World's First Traitor System (420)

Chapter 420 - Inflation

The air thickened with awkwardness.

Fan Li glanced at Wu Gang's abdomen. It had begun swelling two days prior, quite suddenly and without warning. Though not as dramatic as a full-term pregnancy, the protrusion was unmistakable.

Dragons, it seemed, defied mortal understanding. He then looked at Xiang Ning on the video screen. Her face was flushed, her body trembling slightly, whether from shock or anger, he couldn't tell.

"Your Majesty," he began, "I... am innocent." Even as he spoke, he felt like a dissembling scoundrel. But he swore, by Heaven and earth, he was blameless in this.

Fortunately, Xiang Ning, usually quick to dismiss his words as lies, seemed to believe him. Her anger subsided, replaced by surprise, bewilderment, and even... pity?

"Your Majesty?" Fan Li asked, confused. Her shifting expressions were baffling. What was she thinking?

"Fan Li..."

"Yes?"

"You know the child isn't yours, yet you care for Wu Gang so diligently? I never imagined you possessed such a generous spirit."

Fan Li was utterly perplexed. It was rare for Xiang Ning to offer praise, but this felt… odd. He wasn't slow-witted, just… perhaps too innocent.

"Your Majesty, given my relationship with Wu Gang, I will not only care for her, but also for her child," he stated frankly.

Xiang Ning’s expression became even more complex. She covered her mouth, as if stifling a sob.

"Fan Li..." she whispered, her voice trembling with sympathy, "you... will have your own children someday."

Fan Li thought, Isn't that obvious? He was healthy and virile; he would have not just one child, but likely many.

"Thank you for your kind words, Your Majesty. Is there anything else? The medicine is getting cold; I must attend to Wu Gang."

Xiang Ning shook her head tearfully. "No, I won't disturb you any longer."

She ended the video call with a choked sob, leaving Fan Li even more confused.

…

"What's wrong?" Han Yue asked, stepping into the Sword Hut of the Pure Land. Her once raven-black hair was now completely silver.

Xiang Ning flung herself into Han Yue’s arms, sobbing. "Fan Li... he's so pitiful!"

Pitiful? Han Yue couldn’t reconcile that word with the image of Fan Li.

"He is!" Xiang Ning insisted, tears streaming down her face. "From now on, we must treat him well."

A smile touched Han Yue's lips. "You said 'we' must treat him well."

The emphasis on "we" made Xiang Ning realize her slip, and she burrowed deeper into Han Yue's embrace, her face burning.

…

Fan Li’s influence in Great Chu was pervasive. The moment Sage Rulers Jin De and Miaoyin entered Chu territory, he was informed. With Wu Gang unconscious, he lacked a powerful protector. But sometimes, a protector didn’t need to be strong, only influential enough to deter enemies.

"Invite the envoys of Wei, Han, and Wu," Fan Li instructed.

Soon, Liu Chan, Cao Huan, and Sun Hao arrived. The three young men possessed an air of imperial bearing. Fan Li was curious about their fates in this altered timeline. For now, however, they served as excellent bodyguards. With their presence, Jin De and Miaoyin, mindful of the alliance, wouldn't dare act rashly against him.

"Duke Jin, to what do we owe the pleasure of this summons?" Liu Chan inquired.

"Nothing in particular," Fan Li replied with a smile. "I recently transplanted some osmanthus trees in the Rivers and Mountains Pavilion. They're in full bloom, their fragrance intoxicating. I invited you here to enjoy the blossoms and some wine."

Such an excuse was always appropriate. The three envoys readily accepted, suspecting nothing.

Thus, for several days, lavish banquets were held within the Rivers and Mountains Pavilion. Fan Li played the gracious host, while Liu Chan, Cao Huan, and Sun Hao, whose primary mission was to maintain good relations with him, indulged in the festivities. They would have happily remained as guests indefinitely, had Fan Li not eventually hinted at their departure.

After seven days of feasting, even Fan Li began to tire. Finally, he received the visitors he had been expecting.

"Fan Li!"

"Do you know you're courting death?!"

Sage Rulers Jin De and Miaoyin descended from the sky, their furious voices echoing across Peng City. Their combined rage pressed down like a collapsing sky.

Liu Chan, Cao Huan, and Sun Hao, though exceptional among their generation, were far from being a match for the two Sage Rulers. Their faces instantly paled.

Fan Li, however – perhaps because this was merely a clone, or perhaps due to his constant interactions with Great Vehicle cultivators – remained unfazed, his composure unshaken by their imposing auras.

"Fan Li! Do you know you're courting death?!" Jin De repeated, stepping forward and pointing accusingly at Fan Li as they entered the top floor of the pavilion. Spiritual energy crackled around her fingertip, as if she could obliterate him with a single touch. She possessed the power, but not the audacity. It was a bluff.

"Oh?" Fan Li calmly took a sip of wine. "Sage Ruler Jin De, to what do I owe this displeasure?"

"Has the alliance been dissolved? Is Great Ci declaring war on Great Chu?"

The mention of the "alliance" made Jin De hesitate. She then noticed the three young men present – royalty from Wei, Han, and Wu. Her expression shifted several times before she spoke.

"The Five Kingdoms Alliance, formed for the sake of all beings under heaven, is united against Great Ming. Such a righteous cause cannot be abandoned. I, Jin De, greet the three esteemed envoys."

Despite her Great Vehicle cultivation, she was still a subject of Great Ci. The three envoys, representing their respective kingdoms, were of equal standing with Jin De and Miaoyin.

Relieved by her words, the three envoys rose and returned the greeting.

"Esteemed envoys, bear witness!" Jin De declared. "Fan Li has betrayed his word, harming his allies. I have come here specifically for him!"

Jin De wasn't foolish. She knew to separate personal grievances from matters of state, lest she jeopardize the alliance. By focusing solely on Fan Li, she hoped the envoys would remain neutral, unwilling to intervene in a private dispute.

"Oh?" Fan Li feigned ignorance. "Sage Ruler Jin De, please enlighten me. What have I done to deserve such an accusation? I have always treated others with integrity. How have I betrayed my word?"

Jin De scoffed at his pretense. "You dare deny it? You swore an oath, pointing at the Wujiang River! Now, even the river's purity is tainted by your lies!"

"Sage Ruler, what has happened?" Intrigued, the envoys couldn't help but ask.

With a stern face, Jin De retrieved an object from her sleeve: a steamed bun. The sight of the soft, fluffy bun, its aroma of wheat filling the air, only deepened the envoys' confusion.

"Esteemed envoys, can you guess how much I paid for this bun, purchased moments ago from a street vendor in Peng City?" Jin De paused, then added, "I paid with Baochao."

Liu Chan, Cao Huan, and Sun Hao exchanged bewildered glances, shaking their heads.

Jin De raised her right hand, spreading her slender fingers.

"Five hundred thousand Baochao!"

"Five hundred thousand taels of gold in Baochao!"

"Enough money to fill a carriage, yet it only bought a single bun in Great Chu!"