The Illusion Formation  

"Who will enter the formation first?" Sage Ruler Jin De inquired, brimming with absolute confidence. Even if crafted by Guiguzi himself, the Five Elements Formation of Mount Yunmeng couldn't possibly trap a Great Vehicle Realm Confucian cultivator like her.

"There's no need to set an order," Yichuan explained. "Everyone can enter the courtyard together. The formation will separate you, and then you must rely on your own abilities to break through."

Yan Yuan frowned upon hearing this. He had come under his teacher's orders, partly to protect his junior sister, but also to safeguard Fan Li. If the Golden Illusion Formation separated them, wouldn't Fan Li be in great danger?

"There's no need to worry," Yichuan added. "The Golden Illusion Formation is incredibly profound, but success in breaking through has nothing to do with cultivation level. Even ordinary mortals without any cultivation can overcome the formation unharmed."

"Why?!" Yan Yuan pressed, but Yichuan simply shook his head, refusing to elaborate. Revealing too much would give Fan Li a psychological advantage.

"Hmph! How boring!"

Crown Prince Wanli, having grown impatient, flicked his sleeves and strode into the courtyard. Zhang Juzheng hurriedly followed.

"Let's go in too," Jin De urged, throwing a jab at Fan Li. "This time, you better come out quickly and not keep us waiting for half a day."

One by one, Zhuge Liang and the others entered the formation.

As Fan Li was about to follow, Lu Fubao gently tugged at the corner of his robe from behind.

"What's wrong?"

"Hmm..." Lu Fubao pondered for a moment before whispering, "Remember to guard your mind. Illusion formations are all about deceiving the heart with false appearances."

Fan Li's eyes widened in realization. "Thank you! You truly are a genius of formations!"

Lu Fubao snorted. "Do you think I need your praise? I'll settle the score with you for tricking me into marrying a woman!"

With that, she entered the formation.

A sharp tongue but a kind heart. Fan Li felt a strange sense of ease and entered the courtyard with a smile.

As he stepped into the courtyard, a blinding golden light filled his vision. When it finally subsided, Fan Li was utterly shocked by the scene before him.

He had time-traveled again!? He was back on Blue Star, in his hometown of N City.

Fan Li felt dizzy, as if he had a hangover and lost his memory. He completely forgot about Mount Yunmeng, even the memories of the Chu Dynasty began to fade.

"I'm home?"

"Where is home?"

"Fan Manor... No, Building 3, Unit 1, Apartment 701, Jiayuan Residential Complex. That's my home..."

Fan Li opened the door and was greeted by the familiar aroma of food, but he furrowed his brows.

"Mom, why are we having bean sprouts again today?" he blurted out.

The dining table was filled with cold bean sprouts, stir-fried bean sprouts, and bean sprout noodles.

Fan Li's face contorted in agony. "Mom, can't you find any other vegetables at the market?"

As soon as he finished speaking, a slightly plump woman with permed hair rushed out of the kitchen, brandishing a kitchen knife.

"Do you think vegetables at the market are free? These bean sprouts were given to us by your uncle, aunt, and grandfather. You want to waste money buying vegetables when we have free food? How did I raise such a prodigal son?!"

Fan Li was scolded head-on. Despite the awkwardness, he felt a strange sense of warmth.

Mom?

How many years had it been since he had been scolded like this by his mother?

But in his memories, she seemed to have already...

Fan Li had lost his father at a young age, and his mother was the closest person he had ever known.

Looking at the familiar woman before him, his eyes welled up. "Mom, I was wrong. I won't be picky anymore. I'll eat whatever you cook."

"That's more like it!" His mother turned and returned to the kitchen. Moments later, she emerged with a different dish. "Here, sweet and sour pork ribs." Her expression remained stern, but it was clear she was waiting for her son's praise with a hint of pride.

Fan Li immediately took a bite and then proceeded to shower her with every compliment for culinary skills he could think of. His mother finally sat down with a happy smile and joined him for the meal.

"You're not going to work today."

"Oh."

Fan Li was puzzled. He didn't even know if he had to work today?

"Mrs. Chen from next door has introduced you to a potential match. Go meet her this afternoon."

"Ah? Can I skip it?"

Fan Li's immediate response was refusal.

A blind date?

Did the Duke of Jin of the Great Chu need a blind date?

Wait... what the heck was a Duke of Jin?

"You dare refuse?!" His mother slammed her hand on the table. "After eating my sweet and sour pork ribs, you have to meet all three girls today, or you're not allowed to come home!"

"???"

"Three blind dates in one day? Mom, that's not appropriate, is it?" Fan Li was shocked. Even a donkey wouldn't be bred like that!

His mother ignored him and took out her phone.

"3 PM, the Xiang girl."

"4 PM, the Han girl."

"5 PM, the Lu girl."

"The location is the 'Medium, Large, Extra Large' café. I'll send you their photos on WeChat. Don't mix them up."

As she spoke, she cleared her throat. "You have permission to stay out tonight."

***

2:50 PM.

Fan Li arrived at the café ten minutes early. His first blind date, Miss Xiang, hadn't arrived yet.

"Why do I feel like I'm dreaming?" Fan Li muttered to himself.

Two sets of memories intertwined in his mind as he walked. One moment, he remembered working at his company, the next, he envisioned himself wearing a duke's robe, guiding the nation from the golden throne, with a useless emperor in dragon robes trembling beside him.

"Sir, what would you like to drink?" A waiter approached him.

"A small latte."

"I'm sorry, sir, we don't have small sizes."

Fan Li was taken aback. He pointed to the counter. "Isn't that the smallest cup?"

The waiter replied, "I apologize, sir, but we only have medium, large, and extra-large sizes."

Fan Li thought for a moment and asked, "If I wanted twice the amount of an extra-large cup, could you make a super-large size? I'll pay triple the price."

The waiter responded without hesitation, "We can certainly customize it for you."

"Nice." Fan Li nodded. "I'll have a free glass of ice water."

The waiter said, "Please wait a moment"

At 3 PM sharp, a young woman entered the café. She wore a white shirt, jeans, and sneakers, resembling a tomboy. She walked straight to the counter.

"I'd like a small cappuccino."

"Sorry, we only have medium, large, and extra-large sizes," the waiter replied mechanically.

"Oh." The young woman nodded politely. "Then I'll have a free glass of ice water, extra-large size, please."

The waiter stared at her blankly for a few seconds and then couldn't help but glance at Fan Li.

Fan Li, who was enjoying his free ice water, caught the waiter's gaze and shrugged, indicating that it had nothing to do with him. But in the next moment, the young woman noticed him too.

"You must be Fan Li?" She walked over and sat down across from him with a confident air. "My name is Xiang Ning. You know who I am, right?"

"Uh... blind date?" Fan Li felt the waiter's resentful gaze upon him.

He sighed. "One extra-large latte and one extra-large cappuccino, please."