Heavens' Laughter

Silence…

Seconds later…

"Well~ that's the one thing you can't have," Bai Ning said with a booming laugh, his belly shaking like ripples on a pond with each step forward.

His chubby hand extended, pointing at the First Prince with exaggerated flair:

"Unfortunately for you, we've been paid quite handsomely to keep this man-child breathing. His head? Not on the menu. But perhaps I can interest you in something else."

As much as Bai Ning would have loved to see the First Prince sprawled lifeless on the ground, that was a personal wish—a pleasure he couldn't afford to indulge.

Business was business, and keeping the prince alive meant more coin in his pocket for the future.

"You see, while I might agree this brat could use a lesson or two about humility, killing him would be bad for business. Very bad." Bai Ning wagged a pudgy finger as though scolding a wayward child:

"The Phoenix Emperor isn't exactly known for his forgiving nature, and if his precious son turns up dead under our watch... well, let's just say that wouldn't end well for anyone involved. And by anyone, I mean us."

Ren Zu took a step forward himself:

"Not to mention, a failure like that would tarnish our reputation. A mercenary band that can't protect its client? Laughable! People might start questioning whether we're worth hiring, and that's a hit my coin purse won't survive."

Bai Ning nodded his head in agreement:

"So here's the deal: you can take your grievances elsewhere, or I can offer you... a consolation prize. Your choice. But if you insist on pushing this any further, you'll find out just how good we are at earning our pay."

The First Prince let out a long sigh of relief, his hand instinctively clutching his chest as if steadying his racing heart.

For a moment, he had been certain his fate was sealed. That he would be tossed to the wolves without a second thought.

But it seemed the mercenary's loyalty—if it could even be called that—had held firm in the end.

'Or perhaps it wasn't loyalty at all,' the First Prince mused bitterly, 'but simply a matter of coin.'

'I'll keep that in mind for the future.' He swallowed his irritation:

'Next time, I'll pay them even more…' Find exclusive stories on My Virtual Library Empire

If a heavier purse guaranteed their continued services and ensured more benefits, the First Prince didn't see why not.

He didn't particularly enjoy dealing with such mercenaries, but their skill and unwavering pragmatism made them useful. Valuable tools that could tip the balance in his favor.

Coins wasn't a concern for the First Prince, not when wealth flowed as freely to him as water through a river.

What mattered was squeezing every possible benefit from his hired men.

These mercenaries weren't bound by oaths or honor, but they could be bound by the lure of riches.

The First Prince adjusted his posture, straightening his back and adopting an air of composure, as though the threat to his life mere moments ago hadn't shaken him to his core.

He cast a smug glance at the young man before him.

"There you have it," the First Prince said, his tone dripping with arrogance. "You can't have my head. Pick something else."

With an impatient wave of his hand, he motioned for the young man to hurry up and make a decision, as though the entire situation was now beneath him:

"Well? Don't just stand there gawking. Surely there's something else that might satisfy you. Or are you too stunned by your misfortune to think of anything at all?"

"Well… That's a shame…" Feng Shen's expression remained unchanging as he let out a quiet sigh. "However…"

He then vanished from where he stood, reappearing in an instant directly in front of the First Prince:

"I really want your head."

The blade of Qi in Feng Shen's hand shimmered with deadly intent as he swung it toward the First Prince's neck.

Just as the blade was about to make contact, a faint glimmer appeared—a barrier of Qi materializing in the blink of an eye.

The strike was deflected by a resounding crack.

Before Feng Shen could react, a sudden force exploded against his abdomen. His eyes widened in that brief instant, catching sight of a hand driving into his stomach like a battering ram.

He was launched backward like a cannonball, his body smashing into a crumbling building with such force that the structure groaned and collapsed under the strain.

Dust and debris erupted into the air, swallowing him in a chaotic cloud as the ruined building came crashing down around him.

"Are you alright, Your Highness?" Ren Zu asked, his voice steady but laced with concern. He stood firmly in front of the First Prince, his stance protective, though sweat glistened on his brow.

His breaths came quick and heavy as he slowly called back his Qi.

The shimmering shield, now cracked from the impact, flickered one last time before dissipating entirely.

Ren Zu's eyes remained sharp, darting behind him for a brief glance at the First prince. Despite his outward calm, his senses were on high alert, waiting for any further threats.

He hadn't anticipated such a sudden attack, as such speed had caught him off guard.

That moment of near-failure weighed on Ren Zu, but he forced himself to focus.

"I wasn't expecting... that," he muttered, his tone low, almost to himself. His eyes locked onto his comrade, and his expression twisted into a scowl.

"You stupid, fat pig!" Ren Zu barked, his annoyance breaking through. "Why didn't you react? Keep your guard up, damn it!"@@novelbin@@

Snapping out of his brief state of shock, Bai Ning felt his body tense. His throat was dry as he swallowed hard.

Guilt gnawed at him as he adjusted his stance, shifting into a defensive position.

"My apologies," he said, his voice firm but edged with embarrassment. "I made a rookie mistake. I'll reflect on it later. Right now, we need to get His Highness out of here."

Bai Ning cast a quick glance at his comrade, then back at the First Prince. He knew how close they'd come to disaster, all because of his cockiness and lack of focus.

It was a blow to his pride… One he wouldn't easily forget.

And so, inwardly, Bai Ning berated himself:

'Stupid, stupid! You almost ruined everything. Get your head in the game, or you're going to cost us more than just a few coins.'

Determined not to repeat his mistake, Bai Ning shifted his weight, prepared for anything.

He couldn't afford another lapse, not now, and not with their client's life—and their reputation—hanging in the balance.

"Don't fuck this up! We almost lost our coin cow!" Ren Zu jabbed a finger in the direction of the First Prince, who had taken a step back, visibly startled by the outburst:

"If he dies, we don't get paid, and that's coming out of your share!"

"I said I would reflect later!" Bai Ning snapped, his tone carrying a hint of irritation. He was visibly annoyed at being chastised in front of a client.

It was a humiliation he didn't take lightly, but he knew better than to argue further. After all, every word his comrade had said was true:

"Stay close, Your Highness. We're going to get you out of here."

"Alright, just get me out of here—" The First Prince's words were cut off abruptly as the ruins of the collapsed building suddenly erupted with a deafening roar.

Splintered wood, jagged stone, and dust filled the air.

Feng Shen emerged. He stretched his body leisurely. "Oh, that wasn't very nice, wasn't it? But you know…"

Feng Shen's body blurred, and in an instant, he disappeared using Shadow Step. Only to reappear the next moment, right in front of the skinny mercenary.

Before the man could react, his hand shot out, striking him across the face with bone-shattering force.

The blow sent Ren Zu sprawling backward, his body lifting off the ground as if weightless, only to crash through a massive boulder.

The rock shattered into jagged fragments as his body tore through it like paper.

Feng Shen stood there:

"I don't like when someone touches me without my consent."

Reacting with lightning speed, Bai Ning's fury erupted. "You bastard!" He called upon his technique:

"Animal King!"

With a surge of Qi, Bai Ning materialized a massive rhino horn made of pure energy, the pointed tip crackling with force.

He charged forward, intending to strike down the young man.

But as Bai Ning closed the distance, the world seemed to slow for just a moment. His eyes widened in disbelief as he came face-to-face.

Feng Shen didn't even flinch at the attack:

"Is that all you got, piggy?"

Gritting his teeth, Bai Ning poured more Qi into the rhino horn, pushing harder against the young man's skull.

Sweat dripped down his face as he channeled every ounce of strength into the attack, desperate to break through this unnatural resistance:

'What the hell is this fucker's head made out of?!'