The Laughing Stock

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Heavenly Realm, 1404

Ding! Dong! Ding! Dong!

"What is this? Another ascension?"

"It seems like someone is ascending!"

"Let's see who this lucky fellow is!"

"The bell won't stop ringing!"

"My palace! My Palace has been toppled!"

"Whoever this person is, their cultivation base must be very strong."

"I wonder who it is?"

"What if it's the Prince of Luoyang? The same thing happened when he ascended!"

"Stop saying his name. Why would you bring up that fool at a time like this? Besides, you weren't even here during his ascension!"

"How long will this ascension last?! It's been 3 minutes!"

"The Bell! The bell has fallen!"

"Who the hell is this person?!"

The blinding light fades slowly, as the person comes into view. Grey eyes flicker open as they take in the surroundings. The people gathered at the ascension point stare in horror, and incredulity as they all yell the same.

"You again?!"

"Not again!"

"You must be jesting!"

"This has to be a joke!"

The man wearing faded robes rubs the back of his head as he smiles sheepishly at the disappointed crowd. Yáng Zhèng Yuán, birth name Jungwon, The Crown Prince of Luoyang, had just ascended for the third time, again.

"Hello everyone, I have returned... again."

.

"Greetings Your Royal Highness the Crown Prince, I congratulate you on coming first on our list of 'Heaven's Officials who will be demoted and banished the quickest' at your return." The Prince turns around from where he had been looking at the fallen bell split in half.

He faces Quán Sù Yán, birth name Soyeon, The goddess of Literature, who stands with her arms crossed. The Prince flashes a nervous smile.

"No matter how you say it, it's still first place. If you're congratulating me then it must be a position worth being happy about?" Jungwon asks, uncertain.

Soyeon stated, "Yes if you're first, you get one hundred merits."

Jungwon responds immediately, "Next time, if there is another list like this, then by all means, please put me on it."

Soyeon doesn't even blink an eye and asks instead, "Do you know who is in second place?"

Jungwon crosses his arms with his forefinger stroking his chin. "It's too hard to guess. After all, with strength alone, I should be the one occupying the top three places."

Soyeon turns to walk, "You are more or less right. There is no second place. After all, the moment you started, others could only see your dust with no hopes of ever catching up." Jungwon followed behind, his hands crossed at his back as he kept pace with Soyeon.

"I don't dare accept the honor, Sù Yán. Who was the first-place winner for the previous years?" Jungwon asks.

Soyeon looks at him over her shoulder as she answers in a polite voice, "There was no one. This list was created this year. More specifically, today."

Jungwon turns to look at Soyeon with an awkward expression on his face. "Based on what you say, this list wasn't set up specifically, just for me, is it?" Soyeon smiles slightly, "You can think of it as merely lucky winning as you happened to arrive coincidentally in time for it."

"Then that's great! Thinking of it that way will make me feel more at ease." Jungwon skips happily. Soyeon shakes her head and turns to face forward as they walk to the Palace of Sù Yán.

"Do you know why you snagged the first place?" Soyeon asks.

"Because everyone expects it?" Jungwon guesses. His head tilts to the side as he watches Soyeon's facial expression. "Let me tell you the reason. When you ascended, the bell on the clock tower, started ringing like it had gone crazy, unable to stop."

"The clock was even older than you. It was cheerful and had a lively character. Every single time an official ascended, it would ring at least once to cheer them on. However, during your ascension, it only stopped ringing when it fell over."

"Unfortunately, the bell happened to fall upon a passing god. Fortunately, General Yin is a martial god and simply split the bell in half with his saber."

Jungwon winces in embarrassment as dread starts to fill his veins. "This... are they okay now?" Soyeon shakes her head. "No, they are still being repaired." Jungwon looks at her, "I'm asking about the general who was injured."

"General Yin is a Martial God." Soyeon reminded. "Your Highness, please look to your right, now. Do you see the golden palace?" Jungwon turns to where she pointed and sees a palace standing upon a cloud, with roofs covered in gold glass.

"Ah, yes. I see it."

