Villain: Fairy, please offer your loyalty

noon the next day.

Outside Gu Fan's palace, two figures had been standing for a full two hours.

"My lord...the sun is too strong, shall we go to the shade of a tree to take shelter?"

Mi Zhu wiped the fine beads of sweat from his forehead, looked at the calm-faced middle-aged man beside him, and couldn't help but whisper a word of advice.

Liu Bei was wearing a faded cloth robe, which, although worn at the cuffs, was exceptionally clean.

He stared straight ahead, his hands hanging down, seemingly oblivious to the scorching sun.

"Zizhong, be careful with your words."

Liu Bei's voice was very soft.

"The Immortal Master is a celestial being, so it is only right that he tests our sincerity. King Wen pulled his chariot for eight hundred paces, and today I am merely stopping at this one station. What does it matter?"

"But……"

"There are no 'buts'," Liu Bei interrupted him. "For the sake of the Han people, I can endure this hardship."

The main gate of the imperial palace.

Wearing a top-notch security uniform, Lü Bu sat cross-legged in a grand chair, holding half a chilled watermelon in his hand, enjoying it immensely.

Lu Bu spat out a mouthful of watermelon seeds and glanced sideways at the two people below.

"Lord Xuande, the boss said he is resting and has no time to see guests. If you don't want to wait, please make yourself at home; there's no need to wait here for long."

Upon hearing this, Liu Bei was not angry at all. Instead, he bowed deeply to Lü Bu and said respectfully, "I am willing to wait for you, Marquis Wen, to inform you."

Inside the palace, it was cool as autumn.

Several top-grade cooling beads emitted a gentle chill, maintaining the temperature inside the hall in the most comfortable range.

Gu Fan lay lazily on the soft couch covered with white tiger skin. Beside him, Cai Wenji, who had just experienced a night of enlightenment, was wearing that blood-pumping uniform and kneeling on the ground, gently peeling a crystal-clear grape.

Her eyes still held a hint of allure, adding a touch of newlywed charm to her originally aloof demeanor.

"Young master, open your mouth."

Cai Wenji held a grape to Gu Fan's lips, her voice sweet and obedient.

Gu Fan swallowed it in one gulp, and then lightly bit her slender white finger, which made the talented woman playfully scold him.

He looked up at the water mirror in mid-air, and the image in the mirror showed Liu Bei standing outside in the scorching sun.

"Tsk tsk tsk, this Liu Bei is quite something."

Gu Fan sat up, took the iced cola that Mei'er handed him, and took a sip.

"You can tolerate this? If it were Cao Cao, he would probably be cursing in his heart by now; if it were Yuan Shao, he would probably have drawn his sword by now."

"Young master, this man is extremely cunning."

Cai Wenji glanced at the water mirror, her delicate brows furrowing slightly. "These kinds of people are often the most ruthless."

"Heartlessness is good."

"I like smart people who are willing to sell out everything for profit. These are the easiest to use."

He snapped his fingers.

"Lu Bu, let them in."

After a while.

Liu Bei and Mi Zhu entered the main hall.

A cool breeze swept over them, making their pores open up, as if they had stepped from the sweltering heat into paradise.

Seeing Gu Fan sitting high in the main seat, surrounded by stunningly beautiful maids, a barely perceptible glint of jealousy flashed deep in Liu Bei's eyes.

"Liu Bei, a descendant of Prince Jing of Zhongshan and General of the Left of the Han Dynasty, pays respects to the Immortal Master!"

Liu Bei bowed deeply, his movements so precise and flawless, his voice loud and full of emotion.

On behalf of all living beings, I express my gratitude to the Immortal Master for bestowing divine rice! The Immortal Master's virtue shines like the sun and moon in the sky, illuminating eternity!

Mi Zhu also knelt down immediately after him.

Gu Fan looked at Liu Bei, who was lying on the ground, with a half-smile. He didn't tell him to get up, but just played with the wine glass in his hand.

