Free Web NovelChapter 238: Remember Me (1)
Su Ningyan narrowed his violet eyes. "Do you not know who I am?"
The serpent beastman’s gaze lowered briefly. "I do."
"And you still invite me to dinner?" Ningyan asked carefully. "Even after hearing what the realms say about me?"
The serpent beastman turned away before answering. "I have heard."
His voice remained calm. Too calm. And then, without explaining further, he simply walked away once more.
Ningyan remained standing there alone in the corridor.
For a long moment, he said nothing.
His thoughts churned strangely.
If this serpent beastman truly knew who he was, knew what he had done, then why did he still approach him without fear?
Why invite him to dinner?
Why look at him with those eyes filled with something Ningyan could not understand?
Ningyan pressed his lips together thoughtfully.
At least now he understood why the serpent beastman had been following him before.
He had likely heard rumors about the Phoenix Beast King and merely wished to see what sort of monster he truly was.
And yet... Ningyan found himself unexpectedly curious. Curious about this calm serpent beastman. Curious about the mysterious Wuhen he spoke of.
And strangely enough, for the first time in a very long while, Ningyan found himself looking forward to tomorrow.
^
Ningyan returned to his chambers afterward, deciding to spend the remainder of the day cultivating.
His consciousness sank deep into the Demon Crystal Space, surrounded by endless blackish-red mist and the oppressive pulse of demonic qi. Time blurred around him until night eventually descended upon Fire City once more, the lively streets outside growing brighter beneath lantern light and celebration.
Only then did Ningyan finally emerge from meditation.
He spent longer than usual within the bathing chambers.
Warm water rolled down his tall, lean body as attendants quietly waited upon him whenever he called. Yet the moment Ningyan lowered his gaze toward himself, the calmness in his expression dimmed.
The black veins along the side of his torso were moving again. Slowly. Like living things.
They spread further across his skin, creeping toward his back while the darker markings along his neck pulsed faintly beneath strands of white hair.
Ningyan frowned deeply.
Water dripped from his body as he stepped out of the bath, raising one hand before himself.
A sphere of blackish-red demonic energy immediately gathered above his palm, swirling violently with enough pressure to distort the air around it.
His violet eyes darkened instantly into that terrifying crimson-black hue.
For several silent moments, Ningyan merely stared at the demonic power in his grasp before abruptly clenching his hand shut.
The energy dispersed.
The glow in his eyes dimmed. But not completely.
A heavy frustration settled within him.
He grabbed his robes and loosely dressed himself before walking out of the inner chambers only to discover two attendants still waiting outside.
The moment they lifted their eyes toward him, both visibly stiffened.
They had seen it.
That red-black glow within his gaze.
Ningyan noticed the fear and smiled.
"Why are you both still here?" he asked lightly. "I already have everything I need."
One of the attendants lowered her head quickly. "We were instructed to escort you to dinner, Young Master."
The second attendant did not even dare look at him directly.
Her hands trembled faintly at her sides while her breathing remained uneven beneath the suffocating pressure leaking from Ningyan’s body.
Ningyan ignored it completely.
He adjusted the sleeves of his robes before glancing once toward the mirror.
He had intended to conceal his aura tonight.
At least from the serpent beastman.
But perhaps... Perhaps a part of him wanted to see whether that calm expression would finally break beneath the full weight of his demonic presence.
After all, once fully released, his aura was enough to plunge entire cities into panic.
Fire City itself would immediately realize a demon beast king had entered its borders.
Ordinarily, Ningyan might have enjoyed causing such chaos.
But tonight... Tonight he simply wanted to share dinner with a beautiful serpent beast beneath lanternlight.
The realization was ridiculous enough to make him scoff softly at himself.
More ridiculous still was the strange jealousy simmering faintly within him whenever he remembered the beast already belonged to another.
Ningyan stared at his reflection for a long moment. Then he merely forced a smile onto his face and turned away.
Once fully dressed, he walked past the attendants and allowed them to guide him through the inn.
They led him away from the bustling main streets, deeper into one of Fire City’s quieter paths surrounded by towering trees swaying beneath the night wind.
Lanterns glowed softly among the branches.
