"You really won't help!?" Fan Li said nothing but Xiang Ning anxiously asked. She raised her head again to stare straight at Princess Chang Le, forgetting about possibly exposing her identity.
Princess Chang Le was greatly amused by Xiang Ning's reaction. After laughing for a while, she finally stopped smiling.
When calm, Princess Chang Le was like a female bodhisattva who had achieved enlightenment. On her serene and beautiful face, it seemed like a layer of merciful veil had been added.
The Princess slowly said, "The Blood Phoenix Sage Ruler only recently broke through to Second Grade of the Great Vehicle Realm. The Blazing Fire Sect Lord is much weaker but also at the Ninth Grade Grand Perfection of the Unity Realm. Accompanying followers still number less than a hundred but all powerful experts."
Xiang Ning turned deathly pale!
Was this the might of Brahma Sound Pure Land!?
The weakest sage ruler was already Second Grade of the Great Vehicle Realm?
Among the Three Kingdoms, the Blood Phoenix Sage Ruler's strength already exceeded the emperors of Chu and Han?
She was lost in deep self-doubt!
With such transcendent cultivators in the outer world existing, by what right could Great Chu establish a country?
But Fan Li still had an indifferent expression as he continued asking, "Princess, can you tell me the exact cultivation levels of the Blazing Fire Sect's elders and disciples?"
Princess Chang Le was also startled. She immediately laughed and said, "The Blazing Fire Sect has two elders at First Grade of the Unity Realm. The remaining seventy disciples, apart from a few at Foundation Establishment, the rest are all at Golden Core."
"So strong!?" Xiang Ning was shocked again.
The standards of Blazing Fire Sect disciples even vaguely exceeded middle and lower ranked Great Chu military officers!
"Thank you." Fan Li nodded very seriously. "I'll remember that."
Xiang Ning watched Fan Li with some disbelief.
Remember?
What did he mean?
Did he not intend to run away but actually still thought about counterattacking?
Princess Chang Le was very satisfied with Fan Li's reaction. She smiled and said, "If Duke Jin needs it, I can make a move against anyone besides the Blood Phoenix Sage Ruler. Just obstructing them, not killing."
Others didn't know that Princess Chang Le hadn't originally planned to say this. She had only intended to help Fan Li to the extent of informing him. Now, the Princess suddenly changed her mind and was willing to make a move for Fan Li!
She had really started seeing him in a good light. Although this man was disconcertingly weak, he still gave her a feeling of unlimited potential.
Xiang Chong marrying the beloved daughter of the Blazing Fire Sect Lord and thus obtained over the top support from both the Sect Lord and Blood Phoenix Sage Ruler, these were all accidental happenings.
If Princess Chang Le knew of the situation with Great Chu's imperial clan from the start, she definitely wouldn't have met with Fan Li back at Luo Lake Literary Meet!
"Princess need not act." But Fan Li declined.
"Why!?" The Princess didn't speak but Xiang Ning anxiously asked. "Do you want to die? With so many powerful experts and one of them even a Sage Ruler, do you think you can resist them!?"
Seeing how anxious she was with a flushed face, Fan Li couldn't help laughing. "After a rough calculation, if I mobilize all resources, I can probably handle it."
His words directly left both women speechless. Princess Chang Le's narrowed eyes resembled a cunning fox spirit as she playfully appraised Fan Li.
"Is Duke Jin really not reconsidering? I can barely obstruct the Blazing Fire Sect Lord."
Fan Li was startled!
The Blazing Fire Sect Lord?
A Ninth Grade Grand Perfection at the Unity Realm expert only one step away from the Great Vehicle Realm, already at the peak of power in the mortal world!
Just what level was Princess Chang Le's cultivation to claim being able to obstruct the Blazing Fire Sect Lord?
'Rumors say Princess Chang Le has learned half of Brahma Sound Pure Land's secret arts. But no one knows just how much the Princess has actually learned. Whether it's one-tenth, one-fifth, half... or even all of it?' Fan Li believed Princess Chang Le definitely hadn't boasted earlier. She really had the power to obstruct the Blazing Fire Sect Lord!
"Thank you Princess but after reconsidering, the powerful enemies coming this time, I have the capability to resist." Fan Li smiled as he raised the teacup on the table for a mouthful.
After placing the half-filled cup back on the table, the tea's surface was as smooth as a mirror without the slightest ripple, indicating how steady his hand was. A steady hand reflected a calm heart and even more, self-confidence!
Princess Chang Le was convinced. Her gaze towards Fan Li increasingly admired while still playfully glancing at Xiang Ning occasionally.
"Oh my, I'm somewhat regretful now." Princess Chang Le gently said.
"Regret what?" Fan Li asked curiously.
"If I supported you wholeheartedly from the start, you would definitely be grateful to this princess. Then that gratitude transforms into feelings... wouldn't this princess have immediately conceived your child?"
Fan Li was left speechless, at a loss for how to reply.
Xiang Ning was even more dumbfounded. She really couldn't accept such promiscuous words actually coming from Princess Chang Le of Great Han!
"But now, this princess hasn't helped at all. You're probably disdainful towards me in your heart!" Speaking, Princess Chang Le revealed a cutely mischievous expression completely unfitting of her age on her peerless face.
Any normal man seeing this would have his anger completely dissipate even if he was annoyed earlier.
Fan Li sighed inwardly, 'Fortunately Xiang Ning is a woman. If she was male and married such a woman like Liu Man, wouldn't she firmly have him under her thumb!?'
"The Princess informed me of the danger which is already greatly helping. I owe you a huge favor that I will definitely repay in the future."
Hearing Fan Li say this, Princess Chang Le giggled again.
"In the future huh..."
The Princess had an frivolous smile but constantly shifting eyes, seemingly hesitating over something. Such a woman's heart was simply unpredictable to ordinary people.
"The Blood Phoenix Sage Ruler and people of Blazing Fire Sect will arrive in three days. To be exact, they will enter Great Chu's borders here..."
Voices lowered inside Rivers and Mountains Pavilion.
It was only until the sky gradually darkened before a woman as pure as snow left Rivers and Mountains Pavilion and floated away.
"Your Majesty, please return to the palace."
"Oh... Oh..."
Xiang Ning only felt today was too dramatic with ups and downs battering her mood.
Fan Li personally escorted her onto a carriage to enter the palace then kept watch until she disappeared down the long imperial boulevard.
The gates of the Fan estate tightly closed. But the interiors remained brightly lit the entire night.
Fan Li, Eldest Brother Fan Ming, Third Brother Fan Chun and Little Sister Fan Yue Hua secretly plotted the whole night.
During this time, nine muscular figures leapt over the walls and out of the Fan estate. They were members of the Flying Eagles Unit from the Garrison Army!
Although only at Golden Core cultivation, they specialized in secret concealment and swift movement arts for intelligence delivery tasks for the Garrison Army.
The nine Flying Eagles scouts scattered in three directions. Three men per direction. After leaving the city, they split up again. Without changing the three main directions, the three scouts heading the same way opened up distance between each other.
This was one of the means Fan Li had Fan Chun train the Garrison Army in. All transmitted intelligence had to be prepared in triplicate copies named Type A, Type B and Type C.
As long as one copy successfully reached its destination, it counted as mission accomplished.
"Send the three intelligence reports to Garrison Army encampment, Fan family business headquarters and Lu City. Second Brother, will that person in Lu City really be willing to act for you?" Fan Ming worriedly asked.
Fan Li put away the previously used Jade Seal.
"Seeing my seal, Lü Chunqiu will definitely come. Alright, I still need to visit Dragon God Palace to chat with Wu Gang..."