Chapter 58: The Art of Provocation
The Black Steed hovered over Pengcheng in the form of a black dragon, its presence grand and its might overwhelming!
Any citizen of Pengcheng who simply looked up could witness the dragon's body in the sky.
If things truly continued this way, chaos would surely erupt throughout the city!
But Fan Li had already made all the necessary arrangements: he deployed the garrison to patrol the streets and temporarily restricted the movements of the people, instructing them to remain obediently at home.
Having succeeded in her first strike, the Black Steed was eager to attack again.
Her eyes had been glazed a moment before, not because she had fallen under the Blood Phoenix Matriarch's influence, but simply because she was channeling her strength to transform into a dragon.
Her tail swept once more, but this time only gouged a deep trench into the ground outside the Dragon God Hall.
After being ambushed once, the Blood Phoenix Matriarch could not possibly be caught off guard again.
She easily evaded the dragon's tail, and in an instant, soared high into the sky, leaving both the Dragon God Hall and the Black Steed far below.
“How bold! Joining forces to ambush me?”
Looking down from above, the Blood Phoenix Matriarch spoke as if she were a goddess surveying mortals.
Blood trickled from the corner of her mouth, yet her arrogance was undiminished!
The combined surprise attack of the Black Steed and Lü Chunqiu had inflicted only a minor wound upon her, leaving her foundation unscathed and her power unaffected.
“Fan Li, to wield the authority of Great Chu, you are indeed extraordinary,” the Blood Phoenix Matriarch praised again.
But her tone was strange, as if reciting Fan Li’s epitaph.
Her praise was nothing more than the generosity one bestows upon the dead.
Within the Dragon God Hall, Fan Li finally emerged.
At his side was an elderly scholar—none other than the current Marquis Wenxin, Lü Chunqiu.
Fan Li took a deep breath and said, “For the Pure Land Matriarch to come in person for my life—I am deeply honored.”
He raised his eyes to the Blood Phoenix Matriarch above, a hint of murderous intent flashing within them.
A low chuckle escaped the Matriarch, swelling into raucous laughter.
“Good! Excellent!”
“In all my years, never have I encountered a man with such unyielding spirit as yours!”
“Even the men I chose to bear my children never possessed such backbone!”
She praised Fan Li before all, simply because she had read the killing intent in his gaze.
A mere cultivator of the Body Refinement stage, who had orchestrated matters to the point of attempting to slay her, the Matriarch of the Brahma Pure Land?
How many years had it been?
Never, beneath the heavens, had anyone dared to plot against a member of the Pure Land.
Let alone the Matriarch herself!
Even ordinary disciples of the Pure Land were never targets of such schemes.
It was common knowledge that the Brahma Pure Land was fiercely protective of its own.
Unless the rights and wrongs were glaringly clear and the Pure Land was indisputably at fault, any harm done to one of theirs by a man was considered an affront to the entire sect.
The Pure Land was founded to shield the vulnerable women of the world, especially from men’s harm.
It was insular, and especially hostile toward men.
The Blood Phoenix and Nangong Yan never made their relationship public, and even lived apart for long stretches, meeting only secretly to avoid violating the sect’s rules.
“Fan Li! You have chosen a path to your own doom!”
“Even if you manage to succeed by some fluke, do you think you can escape the vengeance of the Brahma Pure Land?”
When she finished, the Matriarch laughed wildly again, mocking Fan Li’s foolishness and his lack of escape.
Fan Li replied calmly, “I have no time to concern myself with what may come. But today, only one of us will walk out of the Dragon God Hall alive. Of course, if you truly wish to flee, perhaps not even the Black Steed and Lü Chunqiu together could stop you.”
“Hmph! Just the two of them? They would struggle to hold their own against me, let alone dream of defeating me!”
Though her words were defiant, the Blood Phoenix Matriarch was calculating.
Having witnessed the power of ‘The Annals of Lü Buwei,’ she knew she would struggle to break through its defenses. Retreating now, and seeking a future opportunity to assassinate Fan Li, seemed the wisest course.
