Ningyan blinked in surprise. "A blue moon?"

He instinctively looked toward Shenzhen and Rong Chao.

Shenzhen nodded, unfolding his fan with a smooth flick.

"A blue moon only appears once every several thousand years," he explained. "Its omen is usually auspicious. Much like the red moon."

Ningyan looked back at Su Mian, unable to stop the faint smile that touched his lips.

"Then we shall watch it together tonight," he said warmly. "Your Dad Wuhen is returning before nightfall too, so everyone will watch it together."

Su Mian’s eyes sparkled brightly. "Really?!"

"Mhm."

She immediately burst into delighted laughter before hurrying back out to find her siblings, her cheerful voice echoing throughout the peaceful house.

Silence settled again afterward.

A quieter silence this time.

Ningyan slowly lifted his teacup, taking a small sip while staring out at the endless green fields beyond the window, the gentle wind rustling through the flowers outside.

^°^

Shenzhen and Rong Chao eventually left, and soon the sun began to sink, night slowly draping itself over the abyss serpent clan.

Ningyan busied himself preparing dinner for the children while they played outside. Su Ruo, especially, had become obsessed with learning how to fight. Ever since she had started watching Rong Yue and Wuhen spar, she spent most of her time mimicking their movements. Yet among the two, Ningyan noticed she leaned more toward Wuhen’s style; elegant, fluid movements that looked less like combat and more like dancing.

Ningyan smiled softly as he watched her before turning and heading toward the sleeping chamber. The moment he stepped inside, he sensed a familiar presence and immediately realized Wuhen had returned.

It seemed Wuhen had hidden his aura on purpose because Ningyan found him shirtless, his body covered in bloodied wounds. Some had already begun healing, glowing faintly with red-gold light, while others were still fresh. Wuhen did not even look surprised when Ningyan entered.

Ningyan’s eyes widened. "What happened to you?"

Wuhen let his robe slip from his shoulders and spread his arms before pulling Ningyan into an embrace.

"Oh, Yan’er," he murmured softly. "You make my life so bright."

He buried his face into the crook of Ningyan’s neck, breathing in his scent deeply.

Ningyan gripped his arm tightly, not pulling away at first, until he noticed the fresh whip scars stretching across Wuhen’s back.

He gasped. "What happened to you?!"

Ningyan tried to pull back from the embrace, but Wuhen only tightened his hold.

"I’m fine," Wuhen whispered dismissively.

"You are not fine, and there is no way you would let anyone do this to you unless you allowed it. What is going on, Wuhen?" Ningyan asked, frustration creeping into his voice.

Wuhen slowly released him, a serious expression finally settling over his features.

"Nothing for you to worry about. Like you said, I willingly accepted this. I did something wrong, and I was punished for it."

Ningyan gave him a look that made it very clear he was not going to let the matter go until he got the full story.

Eventually, Wuhen let out a defeated sigh, unwilling to provoke his beautiful husband any further.

"Yan Wuyin," he said. "You remember my darling cousin who loved me enough to try sending me to the afterlife? Unfortunately, he almost sent you there instead."

Despite the humor in his tone, it was obvious he was masking pain.

Ningyan frowned and moved toward the shelves, retrieving the healing herbs Meishan had left in the house in case anyone got injured, especially Su Ruo, who was by far the clumsiest among the children.

"Sit," Ningyan ordered sternly.

Wuhen’s tails swayed excitedly at the command. The moment he obeyed, all nine tails rose behind him, brushing against his cheek and hair affectionately as if trying to distract him while Ningyan carefully applied the herbs to his wounds.

Wuhen sat quietly, seemingly thinking Ningyan had forgotten the earlier topic.

Then Ningyan spoke again without even looking up. "What did Wuyin do?"

Wuhen sighed. "He’s missing. The court claims I was the one who killed or abducted him, so my father ordered punishment. Three thousand strikes of the Spirit Whip for harming family. I had no choice but to accept it without resistance."

Ningyan scoffed. "That’s blatant hypocrisy. They did nothing when he tried to poison you."

"The court will do anything to force my father off the throne," Wuhen said quietly. "My home has become... rotten with ambition. You would have loved the Vermilion Fox Clan once."

His fingers idly toyed with the edge of Ningyan’s robe as he spoke, a faint smile touching his lips.

Ningyan’s expression softened with sympathy. "What about Qinghe?"

"She’s holding her ground." Pride flickered in Wuhen’s eyes. "Stronger than me. Fiercer, too, with Lanyin by her side, no one dares touch him."

