In Peng City, within the Dragon God Palace, Fan Li received a system notification.
"Ding!
Major event detected: Wanli's Northern Expedition!
As the true power behind the Great Chu throne, your actions will influence the event's outcome.
Please decide whether to send troops to support the Three Kingdoms Alliance.
Choosing [Support] will grant you three random first-rank Heaven-grade spirit treasures.
Choosing [Do Not Support] will grant you three 'Great Jin Immunity Talismans.'
Great Jin Immunity Talisman: This talisman can be granted to an individual. If the individual is loyal to Great Jin, it will grant them immunity from death once, and teleport them to the Golden Luan Palace within Jin City."
Fan Li's expression turned strange.
Was this a freebie?
He was simply sitting at home, and the system was showering him with rewards?
Sending troops to Yunzhou City to support the Three Kingdoms Alliance would grant him three Heaven-grade treasures.
But even if he did nothing, there was still a reward?
He couldn't help but chuckle.
"These Great Jin Immunity Talismans are practically life-saving charms! And the system is giving me three of them for free?
The only requirement is loyalty to Great Jin?"
He immediately thought of Wang Ban, Hu Zongxian, and the other officials serving in Great Jin.
But there were also those outside Great Jin: Wu Gang, Lu Chunqiu, and others. If Fan Li revealed his identity as Emperor of Great Jin, they would also be eligible.
To send troops, or not to send troops?
He had good relationships with the rulers of the Three Kingdoms. Not sending troops would be a betrayal of their friendship.
But could Zhuge Liang, Zhou Yu, and Guo Jia truly be defeated?
Perhaps it was his memories from his previous life, but Fan Li found it difficult to believe that anyone could defeat those three brilliant strategists on the battlefield.
Surely not Wanli?
Compared to military aid, securing three Immunity Talismans for his trusted allies seemed far more beneficial.
"System, I choose [Do Not Support]," Fan Li decided.
"Ding!
Confirming your choice. Granting reward."
Three heavy golden talismans appeared in his hand.
He was about to put them away when a fluffy white ball of fur approached him.
It was Tuan Tuan.
The divine beast had also noticed the talismans, looking at them curiously.
But then, it saw the words "Great Jin" inscribed upon them. Tuan Tuan's expression turned sour.
"Ouch!"
"Woohoo!"
It nudged the talismans with its paw, looking at Fan Li with a disapproving gaze.
"Yes, yes, I know you're the Great Chu's divine beast."
Fan Li soothed Tuan Tuan as he put the talismans away.
Unfortunately, the divine beast was even harder to appease than an angry girlfriend. It scurried away, vanishing from sight.
Fan Li had noticed Tuan Tuan's unusual behavior recently. It often hid from him.
He hadn't investigated thoroughly, but he had asked Wu Gang.
"It's nesting."
Her answer had amused him.
Nesting?
Could it be incubating the Investiture of the Gods scroll?
It was plausible.
As he was pondering this, Wu Gang approached him, looking serious.
"Master."
"What is it?"
Fan Li was curious. Unless he summoned her, Wu Gang usually spent her days diligently cultivating.
What was wrong today?
"Master, I don't want to be the Great Chu's guardian deity any longer."
Her words startled him.
"Why?"
Fan Li frowned.
He trusted Wu Gang's loyalty. But her request was detrimental to the Fan Clan's interests in Great Chu.
"Because of destiny. Master, the Great Chu's destiny is entwining with mine.
If this bond deepens, my fate will be tied to the Great Chu's.
If Great Chu prospers, I live.
If Great Chu falls, I die."
Fan Li understood. He was the power behind the throne, but he wasn't the Emperor.
Wu Gang was loyal to him. But her entanglement with the Great Chu's destiny was a burden.
Moreover, if Great Chu truly perished, as its guardian deity, she would be obligated to die alongside it.
He had forced her to become Great Chu's divine beast. In the long run, it had been a mistake.
"I understand. This is my fault. I will take responsibility."
A few days later, Fan Li attended court. He requested that Xiang Chong convene an imperial assembly.
Xiang Chong rushed to the Golden Luan Palace, his posture anxious and clumsy, despite wearing the Emperor's robes and crown.
He looked at Fan Li nervously.
"Duke Jin, what is it?"
Xiang Chong had been diligently cultivating his own network, focusing on intelligence gathering.
Unfortunately, all the information he had received was bad news.
For example, the Great Ci Dynasty's Chess Sage was dead. Apparently, Fan Li was involved.
And the Law Sage had resigned. Apparently, Fan Li was also involved.
Being the Great Chu Emperor was giving him nightmares.
He even envied Xiang Ning.
To be more precise, he envied the time when she had called Fan Li "Father."
If he simply acknowledged Fan Li as his adopted father, perhaps his life would be spared?
Xiang Chong dreamed of the day when Fan Li would lead a sika deer into the court and ask him, "Your Majesty, do you see a horse, or a deer?"
That was the proper procedure for adopting a father, wasn't it?
He had even ordered the staff to raise a new herd of sika deer in the imperial garden.
The previous herd had been slaughtered by Empress Dowager Li to appease Xiang Ning.
"Your Majesty, I have a matter to report," Fan Li said, bowing respectfully.
"Please speak freely, Duke Jin!" Xiang Chong urged him.
Fan Li cleared his throat and began to lie.
"Years ago, divine beasts descended from the heavens. The Great Ming received the Vermilion Bird. The Great Han received the Black Tortoise. But Great Chu… we received no such blessing.
