Heavens' Laughter-Chapter 131: Engage

"Ah~" Feng Shen licked the blade, savoring the taste of blood, a twisted pleasure in every drop.

He cut his tongue just slightly, but it healed instantly.

With a dismissive flick of his wrist, Feng Shen tossed the blade aside and stood up, his smile widening.

"Little girl~? Are you still hiding?" he called out, his voice almost sing-song, carrying an eerie lilt as he strolled through the carnage.

Feng Shen’s eyes flickered from one corner of the camp to the next, scanning for movement. "Come on out… I don’t bite!"

He wandered between the fallen tents and scattered crates, peeking around the corners of the structures, breathing deeply as he inhaled the sharp scent of blood in the air.

Feng Shen’s smile remained as he moved, unhurried.

"Well~ it seems she’s one lucky little girl," he murmured aloud, annoyed that he couldn’t sense her. She wasn’t anywhere close.

Feng Shen stopped walking for a moment, letting out a low, frustrated laugh.

Despite the irritation, he was in too good a mood to care for long; he had just slaughtered a camp and let the fire of chaos burn bright.

Feng She’s eyes then locked on a torch hanging nearby, a flickering flame waiting to be used.

He grabbed it with one fluid motion, and as he walked through the camp, he began lighting everything on fire, the flames quickly licking the tents and structures.

"Ah~ this is too perfect." Feng Shen reveled in the destruction, feeling a surge of satisfaction as the heat and smoke filled the air, crackling and snapping around him.

"Hopefully, this brings more people…" he muttered to himself, almost wistfully, as he dropped the torch and stomped on it, extinguishing the flame under his foot.

With a satisfied sigh, Feng Shen turned away from the burning camp.

Behind him, flames roared, consuming everything in their path. Corpses lay strewn across the ground, a macabre testament to his work.

Feng Shen paused for a moment, letting everything wash over him. He was having fun again, the familiar rush of bloodlust filling him.

But there were things to do, places to go.

"Grab my tools, then move to the Immortal Realm," Feng Shen whispered to himself, his eyes narrowing with purpose.

The fun had been a distraction, but now he had a bigger plan to follow.

With one last glance over his shoulder, Feng Shen left the burning camp behind, stepping into the night.

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"…."

Silence filled the entire room.

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Nobody dared to utter a word.

Why?

Well…

"This is truly unfortunate," Feng Yuanyun said coldly, his tone betraying no emotion. His arms were crossed tightly, and he leaned back in his chair, his gaze steady as he surveyed the room:

"However, we must focus on the future and the stability of the Empire. There’s nothing to be done for the dead. Those who mourn them are weak. We move forward."

Feng Yuanyun glanced around the table, where the representatives of elite families and royal members sat, their expressions a mixture of distress, disbelief, and stoic composure.

Some were visibly shaken, while others appeared more composed, perhaps too much so. The contrast in reactions did not go unnoticed.

Cai Bo, unable to contain his frustration any longer, slammed his fist onto the table with a loud crack, causing the gathered members to jump slightly.

His voice was thick with anger:

"This is a huge issue! With our emperor dead, that is a slap in the face of us all! We cannot let this go unpunished! How will our ancestors view us if we allow such an atrocity to stand without retribution?"

Cai Bo’s eyes burned with a mix of rage and desperation as he glared at the others, particularly Feng Yuanyun, who remained calm, unperturbed.

"Huh…? Are you raising your voice at me?" Feng Yuanyun sat up straighter in his chair, his gaze sharpening like a blade.

The atmosphere in the room grew heavier as the tension between the two men reached a boiling point.

"Gentlemen, please calm yourselves…" Dylan Lau interjected, letting out a weary sigh as he rubbed his forehead:

"We should not be fighting amongst ourselves in a time like this. However, if I may offer my thoughts—perhaps it would be best to let the Emperor’s death pass. We cannot change what has already transpired."

Dylan Lau’s words fell heavy in the room, and the royal family exchanged uneasy glances.

