Heavens' Laughter-Chapter 111: Instincts

The Crane Emperor and his men rode with urgency, their mounts pushed to their limits as they galloped across the air.

All of them had their gaze fixed on the sky where the flying ships had once hovered.

"Move faster, you stupid beast!" The Crane Emperor’s cloak billowed behind him as he leaned forward, urging his mount faster, his sharp eyes scanning for any sign of what had transpired.

"Your Majesty, please be cautious!" one of the officers urged, his voice laced with both respect and concern.

He wiped the sweat from his forehead with his free hand, the other tightly gripping the reins of his mount.

The strain of their rapid pace and the weight of uncertainty pressed heavily on the officer.

Another officer’s eyes flicked anxiously toward the Emperor, his tone betraying his unease:

"It’s far too dangerous for you to be at the forefront, especially with so many unknowns ahead. We cannot risk your safety in such uncertain times."

The Crane Emperor clicked his tongue in irritation, casting a glance over his shoulder as he bellowed, "Silence! Do not insult me with such words! I am no coward! The front is where I belong—it is my duty!"

Plus, he felt untouchable, protected by the Divine Crane Bird, a sacred guardian bound to his soul, and fortified by his own formidable cultivation level.

Nothing in the upper realm could threaten him, or so the Crane Emperor believed.

Though, with his daughter now safely returning to the Crane Empire, his worries were few, and the restraints he had long placed on his strength had all but vanished.

The officers could only exchange weary glances before sighing in resignation. They knew all too well the futility of arguing with the Emperor—his temper was as legendary as his might.

To press the issue further would not only anger him but also risk their standing in the court, a mistake none of them could afford.

Reluctantly, they swallowed their concerns, their protests dying unspoken on their lips.

With heavy hearts and muted frustration, they tightened their grips on the reins and fell in line, following in silence.

Soon enough, they arrived on the scene, and the sight before them left them all speechless.

’What in the actual fuck?’ They all thought.

A young man, half-naked and drenched in blood, floated mid-air atop a small, wispy cloud.

His movements were strange, a bizarre dance that seemed entirely disconnected from the devastation around him.

The young man twirled and swayed, as if lost in his own little world, utterly oblivious to their presence.

The acrid smoke curled around him, and he breathed it in deeply, a serene smile on his face.

For a moment, none dared to move, their minds racing to make sense of the surreal scene unfolding before them.

Feng Shen, humming a faint tune under his breath, finally took notice of the men watching him from below.

His movements stilled, and he tilted his head, a wicked glint flickering in his golden eyes. A slow, unsettling grin spread across his face as he opened his mouth to speak:

"It seems the heavens have gifted me with more to slaughter. Truly, I am blessed!"

Raising a bloodstained hand, Feng Shen gestured lazily toward them, beckoning with a flick of his fingers. "Come. I don’t like waiting."

No one moved…

"You…" The Crane Emperor was the first to speak, his voice steady but filled with caution.

The boldness he had displayed earlier wavered, his instincts screaming at him to tread carefully.

The young man before him exuded an air of danger, and for the first time in a very long time, the Crane Emperor felt the sting of unease crawl up his spine.

His initial confidence evaporated like mist under the sun, replaced by a gnawing sensation in his gut.

Swallowing hard, the Crane Emperor tightened his grip on his reins, forcing himself to meet the young man’s gaze.

"Who are you?" He hesitated for a brief moment, weighing his words, before continuing:

"Are you… a member of the Phoenix Army?"

"Huh?" Feng Shen tilted his head, feigning confusion as he pointed to himself.

Continue your saga on novelbuddy

"Me? Part of the Phoenix army?" He chuckled softly, the sound low and mocking, before it swelled into a full-throated laugh.

Feng Shen’s bloodied chest heaved as his amusement faded, and he revealed a toothy grin.

After a few moments, his laughter slowed, his expression shifting in an instant from playful to disgust. "No, no," he finally said, his tone dripping with disdain:

"I am someone who is untouchable."

