"Ding!"
"Mission issued: Steal the Divine Beast."
"Mission description: A heaven-descended divine beast will assist the sage ruler. But as the host adheres to his treacherous minister nature, you must snatch the divine beast descending on Chu."
"Mission reward: Emperor's Sword."
Fan Li had just picked up his writing brush again when he heard the system mission, leaving him completely stunned.
What the hell?
Heaven-descended divine beast?
As expected of a cultivation world, even this kind of thing can happen.
"What does the divine beast actually look like?" Fan Li casually hugged the little white cat, holding it in his embrace as he stroked it.
Seemingly unhappy that it couldn't see the document contents anymore, the little white cat struggled in Fan Li's hands, wanting to break free.
"Don't move! Otherwise your dinner will be you tonight!" Fan Li deliberately tried to scare it, then laughed, "Who knows what the heaven-descended divine beast will look like. I wonder if it will be a little cutie like you?"
"Meow!!"
As if its dignity had been provoked, the little white cat let out an angry 'roar'.
Fan Li laughed loudly, continuing to tease the little white cat. But inwardly, he was puzzled why the mission reward was the [Emperor's Sword]?
The system claimed to be that of history's number one treacherous minister's, so was it pushing me to ascend the throne?
But after another thought, Fan Li felt that was unlikely. After all, Fan Li already possessed even the National Jade Seal, so one more [Emperor's Sword] wouldn't be too outrageous.
During the Three Emperors Meeting, Liu Xie's unfinished strike, [Million Thunder True Dragon Slash], had left Fan Li with a deep impression.
With the Emperor's Sword in hand, would he be able to guide and unleash such a powerful attack?
Fan Li smiled slyly, "Even taking ten thousand steps back, the divine beast of Chu can be given to Xiang Ning, but absolutely cannot be handed to Xiang Chong! That brat is not even worthy!"
Looking at the thick pile of official documents on the desk, Fan Li bitterly laughed. "I should finish up my work first."
He casually placed the little white cat beside the desk. This was a thoughtful move. The little cat seemed to like watching the official documents, especially those reviewed by Fan Li.
Although not believing it could actually understand, Fan Li was still willing to indulge its small wish and tacitly approved it squatting by the desk to see the official documents he processed.
Time slipped by quickly again. After a few more hours, Fan Li suddenly realized the outside of Rivers and Mountains Pavilion had already become deep into the night.
The servants had replaced the lighting to night pearls and candle stands at some point, illuminating the entire Rivers and Mountains Pavilion.
"Second brother, you forgot to eat dinner again?"
A charming figure flashed inside, unexpectedly Fan Yuehua. She personally carried an exquisite food container, placing it on the desk. Upon opening it, the smell of the meal immediately drifted out.
"Second brother, everyone knows you're the prime minister of Great Chu. But which prime minister in the whole world is as pitiable a workaholic as you? Staying up consecutive nights working, just how many times has it been recently for state affairs?" Fan Yuehua grumbled, clearly feeling distressed over Fan Li.
"I've heard that over in Han, the treacherous minister Dong Zhuo has gotten up to new tricks. He actually set up some wine pool and meat forest, who knows how much citizen sweat and blood he's wasted on that!"
Fan Li laughed, "There are many types of treacherous ministers. Why would Dong Zhuo and I be alike?"
"What's not alike about you two? You both have absolute power over court and dominate the feudal lords!" Fan Yuehua curiously asked.
Fan Li nodded then shook his head. "The level of authority is the same, but how we wield power is not the same."
"Dong Zhuo is tyrannical while I only have resolute power. Dong Zhuo values pleasure while I only gather power. Dong Zhuo is blatant while I exercise restraint whether attacking or defending."
"Dong Zhuo enslaves the Han officials and citizens through violence while I revitalize Great Chu with coercion. When Han collapses, Dong Zhuo will be buried along with it. As Chu prospers, my Fan clan will surely continue thriving."