Thankfully, the Divine Dragon, Wu Gang, served our nation faithfully, protecting our ruler and our people.
Yesterday, by Heaven's grace, I encountered the divine beast destined to be Great Chu's guardian deity.
After confirming its identity, I have brought it here today, to present it to Your Majesty.
As for Wu Gang, she deserves our gratitude for her years of service. We should allow her to retire."
Xiang Chong was half asleep. He hadn't expected anything important and hadn't paid attention to Fan Li's words.
Only when the court erupted in shock did he realize what had happened.
"Wha… what? Duke Jin, what did you say? You found Great Chu's guardian deity?!"
Xiang Chong leaped from his throne.
His reign had been anything but glorious. The lack of a divine beast to protect Great Chu had made him a laughingstock, even compared to the weak and ineffective Emperor Xian of Han.
Xian at least had the Black Tortoise. Xiang Chong had nothing.
"Quickly! Quickly! Quickly! Where is it? Present it to me immediately!"
Xiang Chong's face flushed with excitement.
"And we must reward Wu Gang for her service, mustn't we? Of course! Reward her generously! Duke Jin, please decide on a suitable reward on my behalf."
He was so overjoyed that he almost danced.
Then, Fan Li reached into his sleeve and retrieved a small, white, fluffy ball of fur. It was curled up, fast asleep. He gently placed it upon the Emperor's desk.
"Woo?"
The commotion in the Golden Luan Palace awoke Tuan Tuan. It was still nesting, dreaming of eggs.
It raised its head, its eyes sleepy.
It saw Xiang Chong's ugly face.
"Ouch!"
Startled, Tuan Tuan leaped from the desk, its claws slashing at Xiang Chong's face.
"Ouch! Fuck!"
Xiang Chong, caught off guard, was left with several bloody scratches on his face.
"Woo?"
Tuan Tuan finally recognized Xiang Chong. He was dressed in the Emperor's robes, wearing the twelve-beaded crown.
The divine beast was confused. It looked at Fan Li, then at Xiang Chong, then back at Fan Li. A myriad of expressions flickered across its adorable face.
Disappointment.
Sadness.
It stared at Fan Li as if he were a heartless scoundrel. It seemed to be saying: You have the destiny of an Emperor, but you're not the Emperor? This ugly creature is my master?
Fan Li averted his gaze, embarrassed.
"Duke Jin, what is the meaning of this?!"
Xiang Chong, his temper flaring, forgot about the power disparity between them.
"This… this creature? You claim it's a divine beast? Do you have any proof?!"
Fan Li's heart ached when he heard Xiang Chong call Tuan Tuan a "creature." He felt as if his own daughter had been insulted.
"Your Majesty, choose your words carefully."
His voice was cold, a hint of killing intent in his eyes.
Xiang Chong instantly sobered up.
"I… I meant… This little… little fellow… It doesn't seem very… imposing. Where is its divine aura?"
Fan Li hadn't even reacted, but Tuan Tuan was furious.
"Woo!"
A roar, emanating from its tiny body, filled the Golden Luan Palace with the might of a tiger!
A spatial distortion suddenly appeared.
An astute official exclaimed, "The Battle of Recognition! It's the Battle of Recognition! Your Majesty, be careful!"
Fan Li was also surprised. Tuan Tuan was initiating the Battle of Recognition again?
The next moment, Tuan Tuan and Xiang Chong vanished.
The battle took place within a separate dimension. No one could witness it.
But after half an incense stick had burned, the distortion vanished. They reappeared within the Golden Luan Palace.
The court officials watched as Tuan Tuan, despite its small size, stood proudly, its demeanor that of a victor.
Xiang Chong, however, lay slumped upon his throne, his face bruised and swollen. He stared at Tuan Tuan with fear in his eyes.
"Woo!"
Tuan Tuan let out a challenging roar.
Xiang Chong immediately cowered.
"I surrender! I surrender! Please, no more!"
The officials were shocked. He had surrendered?
Was Great Chu about to lose its divine beast?
"Your Majesty, you mustn't surrender! You will be abandoned by Heaven!" An official shouted.
"Shut up!" Xiang Chong, enraged and humiliated, retorted. "You think it's so easy? Look at my injuries!"
"But…"
The court erupted in chaos. They couldn't accept that their Emperor had been defeated by a divine beast.
Then, Tuan Tuan walked over to Fan Li, rubbing against his legs affectionately.
Silence descended upon the court.
Was this a sign from Heaven?
Should Duke Jin usurp the throne?
Fan Li instantly understood their thoughts. He couldn't allow that to happen.
"Ahem!"
He cleared his throat.
"Please rest assured, Your Majesty. Tuan Tuan is already the Great Chu's guardian deity. I defeated it previously."
"Wooo!"
Tuan Tuan let out a soft roar, seemingly complaining about Fan Li revealing its embarrassing defeat.
The court officials sighed.
They looked at Xiang Chong, slumped upon his throne, and wished that Duke Jin would simply seize the throne.
Xiang Chong felt deeply humiliated. He wished he could disappear. Thankfully, a military report arrived, diverting their attention.
"Report from Yunzhou! Crown Prince Wanli of the Great Ming has marched towards Yunzhou with three hundred thousand Wolf Troops.
He has achieved a decisive victory in his first battle, slaying Ma Su, Xiahou Mao, and Zhuge Ke!
The Three Kingdoms Alliance has retreated from Yunzhou…"