Rain poured relentlessly over the Azure Dragon Palace.
Thunder rolled across the sky, lightning tearing through the clouds in sharp flashes, but inside, the palace remained warm, busy and alive.
Servants moved in waves, preparing for the grand dinner meant to welcome Ningyan's children.
Jun Haoxuan had already taken time to stabilize the crystal within Ningyan. After that, he was pulled away again. Beast King duties.
Wuhen was nowhere to be seen. And neither was Rong Yue.
That... lingered.
Ningyan didn't return to the main hall.
Instead, he wandered. Until he found himself outside, beneath the open corridor where rain spilled endlessly just beyond the carved stone edges.
He stepped closer and extended his hand as a single cool drop fell against his palm, followed immediately by another.
He watched the water gather there, trembling...
