Yan Yuan's blood stained the cliff face, a long crimson streak against the gray rock. Lu Bu was nowhere to be seen, and the mysterious archer had vanished without a trace.
Fan Li stood in silence, reaching out to retrieve the Sky Piercing Halberd. But as his fingertips brushed against the shaft, he was repelled by a powerful force!
Upon closer inspection, he saw that the halberd was enveloped in a layer of Righteous Qi, a warning to anyone who dared touch it.
"Master Yan, did you leave this weapon behind to tell me the identity of your killer?" Fan Li murmured to himself.
"Master, shall I?" Wu Gang's voice was soft, as if any louder tone would cause Fan Li pain.
He nodded.
Wu Gang, in her black dragon form, exhaled a stream of black spiritual energy that enveloped the halberd. The Righteous Qi gradually dissipated under the corrosive power of the black energy.
Once the last trace of Righteous Qi vanished, Fan Li approached the halberd again. This time, he easily pulled it free with one hand, using his other hand to gently lift Yan Yuan's body.
His luxurious duke's robe was stained with blood, but Fan Li seemed oblivious to it. He could have placed Yan Yuan's body on the dragon's back, but he chose to hold him carefully, as if unwilling to let go.
"Master, shall we go save your clone now?" Wu Gang was concerned. They had lingered here for too long, and the injured clone might be in danger.
"No need," Fan Li shook his head slowly. "Let's take Master Yan home first."
Wu Gang was startled, but she held back her words. A thought suddenly crossed her mind:
If I were to die in battle one day, Master would not abandon my body in the wilderness either.
…
In the Golden Luan Palace of Peng City, the capital of the Great Chu, Xiang Chong feasted with his officials. He had learned to appreciate the finer things in life. Since he couldn't compete with Fan Li for power, he might as well enjoy the pleasures of being an emperor.
Even with his limited authority, his life was far more comfortable than his days of arduous cultivation in the Blazing Fire Sect.
One of Xiang Chong's greatest pleasures was hosting banquets for his officials. He had discovered that the civil and military officials of the Great Chu were quite agreeable, as long as the topic of state affairs wasn't brought up. They were even willing to offer him some praise.
For example, they commended him for being approachable, considerate of his subordinates, and setting a good example for others. Although the wording was sometimes strange, Xiang Chong basked in the compliments.
"Report~~~~~~~~~!"
Suddenly, a palace guard entered the hall without permission.
Xiang Chong was about to express his displeasure when he recognized the man as the Deputy Commander of the Imperial Guards, a former vice-general of the city guards and a staunch supporter of Fan Li.
"Ahem," Xiang Chong cleared his throat, forcing a smile. "What is the matter?"
He might ignore the pleas of monks and commoners, but he couldn't afford to offend Fan Li.
The Deputy Commander knelt and kowtowed, then announced in a clear voice:
"An edict from the Duke of Jin."
The officials, who had been seated comfortably, all rose to their feet, bowing their heads in a show of respect.
Xiang Chong felt a surge of resentment. But what could he do?
Fan Li held such a position in the Great Chu that not only could he have the Deputy Commander of the Imperial Guards deliver his edicts, but no official dared remain seated while listening!
"I, Fan Li, was ambushed outside Mount Yunmeng," the Deputy Commander read aloud. "First, a mysterious archer attempted to assassinate me, then I was pursued by Crown Prince Wanli of the Great Ming and his army…"
The officials erupted in gasps and murmurs.
Xiang Chong, however, exclaimed with excitement, "The Duke of Jin was in danger? Is he… ahem, is he alright?"
The Deputy Commander glared at Xiang Chong coldly. As a peak Nascent Soul cultivator, just a step away from the Divine Transformation realm, he was far stronger than Xiang Chong and could easily crush him with one hand.
"The Duke of Jin is unharmed!" he declared.
"Excellent!"
"The Duke of Jin's safety is a blessing for the Great Chu!"
