’This is your future, Su Ningyan.’

’You are destined to destroy everything you hold dear. To be slain by those you love most.’

Ningyan woke with a sharp gasp, his body drenched in sweat, breath coming out in uneven bursts as his hand flew to his chest.

Again.

That dream... again.

Su Mian’s lifeless body in his arms, flames devouring everything around him, and that version of himself... smiling, screaming, condemning him.

It was becoming unbearable.

He was within Yan Wuhen’s loose embrace, the nine tailed fox barely stirring in his sleep, his hold lax enough for Ningyan to turn his head.

Lan Meishan lay on the other side, his expression peaceful in deep slumber.

For a moment, Ningyan simply stared. Then he squeezed his eyes shut.

I’m going mad.

He pushed himself upright, dragging a trembling hand across his face, fingers pressing hard into his temples as if he could force the images out.

His breathing was still unsteady but something soft brushed against his cheek.

One of Wuhen’s tails.

It curled lazily toward him, swaying with a will of its own, brushing against his face, then poking at his cheek again.

Ningyan let out a small, breathy laugh despite himself.

The sound made Wuhen’s ear twitch faintly, though he didn’t wake.

Ningyan exhaled and glanced around the chamber.

Jun Haoxuan wasn’t there.

That alone was enough to pull him fully from the remnants of the dream he had been having for days.

He slipped off the bed, barefoot, his white night robes falling loosely over his frame, the collar parted just enough to reveal pale skin and faint, fading scars beneath.

His hair spilled freely down his back as he stepped out of the chamber.

He was heading toward the children’s room.. when he felt it.

Two familiar presences.

Rong Yue and Jun Haoxuan.

Instinctively, Ningyan suppressed his aura further, his steps softening as he followed the faint pull of their presence through the dimly lit corridor.

Lantern light flickered along the walls, stretching shadows across the floor as he slipped behind a pillar, then a wall close enough to hear.

"How is that even possible?" Jun Haoxuan’s voice was low, edged with disbelief. "There has never been a record of anyone breaching Old Beast Gu’s collection."

"I do not believe her either," Rong Yue replied, his tone heavy. "Not when she claims ignorance. But that does not change the fact... It was the phoenixes. They stole every single demon tool."

Ningyan’s heart stuttered.

Rong Yue’s ears twitched. His head turned sharply straight toward where Ningyan stood.

Ningyan didn’t bother hiding anymore.

He stepped out. His lips parted, his face pale, eyes wide with something raw and unsettled.

Jun Haoxuan’s expression shifted instantly.

"A-Yan..." he moved toward him, concern clear in every step.

Ningyan shook his head quickly, taking a step back.

"No... no, I’m fine," he said, though his voice betrayed him, uneven and thin. "I just... need to be sure I heard that correctly."

Rong Yue exhaled slowly. "I didn’t want you to find out like this, Ningyan."

Ningyan pressed his lips together.

He tried to steady himself, tried to smooth it over, even forcing a faint smile.

It didn’t reach his eyes.

"I know, I just..." he swallowed, his throat suddenly dry. "Are all the demon tools... are they all gone?"

"Yes... they were all stolen." Rong Yue’s voice carried a quiet weight as he exhaled, the words settling heavily in the air.

He stepped forward, closing the distance between them, though Jun Haoxuan’s gaze darkened, clearly unsettled by how things were unfolding.

When Rong Yue stopped before Ningyan, his tone lowered. "Bring out the feather we found at the Abyss Serpent Clan."

Without hesitation, Ningyan lifted his palm.

A golden glow bloomed above it and the feather appeared, radiant and pulsing softly.

At the same time, Rong Yue revealed another. They were identical.

"Old Beast Gu found this at the scene," Rong Yue said.

Ningyan nodded slowly, his eyes fixed on the twin feathers. "They’re making themselves known."

His thoughts churned rapidly.

Thousands of demon tools were gone.

That dream. That version of himself.

Something was coming. He could feel it.

"I am not going to panic," he muttered, more to himself than to them, though his voice lacked conviction.

He turned away.

Jun Haoxuan immediately followed. "Whatever you intend to do, we are coming with you."

Ningyan let out a quiet breath. "I’m going to the children’s chamber."

"Yes," Rong Yue said without hesitation. "We’re coming with you."

Under different circumstances, Ningyan might have laughed.

Now, he simply walked.

The chamber was quiet when they entered.

The three children slept close together, their small forms nestled side by side, seeking comfort even in sleep, remnants of the fear they had once endured in Yishu’s manor.

Ningyan’s steps slowed as he moved toward Su Mian.

She slept peacefully.... Alive.

He sat at the edge of her bed, his hand trembling as it came to rest against her soft white hair.

He stroked it gently as if he was afraid she might disappear.

Behind him, Rong Yue and Jun Haoxuan exchanged a glance.

