Heavens' Laughter

"Hurry and stand up!" Cai Xiu barked, grabbing the girl's hand and yanking her to her feet with some strength despite her weakened state.

Her grip was firm as she steadied her:

"We have to get to Master. Now! Staying here is a death sentence."

Cai Xiu's instincts screamed that their safest place was by their Master's side.

She trusted him — no; she relied on him — to ensure their survival. If anyone could shield them… It was him.

Without another word, Cai Xiu began pulling the girl forward, as they both began running.

It wasn't long before they stumbled into the where the Second Young Master was.

Both Yùn Yì and Cai Xiu were panting heavily, their breaths ragged, and the noise they made was impossible to miss.

Feng Shen glanced over at the sound. His sharp eyes landed on the two disheveled figures, as he raised a hand in a small, nonchalant wave.

"Well~ if it isn't you insec—girls…!" His tone wavered between teasing and playful annoyance, but there was a glint of amusement in his expression:

"Thankfully, you're both still alive!"

Feng Shen paused, tilting his head slightly as if inspecting them more closely, his smirk growing wider.

To say he was surprised would be an understatement; he had honestly forgotten about their existence.

But now that they were standing there, bruised, battered, and very much alive, Feng Shen couldn't help but feel a small twinge of relief.

Not because he was particularly attached to them — of course not.

But having them alive was undeniably useful.@@novelbin@@

They were part of his plans, tools in Feng Shen's progression.

"Well, good job not dying," he added with a chuckle, brushing some imaginary dust off his robes. "It'd be such a waste if you got yourselves killed."

Small tears began sliding down Yùn Yì's cheeks as her sniffles grew louder, her face scrunching up overwhelming emotion.

Her cheeks flushed a soft pink as she broke entirely. Without thinking, she bolted forward, leaping into the Second Young Master's lap and wrapping her arms tightly around him.

"I missed you so much!" Yùn Yì' cried, her voice muffled against his chest as tears soaked into his robes.

Her grip was desperate, almost clinging, as if letting go would somehow erase the Second Young Master's presence:

"I was so worried I wouldn't see you again! I suffered so much!"

Between her sobs, Yùn Yì buried her face further into his chest, taking in his familiar scent, as though it were a balm for her frayed nerves.

Feng Shen blinked, his body stiffening for a moment at the unexpected display of emotion.

His usual smug expression faltered, and a tinge of disgust crept onto his face. "Uh… Girl…?" he began, his tone uncertain.

As Yùn Yì continued crying…

Feng Shen's lips twitched. "Alright, alright, enough waterworks. You're soaking me."

Wiping her eyes with trembling hands, Yùn Yì slowly slid off the Second Young Master's lap, though her reluctance was clear in the way she lingered for a moment longer than necessary.

She took several deep breaths, her chest rising and falling as she tried to compose herself.

"I apologize for showing you such a display…" Yùn Yì said softly, her voice still quivering.

Her gaze dropped to the ground, unable to meet his eyes as she clenched her fists. "I was just so scared… so scared…" Her voice broke slightly on the last words, and her puffy, red-rimmed eyes.

With a small sigh, Feng Shen muttered:

"You survived, didn't you? That's what matters. Now, stop showing such a face. Just sit back and relax. Enjoy the show!"

Feng Shen waved his hand lazily, motioning for both girls to sit on the pile of corpses beside him:

"Come on, take a seat. No point in standing around like lost ducks."

Yùn Yì and Cai Xiu hesitated.

"Sit… on that?" They both asked at the same time. Both of them pointing.

Feng Shen arched a brow. "What? Afraid of getting your robes dirty? You've already been rolling around in filth, so what's a little more?"

Cai Xiu sighed heavily and plopped down on the edge of the pile, her posture slouched from exhaustion. "Just sit, Yùn Yì. We've been through worse," she muttered, waving her over.

Gulping, Yùn Yì finally relented, carefully lowering herself onto the pile with an audible shudder. She kept her hands clenched in her lap. "This is so disgusting…"

Meanwhile, Feng Shen paid them no further mind, his attention already back on the battle raging before them.

The Phoenix lay sprawled on its back, screeching in defiance, its talons flailing wildly in an attempt to defend itself.

