Unknown to Jun Haoxuan, Ningyan had followed after him silently and overheard everything.

Including the word. War.

By the time he returned to the chamber, his heart already felt unbearably heavy. And his thoughts were spiraling once more.

Still, he stayed with his children throughout the day.

He played with them. Held them. Stayed close to them as though trying to reassure himself that they were truly still there beside him.

Only when night finally fell did he tuck them carefully into their beds.

Afterward, Ningyan remained alone within the heated bathing pool for a long while, the steam curling around his bare shoulders as he leaned against the edge silently.

The warmth helped calm his thoughts a little. Because no matter how hard he tried, the fear never truly left him.

But one thing became certain in his mind.

He would find Su Mian himself. And Han Yunyi... He was going to kill her.

As for the phoenixes... Ningyan did not want war. He only wanted his daughter back. Safe and alive.

That alone was enough.

He would retrieve Su Mian, make certain she was unharmed, and end everything there.

That was all he wanted.

After changing into fresh robes, Ningyan left his hair loose behind him.

There was still no sign of Jun Haoxuan or Lan Meishan. Which meant they were likely occupied elsewhere.

Honestly, it was perfect timing.

For the past several weeks, his husbands had barely let him out of their sight.

Ningyan lowered his gaze briefly and took a deep breath.

A purple formation spread beneath his feet. And the next instant, he vanished.

When Ningyan reappeared, he was standing before the familiar phoenix manor.

But this time, it no longer felt empty as it did the last time he was here.

The moment he stepped through the gates, he sensed numerous presences hidden throughout the estate.

His expression darkened immediately.

So they truly had been hiding themselves all along. Or perhaps, they had only chosen to appear tonight.

As Ningyan stopped at the bottom of the stone stairs, the grand doors slowly opened.

A tall figure stepped out first.

The man possessed long golden hair adorned with intricate ornaments of gold, green eyes that gleamed beneath the lantern light, and elegant white-and-gold robes that flowed around him like sacred flames.

Two other phoenix beastmen stood behind him silently.

And the smile on the golden-haired man’s face immediately made Ningyan’s skin crawl.

It was almost as though they had been waiting specifically for him.

"We welcome you, Su Ningyan."

Ningyan did not return the greeting. "I want my daughter."

His violet eyes glowed sharply. "Alive. Right now."

The phoenix beastman merely smiled wider. Cruelly. "You do not even wish to embrace your own kin?"

He began descending the stairs slowly, the two phoenixes following several steps behind him. "This is a rare occasion, Su Ningyan. We have waited a very long time for you."

Ningyan’s expression remained cold.

The phoenix beastman’s eyes swept slowly over him from head to toe, glittering with unsettling fascination. "You possess such strength... Such purity... Such grace..."

A soft laugh escaped him. "You truly are of the Han bloodline. The royal bloodline of our phoenix kin."

Ningyan’s gaze sharpened dangerously.

"I said," he repeated coldly, "bring me my daughter."

The smile on the phoenix beastman’s face vanished immediately.

"Su Mian is safe and unharmed," he said calmly. "But we will not reveal her until I finish speaking."

His eyes narrowed. "I understand that you are in pain and in haste, Su Ningyan, but you should learn to show respect to your elders. Do not interrupt me again. And remember, your child’s life is currently in our hands."

For one horrifying second, silence fell.

Then Ningyan let out a cold, dangerous laugh.

The purple glow around his body flared violently like blazing spiritual fire.

He walked forward slowly.

Even though the phoenix beastman towered over him by several inches, Ningyan’s presence alone felt suffocating enough to swallow the entire manor whole.

His violet eyes glowed ominously.

"My daughter," Ningyan said softly, "is the only reason this place is still standing."

He stopped directly before the beastman now.

"So although I know how desperately you wish for my respect..."

His gaze darkened terrifyingly. "I advise you to control your tongue before I rip it out. So... Do not threaten me with my daughter’s life."

The atmosphere instantly became tense.

The phoenixes standing behind their leader visibly stiffened, exchanging wary glances before looking back toward Ningyan again.

Because at that moment, he truly looked terrifying.

The beastman stared at him silently for a long moment before finally nodding once. "Fine."

Ningyan looked at him with complete disgust.

The phoenixes slowly stepped aside afterward, giving him a clear path toward the stairs.

Then the beastman spoke again. "Bring out the child."

The words echoed through the manor.

Ningyan’s heart immediately tightened violently in his chest.

His gaze snapped upward toward the staircase.

And then, a familiar figure appeared.

Han Yunyi.

She descended the stairs slowly. And in her arms was Su Mian.

Ningyan froze. His mind blanked completely.

Because Su Mian was not moving. He could not tell whether she was asleep. Or dead.

The next instant, purple light exploded behind him.

Han Yunyi’s eyes widened in shock.

Before anyone could react, Ningyan had already appeared directly in front of her.

But he did not even spare her a glance. His trembling gaze remained fixed entirely on Su Mian.

Carefully, almost fearfully, he reached out and took her into his arms.

Then raw, overwhelming relief hit him.

The moment he realized she was simply asleep, it felt as though the unbearable weight crushing his chest for weeks had finally shattered apart completely.

Ningyan pulled Su Mian tightly against himself and released a shaky breath.

She was alive.

Slowly, he lifted his head and looked at Han Yunyi. His glowing purple eyes were terrifyingly calm now.

"A-Yan, I..." Han Yunyi immediately parted her lips as though trying to explain herself.

But she never got the chance as her words died inside her throat.

A sharp gasp escaped her instead. Her eyes dilated in shock.

Because Ningyan had already driven his hand directly into her abdomen.

Purple spiritual energy burst violently around his arm. His fingers closed around her beast core. And without hesitation, he crushed it.

Han Yunyi screamed.

A horrifying scream filled with agony echoed through the manor as golden light exploded wildly around her body.

The phoenixes behind her immediately staggered backward in shock.

But Ningyan’s expression did not change. Not even a little.