World's First Traitor System (439)

Chapter 439 - Killing with Sword in Hand

Fan Li had never accepted such a large number of surrendering people before. The entire Great Ci army numbered three hundred thousand, and its subjects added several hundred thousand more, totaling over a million. Great Ci's national destiny had ended, leaving a million people as displaced refugees of a fallen state.

"Second Brother, what should we do?" Fan Chun also asked worriedly. If this million-strong population united, they could potentially even overwhelm the two hundred thousand Garrison Army soldiers. Fortunately, they had already surrendered.

"What else can we do?" Fan Li replied. "Those from Great Chu return to Great Chu; those from Great Han return to Great Han; those from Great Wei return to Great Wei; those from Great Wu return to Great Wu. We won't take a single person who doesn't belong to us."

Fan Li actually understood his brother's unspoken thoughts. Although the Fan Clan had good relations with the emperors of the three kingdoms, ultimately, only interests mattered between nations. Whether for Great Chu or Great Jin, increasing the population was beneficial to the state. This was a rare opportunity; absconding with several hundred thousand people to join Great Chu or Great Jin offered many advantages and few downsides.

"Sigh, alright," Fan Chun nodded, then asked, "What about them?"

Following his brother's pointed finger, Fan Li noticed a small group gathered outside the city gate, timidly hesitant to approach the main army. Women from Great Ming? Fan Li identified their origin at a glance. After the fall of Great Ci, the only refuge for these women from Great Ming was still Great Ming. Especially now, with Emperor Jiajing having subdued Empress Yao Guang, his might was unparalleled under heaven. These women were likely already eager to return home, merely fearful of Fan Li's two hundred thousand strong army, which made them hesitant to move rashly.

"You lot," Fan Li called out loudly towards the group. "Go back where you came from. This Duke never bullies the weak based on strength; you can leave without worry!"

Fan Li had expected that after saying this, the women would be moved to tears of gratitude, swearing oaths to erect longevity plaques for him upon returning to Great Ming. However, unexpectedly, the group of Great Ming women not only didn't dare move an inch but stared at Fan Li with suspicion and fear, as if he were a big bad wolf ready to eat them.

"What's wrong with them?" Fan Li turned to his brother, bewildered.

"Err, Brother, did you just say you never bully the weak based on strength?" Fan Chun scratched his head awkwardly. "Coming from your mouth... who would believe that?"

Fan Li suddenly understood! Damn it! Since the founding of Great Jin, he had mostly adopted the persona of a far-sighted, open-minded, and receptive ruler, almost forgetting that his true fame had spread as the treacherous minister of Great Chu!

"Ahem!"

Fan Li cleared his throat, suddenly adopting a fierce and cruel expression. "Listen up, women of Great Ming! The former lands of Great Ci now entirely belong to the Great Chu Dynasty! Chu does not support idlers. Any foreign women who continue to linger in Chu territory, this Duke gives you half a day to leave the border! Otherwise, those with pleasing appearances will be forced into military prostitution, those with high cultivation will be demoted to dual cultivation cauldrons, and the rest will all be enslaved!"

Upon hearing this, the women first stared blankly. Then, someone shrieked, and instantly all the women screamed, their faces pale with fright. They scrambled desperately around the Garrison Army formation, frantically trying to find the direction towards Great Ming and fleeing for their lives. In just a moment, these women, possessing cultivation bases, had fled at least several miles away.

Fan Chun watched, dumbfounded. It took him a while to remember to give Fan Li a thumbs-up. "Brother."

"Hm?"

"Putting other things aside, about the military prostitutes... the brothers all heard that."

Fan Li's face turned green. "Tell them to hold it in! When we return victorious to Peng City, the court will naturally reward them. Once their purses are full, will they still worry about finding women?"

After saying this, Fan Li ignored his brother and took out the Dust Destiny Necklace. The video call connected after just one ring. Fan Li had expected to see both Han Yue and Xiang Ning, but only Xiang Ning appeared on the screen, her pretty face flushed red, her eyes filled with unspoken anticipation. Fan Li knew Xiang Ning had waited a long time for this day. Although he wanted to ask where Han Yue was, he restrained himself.

