Chapter 222: Wrath Of A Phoenix (4)

Those words made Xie Menghua pause slightly.

"His reaction earlier proved something important. He knows. He knows Lan Yunlai’s essence is inside him."

The smile on Xie Zhenting’s face slowly faded into something colder. "Which means we must retrieve him before he discovers a method of eliminating it completely."

Then suddenly, he smiled again. "And fortunately, we still possess help from our little Su Mian."

Xie Menghua’s expression twisted again.

But Xie Zhenting only tapped her shoulder teasingly. "Come now, A-Hua. I am trying to improve your mood."

"Well it is not working," she snapped viciously, her eyes darkening with pure hatred. "I will not be satisfied until every single one of them dies."

With that, she stormed past him furiously and disappeared deeper into the manor.

Xie Zhenting watched her leave before sighing softly.

Then he slowly lifted his gaze upward toward the crescent moon hanging in the night sky.

The cold moonlight reflected beautifully within his purple eyes.

"The wrath of a phoenix..." He smiled faintly. "...is the most beautiful thing in existence."

His voice softened afterward. Almost reverent. "And Su Ningyan... You are beyond beautiful. Beyond perfection. Beyond fate itself. I truly cannot wait for the day we finally meet properly."

^°^

Arriving back at the Abyss Serpent Clan palace, Ningyan stepped through the portal directly into the chamber.

What he did not expect was to find both Jun Haoxuan and Lan Meishan already there.

The two of them had clearly been preparing to leave.

But the moment Ningyan appeared with Su Mian unconscious in his arms, they both stopped abruptly.

Shock crossed their faces instantly.

Ningyan let out a slow breath.

Honestly, the entire situation already felt exhausting. Because it was painfully obvious that none of them wanted him handling dangerous matters alone anymore.

And yet, he had done exactly that. "Look, I..."

He stopped speaking midway and carefully placed Su Mian onto the bed.

Su Miao and Su Ruo were nowhere to be seen now. Which meant someone had already moved them elsewhere.

"You left to retrieve her without informing us." Jun Haoxuan spoke first.

Disbelief lingered clearly across his handsome features as he walked toward Ningyan.

Ningyan immediately avoided his gaze.

"I had to go by myself," he said quietly. "They would have never revealed themselves to any of you. Only me."

"That is exactly why—" Jun Haoxuan suddenly stopped himself.

He closed his eyes briefly before letting out a deep breath.

Then without another word, he gently lifted Su Mian into his arms and walked out of the chamber.

Ningyan did not stop him.

He simply sat down at the side of the bed afterward and looked toward Lan Meishan.

Unlike Haoxuan, Meishan had not spoken a single word yet. But the expression on his face made it painfully obvious that there were many things he wished to say.

He simply chose not to.

Ningyan felt guilt press heavily into his chest. He slowly rose to his feet and walked toward Meishan.

Meishan did not step away. His eyes merely followed Ningyan quietly.

"I had to go," Ningyan murmured softly. "I had to..."

"Where did you find her?" Lan Meishan’s voice remained calm.

"The phoenix clan manor." Ningyan hesitated briefly. Then continued quietly. "I..."

"You killed her." Lan Meishan stated it plainly, referring to Han Yunyi.

Ningyan did not feel even the slightest trace of regret. "Yes."

Lan Meishan nodded slowly as he reached forward and gently took Ningyan’s hands into his own.

His emerald eyes lowered toward their intertwined fingers. "We were worried."

His voice remained soft. "You disappeared without informing anyone, and we know you were already unstable because of Su Mian. Ningyan..."

Before he could continue, Ningyan stepped forward and embraced him tightly.

Lan Meishan wrapped his arms around him in return without hesitation.

"I am sorry." Ningyan shut his eyes firmly.

"It will not happen again." His voice sounded exhausted. "But you have to understand... I was the only one who could rescue her. The only one."

Lan Meishan tightened his hold around him. "I understand that. But you must also understand that you are not alone, A-Yan. Su Mian has all of us. And for all these days... We were terrified too."

His voice lowered further. "Seeing you place yourself in danger while already in such a state..."

