“I am here.” A woman’s voice, devoid of emotion yet strangely captivating, came from beyond the video screen. Then, Sage Ruler Qing Qiu appeared in the frame.
Women couldn’t keep secrets, especially Xiang Ning. After spending some time with Qing Qiu, she had come to trust her master completely. The functions of the Dust Destiny Necklace were no secret to Qing Qiu.
“Sage Ruler…” Fan Li began, but Qing Qiu shook her head.
“From now on, just call me Qing Qiu.”
Fan Li was momentarily taken aback. What did she mean?
In the past, he had addressed her as ‘Sage Ruler’ when he was in a good mood and simply ‘Qing Qiu’ when he was feeling down. Today, he had a favor to ask and was being polite, but she didn’t seem to care?
Qing Qiu didn’t elaborate, simply asking, “What do you need?”
“I have a few questions,” Fan Li replied, nodding.
“Firstly, do you know the whereabouts of Sage Ruler Archery in the past couple of days?”
“Secondly…”
“Wait a moment.” Qing Qiu raised a hand, interrupting him.
“I apologize, Fan Li. According to the laws of the Pure Land, any information regarding a Sage Ruler is confidential. I cannot answer your questions.”
“Master?!” Xiang Ning, of course, was on Fan Li’s side.
She tugged at Qing Qiu’s sleeve, pleading. “Just tell Fan Li, please? It’s just between the three of us. As long as we don’t tell anyone, who would know you broke the rules?”
Qing Qiu, however, wouldn’t argue with Xiang Ning. She simply looked at her student with a calm expression, like a mother gazing at a mischievous child.
“Alright, alright!” Xiang Ning raised her hands in defeat, knowing she couldn’t change her master’s mind.
Fan Li seemed to have anticipated this. He wasn’t angry or frustrated, nor did he attempt to persuade Qing Qiu. Instead, he moved on to his second question:
“Has Lu Bu joined the Pure Land?”
As he expected, Qing Qiu didn’t refuse to answer this time.
She furrowed her brow in thought, then replied, “Sage Ruler Life did bring a man back today. I don’t know his name, but I can inquire for you.”
“No need,” Fan Li’s voice turned cold, though his anger wasn’t directed at Qing Qiu.
He had his answer: Lu Bu had betrayed him.
And from this, he confirmed the identity of the archer who had attacked him. It was undoubtedly Sage Ruler Archery of the Brahma Sound Pure Land!
The Pure Land had sent not one, but two assassins to ambush him on his way back from Mount Yunmeng.
Sage Ruler Archery, the main attacker, and Sage Ruler Life, who had lured Lu Bu into betraying him!
“Sage Ruler Life is Diao Chan, isn’t she?” Fan Li asked suddenly.
For a brief moment, a flicker of surprise crossed Qing Qiu’s usually impassive face.
Sage Ruler Life was the most mysterious member of the Brahma Sound Pure Land!
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She quickly regained her composure and shook her head. “I apologize, I cannot answer questions regarding a Sage Ruler.”
But Fan Li no longer needed her answer. Her reaction had confirmed his suspicions.
Before his death, Dong Zhuo had cried out Diao Chan’s name. And in this world, there was likely no one else capable of manipulating Lu Bu into betrayal.
“Fan Li… are you… is the Great Chu alright?” Xiang Ning was worried about Fan Li, but her words expressed concern for the Great Chu instead.
Fan Li shook his head. “Rest assured, Your Majesty. With me here, the Great Chu is safe.”
The Great Chu was safe.
But what about you?
Xiang Ning couldn’t bring herself to ask.
…
Fan Li withdrew from public life within the Great Chu. The affairs of the Fan family were handled by his elder brother, Fan Ming, and his third brother, Fan Chun.
Fan Li’s original body and three clones remained in seclusion within the Dragon God Palace, focusing on cultivation.
A report arrived from a Fan Clan Trading Company spy embedded within the Great Ming. The report was first delivered to the Jiangshan Pavilion, then forwarded to Fan Li through a secret channel.