"Your Majesty."

"Ah? Yes, We... We are here." Xiang Ning's voice trembled slightly, laced with both tears and joy.

Fan Li forced the gentlest smile he had ever managed. "I have not failed the ten-year promise. Today, I welcome Your Majesty back to court."

…

"How could this happen?"

"Why did it end like this?"

"Great Ci is finished!"

"What should I do?"

Fleeing Chao Ge's imperial city in utter terror, Bai Rong felt as if half her soul had been scared away! Yao Guang's fatal kneel had shattered the long-held aspirations of the Pure Land! It had also shattered the fantasies of women across the land! Especially Bai Rong; she had firmly believed that with her talent and wisdom, she was destined to reach a position second only to one and above tens of thousands.

In the world dominated by women that Yao Guang was building, she would become the second most powerful person in the mortal realm, eventually surpassing even the other Sage Rulers! This beautiful fantasy completely crumbled with Yao Guang's obeisance to Emperor Jiajing.

Bai Rong's mind raced. Where should she go?

"Return to Great Chu? I am still the Empress of Great Chu! No, without Elder Sister's protection, I alone cannot contend against Fan Li." She quickly abandoned this thought, despite the immense prestige and honor associated with being the Empress of Chu.

"Ha!"

"I have it!"

"I should defect to Great Ming!"

"Elder Sister... no, Yao Guang can be Emperor Jiajing's Empress, Xue Susu could also become the Imperial Noble Consort, so why can't I win Emperor Jiajing's favor?!"

"With my looks and talent, plus my status as a Pure Land Sage Ruler, I would definitely not disgrace Emperor Jiajing."

The more Bai Rong thought, the more appealing the idea became. She stopped fleeing blindly like a headless fly, carefully determined her bearings, and reoriented herself towards Great Ming in the east. "Great Ming, here I come!"

A streak of cyan light suddenly slashed down from the vast heavens. Bai Rong had just prepared to fly east towards Great Ming. If not for her keen senses allowing her to halt abruptly, she would have been sliced in two by this cyan sword qi!

"Who!?"

"Despicable! To launch such a vicious sneak attack!"

“Do you know who this Sage Ruler is?!"

Bai Rong yelled curses, only to realize she couldn't even locate her enemy. Her heart jolted in alarm. Such a powerful sword qi – how many sword cultivators in the world were capable of this? Bai Rong swallowed hard; she already guessed the identity of the newcomer.

A graceful figure, holding a spirit sword as thin as a cicada's wing, pure white as snow, and cold as the lonely moon, crossed the void from the distant horizon.

Great Vehicle realm!

Just this ability to walk on air was a level of cultivation Bai Rong still had to look up to. The newcomer, moreover, was the nightmare that haunted her countless nights.

"Han Yue... Sister." Cold sweat dripped from Bai Rong's forehead. But she forced a sweet smile, tinged with obsequiousness.

Zheng!

Han Yue ignored her, merely holding her sword vertically and lightly flicking the blade with her finger, producing a deep, resonant sword hum. There was killing intent in the hum! Bai Rong, though not a sword cultivator, could still discern it!

"Sister, there's actually no deep hatred between us," her voice trembled. Even at the peak of the Unity realm, facing Han Yue who was already a mid-stage Great Vehicle expert ten years ago – compounded by the terrifying combat power of sword cultivators exceeding their peers – Bai Rong knew she wouldn't last a single move.

"I re-established the Pure Land ten years ago. Today, my cultivation is Great Vehicle, eighth stage," Han Yue stated calmly. "The sword has already merged with my heart. The tangible sword in my hand has long been an ordinary external object. Grass, wood, metal, iron, heavenly grade or scrap – they are all the same. However, this sword is named Chasing Moon. To kill you today, I must wield this sword."