Ningyan pulled away from the embrace. He lifted his hand and gently touched Meishan’s face.

"I promise." His purple eyes carried an almost pleading look now. "It will not happen again. I promise."

Lan Meishan stared at him for several quiet moments and sighed softly.

Suddenly, the sealed letter bearing the phoenix sigil materialized within his hand.

Ningyan’s gaze landed on it.

His expression darkened as Meishan extended the scroll toward him.

But after a brief pause, Ningyan slowly shook his head.

"No." His voice came quieter this time. "I do not want to read it."

Lan Meishan looked visibly surprised.

The scroll immediately vanished back into his essence.

"What happened?" he asked quietly.

Ningyan let out a slow breath before lowering his gaze. "I met one of the phoenixes who escaped from the dungeon. She said her true body had already been destroyed. So she chose another appearance instead."

His fingers curled faintly against Meishan’s sleeve. "She was wearing Su Ruyin’s face. My mother’s face."

Lan Meishan’s emerald serpent eyes widened. "What?"

"They are all gathered within the phoenix manor now." Ningyan sighed tiredly. "But I no longer think starting a war against them is a good idea."

His voice remained calm, though exhaustion lingered beneath it. "I have already retrieved Mian. I do not want anything else to do with them. There is no reason to begin a conflict now."

Then his glowing eyes sharpened. "I already warned them. If they cross that line again... That is when I will retaliate."

Lan Meishan studied Ningyan carefully for several quiet moments. "Are you certain this is truly what you want?"

Ningyan nodded slowly.

Truthfully, the atmosphere inside that manor had unsettled him deeply.

Those phoenixes were dangerous. Far more dangerous than he initially expected.

And whatever they were planning... It was clearly much larger than simple revenge.

Ningyan knew this was not over. Not even close.

But he also understood that beginning an outright war now would be disastrous.

"Perhaps," Lan Meishan said softly, "you should still keep the letter."

The scroll materialized within his hand once more. "You may decide to open it later... When curiosity eventually overcomes you."

Ningyan’s lips twitched as he slowly accepted the scroll from him.

"Do you truly feel better now?" Lan Meishan asked again. Almost carefully. Like he wanted reassurance more than an answer.

Ningyan’s eyes flickered faintly.

Because deep down, he still remembered the fake Su Ruyin’s words clearly.

Lan Yunlai’s demonic essence is inside you.

As much as he wanted to tell Meishan everything... He could not.

He knew hiding it was dangerous. Perhaps even foolish.

But Jun Haoxuan had stabilized the crystal earlier and had noticed nothing unusual afterward.

If something truly demonic existed inside him, Haoxuan would have sensed it.

He would have removed it immediately.

Right?

Which meant, perhaps the fake Su Ruyin had merely been trying to manipulate him.

And Ningyan... He simply did not want to believe otherwise.

So instead, he nodded quietly. "I feel better."

But Lan Meishan still looked unconvinced.

Honestly, he was not even trying to hide it anymore.

The way he looked at Ningyan carried too much concern. Too much lingering fear.

Ningyan reached forward and wrapped both arms around Meishan’s arm, hugging it tightly before giving him a smile. "I promise you. I am fine."

Lan Meishan remained silent. Then slowly, he raised his hand and gently caressed Ningyan’s face. "I do not want to lose you, Yan’er."

His whispered voice made Ningyan’s heart skip painfully. Especially with the way Meishan was looking at him now.

That gaze carried such raw sincerity. Such fear. As though the thought of losing Ningyan alone was enough to terrify him.

Ningyan smiled softly. "Why would you lose me?"

But unknown to him, the memory of Ningyan’s earlier breakdown still lingered heavily within Meishan’s mind.

The paranoia. The fear.

The trembling question.... "If I go mad... will you kill me?"

It refused to leave him.

Suddenly, Lan Meishan leaned forward and pressed his lips against Ningyan’s.

Ningyan stiffened briefly in surprise.

But Meishan wrapped an arm around his waist, pulling him closer as he deepened the kiss.

And almost instantly, Ningyan melted into it completely.

Every spiraling thought within his mind scattered apart. Leaving behind only warmth.

Only Meishan.