Although seeming somewhat boastful, Fan Li did have a clear conscience. After chatting for a while, Fan Yuehua finally turned her gaze to the little white cat.
She curiously asked, "Second brother, since when have you kept a pet cat? It's quite cute."
Fan Li's hand stroking the cat suddenly paused. He looked at the little white cat then at Fan Yuehua. A mistake? This cat wasn't raised by the manor?
"It's... probably just a wild cat," Fan Li awkwardly said.
Could the Fan Manor security actually be so lax that even a wild cat could wander in here?
"In a bit, have Fan Chun properly retrain the manors guards. These guys have gotten lazy."
Fan Yuehua became interested upon hearing it was a wild cat. "Strange, what breed of cat is this? I've never seen it before."
Fan Li laughed, "Do you want it? Take it back to raise if you want."
Unexpectedly, Fan Yuehua repeatedly shook her head. "Brother, this little one clearly likes you. What would I do raising it? Hmph, if its heart doesn't have me, I won't raise it."
Fan Yuehua had an aura of superiority. She was always fawned over by countless people and had never lower herself to cajole others. Even if just a cat, she wasn't willing to demean herself to coax it. Only pets capable of capturing Fan Yuehua's favor were qualified to be raised by her.
Fan Li was stunned.
The little cat likes me?
He didn't know when the little guy had climbed down from the desk and made itself comfortable lying in his embrace, even acting privileged.
"You... really are a wild cat?" Fan Li felt ridiculous asking a cat questions.
What amazed him more was the little white fluff ball actually sizing him up in a fastidious manner!
Fan Li recalled when he had gone grocery shopping with his mother in his past life. His mother would scrutinize products introduced by the vendors in the same overly particular and picky manner.
"Big brother you're so funny, even able to chat with a cat. Hurry up and eat, I'm going back first and will have someone come clean up later." Fan Yuehua left the food container behind as she smiled and left.
The quiet of night draped over Rivers and Mountains Pavilion once more.
Indeed, Fan Li was also somewhat hungry now. He picked up his chopsticks and grabbed a piece of meat, but it was a slice of the delicacy knife fish.
"Want to try some?"
Fan Li casually tossed a piece of fish meat on the ground, assuming the little white cat would go lick it up.
"Hmph!"
The little white cat unexpectedly let out a disdainful sound, not even bothering to glance at the fish meat on the ground.
So arrogant!?
Fan Li didn't know whether to laugh or cry, feeling as if he had offended it.
"Little guy has quite the temper. Then just stay hungry!"
Fan Li picked up another piece of fish meat about to place into his own mouth.
"Ow!?"
He suddenly felt something whip him which rather hurt. It turned out to be the little white cat using its tail to whip him!
"Hey! You've gone overboard. I tried feeding you yet you wouldn't eat." Fan Li said, half serious.
The little white cat finally got up from his embrace and leapt back onto the desk. What happened next was something Fan Li wouldn't have imagined even in his dreams.
He saw the little white cat stretch its head into the container by itself, unexpectedly managing to clamp a clean bowl in its mouth which it brought out and placed on the desk.
"Meow!"
Without even needing a translator, Fan Li understood the little white cat's meaning. It wanted him to place the fish meat inside the bowl.
So it turned out to be a cat that knows how to use tableware?
"Hahahaha!" Fan Li laughed cheerfully.
Such an amusing little guy clearly wasn't a wild cat. It must've escaped from some prominent official's family within the capital!
"Since we had the fortune to meet, I'll treat you to dinner today." Fan Li smiled as he sincerely began to set the table for the little white cat.
Dining was a field of expertise with eating fish especially particular. In a whim, Fan Li personally used the chopsticks to pick out the fattiest and most delicious parts of the fish for the little white cat.
"This is called crescent meat. It's located by the fish gills on both sides. The name comes from its moon crescent shape. Go ahead and try it!"