"If you see something, then that means something is wrong. Originally there was nothing there before." Jungwon slumps as he sighs. "When you ascended, you toppled over several golden palaces of many officials. New ones had to be built as replacements and many couldn't be repaired on time. Hence, the officials improvised and built temporary ones instead."

"I am the one to blame then?" Jungwon asks with a small smile. He wouldn't be surprised if the answer was yes. Soyeon politely replies with a, "You're responsible for it."

Jungwon resigns to his fate and asks, "I have offended so many officials with just my ascension alone. Is there any way to make amends?" Soyeon looks at him and for whatever she sees, she replies, "There is a way. Eight million, eight hundred and eighty thousand merits."

Jungwon chuckles as he says frankly, "I am deeply sorry for the inconvenience caused. But even if you asked me ten-thousandths of it, I wouldn't have been able to pay." Soyeon stops in front of the door leading to the palace as she turns around to look at him.

The conviction of believers in the secular world could be converted into Heavenly Officials' spiritual power. Every incense sticks they burned as offerings were called 'merits'.

Jungwon's smile disappears as he asks Soyeon with all the seriousness he can muster. "Will you be willing to punt me down from here with a kick and grant me eight million eight hundred and eighty thousand merits?"

Soyeon merely blinks at him. "I am a literature god. If you ought to earn merits by kicks, then you should ask a martial god. The harder you get kicked the more merits you get." Jungwon sighs as he rubs his temple. "Then please let me reconsider my course of action for a while."

If this was 1219, eight million eight hundred and eighty thousand merits would have been nothing. Jungwon would have paid double the price without blinking an eye and he still would have the same amount of offerings left with him.

Soyeon allows a small smile to grace her face as she claps a hand on his shoulder. "Fret not, Your Highness. Fortunately for you, you have a period of 4 years to make up for it. Until then, find a way to gain merits for yourself."

Jungwon let out a deep sigh as he hunched over himself, "Sù Yán, you and I both know that even if I happen to worship myself, I wouldn't be able to procure eight million merits in 4 years."

Soyeon gives him a tight smile. "Do not worry, Your Highness. You never know what happens until you do it yourself. However, it is indeed a good idea that you present." Soyeon steps back and speaks. "Why don't you find a place in the mortal realm, descend and open a shrine for yourself? You can help the people in the area and worship yourself. If some miracle happens, you might even gain yourself a few believers."

Jungwon beams. "Great! I shall come to collect it before sunset!" He turns to leave but stops abruptly. "Ah! One more thing, Sù Yán. Do you happen to know where General Yin is being treated? I wish to visit him and offer my apologies."

Soyeon looks at him with a complicated expression. "General Yin is a God who can heal others. He is most likely recovering in his palace. But I must warn you, my prince. General Yin is a man of foul temper. He might not take your apology with kindness."

"Oh, that is no problem. It's not like I am not used to it." Jungwon waves her concern off before turning and walking off in the direction of the Palace of Zhèng Hàn. Soyeon watches him go before shaking her head and sighing.

"It seems that His Royal Highness does not remember General Yin Zhèng Hàn and General Wán Shèng Zhé." For some reason, Soyeon feels uneasy. She walks the same path Jungwon did earlier and stops him.

"Forgive me, Your Highness. I believe it won't do you any good to be visiting another martial God's palace uninvited. Might I suggest another way for you to apologize?" Soyeon requests politely.

As not only the goddess of Literature but as the official who overlooks all of heaven's affairs, Soyeon has never held an opinion of other officials. She wasn't close to the lot of them and only maintained a professional relationship with them. The few gods she was close to in upper heaven could be counted on one hand.

Even then, she has always had a soft spot in her heart for the laughingstock of the three realms. She pitied the once dignified prince who has now fallen lower than any servants or beggars.

He wasn't even acknowledged as a god. Not even in the heavenly realm!

The only reason the officials even acknowledge his presence is for a laugh or ridicule, or because of the Heavenly Emperor, who has always favored the crown prince ever since his first ascension to godhood.

"Then, please tell me. For I do not want to offend the General more than I already have." Jungwon says. He already has a debt of Eight million to be paid. He cannot afford more.

"Of course, Your Highness. Do you remember the password to the general communication array?" Soyeon asks. Jungwon nods in agreement. "Then let us join and apologize through it. If it doesn't bother you, then I may even be able to wrangle some support for you to establish your shrine."

