"So," Rong Yue said lightly, his steps unhurried as they moved through the inner corridors of the Abyss Serpent Palace, "you saw everything... heard everything... yet could not interfere?"

Lan Meishan walked beside him in silence.

He had returned to his usual composure, his black and white robes layered neatly, his glasses resting upon the bridge of his nose. Yet the dimness in his emerald gaze betrayed what lay beneath. Guilt and regret.

"...Yes," he replied at last.

"That is... unfortunate," Rong Yue murmured.

"Unfortunate?" Yan Wuhen yawned, utterly lacking restraint. "You should be grateful. He didn’t destroy anything important. I was very close to tearing out his—"

"Wuhen." Ningyan’s voice cut in, low and warning.

Wuhen’s ears twitched, but there was no remorse in his expression, only faint amusement.

Ningyan exhaled softly, choosing not to pursue it further. His gaze shifted back to Lan Meishan.

They were nearing Lan Huiwen’s chambers.

And Meishan, despite his calm exterior, had slowed.

Jun Haoxuan was absent.

He had only appeared briefly to stabilize the crystal before departing once more, his attention drawn to the remnants of the clan, to those still steeped in demonic cultivation even after Lan Yunlai’s fall.

In truth, little remained of the Lan bloodline now.

Only Lan Huiwen and Lan Meishan.

They came to a stop before the chamber doors.

For a moment, no one spoke.

Then Ningyan reached out, his fingers brushing against Meishan’s hand before gently taking it. "...Do you want to see her alone?"

Lan Meishan shook his head almost immediately.

"No." His grip tightened. "Stay."

He did not look back as he stepped forward, drawing Ningyan along with him into the chamber.

The doors closed behind them.

Silence lingered in their wake.

Yan Wuhen’s expression darkened almost at once, his tails stirring with a faint, restless heat. "...So the favored one returns."

Rong Yue let out a quiet chuckle, leaning lazily against a nearby pillar. "He has no favourite."

Wuhen scoffed, folding his arms. "If that is what you wish to believe."

Rong Yue studied him for a brief moment then reached into his sleeve and withdrew a scroll.

"I received this earlier," he said, holding it out. "It is addressed to you."

Wuhen glanced at it, mildly curious. "From whom?"

"Yan Qinghe."

Wuhen took the scroll without hesitation and unfurled it.

His eyes moved across the contents and... Froze.

The air around him seemed to tighten.

His gaze sharpened, narrowing into cold, dangerous slits. Without a word, the scroll ignited in his grasp and reduced to ash in a breath.

Rong Yue watched. "What..."

Wuhen turned away. And this time, there was no trace of amusement left.

Rong Yue’s gaze sharpened at once as he stepped forward. "Wuhen, what is it?"

Yan Wuhen did not turn. "...There has been a coup. I must return."

Only then did he pause.

"Tell Yan’er..." His ears flicked once. "...I will come back for our marriage."

And then he was gone.

His presence vanished as abruptly as it had shifted.

Rong Yue remained where he stood, watching the empty corridor for a long moment.

"...Have the divine beast clans all lost their minds," he murmured, lips twitching faintly, "or is it only mine that remains sane?"

But the lightness in his tone did not reach his eyes. A darker hue settled within those blue, feline depths.

Without further comment, he turned and stepped into the chamber.

He did not interrupt.

Leaning carefully against the threshold, Rong Yue simply watched.

Inside, the atmosphere was quiet and heavy.

Lan Huiwen lay upon the bed, her form frail, her breathing shallow, each breath thinner than the last. The vitality that had barely sustained her before was now little more than a flicker.

They all knew. There was no saving her.

Lan Meishan stood at her side, unmoving as though any motion might shatter the moment entirely.

"...A-Shan..." Her voice was scarcely more than a whisper.

Lan Meishan’s fingers tightened around Ningyan’s hand, their palms still intertwined.

"...Mother," he said, his voice unsteady despite himself. "I... should have come sooner. I should have.."

"No." The word was soft.

"Do not carry that burden." Lan Huiwen’s gaze trembled, yet remained gentle. "I should have left the realms long ago."

A faint breath escaped her. "...It is enough that I have seen you again."

Her eyes softened further. "And more than that... you are not alone."

She looked at him... truly looked.

"You have found beasts who cherish you." A fragile smile touched her lips. "You are happy... are you not?"

Lan Meishan’s composure faltered. His vision blurred with tears. "...I am."

The words came quietly, but without hesitation.

He turned his head toward Ningyan. And Ningyan, caught in that gaze, felt warmth rise to his face despite the heaviness in the air.

He returned the look with a small, steady smile.

Lan Huiwen saw and something within her eased.

"...Thank you," she whispered, her gaze shifting to Ningyan. "Su Ningyan..."

Suddenly, a flicker of urgency passed through her fading strength. "...The dungeon..."

Her fingers twitched weakly against the sheets. "There is another... sealed below..."

Everyone stared in surprise.

"...Another?" Ningyan asked.

"A phoenix," Lan Huiwen breathed. "Bound within the same blood-locked formation..."

Her gaze fixed on him with what little strength remained. "...You can open it. You are of the same beast kind."

Ningyan’s heart gave a sharp, sudden beat. "...What?" 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

Lan Huiwen parted her lips as if to speak but only a faint breath escaped. The effort alone seemed to drain what little strength remained within her.

Her lashes trembled and she slipped back into unconsciousness.

"...She’s exhausted," Ningyan murmured, rising to his feet.

His gaze lifted instinctively, meeting Rong Yue’s.

The tiger beast prince had already straightened from where he leaned, his expression sharpening.

"Has there ever been any record," he asked, his voice steady, "of Lan Yunlai imprisoning a phoenix?"

Lan Meishan did not answer immediately. His eyes lingered on his mother for a moment longer before he slowly shook his head.

"...No. But if she said it... then it exists."

He lifted his gaze to Rong Yue.

"I was absent from the clan many times due to academics. If it happened during that time, I would not know. But the archive halls will have records. I will confirm it."

Rong Yue inclined his head. "That is a relief."

Meishan turned then paused. "...Yan’er."

Ningyan blinked, drawn back.

Meishan stepped closer, lifting his hand with quiet hesitation before his fingers brushed lightly against Ningyan’s cheek.

The touch was careful, almost uncertain.

Ningyan held his gaze.

"I’m fine," he said softly. "Go. I’ll check the dungeon with Rong Yue."

He let out a faint exhale. "...It’s just unexpected."

Meishan studied him for a breath longer then nodded.

A ripple of emerald light gathered beneath his feet. The portal opened without sound, swallowing him whole.

And then, he was gone.