The Ancestor was perched on its stomach, his fists pounding down relentlessly, each strike generating mini shockwaves that rippled outward, cracking the already shattered ground.

Meanwhile, the Crane, battered and broken, struggled to stay upright. One of its legs had been completely severed, and its once-pristine beak was now jagged and torn, blood dripping from the edges.

Despite its grievous injuries, it refused to retreat.

The Crane staggered forward, its wings flaring unevenly as it let out a strained cry. With a desperate lunge, it hurled itself toward the Phoenix, aiming to capitalize on the vulnerable state.

The Ancestor dodged just in time, narrowly avoiding the Crane's desperate lunge. He landed a few paces away, spitting blood in frustration as he glared at the two creatures.

His breaths were labored, and his Qi reserves were dangerously low. "Damn birds…"

Summoning what little energy remained, the Ancestor raised his hands.

With a guttural roar, he formed a massive, blazing sword of fire that shimmered with an intense, unstable heat.

The blade stretched impossibly long; the flames licking hungrily at the air as he gripped it with both hands.

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"Blazing Titan Blade!" the Ancestor bellowed. With a mighty leap, he brought the flaming sword down in a devastating arc, aiming directly at the two birds.

The blade struck true, slicing cleanly through the Crane's weakened body, splitting it in half with a sickening crack.

The Crane let out one final, mournful cry before collapsing, its lifeless form smoldering as it hit the ground.

But the Phoenix was not so easily defeated. As the fiery blade descended toward it, the bird opened its beak wide, unleashing an inferno of its own.

The flames collided with the Ancestor's sword, consuming the fire with a roar of power.

The sword shattered, its remnants scattering as embers in the wind.

The Phoenix screeched as it struggled back to its feet, its wings beating wildly.

Each flap sent waves of scorching heat rippling through the air, forcing the Ancestor to shield his face as he staggered back.

Seeing this, Feng Shen slowly rose to his feet, as he stretched his arms overhead. A faint smile played on his lips, his teeth showing.

"Well~ it looks like it's my turn to play," he mused. He licked his lips, his eyes gleaming with excitement.

As Feng Shen began to stride forward, he glanced over his shoulder at his personal servant and little maid:

"I advise you two to start heading back to the Crane Empire. The entire area is about to be destroyed. I'll come and pick you both up when I'm finished here."

Before waiting for a response, Feng Shen disappeared from view. He used Shadow Step, his presence vanishing entirely.

Both girls exchange glances.

"What should we do?" Yùn Yì asked, her voice trembling with uncertainty.

She desperately wanted to stay behind, to make sure the Second Young Master would be safe, but the weight of his orders pressed heavily on her.

Disobeying him felt wrong, yet the thought of leaving him gnawed at Yùn Yì's heart.

Cai Xiu clenched her fists, her gaze lingering on the spot where her Master had vanished:

"We do as he says. He knows what he's doing. We need to trust him."

"Alright…" Yùn Yì nodded her head.

Meanwhile, Feng Shen reappeared a short distance from the Ancestor and Phoenix.

Both of which were now hitting each other sloppily.

"Hmm… how much time has passed?" Feng Shen murmured to himself, losing track of time.

Still, he could make an educated guess, especially since both of the figures before him looked utterly exhausted.

Cracking his fingers with a grin, Feng Shen declared, "Alright, enough waiting. Time to dive in!"

In an instant, he surged forward, appearing seemingly out of nowhere.

Without hesitation, Feng Shen gathered Qi in his throat and unleashed Dragon's Roar, the blast shooting toward both figures.

"What the fuck!?" The Ancestor yelled.

"SCREEEEEEECH!?" The Phoenix screeched.

Taken completely off guard, they scrambled to block the attack.

Both of them used the last remnants of their Qi to counter the oncoming assault. The strain was clear on their faces as they pushed their energy to its limits.

And so, in perfect unison, they jumped away from each other.

They landed in separate positions, facing the direction from which the attack had originated.

Seizing the moment, Feng Shen grinned and began spamming Dragon's Roar, his Qi reserves full:

"Block this, you filthy casuals!"