[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-transmigration-the-villain-wants-a-happy-end-wit":3,"chapter-transmigration-the-villain-wants-a-happy-end-wit-transmigration-the-villain-wants-a-happy-end-wit-chapter-39":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Transmigration:The Villain Wants A Happy End Without His BeastHusbands",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1728212,2209,"Chapter 39: A Replacement?","transmigration-the-villain-wants-a-happy-end-wit-chapter-39",39,"\u003Cp>Su Ningyan lay on his stomach, jaw pressed into the pillow, fingers absently turning the flute over and over.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t push tonight out of his mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Six hours had passed since the battle ended. Six hours since he’d chosen to return to Yan Wuhen’s manor, alive, somehow, just to sit with the weight of it all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He could have died.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That truth settled heavily in his chest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To the dragons, he had been nothing more than an insect. Easily crushed. Easily ignored. And not just to them, to everyone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I’m still too weak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was no demonic qi to cheat his way forward. No shortcuts. And unlike others, he hadn’t been cultivating since childhood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he wanted strength, he would have to crawl toward it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Slowly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He set the flute aside and closed his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lightning split the heavens behind his lids.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two dragons dropped from the sky like lifeless dolls.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His breath hitched.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jun Haoxuan...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was no doubt in his mind. Lightning and fire were the Azure Dragon prince’s domain. And that strike had been clean, merciless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ningyan sat up abruptly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cross-legged on the bed, he formed a seal with his hands. White-gold spiritual energy gathered between his palms, faint but steady, pressure humming softly as it wrapped around his beast core. His eyes glowed faintly as he focused.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Second stage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He pushed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His brow furrowed. His breathing grew uneven. He pushed harder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Damn it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His eyes flew open. In a surge of frustration, he grabbed the flute and flung it across the room. It struck the wall with a dull thud, unharmed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ningyan dragged a hand through his hair, chest heaving.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a moment, he stood and crossed the room, picking the flute up carefully. He stared at it for a long second, expression unreadable, before turning and leaving the chamber barefoot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The halls were silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When he reached the familiar balcony, the one he often used to climb onto the roof, he stopped.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Wuyin sat there.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His nine tails were loose, swaying lazily behind him as he gazed into the night.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ningyan bit his lip and turned away without a word.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He didn’t notice when Wuyin’s ears twitched. Or when the fox turned his head to watch him leave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sleep refused to come.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ningyan wandered the manor for hours, his body sore, mind restless. Yan Wuhen still hadn’t returned from the Azure Dragon manor, and the absence only made the night heavier.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eventually, exhaustion won.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He returned to the chamber, collapsed onto the bed, and forced his eyes shut. The image of lightning still burning behind them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Ningyan woke, it was already morning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Warmth surrounded him. Too much warmth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His eyes flew open.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Wuhen lay in front of him, arms wrapped securely around his body, face buried against the curve of Ningyan’s neck.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their legs were tangled. Ningyan was pressed flush against him. Close enough that one of his hands rested instinctively against Wuhen’s chest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His breath caught.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Are you awake, Yan’er?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wuhen’s voice was low and rough with sleep, the sound sending an unwelcome shiver through Ningyan’s spine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes,\" Ningyan muttered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You’re coming with me to the event tonight.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ningyan stiffened. \"I don’t—\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wuhen’s arms tightened. Not painfully. Just enough.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The words died in Ningyan’s throat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It’s not a request,\" the prince said calmly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ningyan forced himself to breathe. \"Why would you want a weakling like me at a gathering like that?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was a brief silence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You’re coming with me as my lover,\" Wuhen said, \"not as a weakling.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ningyan scoffed. \"I’m not your lover.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That hurts,\" Wuhen replied, clearly amused.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And won’t I ruin your reputation?\" Ningyan pressed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instead of answering, Wuhen shifted slightly. His face lifted from Ningyan’s neck.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I found a fresh injury on your shoulder,\" he said. \"Did you go out last night?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Two dragons were fighting to the death,\" Ningyan said flatly. \"Forgive me for wanting to see something epic.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wuhen scoffed softly, then leaned in, red-gold eyes studying him closely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You need to be careful.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ningyan frowned. \"Then tell me the truth. You didn’t mention this all week, and suddenly I’m attending as your ’lover’ on the day of the event? It makes no sense.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wuhen blinked, as if genuinely considering his words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then he released Ningyan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He sat up and rose from the bed, nine tails swaying behind him as he turned away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ningyan stared at his back. \"What’s going on in that twisted brain of yours? Planning to sell me to the dragons?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That earned a grin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Why would I sell you to those overgrown snakes?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ningyan narrowed his eyes. \"Don’t lie to me. If you really want us to be lovers...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His voice dropped. \"...there shouldn’t be any secrets.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That seemed to please Yan Wuhen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"There’s a small rumor,\" He smiled, \"that Jun Haoxuan is keeping a slave.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ningyan froze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"A phoenix. Just like you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I need you at the festival tonight,\" Wuhen continued calmly. \"If you appear beside me as my lover, Haoxuan won’t be able to resist reacting. He’ll expose who that phoenix is.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ningyan stared at him, disbelief crashing through his chest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"A phoenix,\" he repeated hoarsely. \"A slave...?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His mind reeled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then he let out a sharp, incredulous laugh, rubbing his face and dragging his fingers through his hair.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So once you get this phoenix,\" he said, voice edged with bitterness, \"you’ll replace me?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Wuhen stopped smiling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He looked at Ningyan as if the question itself offended him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In two strides, he was back at the bed. He climbed onto it, caught Ningyan’s ankles, and forced his legs apart just enough to settle himself between them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ningyan sucked in a breath. \"Wuhen—\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No one replaces you,\" Wuhen said quietly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His gaze was unwavering.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No one.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ningyan swallowed. \"Then why do you need this phoenix?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wuhen’s arm slid around Ningyan’s waist, pulling him closer. He leaned forward, resting his face there against his morning wood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Heat rushed to Ningyan’s face. He grabbed a fistful of Wuhen’s hair and yanked his head up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Stop trying to distract me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wuhen grinned, canines flashing. \"Phoenixes are rare, Yan’er.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His tone turned colder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Some would kill it. Some would cage it. Some would breed it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ningyan stiffened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I’m different,\" Wuhen continued. \"I want to retrieve it so you won’t be alone. You need your own kind near you. Always.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ningyan stared at him, stunned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I... I used to have my father,\" he murmured. \"But he never acknowledged my existence.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wuhen’s expression dulled instantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If that phoenix refuses to acknowledge you,\" he said flatly, \"I’ll dispose of it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ningyan’s heart skipped.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then Wuhen smiled again, as if he hadn’t just spoken something lethal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ningyan exhaled slowly, defeated. \"...Fine.\"\u003C\u002Fp>",1127,"2026-06-06T15:58:24.904Z",1,"novelbin.me","94d69e0267d811b91cfcb22be7c054a86b25a11e1e5603c321a0f7388dfc0be5","transmigration-the-villain-wants-a-happy-end-wit-chapter-40","transmigration-the-villain-wants-a-happy-end-wit-chapter-38",228,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Ftransmigration-the-villain-wants-a-happy-end-wit-cover.jpg"]