"Alright, stop flattering me."

Liu Bei stiffened for a moment, but quickly regained his composure.

"You are too modest, Immortal Master! Regardless of your initial intentions, that divine rice truly saved countless starving people; that is a great act of merit! Though I am unworthy, I am willing to serve you, Immortal Master, by leading your horse and lifting your stirrups, to repay this kindness!"

With acting skills like that, he deserves an Oscar.

Gu Fan waved his hand.

"Alright, you wouldn't come here without a reason. So, what brings you here with a rich guy?"

When Mi Zhu was called out, he trembled and quickly crawled forward on his knees, took out a gift list from his bosom, and raised it high above his head with both hands.

"Greetings, Immortal Master! I am Mi Zhu from Xuzhou. I have long admired your esteemed presence, and to meet you today is truly an honor beyond measure! Although my family is a merchant household, we are also mindful of righteousness. I have heard that you have a fondness for…refined objects, so I have prepared a small gift for you. I hope you will accept it with pleasure!"

Gu Fan glanced at the gift list, which included ten thousand taels of gold, a quantity of spiritual herbs, and...

The last line reads: "[My younger sister, Mi Zhen, is sixteen years old and wishes to enter the household to serve you.]".

Gu Fan raised an eyebrow and his gaze fell on Liu Bei.

"Xuande."

"If I remember correctly, this Miss Mi has a close relationship with you, right? I heard... your two families are discussing marriage? This Mi Zhen is your future wife."

The atmosphere inside the main hall was somewhat subtle.

Cai Wenji stopped what she was doing and looked at Liu Bei with some surprise.

Is he going to give his fiancée away?

Liu Bei remained kneeling on the ground, his face showing pain and determination upon hearing Gu Fan's words.

"May the Immortal Master bear witness."

Liu Bei took a deep breath, and two lines of clear tears slid down his cheeks.

"It is true that I, Bei, am engaged to Miss Mi. However, the Han Dynasty is now in decline, treacherous officials are in power, and the people are displaced! As a member of the Han imperial family, I feel my heart is torn apart and I cannot sleep at night whenever I think of this!"

He kowtowed loudly, making a thud.

"Personal feelings are trivial! Upholding the Han Dynasty is the greater good!"

"Zhen'er... Zhen'er has long admired the Immortal Master. She once told me that if she could serve by his side and listen to his celestial music, she would die without regret! Although I am reluctant, for the sake of the Han Dynasty, for the sake of the world, and for Zhen'er's future... I wish her well!"

His words were spoken with such righteous indignation and were so moving.

Those unaware of the inside story would likely be moved to tears by this "painful sacrifice" by the royal uncle.

"Slap, slap, slap."

Gu Fan clapped lightly, his smile growing wider.

"Brilliant. Absolutely brilliant."

Gu Fan stood up, walked to Liu Bei, squatted down, and looked directly into those tear-filled eyes.

"Liu Xuande, you are indeed a man destined for great things."

"You can give me your sweetheart and still talk about it with such elegance and sophistication. With that kind of shamelessness and big-mindedness, you deserve to succeed in the future."

Liu Bei trembled slightly, but still maintained his compassionate expression: "Immortal Master, you flatter me. I... am ashamed."

"Alright, since it's your way of showing filial piety, I'll accept it."

Gu Fan stood up, casually pulled a yellowed booklet from his system space, and threw it in front of Liu Bei.

"Take this 'Nine Revolutions Body Forging Technique' and practice it. Although it's trash, in this world, it's enough for you to reach the Celestial Realm."

Liu Bei looked at the secret manual on the ground, his eyes blazing with ecstatic joy.

Celestial Realm!

That's a realm that only the second and third brothers can reach!

With this, what is there to worry about in achieving great things?

"Thank you, Immortal Master, for bestowing upon me this magic!! I will never forget it!!"