The contents of the report weren’t particularly confidential – it detailed personnel changes within the Ming court’s Grand Secretariat. However, Fan Li had specifically requested that any information related to a certain individual be delivered to him immediately.
That individual was Zhang Juzheng.
“Zhang Juzheng, Left Minister of Personnel and concurrently a Grand Secretary of the Eastern Pavilion, has been promoted to Minister of Personnel and a Grand Secretary of the Jianji Palace for his meritorious service in protecting the Crown Prince during the Mount Yunmeng incident.
The ranking within the Great Ming’s Grand Secretariat remains unchanged, with Yan Song as the First Grand Secretary and Xu Jie as the Second Grand Secretary.
Zhang Juzheng, previously ranked last, has surpassed Grand Secretaries Gao Gong and Li Chunfang, rising to the third position.”
Zhang Juzheng had been promoted?
This was expected, and Fan Li wasn’t surprised.
What truly surprised him was Zhang Juzheng’s first act after his promotion.
He reported to Emperor Jiajing that during the Mount Yunmeng incident, the Brahma Sound Pure Land had contacted Crown Prince Wanli and collaborated in ambushing Fan Li, the Duke of Jin of the Great Chu.
Supreme Sage Ruler Yao Guang had rendered a service to the Great Ming and deserved to be rewarded.
Thus, Emperor Jiajing dispatched an envoy bearing lavish gifts to the Brahma Sound Pure Land, ostensibly to reward Yao Guang.
“Zhang Juzheng… what a clever move…” Fan Li couldn’t help but admire the man’s cunning.
It was common knowledge that Yao Guang had declared herself Empress, though she had yet to officially establish her nation. Furthermore, she had formed alliances with the four kingdoms of Chu, Wei, Han, and Wu, with the intention of creating an anti-Ming coalition.
And at such a time, the Great Ming openly ‘rewarded’ Yao Guang?
This act not only served to sow discord within the alliance but also undermined Yao Guang’s image.
Yao Guang, the First Sage Ruler of the Pure Land and the undisputed strongest female cultivator in the world, had been dismissed by Emperor Jiajing as a mere subordinate deserving of a reward.
The powerful and mysterious image she had cultivated after fighting Cao Cao, Liu Bei, and Sun Quan to a standstill was beginning to crumble!
Fan Li even suspected that Zhang Juzheng’s promotion wasn’t solely due to protecting the Crown Prince, but rather for presenting this scheme that had pleased Emperor Jiajing.
A brilliant scheme. A psychological attack.
Just one day later, the Brahma Sound Pure Land responded.
The Ming envoy, upon entering the Pure Land’s territory, was immediately annihilated. All one hundred members of the envoy were killed!
Yao Guang herself had taken action, eliminating the strongest member of the envoy, a general at the ninth rank of the Divine Transformation realm, with a single strike.
This was Yao Guang’s way of demonstrating to her allies in Chu, Wei, Han, and Wu that the Pure Land was an enemy of the Great Ming, not a collaborator.
The Pure Land also dispatched emissaries to formally assure the four kingdoms that they had never colluded with the Great Ming or betrayed their allies.
The Pure Land’s message to the Great Chu was particularly elaborate.
The Fan Manor received a letter, supposedly written by Yao Guang herself.
The letter was filled with concern and even self-reproach, as if written by a gentle elder sister who had failed to protect her beloved younger brother.
Fan Li read the letter three times and came to a single conclusion.
“Sage Ruler Jin De is nothing compared to this. Yao Guang’s calligraphy alone surpasses her tenfold.”
He tossed the letter into a brazier, watching it burn to ashes.
The Brahma Sound Pure Land had made its stance clear. At least on the surface, the four kingdoms couldn’t accuse them of colluding with the enemy.
The alliance could continue.
But the winds of change were still blowing, and the Pure Land’s actions were far from over.
They made another announcement:
“The five kingdoms are united as one. Supreme Sage Ruler Yao Guang will personally visit the capital cities of Chu, Wei, Han, and Wu.
She will hold open forums and spread the teachings of the Pure Land, sharing the profound wisdom of the Hongmeng Scripture.”