But her pride would not allow it!
For the Matriarch herself to attempt an assassination and return empty-handed—such disgrace, especially after Fan Li’s taunting, was intolerable.
At last, she resolved to remain and fight on, waiting for a chance to kill Fan Li with a secret technique.
“If I sacrifice fifty years of my lifespan, I can unleash the Blood Fairy secret art, delivering three strikes on par with the Ninth Rank of the Grand Ascension stage!”
“Though ‘The Annals of Lü Buwei’ is a supreme defensive treasure, Lü Chunqiu is only at the Ninth Rank of the Fusion stage—he may not withstand three full attacks at the Grand Ascension’s Ninth Rank.”
“But… to kill a mere Fan Li, must I really forfeit fifty years of my life…”
Her greatest reliance was this unique secret art, and she was reluctant to employ it lightly.
“I have never truly faced Lü Chunqiu in combat. It would be wise to probe his strength first. If ‘The Annals of Lü Buwei’ is but a hollow reputation and I can break through without resorting to secret arts, that would be ideal!”
So she made up her mind.
Her shifting expression did not escape Fan Li.
“Perfect.”
This was all Fan Li desired.
He had used provocation to hold the Matriarch in place, preventing her from fleeing and seeking another opportunity to assassinate him. How could he guard against a Grand Ascension assassin day and night?
Now, after provoking her, it was time for delay.
Fan Li smiled, “Is the Matriarch curious? Since I am here guarding against you, what of the other three fronts?”
At his words, the Blood Phoenix Matriarch paused, her brow furrowing.
Was he simply stalling for time?
Yet Fan Li’s skill in laying schemes was so formidable that she could not help but be curious.
“Speak, then. I am curious as well. With the Black Steed and Lü Chunqiu here, what means do you have to protect the other three of your clan?”
If it was merely a delay, the Matriarch did not mind; she was slightly injured and could use the opportunity to heal.
As for the forces sent to assassinate Fan Ming, Fan Chun, and Fan Yuehua, the Matriarch had little concern.
How many more experts could the Fan family muster?
Unless they were at the Fusion stage, nothing could change the outcome.
In all of Great Chu, the only Fusion-stage expert was Chief Eunuch Chen, but he would never support Fan Li.
Indeed, to guard against a final desperate counterattack by the Fan clan, Chief Chen remained in the harem to protect the Empress Dowager and Xiang Chong.
Fan Li, intent on buying time, spoke very slowly.
“I have heard that one of the two elders of the Lihuo Sect accompanied the Matriarch’s daughter to the peach grove, intending to assassinate my youngest sister, Yuehua?”
The Matriarch was surprised by his precise intelligence, but only sneered.
“Your sister, alone, consorting with dozens of men in the peach grove—such wanton behavior disgraces all women!”
“You are mistaken, Matriarch,” Fan Li said with a smile, gesturing toward Lü Chunqiu.
“My sister has recently developed a keen interest in Confucian studies and invited the seventy-two direct disciples of the Marquis Wenxin to the peach grove. While admiring the blossoms, they revisit the moral teachings of the ancient sages.”
The Matriarch’s expression changed.
The Seventy-two Sages of Lü City?
Even she had heard of those renowned scholars.
But Fan Li paid no heed to her shifting expression, continuing unabated.
“My third brother, Fan Chun, is out hunting on South Mountain, and the Grand Elder of the Lihuo Sect has led all his elite disciples to ambush him?”
“Unfortunately, accompanying my brother on the hunt are a hundred thousand garrison soldiers. Even if the disciples stretched out their necks for the sword, it would take days and nights to behead so many.”
The Matriarch’s expression darkened further, growing even more unsightly.
Lastly, Fan Li said, “As for the Fan family’s secret estate, my eldest brother is presently discussing important matters with Cao Cao, Liu Bei, and Sun Quan. Should the Matriarch’s husband, Nangong Yan, attempt to assassinate my brother, I doubt the three Han envoys would stand idly by…”