Their initial shock at the death of the Emperor was now replaced by an undercurrent of betrayal at such a suggestion.

Yet, despite the tension, they held their silence.

Another long silence hung over…

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And so Dylan Lau spoke again:

"If we are to move forward, we must act swiftly and wisely. From the reports we’ve gathered, our army sent to investigate has returned with nothing but the bodies of fallen soldiers. Only one officer and a handful of elite troops survived. The enemy… is a single individual who wiped out the entire force."

The room’s atmosphere shifted.

The idea of one person being capable of such devastation was staggering, and everyone present shifted uncomfortably, exchanging worried glances.

Some were on edge, unable to hide their rising panic. Others, particularly those with military backgrounds, clenched their fists, trying to suppress their unease.

"I believe we should confront this individual directly," Fan Chengcheng spoke, his voice calm yet resolute. Leaning forward, his hands clasped tightly together on the table, he continued:

"Whether it’s through strategy or sheer will, such a man should not be allowed to roam freely in the Upper Realm. However, we must gather more support before engaging him."

Feng Yuanyun scoffed, shaking his head dismissively. "Pathetic words! Why should we rely on others? We are strong enough to handle this ourselves!" He slammed his fist onto the table, shattering it completely.

Rising to his feet, his eyes gleamed with fierce determination. "I will not tolerate such weakness!"

Cai Bo, seething with frustration, shot to his feet, pointing an accusatory finger.

"You fool! We are already weak—we couldn’t even protect the Emperor! Enough of your empty boasts!" His voice grew louder, his anger palpable.

It felt like electricity crackled in the air as the two men stared each other down, each one poised for conflict.

Exhausted and on the edge, Dylan Lau’s patience finally snapped. "ENOUGH!" he bellowed, his voice shaking with frustration:

"I’m sick and tired of both of you constantly at each other’s throats! Now is not the time for these childish games!"

Dylan Lau sank back into his chair, staring up at the ceiling as he took deep, steadying breaths.

The weight of the moment pressed down on him, but he knew he had to regain his composure.

Even the most composed could be pushed to their limits.

After a moment of silence, Cai Bo broke it, his voice tinged with a hint of skepticism. "Then what do you propose we do?"

Dylan Lau sat up slowly, his expression softening slightly:

"We need to be pragmatic. We can’t sit around waiting for a miracle. Either we engage this man, or we don’t. But whatever we decide, we need to do it quickly, before it’s too late."

Cai Bo raised an eyebrow, leaning back in his chair. "And if we do engage? What’s the plan?"

Feng Yuanyun, who had been silent for a moment, leaned back in his own chair, his arms crossed over his chest:

"I don’t care either way. I’m not here to play politics. But if this ends in a good fight, it could be worth it."

Dylan Lau glanced around the room, the weight of the decision pressing on him. He cleared his throat before speaking:

"If we can gather enough support and mobilize a strong force, we will engage. However, each of us must ensure we have an escape treasure at hand, and we must all be outfitted in the best armor we can muster. If we can’t secure what we need in time, then we’ll put this aside and deal with it later."

Dylan Lau stood, and without waiting for a reply, he turned to leave:

"Gentlemen, I will be heading out now. I’ll work on securing the necessary support. For now, consider our course of action set — engagement is inevitable."

The door clicked shut behind him, and as Dylan Lau passed the two guards standing at attention outside, a small, knowing smile crept across his face.

His eyes gleamed with a dangerous light, and as he walked down the hallway.

’With this… I can get them all killed.’ Dylan Lau thought.

A low chuckle escaped his lips as he imagined the chaos about to unfold.

Back inside the room…

Everyone else slowly began clearing out, each of them deep in their thoughts about the decisions that had just been made.

Feng Yuanyun and Cai Bo remained seated, their eyes locked.

Finally, with an almost synchronized gesture, both men broke the silence.

Feng Yuanyun gave a derisive snort, his lips curling into a sneer.

Cai Bo, not to be outdone, turned away sharply, his eyes flashing with contempt.

They really hated each other…