a beast core, followed by depictions of various divine beasts in their true forms. Tigers. Lions. Dragons.

He flipped forward until he reached the avian section.

Sparrows. Vermilion birds. Phoenixes.

Ningyan’s lips pressed together.

Phoenixes were rare. Ridiculously so.

From what he remembered of the novel, Ningyan was a phoenix born of a phoenix father and a pure-blooded phoenix mother. His mother was long dead.

He frowned and read more closely.

According to ancient texts, phoenixes were once the strongest of all divine beasts until jealousy led to bloodline contamination. What began as corruption eventually became accepted practice.

"No wonder the heir of the Phoenix Clan is a fire serpent," Ningyan muttered under his breath, distaste clear in his tone.

His gaze dropped to the method described beneath the passage.

Core Strength Sharing.

To strengthen a damaged core, one had to draw strength from another beast. It was safest when the donor was a divine beast; otherwise, a damaged core could drain all the qi of an ordinary beast, leading to severe injury or death.

Ningyan inhaled sharply, his fingers curling.

"...Then what happens to the divine beast who helps?" he whispered.

He flipped through the pages quickly, but there was no answer.

Nothing.

With a frown, he returned to reading until a familiar voice interrupted him.

"Can I sit with you?"

Ningyan snapped his head up.

Rong Chao stood there.

Unlike Rong Yue, his golden hair and softened features gave him a gentler presence, though the sternness of their bloodline still lingered in his eyes.

"...Uh," Ningyan blinked. "Sure."

Rong Chao smiled faintly and slid into the seat next to Ningyan. He glanced at what Ningyan was reading, though he did not seem particularly interested, then pulled out his own scroll and opened it.

Ningyan tilted his head, curious.

"So... um... your brother almost killed me," he said casually, testing the waters.

Rong Chao’s silver eyes widened. Ningyan offered a silly, apologetic smile, raising his hands as if caught in a minor crime.

"Oh, I don’t hold a grudge," he said softly. "Honestly... I’m just still trying to process how I got caught so fast. One moment I was out, the next, boom! surrounded."

Rong Chao forced a polite smile, his canines flashing faintly. "Senior brother said you’re fine... and Yan Wuhen—"

Before he could finish, Ningyan had moved reflexively, covering Rong Chao’s mouth with his hand. His eyes darted around the room, scanning for prying ears. The other students stared, but he couldn’t tell if they’d caught the name.

Clenching his teeth, Ningyan looked back at Rong Chao, who stared at him in surprise.

Ningyan let out a nervous laugh and released him.

"You seem to know a lot now," he said, voice low, "but I’d rather you not talk about it."

Rong Chao nodded slowly, accepting it without argument. Ningyan returned a small smile. Rong Chao wasn’t mentioned in the novel, just like Tu Lanyin.

He had really altered the story... but was that good or bad? Ningyan didn’t know yet.

They ended up studying together. Ningyan found himself asking questions, and Rong Chao patiently answered each one. By the end of the day, Ningyan felt lighter, understanding the lectures far better with Rong Chao’s guidance.

As they left the classroom, Rong Chao asked casually, "Are you coming to the Dance of the Dragons Festival?"

Ningyan paused. The festival wasn’t in the original plot.

"What is it about?" he asked, curiosity piqued.

"It’s a celebration of the dragons," Rong Chao explained. "The only one that actually brings them together. They invited the other divine beast families too. You’ll come, right?"

Ningyan gave a nervous laugh. "I... don’t think so." He didn’t want to be in the same space as all the male leads at once.

"Why not?" Rong Chao asked genuinely, his curiosity clear. "I only started attending the academy recently, but I was at last year’s celebration. It was phenomenal."

Ningyan could see the excitement in his eyes. Everything about this world still felt magical.

"I’ll think about it," he said, looking up at the sky. "Hopefully, I won’t fall sick before then."

The sun had begun its descent, painting the horizon in soft gold.

