Within the Rivers and Mountains Pavilion at the Fan residence, Fan Li held three intelligence reports in his hands.

The first detailed Hu Zongxian’s dismissal from office and imprisonment.

The second revealed that Crown Prince Wanli was on the verge of death. The Great Ming’s Imperial Astrologer, Lan Daoxing, after consulting the spirits through a divination ritual, had declared that the only way to save the Prince was to send him to a place called Nanchao.

The third stated that Lu Bu had left the Pure Land.

"Lu Bu…" Fan Li murmured the name. He had been expecting the first two reports.

Fan Li had orchestrated Wanli’s defeat, but Hu Zongxian had always been his true target. Now, Hu Zongxian faced punishment despite his merits, a direct result of Fan Li’s machinations.

He intended to personally travel to the Great Ming Dynasty, rescue Hu Zongxian, and recruit him.

As for Crown Prince Wanli, Fan Li had hoped to hear of his death. Unfortunately, the man was like a cockroach, stubbornly clinging to life. However, the third report surprised him.

Lu Bu, that treacherous scoundrel, had dared to leave the Pure Land’s territory?

He might be at the ninth rank, Great Perfection of the Unity realm, hailed as the strongest man below the Great Vehicle realm, but Fan Li had already killed a Sage Ruler. Would he hesitate to eliminate a mere Unity realm traitor?

He had to avenge Yan Yuan. How else could he face the people of Lu City?

A thought crossed his mind.

In Jin City, Fan Li’s meditating clone opened his eyes.

“Your Majesty, you’re awake?”

A sweet and alluring familiar voice, , yet laced with a forced air of maturity and decorum, reached his ears.

It was Lu Fubao.

She gazed at him with concern.

Fan Li smiled. “Fubao, I have no intention of ruling through Confucian principles. Although etiquette and decorum are still important, they are not absolute laws. You work hard cultivating formations, there’s no need to maintain the formal demeanor of an Empress in my presence.”

Hearing his words, Lu Fubao instantly relaxed.

“Fan Li! Why didn’t you tell me sooner? I’ve been working so hard to maintain my composure every day! It’s exhausting. Although I’m the daughter of Marquis Lu, I despise Confucian formalities. That’s why I chose to focus on formations.”

Seeing her rapid transformation, Fan Li almost laughed. But a mischievous thought arose within him, and he couldn’t resist teasing her.

“We can dispense with formalities between Emperor and subject, but we are still husband and wife. Lady Fan, look at yourself. Is this how an Empress should behave?”

Lu Fubao froze, then quickly straightened her posture. She noticed the amusement in his eyes, realizing she had been tricked.

“You! Who’s Lady Fan? That sounds awful! Have you formally married me? Where’s the ten-mile procession of red wedding gifts? Where’s the eight-bearer palanquin?I… I’m still the daughter of Marquis Lu, the young mistress of Lu City… Mmph?!”

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He had teased her enough. Fan Li was afraid of making her cry. He pulled her into an embrace, silencing her protests with a kiss.

After a long moment, they parted. Lu Fubao’s eyes shimmered with tears, her expression a mix of confusion and excitement.

“Fubao, listen…”

“…Okay.”

“We found Lu Bu.”

“Where?!”

The woman in his arms, a moment ago soft and pliant, suddenly transformed into a fierce tigress with its claws extended.

“Calm yourself, Fubao,” Fan Li said in a low voice.

“How can I be calm? He murdered Senior Brother Yan Yuan! He nearly killed you! I’m going to… I’m going to…”

Tears welled up in her eyes. Under Fan Li’s gentle gaze, she finally let go of her anger, allowing tears to stream down her face.

It was better to cry than to bottle up her emotions. Suppressed hatred could easily transform into a heart demon, endangering her cultivation.

Lu Bu had to pay for his crimes, and Lu Fubao would accompany Fan Li on his mission of vengeance.

Crown Prince Wanli, in his desperation, had sworn an oath on the Great Ming’s imperial lineage and throne, freeing Lu City from its constraints.

Marquis Lu had reacted swiftly.

He sent a delegation of one hundred Confucian scholars to Peng City as a public declaration of Lu City’s allegiance to the Great Chu.

Secretly, he had dispatched three hundred more scholars, led by his most talented disciples, to Jin City. They had arrived a few days ago to pledge their loyalty to Fan Li.

Fan Li had already established the Great Jin Hanlin Academy, assigning these scholars to further their studies. In the future, they would form the backbone of the Great Jin’s civil service.

“Issue a decree to the Hanlin Academy, summoning all Confucian cultivators at the Divine Transformation realm and above. They will accompany me on a journey.”

“Issue a decree to the Censorate, summoning Jing Wudi.”

“Issue a decree to the Imperial Hospital. I’ve heard that extremes can give birth to opposites. Has Yu Shenzi truly comprehended a poison technique from the Staff of Shennong? Summon him as well.”

Fan Li issued several decrees, then led Lu Fubao to the back chambers to change clothes. A short while later, everyone he had summoned assembled before him.

Twenty Confucian scholars, all at the first rank of the Divine Transformation realm or higher.

"This subject, Jing Wudi, Director of the Censorate, greets Your Majesty and the Empress."

"This subject, Yu Shenzi, Director of the Imperial Hospital, greets Your Majesty and the Empress."

They bowed deeply. The assembled officials were surprised to see Fan Li dressed in plain cotton robes, resembling a traveling scholar. Lu Fubao had also changed out of her Empress’s attire, choosing instead a simple dress worn by ordinary women.

She stood beside Fan Li, holding his hand. They looked like a young couple about to embark on a leisurely outing.

“Jing Wudi, Yu Shenzi, and the twenty scholars of the Hanlin Academy will accompany me… to kill someone,” Fan Li said coldly.

…

The Fan Clan Trading Company’s network of informants spanned the world.

A skilled martial artist, a peddler, an old farmer basking in the sun – any of them could be Fan Li’s eyes and ears.

At this moment, on the southeastern border of the Great Chu, a figure as imposing as a bear or tiger fled through the forest.

Lu Bu was covered in wounds.

He had never imagined that leaving the Great Ci Dynasty would be so perilous.

He had chosen to travel to the Great Ming Dynasty. He didn't dare to pass through the territories of Wei, Han, or Wu. He had too many enemies there, former allies from his days serving the Han Dynasty. So, he had boldly decided to traverse the Great Chu.

He had assumed it would be a simple journey, a few days at most, before reaching the Great Ming.

Instead, he had encountered a series of traps, ambushes, and assassins.

A five-day journey had stretched into ten, and he was still within the Great Chu!

His wounds weren’t serious individually, but the accumulated damage had taken its toll. He felt his strength waning.

Damnable!

Empress Yao Guang was truly stingy!

She knew the importance of his task, yet she hadn’t provided him with any supplies or assistance.

“Ugh!”

He clutched his waist, blood seeping through his fingers. His most serious wound, a deep gash, had been inflicted by his own weapon, the Sky Piercing Halberd.

He had never imagined that while traversing the mountains, he would stumble upon the Great Chu garrison’s training grounds and find himself pursued by tens of thousands of soldiers led by Fan Chun.

If Fan Chun had been alone, Lu Bu could have easily killed him and reclaimed his weapon.

Unfortunately, ants, in sufficient numbers, could kill an elephant.

“Waaa~!”

An infant’s cry jolted him back to the present. He panicked for a moment, then gently soothed the baby.

“Don’t cry, don’t cry. Just a little longer.”

“Once we reach the Great Ming, the person Empress Yao Guang mentioned will surely care for you and raise you safely…”