Then Jun Haoxuan spoke softly. "Is this about your nightmares, A-Yan?"

Ningyan’s fingers stilled.

"I..." His throat tightened. "I keep seeing her. Mian... lying there... lifeless."

His breath hitched. "For days now... and now this..." his voice trembled, barely holding together, "what if she..."

Rong Yue moved first. He took Ningyan’s hand, pulling him gently to his feet, turning him to face him fully.

Ningyan didn’t resist.

He couldn’t. His vision blurred as tears filled his eyes, spilling over before he could stop them.

"I don’t know what to do..." he whispered, the words breaking apart as they left him.

Rong Yue’s expression softened. He cupped Ningyan’s face, thumbs brushing beneath his eyes, wiping away the tears with careful tenderness.

That was all it took.

Ningyan stepped forward and buried himself into Rong Yue’s embrace, his hands clutching tightly as quiet sobs shook through him.

He didn’t know if they understood.

Maybe they did. Maybe they didn’t.

But right now, he couldn’t stop.

The fear kept spiraling. Tighter. Darker. Until even his strength felt meaningless.

By the time the storm eased, exhaustion had already claimed him.

Jun Haoxuan stepped forward, lifting Ningyan effortlessly into his arms.

They returned to the main chamber in silence.

Halfway there, Ningyan had already fallen asleep again, his breathing uneven but deeper now, drained completely.

The doors slid open.

Inside, Lan Meishan and Yan Wuhen were both awake.

They looked up at once.

And in that single glance, their expressions shifted. Different, but equally filled with concern.

"What happened?" Wuhen pushed himself off the bed, crossing the space in an instant.

He took Ningyan from Jun Haoxuan’s arms without hesitation, laying him carefully back onto the bed, his hands lingering as if afraid to let go.

"All the demon tools were stolen," Rong Yue said, his arms crossing tightly over his chest. "He overheard us and he.. didn’t take the news well."

Lan Meishan’s brows lifted as he sat beside Ningyan, his fingers slipping into his hair, smoothing it back with quiet care.

"Is that even possible?" he murmured. "Old Beast Gu’s knowledge space has never been infiltrated."

"She found a phoenix feather at the scene," Jun Haoxuan replied.

Wuhen’s ears twitched sharply.

"What in the three realms would the phoenix want with demon tools?" he said, disbelief clear in his tone. "They are creatures of purity. They have never been known to even approach demonic energy, let alone use it."

Rong Yue exhaled slowly, his gaze darkening.

"You forget," he said, "the phoenix clan was torn apart. Forced into ruin. They are no longer what they once were."

Wuhen’s gaze returned to Ningyan, softening despite the tension. "I understand all of that but why did he break down?"

His hand brushed Ningyan’s cheek. "My sweet Yan’er..."

"His nightmares." Jun Haoxuan’s voice came low and steady.

All attention shifted to him.

"He has been dreaming of Mian’s death," Haoxuan continued. "Repeatedly."

"...Oh." Wuhen’s expression changed instantly, the earlier sharpness dissolving into something far more troubled.

Lan Meishan’s eyes flickered as he looked down at Ningyan, studying him more closely now.

The atmosphere in the chamber sank into a quiet gloom.

"I need to speak with Han Yunyi." Wuhen rose abruptly.

Before anyone could respond, he was already moving. The doors slid open and closed behind him.

Neither Lan Meishan nor Jun Haoxuan stopped him.

Instead, they both turned to Rong Yue.

A clear single look.

Rong Yue let out a long and weary sigh. "...Fine."

He pushed himself off the wall and followed, leaving the chamber without another word.

Only Jun Haoxuan and Lan Meishan remained with Ningyan... lying between them.

A faint crease suddenly formed between his brows. His breathing grew uneven as a dark, ominous purple glow began to seep from his body.

It spread slowly at first... then pulsed.

Lan Meishan’s eyes sharpened. "Does his nightmares have something to do with the crystal?"

Jun Haoxuan stepped forward, placing his hand firmly against Ningyan’s chest. A soft blue light bloomed beneath his palm, flowing inward before the purple dimmed and faded.

"No... the crystal itself is stable." Jun Haoxuan slowly withdrew his hand. "But it is reacting to his emotions more than usual."

Lan Meishan’s expression hardened subtly.

"He is carrying too much," Haoxuan continued quietly. "because of the nightmare. And now the demon tools..."

Lan Meishan fell silent for a moment.

Then, his voice came, coldly. "Have Han Yunyi locked up."

Jun Haoxuan’s eyes widened. "You—"

"She knows something." Meishan cut him off without hesitation, his gaze still fixed on Ningyan. "She is in contact with the phoenixes. Whether directly or indirectly, she is involved."

His hand tightened in Ningyan’s hair. "She may be his blood. But Ningyan is more important than anything in this existence."