Outside, disciples and students roamed freely, their beast traits fully visible. Their colors, auras, and aesthetics were all as unique as the individuals themselves.

Ningyan pursed his lips, taking it all in.

"Do you have a teacher? A private teacher who helps with cultivation?" he asked Rong Chao, curiosity sparkling in his eyes.

"Not yet," Rong Chao replied. "First years aren’t entitled. We can only be chosen by the seniors."

"Why can your brother choose you? You’re a divine beast prince too."

Rong Chao shook his head, a small smile tugging at his lips. "But I’m not strong, heh. And it’d be biased if I became my senior brother’s disciple. I have someone in mind, though... maybe I’ll ask him during the Dance of the Dragons Festival."

"Oh?" Ningyan’s smile widened, the excitement of a high school girl creeping into his tone. "Who?"

Rong Chao’s face flushed red. "Lan Meishan," he said shyly.

Ningyan’s eyes widened in surprise. "Really?"

Rong Chao nodded earnestly. "He’s the smartest beast I’ve ever known. I’ve admired him all my life. To gain knowledge from him would be an honor."

Ningyan nodded slowly, pressing the scrolls and book against his chest. "He is, isn’t he?"

Rong Chao gasped softly. "Oh no, I have to go. I have sparring lessons with senior brother. See you tomorrow!"

Before Ningyan could respond, Rong Chao dashed down the stairs, leaving him staring after him until he was out of sight.

Ningyan began to make his way back but soon, he became lost.

Eventually, he stumbled into a garden, a small sanctuary filled with softly falling flower petals and blooming flowers scattered across the ground.

He felt the spiritual energy of the place. It was melancholy, solemn, almost sacred.

Forcing a small smile, Ningyan walked toward the largest tree in the center and sat beneath it. He leaned back, relaxing against its trunk, removing one scroll to read while setting the others beside him.

He felt out of place. He had no power. No family. No bloodline backing. Beyond Yan Wuhen’s intensity, shelter, and provision, he had nothing in this world that belonged to him.

But he had a chance.

With Meishan’s help, he could repair his core, start cultivation, and climb high enough to challenge Mingze. He could take the phoenix clan throne instead. Mingze would only burn it to the ground with his disgusting personality.

He could find other phoenixes too... ones more distant from his father, ones who might be allies.

He wanted to be strong enough to not need the male leads.

But to do that, he needed them.

And it was for the right path. Not the dark path. Not the villain path.

No bad ending...

Ningyan sighed and dropped the scroll, looking up at the tree and froze.

Yan Wuhen was seated there, grinning down at him like a maniac.

His heart slammed against his ribs, a cold wave of horror filling his chest.

He let out a sharp scream, leaping to his feet and stepping back, shaking as he pointed at Yan Wuhen. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞

"What... how? Why are you here?!"

Yan Wuhen laughed softly, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "I’m always here."

Ningyan grimaced, lowering his hand. "That’s not an answer."

"Lanyin reported she lost you," Yan Wuhen said casually, leaning slightly forward. "But then she found you attending lectures, and I got worried."

"So you’ve been following me?" Ningyan’s voice trembled.

"No." Yan Wuhen’s grin widened. "This is my teacher’s garden. I cultivate here. I was behind the tree, you didn’t even notice me."

Ningyan’s eyes widened. "Really?"

Yan Wuhen gave him a fond, almost mischievous smile.

And then he vanished.

A flicker of red-gold light lingered for a heartbeat, and in the next second, he was right in front of Ningyan, one arm sliding around his waist, his fox ears twitching faintly.

"Fate always brings us together, Yan’er," he murmured.

Ningyan gave him a glum look, pressing his stomach. "I’m hungry."

Yan Wuhen’s grin widened, sharp and predatory. "You can eat me."

"Ha. Ha. Ha." Ningyan deadpanned, and that only made Yan Wuhen smile wider.