World's First Traitor System (409)

Chapter 409 - Writings Between Heaven and Earth

The mechanical body disassembled. A pale yellow orb of light flew from its core towards Wu Gang. Wu Gang transformed in her human form, opened her arms, and embraced the orb.

“Did it work?” Fan Li couldn’t help but ask.

“Mm, it’s a kind child.” Wu Gang smiled as she held Qiuniu’s soul gently.

Kind?

Indeed.

Lured by the music, Qiuniu hadn't shown any hostility from beginning to end. Its gentle nature, as described in the legends, was the reason Fan Li had chosen it as their first target.

Their unexpected success was thanks to Wu Gang. The presence of a true dragon held an irresistible allure for the dragon sons’ souls.

“Master, which child is next?” After putting Qiuniu’s soul away, Wu Gang asked, full of curiosity.

Fan Li couldn’t help but smile wryly.

From her tone, it was as if the nine mechanical dragon sons were her own children.
He suddenly thought of Lu Fubao and little Diao Chan.

Perhaps this innate care and love for the young was simply what it meant to be a mother.

"Fuxi, the dragon’s eighth son."

Hearing Fan Li’s choice, Wu Gang smiled with approval.

Fuxi had the body of a dragon and loved literature.

A dragon that loved to read? Fan Li smiled.

What a perfect match. He took out the paper and brush he had prepared earlier, then flattened a large rock to use as a desk.

He spread the paper on the rock’s surface. He ground the ink, then his brush flew across the paper.

“A mountain needn't be high, with immortals it gains fame. Water needn't be deep, with dragons it gains spirit...”

If, as the legends said, Fuxi loved literature, then it must be the kind that was elegant, noble, and filled with righteous morality.

Fan Li carefully chose his texts, thinking, These were selected for textbooks, masterpieces that accompanied countless people as they grew up. Surely, they will attract Fuxi.

After finishing “An Inscription for a Humble Dwelling” by the great poet Liu Yuxi, the small hill where Fan Li sat was practically transformed into a celestial mountain.

Purple energy flowed from the east, lingering in the air.

All things on earth were rejuvenated – trees flourished, flowers bloomed, grass grew, birds sang, and beasts roamed.

It was as if a great sage resided within a humble dwelling, his heart at peace, his realm unattainable, looking down at the world, smiling at those who toiled for fame and fortune.

Fan Chun and Wu Gang, having witnessed Fan Li’s literary aura before, weren’t surprised. They simply smiled, appreciating the scene.

Su Qingfang, Chen Shishi, and Qin Hongyu, however, were seeing Fan Li’s “methods” for the first time.

“Heavens! Could he be the reincarnation of a literary sage?”

“True Confucian words! It's a pity I don't cultivate Confucianism; otherwise, I would have achieved a breakthrough!”

“With Duke Jin in the world, the literary arts will flourish for eight hundred years!”

As the three women marveled, Fan Li began copying the second piece.

“People love peonies.”

“But I alone love the lotus, rising from the mud, yet untainted. Washed by the clear waters, yet unstained. Its stem, straight and hollow. Its leaves, unfurling, yet not sprawling. Its fragrance, pure and far-reaching. Standing tall and upright. Admired from afar, but not to be trifled with…”

The three women looked at each other with astonishment.

Fan Li, known as the greatest treacherous minister of their time. His power rivaled Dong Zhuo of the Han Dynasty, but Dong Zhuo had been destroyed.

He had served less time in court than Yan Song, yet Yan Song's influence was nowhere near Fan Li's.

Such a powerful and treacherous minister, could he actually write something like, “Rising from the mud, yet untainted. Washed by the clear waters, yet unstained”?

One’s writings revealed one’s heart. This was something everyone in the world believed, and Su Qingfang and the others were no exception.

So, as they read his words, they were even more convinced that the people of Chu had misunderstood Fan Li.

He held power, yet he didn't do evil. He deceived the Emperor, but not the people.

Fan Li had been wrongly accused!

“Ah?!”

The three women, lost in their thoughts, suddenly noticed a massive figure approaching.

A dragon?!

Fuxi had the form of a dragon. It hovered in mid-air and stared at Fan Li. Its mouth opened slightly, uttering a low murmur, as if reciting something.

Everyone knew Fuxi had arrived, but they pretended not to notice.

Especially Fan Li, who, having finished copying “Love the Lotus” by Zhou Dunyi, began the third piece.

He switched from regular script to cursive, his brushstrokes were flowing even more freely.

“Another masterpiece?!” The three women were not only surprised, but excited.

In their eyes, Fan Li’s writings were truly extraordinary. To witness such a thing was an honor!

“If there were eight dou of literary talent in the world, my second brother alone possesses one dan, and the rest of the world owes him two dou!” Fan Chun thought proudly.

“In the spring of the fourth year of the Qingli era, Teng Zijing was demoted to Baling… When in high office, he worried about the people. When living in seclusion, he worried about his ruler. Thus, whether advancing or retreating, he was always filled with worry. So when can one find joy? Surely, it must be to ‘worry before the world worries, and rejoice after the world rejoices.’”

Su Qingfang, Chen Shishi, and Qin Hongyu felt tears welling in their eyes. They wanted to kneel before Fan Li.

What kind of wisdom could grasp the meaning of "worry about the people when in high office, and worry about the ruler when living in seclusion”?

What kind of responsibility could dare to say, "worry before the world worries, and rejoice after the world rejoices”?

With Fan Li, Great Chu was destined for greatness!

“Roar~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~!”

A long, deep dragon’s roar, ancient and resonant, like the sound of bells and drums. But it also sounded like… a song.

What was Fuxi singing about?

Currently, the only thing worthy of such praise was Fan Li’s writing!

“Phew!”

Fan Li put down his brush, and breathed a sigh of relief. He looked up and met the Fuxi’s gaze. They remained silent.

Suddenly, Fuxi’s mechanical body disassembled and scattered across the ground.

Only its core, a spherical object, remained floating in mid-air. A wisp of pure energy flowed from the core, condensing into an orb of light before Fan Li.

This was Fuxi’s soul!

“Wu Gang,” Fan Li nodded at the woman beside him.

It worked!

Attracted by the writings, Fuxi willingly surrendered.

“So…” Fan Li smiled. “Our next target is Chiwen.”

…

Inside Xiongzhou, Shi Jingtang was restlessly pacing back and forth.

Was it his imagination?

There had been no battles, yet he had lost contact with Qiuniu and Fuxi.

Along with the Bixi he had lost earlier, three of the dragon’s nine sons were now gone.

The mechanical dragon sons were different from ordinary mechanical beasts; they were his core fighting force.

If he could, he wanted to go and investigate.

But the fusion with Xiongzhou’s destiny hadn't been completed. He couldn't leave the main city.

“Forget it!”

“Perhaps the fusion with Xiongzhou’s destiny exceeded my control, causing the dragon sons to disconnect. Once I’ve finished, I’ll retrieve Qiuniu and Fuxi.”

Having reached this conclusion, Shi Jingtang focused his mind. He resumed his cultivation, like a vortex, absorbing the destiny of Xiongzhou.

His body began to grow. In a matter of moments, he was even taller than the governor’s mansion.

“Not enough!”

“Not nearly enough!”

“When Pangu created the heavens and earth, his body was colossal, reaching the sky.”

“I’m still far from that, and Xiongzhou is still far too insignificant!”