And there, within the secluded clearing, the serpent beastman sat waiting beside a low dinner table adorned with steaming dishes and flickering lights.
The atmosphere was peaceful. Almost intimate.
The moment the attendants approached, the serpent beastman lifted his gaze calmly toward them.
A single glance was enough.
Both attendants immediately bowed and quietly withdrew, leaving Ningyan alone beneath the lantern-lit trees with the beautiful serpent beast waiting for him.
Ningyan stared at him.
The lantern light swayed gently overhead, reflecting in those tranquil emerald eyes.
For a brief moment, he forgot about everything else. Then his gaze drifted toward the carefully prepared dishes spread across the table.
"I must admit," Ningyan said as he settled into his seat, "I am still rather surprised by this arrangement. Especially considering you know exactly who I am."
Lan Meishan did not smile. He merely adjusted the bridge of his glasses despite them sitting perfectly straight upon his nose.
"You may sit."
Ningyan’s lips twitched faintly.
So reserved. So cautious. Yet somehow incapable of hiding his nervousness.
"I assume you know my name," Ningyan continued. "Yet I do not know yours."
"Lan Meishan." The answer came without hesitation.
Ningyan nodded thoughtfully. "Lan Meishan."
The name rolled smoothly from his tongue.
Then he rested his chin upon one hand and studied the serpent beast openly.
"You truly have no intention of being cautious around me, do you?" he asked casually. "Do you not wish to kill me?"
His attention shifted toward the food as he picked up his chopsticks.
Because of that, he missed the way Meishan’s fingers tightened slightly around his teacup.
Missed the flicker that crossed those emerald eyes.
He... Missed the pain.
"This dinner," Meishan said quietly, "is meant to help me find out something."
Ningyan paused midway through taking a bite. "Is the food poisoned?"
The question was so absurd that Meishan almost looked offended. "No. I would never..."
The words stopped abruptly.
Meishan lowered his gaze.
Ningyan smiled. For some reason, he found that reaction incredibly endearing.
"I apologize for my questions," Ningyan said. "But it remains surprising. A beast like you sharing a meal with a demon beast like me."
He leaned back.
The lantern light illuminated his pale features while his violet eyes slowly darkened into crimson-black.
The shift was beautiful and terrifying.
"I would not hesitate to slaughter your kin." His voice remained calm. A matter-of-fact. "I feel no guilt for what I have done."
The demonic aura around him stirred. "And I feel no guilt for what I will do."
His eyes returned to violet once more. Yet the pressure lingered. "So do not mistake me for someone righteous, Lan Meishan."
Ningyan tilted his head. His gaze lingered on Meishan’s face.
On those serene eyes. On the quiet elegance that seemed untouched by the chaos of the world.
"It makes me want to taint you." The words escaped before he could stop them.
A slow smile curved his lips. "But I do not think I would enjoy stealing you away from the one you belong to."
Lan Meishan calmly poured himself a cup of tea.
Not a single change in expression. Not a single sign of discomfort.
Nothing.
Ningyan found that unexpectedly disappointing.
Then, his eyes caught the faint redness creeping up the tips of Meishan’s ears.
Ningyan nearly laughed.
Ah. So he was not unaffected after all.
That discovery pleased him far more than it should have.
Then Meishan spoke. "He is dead."
The words struck the air without warning.
Ningyan’s heart skipped a beat. "What?"
Meishan slowly lifted his gaze. "The one Wuhen and I married."
Those emerald eyes remained fixed on him. "As well as our two other husbands."
His voice lowered. "He is dead."
"Oh."!Ningyan immediately lowered his head. Attempting and failing to look appropriately saddened.
The truth was far more shameful.
A dangerous sense of relief had bloomed inside his chest and he hated how pleased he felt.
Meishan watched him silently. As though reading every emotion crossing his face.
Then he pushed a freshly poured cup of tea toward him.
Ningyan accepted it quickly.
Using the cup to hide the smile threatening to appear on his lips.
He took a sip.
Meishan did the same.
Silence settled between them.
Then Ningyan cleared his throat. Far too quickly. Far too eagerly.
"How did he die?" The question hung beneath the lantern light.
And Lan Meishan’s hand tightened around his teacup.