.

The array was always bustling and loud. The only silent array was the one used by the heavenly officials of the upper court heaven. All the officials talked in one place without being physically present with the help of their spiritual energy.

The array was managed by Soyeon who not only established the connection of the array between the officials but also managed the password and made sure no unauthorized people could eavesdrop on their conversations. Every official had an array other than the general communication array with a password of their choosing.

The password to Jungwon's spiritual array was to recite the holy sutras a hundred times.

"Everyone, His Majesty, the emperor requires a few junior officials to aid him in the North. Can any of the gods spare the juniors from their court?" Soyeon asks. "His Majesty is not in North. Is this request posed for His Highness, perhaps?" A cold voice resounds through the array. "You seem to have recovered quickly General Yin." Soyeon snaps back.

The deities in Heaven were all big-shot Heavenly Officials who oversaw their region, and each one of them was a household name among a great number of people. Because they were all Heavenly Officials who had seriously cultivated to ascend, they were dignified and were usually quite reserved. More often than not, their speech and behavior had an air of arrogance.

Jungwon closes his eyes and sighs. So much for a request.

"Your Highness, the bell." Soyeon quietly informs him. Jungwon understands that this must have been General Yin, who got injured from the fallen bell. "I apologize for the inconvenience I have caused you, General. I hope you recover well. I will make sure to repay you accordingly." Jungwon bows. The general scoffs instead. "This time, your ascension has caused quite the commotion, Your Highness."

Within Heaven, it could even be said that monarchs were walking around everywhere, while heroes were as common as water flowing in rivers.

If one wishes to become an immortal god, one must first become an outstanding individual. In the mortal realm, people who achieved and accomplished many goals or people who had a lot of talent, of course, had a larger opportunity to ascend. As a result, it wasn't exaggerated to say that princesses, princes, and generals weren't a rare sight here. Who wasn't a proud child of the Heavens?

However, everyone was still extremely polite and courteous to each other, calling one another 'Your Majesty' or 'Your Highness' or 'General Lord. They would say whatever sounded more complimentary. But for the prior words spoken by the Heavenly Official, that title he used no longer sounded like a polite gesture.

Although Jungwon had been a Crown Prince, and the others had greeted him thus—his tone didn't have even a bit of respect. It rather sounded as if he was trying to use a needle to stab someone.

There were many other Heavenly Officials who had been genuine Crown Princes within the spirit communication array, and those few greetings simply made goosebumps appear on their backs as they felt uncomfortable from head to toe.

Jungwon had also heard the ill intentions in the other's voice, but he did not want to make a scene. Thinking that he would escape, he replied with a smile, "It was okay. I've heard about the bell. I deeply apologize for what happened."

The general merely snorted and no one knew what to make of it.

There were many martial gods within Heaven and among those, quite a few were new upstarts who had ascended after Jungwon left. This was why he was unable to pinpoint which god this was just by listening to his voice. He knew it was General Yin, but he had never heard of or seen this man before. However, one couldn't apologize without even knowing the other's name. Thus, Jungwon went to the heart of the matter and asked, "Excuse me, may I ask how I should address you, distinguished one?"

The moment he said those words, the other party became silent.

It wasn't only the other god who became silent. The entire spirit communication array seemed to freeze as if a puff of stagnant air slapped everyone in the face. Feeling awkward, Soyeon quietly informs him, "Your Highness, while I may have believed that you didn't recognize him before talking to him, you certainly should have recognized him after talking to him for so long. That is General Yin Zhèng Hàn."

Jungwon asks in a confused voice, "Zhèng Hàn?"

Then realization settles in. "That is Jeonghan?!" Jungwon choked out, shocked. Zhèng Hàn Zhen Jun, Martial God of the South West Region. He had seven thousand temples, and in the mortal realm, his reputation was illustrious.

This Zhèng Hàn Zhen Jun, who had the personal name Jeonghan, used to be a deputy general in the Palace Halls of Luoyang country's Crown Prince nearly three hundred years ago.

Soyeon replied, shocked, "You didn't recognize him?"

