By the time Su Ningyan arrived at the main hall of the Celestial Beast Academy, the place had already emptied.
That, at least, was a relief.
The wide stone floors echoed faintly beneath his steps, the towering pillars carved with ancient beast sigils rising far above his head. Whatever orientation he had missed was long over. Students had already been ushered into their respective halls.
"We will leave you here."
Ningyan turned to the two fox guards who had escorted him the entire way. He forced a smile and clasped his hands together, bowing stiffly.
They returned the gesture, far deeper than his own before turning and departing without another word.
Only then did he exhale.
Straightening his robes, Ningyan stepped fully into the hall.
At its center stood two figures.
One was unmistakably a dragon beast. His black, curved horns visible. He was speaking in a low voice to another man standing beside him.
The second figure made Ningyan's skin prickle.
Long black hair. Green, slit-pupiled eyes. A serpent's gaze... cold and sharp enough to peel skin from bone. His expression seemed permanently set in a scowl.
They were clearly in the middle of something important.
Ningyan's entrance cut the conversation short.
Both men turned.
The guards stationed along the hall immediately moved, their spear tips aiming towards him.
Ningyan's heart skipped. He lifted his hands instinctively. "I—I'm a student!"
The dragon beast raised a hand.
The guards froze.
"If you are a student," the dragon said calmly, "then explain why you are late for the main orientation." His gaze settled on Ningyan, heavy and unreadable. "And state your name."
Ningyan swallowed. "Su Ningyan," he said quickly. "From the Phoenix Clan." He hesitated, then added, "Currently… a disciple of Prince Yan Wuhen."
That did it.
The atmosphere shifted. It was subtle, but unmistakable.
The dragon beast raised a brow. "Yan Wuhen?"
"Yes, Headmaster," Ningyan said, bowing deeply.
The headmaster, Fang Lingbo studied him for a long moment before nodding. "Very well. As a first-year disciple, you are assigned to the Lotus Hall." He gestured slightly. "A guard will escort you."
Ningyan pressed his hands together again, his pulse still racing. "Thank you."
As he straightened, his gaze collided with those serpent eyes.
Even from this distance, Ningyan felt it.
Heavy, suffocating waves of spiritual pressure rolled outward from the man, pressing down on his chest like unseen hands. His breath caught. Instinct screamed at him to lower his head.
So he did.
Ningyan looked away quickly.
The serpent beast appeared younger than Headmaster Fang Lingbo, but that only made him more unsettling. The permanent scowl carved into his features deepened.
He was displeased. Furious, even. At Ningyan's presence.
Not daring to linger, Ningyan followed the guard out of the main hall.
The long balcony beyond opened into an ethereal view of the academy. Towering ancient trees swayed gently, their leaves glowing faintly with spiritual light.
A vast lake stretched below, a stone bridge arching across it, flower petals drifting lazily over the water's surface.
It was breathtaking.
And completely out of his reach.
Before long, they arrived at the Lotus Hall in the first-year class grounds. Students lingered outside, some chatting, others polishing weapons or meditating openly.
Judging by the relaxed atmosphere, the first lesson had already ended.
The guard departed without a word.
Alone now, Ningyan felt it immediately.
The looks.
Ears flicked. Tails swayed. Slitted eyes assessed him openly. Nearly everyone bore visible beast traits, power worn effortlessly on their bodies.
And then there was him.
A phoenix with a damaged beast core.
Ningyan rubbed the back of his neck and drew in a deep breath, forcing his shoulders to relax. His expression cooled, composure settling over him like armor.
He wasn't the fragile book Ningyan they expected.
He was the Ningyan who had beaten bullies bloody with his bare hands.
He didn't need abilities to stand his ground...
"Ningyan?" The familiar voice struck him from behind.
His body stiffened but only for a heartbeat.
Ningyan continued walking as if he hadn't heard, stepping into the classroom where students lounged at their desks, weapons laid casually beside them.
He scanned the room, searching for an empty space.
"Ningyan!"
This time the voice was sharp and angry.
A strong grip clamped down on his shoulder.
Ningyan reacted instantly, slapping the hand away and turning.
Su Mingze stood there, glaring. "Didn't you hear me calling you?"
"I did," Ningyan replied flatly. "I just didn't want to answer."
He had already changed the plot.
In the original story, Book Su Ningyan marched straight into the Celestial Beast Academy and immediately set his sights on Jun Haoxuan, the dragon beast prince.
He seduced without hesitation, clung to power shamelessly, and used Jun Haoxuan's affection as a shield whenever bullying came his way.
Book Su Ningyan had been unhinged.
Ningyan exhaled slowly. Was he… unhinged, too?
Because he hadn't taken that path at all. Instead of clinging to Jun Haoxuan, he was literally bound to Yan Wuhen. A dangerous, possessive divine beast who hadn't existed early in the original route.
The plot wasn't just altered.
It was scattered.
A complete mess.
Ningyan's lips twitched. Well… it's not like I'm married.
His gaze flicked briefly across the room.
There were so many powerful beasts. So many good-looking ones.
Cheating crossed his mind easily, casually. Survival wasn't romance, and he wasn't about to dedicate his life to a chain he never asked for.
He could still live.
"You are—" Su Mingze's voice grated. "How are you here? And those clothes?"
Mingze's gaze dragged over him, sharp with disbelief. It was probably the first time he had ever seen Ningyan clean, well-fed, and dressed properly.
Ningyan looked at him flatly.
"Can you leave me alone?" His tone was calm. Polite. "I'm asking nicely. Please."
And then he turned away.
His attention landed on a nearby student dressed in deep purple robes. Golden hair fell over broad shoulders, tiger ears twitching faintly as he wrote intently on a scroll. A thick tail rested behind him, relaxed but powerful.
They were roughly the same height, but the other male was sturdier. Built.
Ningyan walked over and sat beside him without ceremony.
The tiger beast paused mid-stroke.
Silver eyes lifted, narrowing slightly as they assessed him. "What are you?"
Ningyan frowned. "How about you mind your own business?"
The tiger beast looked genuinely offended. "I'm asking because I can't feel even a trace of spiritual energy from you."
Ningyan grimaced. "Which is exactly why I told you to mind your business. I'm being polite."
The tiger beast scoffed. "Whatever." and turned back to his scroll.
Ningyan leaned back and stretched his arms casually, his gaze drifting to the ceiling.
He hated how easily his weakness was exposed.
But he could deal with that.
He was being polite, after all.
And anyone who couldn't accept his politeness would eventually learn something very important.
He didn't need to shake mountains to ruin someone's day if they ruined his.