Transmigration:The Villain Wants A Happy End Without His BeastHusbands-Chapter 36: Not Strangers Anymore

"Are you sure you’re okay?" Rong Yue asked for what felt like the tenth time.

Ningyan forced a smile onto his lips. Those same lips smeared with blood. His white robes were no better, crimson stains blooming across the fabric.

"Yes. Very much," he replied lightly. "Just a small accident."

He deliberately avoided looking at the stern guards standing behind Rong Yue.

Rong Yue studied him more closely. "If you’re being bullied, why don’t you let Wuhen handle it?"

Ningyan’s eyes widened. "Why... no. No, that’s not necessary. I can handle it myself."

In the novel, Yan Wuhen and Rong Yue were never described as being close. Yet now that he saw them in reality... they clearly were. The realization made Ningyan uneasy and curious.

"You don’t seem to be handling it very well," Rong Yue said calmly, his eyes flicking to the blood. "I could help."

Absolutely not.

Ningyan was already trying to escape one male lead. He had another hovering far too close in the name of helping. And now this one wanted to get involved too?

No. No. Absolutely not.

He stepped back quickly and bowed as low as he could. "I’m grateful for the offer, Your Highness, but I would rather not burden you."

Rong Yue’s lips twitched at the sight of the Phoenix bowing so deeply before him.

"It’s hardly surprising you’re being treated unfairly," he said evenly. "You wouldn’t be a burden. You’re Chao’s friend, aren’t you?"

Ningyan nearly cursed aloud.

He straightened abruptly. "Oh... would you look at the time!" he said, far too loudly. "I’m running late. Goodbye!"

And with that, he turned and bolted.

Rong Yue watched as Ningyan disappeared behind a wall.

"Shall we retrieve him?" one of the guards asked.

"No," Rong Yue replied. "Let him go."

They continued on their way.

Ningyan, meanwhile, reached the imperial library in record time. His eyes darted around anxiously as he slowed.

"Lan Meishan? Your Highness?" His voice echoed through the vast space. "Hello?"

No response.

Frowning, he followed the path Meishan had taken the other day, stopping in front of the massive doors leading to the cultivation space.

He pressed his palm against the surface. 𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂

Emerald light bloomed beneath his hand.

Ningyan’s eyes widened as the doors responded, sliding open with a low hum.

He stepped inside.

The doors sealed shut behind him.

At the edge of the water, he spotted Lan Meishan’s clothes and glasses neatly set aside. The pool before him looked deceptively small but he knew better.

It was far deeper than it appeared.

Ningyan swallowed and took a cautious step toward the water.

It moved gently, thin wisps of steam curling into the air. Warm enough to fog the stone.

"Meishan?" he called softly.

The water stirred.

Lan Meishan surfaced, emerald serpent eyes glowing faintly in the dim space. Dark strands of hair clung to the side of his face, slick with water, black scales visible along his neck and shoulder.

He blinked once. "You’re back."

"And you’re... swimming."

"I expended a significant amount of spiritual energy," Meishan replied, voice low and even, the words slightly drawn out. His gaze shifted from Ningyan’s face to his robes.

"...What happened to you?"

Ningyan hesitated. "I.. I don’t want to talk about it. Can we start the recovery session now?"

"Yes." Meishan nodded without pause. "I expected you much earlier. I was disappointed when you left with the fox."

Ningyan’s eyes widened, then he smiled faintly as Meishan moved closer to the edge of the pool, water sliding down his bare upper body. Scales traced his arm and disappeared beneath the surface.

"Wuhen is intense," Ningyan said lightly. "He would’ve punished me."

Meishan tilted his head. "Then why are you with him?"

"...Because he abducted me," Ningyan said, exhausted honesty slipping through, "and bound me with a spirit mate chain."

Meishan processed that. Then stated, calmly, "He desires you. You do not desire him."

Ningyan exhaled. "I think I might be developing Stockholm syndrome."

"I can help you break it."

Ningyan stiffened. "You can? It’s possible?"

"No." Meishan said immediately.

"...Then what are you suggesting?"

"I can interfere with the bond," Meishan replied. "Corrupt it. Restructure it into a mate bond between you and me."

Ningyan stared. "In other words... you’d transfer it to yourself. I wouldn’t be bound to Wuhen anymore."

Meishan nodded once.

"That’s not better," Ningyan said slowly. "I’d still be trapped."

"Yes." Meishan agreed. "Then you are still trapped."

Ningyan’s shoulders slumped.

"Let’s begin recovery," Meishan continued, already turning back toward the water. "Remove your clothes."

Ningyan recoiled instantly, his arms crossing over his chest. "What the hell?! Why?!"

Meishan blinked at him, genuinely confused.

"The water facilitates spiritual repair," he said. "Clothing will interfere. And I am still recovering myself, so the process is more potent this way."

"So i really have to take off my clothes?" Ningyan asked.

Meishan considered him for a moment. "I don’t think we are strangers anymore."

Ningyan stared at him.

Meishan looked completely unfazed.

In the original novel, Meishan had been... fixated with his body. Obsessive in ways that had nothing to do with healing. But the plot had already shifted so far from its rails that Ningyan couldn’t rely on precedent anymore.

Maybe... just maybe... this was different.

He exhaled slowly and reached for his belt.

He set his flute aside first. Then his robe. Shoes last.

Each movement was cautious. Meishan didn’t look away. Not because of hunger, but because he simply didn’t see a reason to.

Ningyan had never wanted to read someone’s thoughts more in his life.

As his hands hesitated at the waistband of his trousers, Meishan spoke.

"If you are too uncomfortable," he said calmly, "this may be enough."

Ningyan frowned. "I don’t like the word ’maybe’."

Meishan shrugged. "Then continue."

Ningyan pulled the trousers free.

Meishan’s emerald eyes dimmed slightly as they traced over him. He was not lingering, not embarrassed. He was... assessing.

"Those markings around your ankles," Meishan said. "They resemble wings."

Ningyan glanced down, lifting one foot. "I was born with them."

"You may enter the water," Meishan said. "Do not be concerned. I will not allow you to drown."

"Well," Ningyan muttered, forcing a thin smile, "that’s reassuring."

He stepped forward.

Meishan leaned back into the pool, extending a hand. Ningyan placed his palm against it, then lowered one leg into the water.

It was warm, deep, sudden.

The moment Meishan’s grip tightened, the world shifted.

They submerged together.

The water darkened, swallowing sound and light. Meishan held his gaze as an emerald glow flared around his body, bones and flesh reshaping smoothly.

When the light faded, a massive serpent occupied the space where Meishan had been.

Its coils curved around Ningyan, glowing scales winding securely around his limbs and torso, not constricting, but absolute.

Ningyan released a startled breath.

He could breathe.

Then those luminous emerald eyes met his and everything went black.