Jungwon replies, still startled, "I didn't. Back then, he never talked to me in such a manner. In addition, I don't even remember the time I last saw him. If it wasn't 100 hundred years ago, then it has probably been three centuries. I don't even remember what he looked like. How could I recognize him based on voice alone?"

The array remained completely silent. No one, not even Jeonghan made a peep of noise. The other Heavenly Officials, on one hand, pretended that they weren't listening, while on the other hand, they crazily waited for someone to continue talking.

When it came to these two, it was relatively awkward. After so many years, many rumors had been passed on, so everyone already understood almost everything. In those days when Jungwon had been the precious Crown Prince, he cultivated in Huang Ji Temple.

The Huang Ji Temple was the Luoyang country's, Imperial Taoist Temple. Their selection standards for disciples were extremely strict. Jeonghan came from a poor background, and his father was a sinner who had been beheaded. A person like that simply did not have the qualifications to enter the Huang Ji Temple as a disciple.

As a result, he had no other choice but to become someone who did odd jobs. In the temple, he was mostly in charge of caring for His Highness the Crown Prince, or delivering tea and water to him. He acted as his handmaiden. But Jungwon saw he was assiduous, and thus he asked the Taoist Ministers to make an exception and receive him as a disciple.

His Royal Highness the Crown Prince's words carried great weight. Only then was Jeonghan able to enter the temple to cultivate because of the will of the Crown Prince? After Jungwon ascended, he appointed him as his general and took Jeonghan along with him to the Immortal City.

It was said that even though Jeonghan was someone who acted like the Crown Prince's handmaiden, Jungwon saw him as someone he cared for a lot. Jeonghan took care of his every need, and as a prince who had grown up without a motherly figure, Jeonghan became that for him.

The two were knit tightly together.

However, when Jungwon was demoted and banished to the mortal realm, Jeonghan did not follow him. He instead found a blessed place and started to painstakingly cultivate like crazy. Later, he withstood the heavenly tribulations and ascended himself.

Three hundred years ago, one was in heaven and the other was on the ground. Three hundred years later, one is still in heaven, and one is on the ground. The irony of the situation, however, was that the once master was now lower than a beggar, and the once servant was higher than a master.

The awkward silence was broken by a loud voice that shook the entire array. "Who the fuck dismantled my Golden Palace?! Come out!" The roaring voice made all the officials inside the array feel like their scalps were about to explode.

Though the official's stomachs were already flipping, everyone still held their breaths as they listened with rapt attention. They didn't make a single peep as they waited to see how Jungwon would respond to the loud cursing martial god.

But nobody expected that instead of something exciting—they would hear something even more thrilling. Jungwon hadn't even gathered his voice to start talking before Jeonghan spoke first.

Jeonghan laughed twice. "Haha."

The person who came coldly said, "You were the one who tore it down? Alright, just wait for it."

Jeonghan faintly replied, "I did not say it was me. Don't randomly spray blood at people."

The other person asked, "Then why are you laughing? Are you mentally ill?"

Jeonghan answered, "It isn't like that. What you've just said was funny, that's all. The person who destroyed your golden palace is currently in the spirit communication array, you can go and ask him yourself."

With things evolving to this degree, Jungwon felt too embarrassed to say anything else. He coughed dryly before saying, "It was me. I'm sorry."

The moment he spoke, the person who came later also became silent. Soyeon clears her throat slightly before once again, whispering to him quietly. "Your Highness, this is General Wán Shèng Zhé."

Jungwon replied lightly, "This time, I recognize him. However, it seems that he doesn't recognize me instead." It hurt to say that, but what was he supposed to do when the situation seemed like it?

Soyeon immediately squashes the budding doubt. "That is not the case, Your Highness. General Wán tends to spend more time in the Mortal Realm than in Heaven. He only comes here for extremely important matters. Hence, he merely didn't know you had ascended again."

Shèng Zhé Zhen Jun, personal name Seungcheol, the Martial God overlooking the Southeast region, was popular and had eight thousand temples. He tends to receive a lot of love and respect from his believers.