Feng Shen’s golden eyes darkened, their color fading into an ominous shadow as his voice grew colder and more menacing with every word:

"Mere ants like you should be kneeling before me, lowering your worthless heads, and waiting—waiting for the inevitable moment when you are snuffed out like the insignificant creatures you are!"

A tense silence followed.

The Crane Emperor and his men froze.

"Great... Now I’m not in a good mood!" Feng Shen growled, stomping his foot on the cloud beneath him.

The misty surface rippled under the force, yet held steady as he stood, his golden eyes flickering with suppressed rage.

Feng Shen took a few sharp breaths, as if trying to calm himself, but his frustration only seemed to grow.

Suddenly, his gaze locked onto a random soldier among the Crane Emperor’s men.

Without a word, Feng Shen’s body blurred, vanishing from sight.

Before anyone could react, he reappeared behind an officer, his hand already moving with lethal precision.

A sickening crack echoed as Feng Shen snapped the man’s neck effortlessly.

In an instant, he was back on his cloud, standing as if he’d never moved.

The lifeless body of the officer slumped forward, tumbling from his mount and plummeting to the ground below.

The realization of what had just happened dawned on the remaining men, and a collective gasp escaped them as their attention snapped to the fallen officer.

"You… How… I…" The Crane Emperor stammered, his voice faltering as confusion and disbelief gripped him.

He had seen nothing—no movement, no indication, no warning.

Red alarms blared in the Crane Emperor’s mind, his instincts screaming once again.

A deep, primal fear began to settle in his chest. His knuckles whitening as he fought the urge to flee.

Yet even as the Crane Emperor entertained the thought, an icy realization froze him in place: any sudden movement might provoke the young man into killing them.

It was as if he were a mouse caught in the unblinking gaze of a serpent, the weight of his mortality pressing down on him like never before.

The Crane Emperor swallowed hard, his body betraying his inner turmoil, while his mind raced to devise a way out.

Just as the remaining men were about to shout at the young man, the Crane Emperor raised his hand in a swift, commanding motion, signaling them to remain silent.

The officers hesitated, eyes flickering between the Emperor and the young man, unsure of what was happening.

Taking a deep breath, the Crane Emperor’s voice trembled with a hint of forced humility:

"It seems I have done something unforgivable and intruded upon you, oh superior being!"

Such false reverence burned his pride, but the Crane Emperor swallowed it down.

His face became solemn.

The Crane Emperor slowly lowered his head, bowing deeply, his posture one of complete submission:

"I ask that you spare my men and I, as we are but simple, small beings before your overwhelming greatness."

The desperation to survive far outweighed his own wounded pride.

The Crane Emperor’s hands trembled slightly as he prayed to the heavens, hoping for mercy.

Every part of his being screamed against the shame of such humility, yet in the face of death, it was a small price to pay.

The Crane Emperor would be shameless if it meant living to see another day.

Of course, his sudden shift in demeanor caught his men completely by surprise.

Their eyes widened in disbelief as they watched their once-proud ruler bow in submission, something none of them had ever thought possible.

Some were so stunned that they could barely form coherent thoughts, their minds scrambling to comprehend what they were witnessing.

New novel 𝓬hapters are published on ƒreewebɳovel.com.

A few muttered in hushed voices, their words barely audible:

"Is this really... the Emperor?"

"He’s... begging?"

"What in the heavens is going on?"

For a moment, all the men stood frozen, as if the world itself had paused.

Their admiration, their respect for their leader, seemed to falter in the face of such humility.

Yet, despite the confusion, none dared to speak against their emperor’s actions.

Feng Shen shook his head in disdain, a deep sense of loathing clear on his face as he rubbed his forehead in annoyance:

"You are an emperor!? Why are you bowing your head!? Do you have no shame!?"

With a sudden movement, Feng Shen vanished from his position, reappearing directly in front of the Crane Emperor, standing on his cloud.

"You don’t deserve such a title!" he spat, his voice colder than ice.

Feng Shen’s words were more than just a critique; they were a scalding judgment.