He leaned closer. "Honestly... I’ve been thinking of supporting her as the next Divine Beast Queen of the Vermilion Fox Clan."

Ningyan’s eyes widened. "You... don’t want the throne?"

Wuhen shifted closer as Ningyan applied herbs to his wounds, his gaze softening as he looked at him.

"No. Not anymore." His voice lowered. "I want to be with you and our children. Being away from you physically hurts. Qinghe is more suited to rule anyway. She has the strength, the will... the ability to make even the stubborn bend."

There was clear pride in his voice.

Ningyan smiled despite himself. "I support it."

He nudged Wuhen lightly, trying to make him sit properly.

Wuhen only smiled, playful, knowing, before letting out a soft chuckle at Ningyan’s reaction.

Once Ningyan finished bandaging him, he set the herbs aside.

Before he could step away, Wuhen moved behind him, wrapping his arms around Ningyan’s waist and resting his chin on his shoulder.

Ningyan relaxed instantly, leaning into the warmth. His hand settled over Wuhen’s interlocked fingers against his stomach.

"Still shaken because of your beast kin?" Wuhen murmured.

"Is it that obvious?" Ningyan replied softly.

"Yes," Wuhen said. "They stole the demon tools and took our daughter. Don’t you want to destroy them all? I can help you."

His voice dropped, quiet, dangerous. "Say the word."

Ningyan let out a breathy laugh, shaking his head.

Wuhen really was the devil on his shoulder.

And worse, he meant it.

"Maybe you can help," Ningyan said lightly, then turned his head slightly. "But since you’re here today, you’re going to visit the children and tell them you love them properly."

"I always tell them I love them," Wuhen countered. "But I always make sure to say I love their father more. I include both."

Ningyan laughed. "Go to them."

Wuhen smiled, his tails swaying happily behind him. "Only if you come with me." He whispered and Ningyan laughed softly, tilting his head back slightly until it rested against Wuhen’s shoulder.

"You say that as though I was planning to abandon you."

"You abandon me every time you choose cultivation over cuddling." Wuhen sighed dramatically and Ningyan scoffed in disbelief.

"That is because some of us actually have responsibilities."

"And my responsibility is loving my husband." Wuhen replied without hesitation, tightening his hold around Ningyan’s waist. "A very difficult responsibility too. You are too beautiful. It distracts me constantly."

Ningyan could not help the smile that spread across his face at those shameless words. "You say nonsense so naturally."

Wuhen turned Ningyan to face him at once, wearing a mildly offended expression. "It is not nonsense if it is true."

Ningyan looped his arms around his neck and pulled him down into a deep kiss.

Wuhen melted into it instantly, only to break away moments later, breath uneven.

"I want to be inside you, Yan’er," he murmured.

Ningyan’s heart skipped. "Well, you—"

"Dad Wuhen!"

Su Ruo immediately rushed in first, wooden practice sword in hand, Su Miao following behind her while Su Mian walked in more calmly carrying flower crowns she had made herself.

The moment Su Ruo saw Wuhen shirtless, covered in healing wounds, she stopped abruptly, her eyes widening.

"What happened to you?!"

Wuhen immediately straightened dramatically and flexed his arm. "Your father fought ten thousand enemies to return home."

"That is not true." Ningyan deadpanned.

Su Miao burst into laughter while Su Mian covered her mouth trying not to laugh too loudly and even Su Ruo looked unconvinced.

"You lost a fight?" she guessed suspiciously.

Wuhen gasped in mock offense. "Ruo’er, how could you wound your father like this?"

Su Ruo laughed and ran out with Su Mian behind her.

Meanwhile, Su Miao launched himself into Wuhen’s arms. Wuhen caught him effortlessly, his expression softening as he began tickling him, earning laughter that filled the chamber.

Ningyan shook his head, amused, before stepping out.

In the corridor, he found Su Ruo mid-bite, frozen with a dumpling in hand. The two locked eyes.

A beat of silence.

Then Su Ruo blinked once and bolted.

Ningyan burst into laughter, shaking his head as he continued down the hall.

"A-Mian," he called.

"Father?" Mian stood outside, her gaze lifted toward the night sky.

A full blue moon hung overhead, vast and luminous.

Ningyan paused. It was beautiful, quietly overwhelming.

But then Mian suddenly gasped, clutching her head.

"Ah... my head hurts, Father..." She grabbed his sleeve tightly.