He was the first appointed general of the Luoyang Crown Prince's Palace Hall three hundred years ago. During Jungwon's youth, Seungcheol was his Imperial bodyguard. Seungcheol had grown up with the Crown Prince, entered the Heavens with him, was demoted with him, and was banished with him. Unfortunately, he was unable to endure all of the three hundred years with Jungwon. In the end, they separated on bad terms and parted ways, never to see each other again.

Though no one ever knew clearly what had gone down between the trio, none dared to go and ask. All anyone had ever heard was the rumors. Some said, that Seungcheol left Jungwon because he could no longer bear being the wandering anybody with him, while some ridiculous ones said that Seungcheol left because he could no longer bear to see Jungwon ignore his love.

Jeonghan's versions were no clearer than Seungcheol's. Some say, Jungwon kicked him out because he couldn't look past his poor background, while others say that Jeonghan never really cared for Jungwon as others thought him too, and had betrayed him and left himself.

However, if anyone were to ever ask Jungwon, he would have said, "They both had their paths to walk on, and their destiny to fulfill. They made their choices, and I accepted them accordingly."

Therefore, when there was no response from Seungcheol's side for a long time because he had unexpectedly stopped talking and instead immediately hid, Jungwon collected his tail and beat himself down a bit as he said, "I also didn't anticipate making a commotion like this. It wasn't deliberate, I've inconvenienced everyone."

Jeonghan responded in a cool manner, "Oh, then that was indeed quite coincidental."

Coincidental? Jungwon also thought it was too coincidental. He ascends after three centuries and the two officials who were harmed during the earthquake were his two former retainers. For anyone else, it looked like he was deliberately taking revenge. However, Jungwon was the type of person who if you gave him a hundred flowers with one poisonous one, and told him to pick one, would end up choosing the poisonous one.

In short, he was unlucky.

"I am extremely sorry for the inconvenience I have caused. It wasn't deliberate. I would hope you can give me some time to compensate for it." Jungwon apologizes. One didn't need to see Jeonghan physically to know that he wanted to continue giving sarcastic remarks but as a martial god who neither had his palace toppled nor had been gravely injured by the bell, he would only appear overbearing and nitpicking. So, he instead silently conceived himself and left.

Jungwon has never been more awkward.

.

"I apologize, You Highness. If General Yin hadn't intervened, I could have wrangled some deputies to help you." Soyeon says when they come back from the array. Jungwon smiles lightly at her, his face still flushed with embarrassment. "There is no need, Sù Yán. Besides, I'm used to doing things on my own."

Soyeon bows. "Then I shall not keep his highness occupied for long." Jungwon bows back, "But before I leave, is there anything else that I need to know?" Soyeon stays quiet as she thinks. "I think that there might be a few things that His Highness might need to know. However, we can discuss those tomorrow. I shall have the maps ready for you by then too."

"Okay, Sù Yán. Thank you for your efforts. I shall take my leave now." Jungwon bows before he turns and walks in the direction of the Palace Hall of the Crown Prince of Luoyang.

'What an ascension.' Jungwon thinks wryly to himself. 

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Jungwon's name and titles: Yáng Zhèng Yuán [楊 正 元], Fire Master, Yuan, Xiāofáng dàshī [消防 大師]. The Prince that Rose from the Blaze / Cóng Lièhuǒ Zhōng Juéqǐ De Wángzǐ[從 烈火 中 崛起 的 王子]

Jeonghan's name and title: Yin Zhèng Hàn [尹 正 漢], General Yin, Martial God of the South West.

Seungcheol's name and title: Wán Shèng Zhé [玩 勝 哲], General Wan, Martial God of the South East.

Soyeon's name and title: Quán Sù Yán [全 素 妍], Goddess of Literature

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 Aiyoooo! Early Update!!! Why??? Because I'm busy with Laws Of Justice.

That reminds me, You won't be mad if I delay the Laws Of Justice publish date right? Please, don't be mad. I promise it will be out by May 5. I'm just in a shit load of work. You will understand, right? Thank you so much!

Anyway, I was so sad that no one left comments on both Chapter 1 and Laws of Justice Chapter 6. Everyone, I may delay the updates and not interact much but I work hard for my books. It hurts me to see you all ignore my efforts. Please leave lots and lots of comments for me!

And don't forget to vote!! See you again!