Chapter 85: Parting Ways

Fan Li's eyelids twitched uncontrollably! If Qingqiu were to overhear these words, would she draw her sword to silence them forever?

“Third brother, don’t talk nonsense. There is nothing improper, nothing untoward between me and the Lady of Qingqiu!” Fan Li said solemnly, yet Fan Chun acted as if he hadn’t heard at all.

He continued to mutter, “Though the Lady of Qingqiu is highly accomplished, she does seem to be unattached. And now she shares a tent with you, second brother—perhaps she’s long since harbored feelings for you? Second brother, a man must sometimes take the initiative. You’re getting on in years; you can’t expect the family to keep worrying about your— Second brother, why are you drawing your sword?”

“I’m thinking of taking your life!” Fan Li cursed inwardly.

At that moment, a heavy, echoing footfall sounded from within the Qin Imperial Mausoleum. All present could clearly sense that something was making its way out from the underground palace.

Fan Li looked over and was stunned.

“Twelve Golden Warriors, here!?”

The Twelve Golden Warriors were formidable indeed; their prowess had already left a deep impression after the great battle outside Epang Palace.

“Duke Jin, be careful! Guards, prepare yourselves!”

Cao Cao, Liu Bei, and Sun Quan had already faced these warriors before and instantly moved to shield Fan Li.

“Uh... I’m fine. Perhaps you could all step aside,” Fan Li said.

Before anyone could understand his meaning, Fan Li raised high the Sword of the First Emperor.

“Kneel before me!” he shouted, leaving everyone even more bewildered.

What was Duke Jin thinking? Who was he commanding to kneel? Us? With battle imminent, who had time to prostrate themselves?

With a thunderous crash, all twelve Golden Warriors dropped to their knees, confounding everyone.

“Duke Jin, what is the meaning of this?” Cao Cao could not help but ask.

Fan Li thought to himself that since the Sword of the First Emperor was about to be handed over, this minor secret might as well be revealed. He explained the connection between the sword and the Twelve Golden Warriors.

“Such a thing exists?” Cao, Liu, and Sun were all greatly astonished, though none showed the slightest delight.

Whoever held the Sword of the First Emperor could command the Twelve Golden Warriors? No matter how dim-witted the warriors might be, they were equivalent to twelve masters at the Unity Realm—a force not to be taken lightly.

Fan Li smiled. “Once the three of you return the Sword of the First Emperor to the Han court, His Majesty the Emperor will have twelve loyal Unity Realm warriors at his command. Then traitors like Dong Zhuo will hardly be worth mentioning. Truly, a cause for celebration!”

“Ah... Yes, Duke Jin, you speak truly. A cause for celebration indeed.”

Cao Cao was silent for several moments before forcing a laugh, quickly echoed by Liu Bei and Sun Quan, though fleeting shadows of doubt crossed their faces.

Fan Li, oblivious to such details, only wished to return to Pengcheng as soon as possible.

“This was a perilous venture, but the gains were considerable. It’s a shame, though, that I failed the system’s quest,” he mused inwardly.

System Quest: Sow Chaos in the Harem.
Quest Reward: Two Substitute Dolls.

Fan Li had no interest in causing trouble in the harem; after all, Xiang Ning had only a single empress and a single imperial consort—he truly couldn’t bring himself to act. But the reward... how tempting!

“If I could get those two substitute dolls, I’d have four perfect avatars at my disposal.”

“What’s the so-called ‘Three Pure Ones from One Qi’ in the Investiture of the Gods compared to me? I could become Four Pure Ones!”

“With Epang Palace as a safe house, all four avatars could train in seclusion day and night, quadrupling my cultivation speed... Ah!”

The more he thought about it, the more he wanted it, and he couldn’t help but steal a glance at Princess Changle.

No, better not. Daydreaming is enough—there’s no need to act.

“Gentlemen, I entrust the Sword of the First Emperor to you. As for the Twelve Golden Warriors, do as you see fit.”

With that, Fan Li handed over the sword. Yet Cao Cao, Liu Bei, and Sun Quan, as if by unspoken agreement, none reached out to take it first.

Cao Cao produced a purple sandalwood sword case, clearly prepared in advance, and invited Fan Li to place the sword within it himself.

Once the sword was sealed in the case, Liu Bei wrapped it with a bolt of fine yellow brocade, regal and resplendent, embroidered with a five-clawed dragon and auspicious clouds.

Seeing this, Fan Li guessed that Sun Quan would have a move of his own—and he did, producing a set of ornate chains and shackles.

He locked the brocade-wrapped case with the chain, which split into three branches, each ending in a shackle.

Cao Cao, Liu Bei, and Sun Quan each took one shackle and closed it around their own wrist.

Thus, none held the Sword of the First Emperor alone, yet together ensured its safety.

“Forgive us, Duke Jin,” Cao Cao smiled.

“We must return to the Han at once—our duty brooks no delay,” Liu Bei added.

“Our thanks, Duke Jin,” Sun Quan said last.

Fan Li clasped his hands in farewell to the three men, watching as they departed—only to notice a number of Han soldiers remained behind.

“Aren’t you leaving?” Fan Li asked, surprised.

No sooner had he spoken than a scene unfolded before him that he would never forget.

The remaining Han soldiers, regardless of whether they had served Cao Cao, Liu Bei, or Sun Quan, all drew their swords in unison.

Without a moment’s hesitation, every last one took his own life on the spot.

Fan Li drew a sharp breath.

Suddenly, he understood.

After Cao, Liu, and Sun obtained the Sword of the First Emperor, there would be no living witnesses to how it was divided among them. Such a monumental secret!

“Impressive military discipline,” Fan Chun, himself a commander, said with admiration at the severity with which Cao, Liu, and Sun ruled their men. As for the fallen soldiers—so long as they died with purpose, there was no cause for sorrow.

“Heh... Their wives and children will be well cared for,” Princess Changle added, her smile inscrutable.

Yan Yuan also praised, “Loyalty, filial piety, integrity—these Han soldiers died as true paragons of loyalty.”

Fan Li remained silent.

He realized, perhaps, that he alone felt their deaths were a waste. Yet with Changle, Fan Chun, and Yan Yuan all so unmoved, he dared not speak lest he be mocked for soft-heartedness.

The Twelve Golden Warriors, who had been kneeling, now silently rose.

Because none of Cao, Liu, or Sun truly held the Sword of the First Emperor, the sword remained without a master, which left the Twelve Warriors uncertain for a long moment.

Now, at last, they reached a decision.

They strode resolutely in the direction of the Han.

“Let us return to Pengcheng,” Fan Li said heavily.

Great Chu.
Pengcheng.

In the training hall of the Fan estate, one of Fan Li’s two avatars abruptly ended its meditation, opening his eyes.

To interrupt his cultivation here would require either an imminent threat or the arrival of Wuzhui.

“Is something wrong?” Fan Li asked.

Ever since Xiang Ning had been manipulated by the “Virtues of Womanhood” manual, Fan Li had stationed Wuzhui in the palace to watch over her in secret.

Yet now, without being summoned, Wuzhui had come to him of his own accord?

“Xiang Ning has been taken,” Wuzhui replied, his face deathly pale, clearly suffering internal injuries but struggling to remain upright.

Fan Li’s avatar’s eyes widened.

“What happened?!”

Pengcheng had been peaceful. When had Wuzhui fought anyone? How could there have been no sign?

Xiang Ning had been abducted—Wuzhui had lost!