"Your Majesty should offer sacrifices to Heaven and Earth and inform the ancestral temple, celebrating the Duke Jin's well-being!"
The officials chimed in, their words further infuriating Xiang Chong.
He suppressed his urge to lash out and listened as the Deputy Commander continued:
"However, Yan Yuan, a former official of the Ministry of Rites, perished in the ambush. Five guards also died fighting bravely.
"I, Fan Li, request that Yan Yuan be posthumously promoted to Minister of Rites, granted the title of Marquis Mu, and given the posthumous name Wen Xiang. The five guards shall be posthumously granted the hereditary title of Auxiliary General…"
Xiang Chong sat on his dragon throne as the Deputy Commander read through the long list of posthumous honors and rewards.
An Auxiliary General was merely a third-rank military position. Granting it posthumously was acceptable. But adding the word "hereditary" made it an honor that even a second-rank general would covet!
Serving Fan Li was that rewarding?
And who was this Yan Yuan?
He sounded like an ordinary official from the Ministry of Rites. Why should his death warrant a posthumous promotion to Minister of Rites?
That was the head of the Nine Ministers, a high-ranking position!
And granting him a marquis title and a posthumous name?
Even deceased members of the Xiang imperial clan rarely received such treatment.
"Ahem…" Xiang Chong cleared his throat, testing the waters. "Are the rewards granted by Duke Jin too generous?"
The Deputy Commander glared at him again. "I do not know. Your Majesty should ask the Duke of Jin yourself."
What?!
Unless absolutely necessary, Xiang Chong would never want to see Fan Li's face again, let alone question him!
Helpless, he pressed on. "Did Duke Jin achieve anything during his trip to Mount Yunmeng?"
"I do not know. Your Majesty should ask the Duke of Jin if you wish to know."
Damn it!
Xiang Chong almost cursed out loud.
Didn't know?
As a loyal follower of the Fan family, how could the Deputy Commander be unaware?
He simply refused to say!
This rebellious traitor was truly… truly… Xiang Chong was at his wit's end.
After a long silence, he finally managed to utter two words:
"Request granted."
…
The Rivers and Mountains Pavilion was the heart of the Fan Manor, a hub of information and intelligence. Even matters of state were often decided here, rather than in Xiang Chong's Golden Luan Palace.
Now, however, white paper lanterns hung from the eaves, casting a somber glow over the pavilion. The guards, servants, and maids of the Fan Manor were all dressed in mourning attire.
A golden nanmu coffin lay in the center of the pavilion. Inside rested Yan Yuan.
His face had been carefully prepared, his beard and hair meticulously combed, his skin a natural, healthy color. His eyes were closed, as if in peaceful slumber.
He was dressed in clean, simple Confucian robes, reflecting his meticulous and unassuming nature.
Fan Li had used sandalwood to carve new hands and feet for Yan Yuan, replacing the limbs he had lost in battle.
"… Inform Lu City of Master Yan's passing. Let Marquis Wenxin know."
Fan Li sat beside the coffin, his voice heavy with grief as he finally broke his long silence.
A figure slipped out of the Jiangshan Pavilion – a spy from the Fan Manor's intelligence network.
Fan Li then retrieved the Dust Destiny Necklace, activating the video call function to contact Xiang Ning.
"Hmph!"
"Fan Li, it's been a while since you last contacted me!" Xiang Ning feigned anger, but the corners of her lips betrayed a hint of a smile.
However, she quickly noticed Fan Li's grim expression and his murderous eyes.
"What's wrong? I… I was just joking. I'm actually happy that you contacted me…"
Fan Li gazed at Xiang Ning for a long moment, noting her vibrant aura and the lively spark in her eyes. She had clearly made significant progress in her cultivation.
And it was all thanks to that woman.
Qing Qiu.
She had kept her promise and taken good care of Xiang Ning.
"Your Majesty," Fan Li's expression softened slightly.
"I have a matter to discuss with Sage Ruler Qing Qiu. Is she available?"