You, a tyrannical ruler, roam the heavens; you cannot understand my joy.

Whether you can win someone over depends on what their interests are.

If interests align, there is a possibility of winning them over.

But Lu Zuo couldn't directly ask Chu Yunlong, "Are you a traitor?"

What is your purpose in rebelling?

Does he want to become emperor himself? Or is he disgusted with this corrupt dynasty and thus raises his voice in protest? Or is there some other reason?

These things take time; we have to take it slowly.

After glancing at the corpse of the Bone-Painting Demoness, Lu Zuo stepped forward to finish her off, making sure she was completely dead, before turning around and walking towards Chu Yunlong, reaching out to pull him up.

"Brother Chu, are you alright?"

Chu Yunlong shook his head: "He's not going to die yet."

He glanced at the three—the Judge of Yin and Yang, the Soul-Reaper, and the other two—and asked, "If I'm not mistaken, these chivalrous men were all sent by Brother Lu, weren't they?"

Lu Zuo smiled and nodded: "That day, I had a sudden inspiration and the opportunity to break through had arrived, so I went back to cultivate in seclusion."

"And please have them keep an eye on the demoness's movements."

"fortunately……"

"When Lu advanced to the Innate Realm, it was precisely the time when the Demoness arrived."

Chu Yunlong gave a wry smile, tinged with emotion: "Brother Lu is truly a genius!"

"I, Chu Yunlong, am confident that my martial arts talent is not bad, but I am already thirty-one years old this year, and I have failed to achieve success in several breakthroughs."

"His cultivation level has also been declining again and again."

"Where there's a will, there's a way," Lu Zuo comforted him. "Brother Chu, you've fought on despite repeated defeats, and one day you'll advance to the Innate Realm."

"Moreover, wasn't it precisely through repeated accumulation that Brother Chu's foundation was strengthened, allowing him to unleash that extraordinary move, comparable to a move from the Innate Realm?"

He was referring to the final move of Chu Yunlong's Trapping Formation Sword Technique, a move that meant certain death!

These words further increased Chu Yunlong's positive impression of Lu Zuo.

This Brother Lu is not only chivalrous and exceptionally talented, but also humble in character.

Compared to that, I feel ashamed of my petty thought that he was cowardly and afraid of trouble.

I am so ashamed!

After exchanging a few words, the two began to treat the wounded, smoothing out the disordered meridians of Huang Ye and Lin Ruhai, and helping the Soul Reaper and the others regulate their internal energy.

After a flurry of activity, it was nearly dawn when Lu Zuo had no choice but to take his leave and return to the palace via the underground waterway.

......

Upon arriving at Jiangyun Palace, a prompt from the cheat system appeared before my eyes.

[Missed the morning court session; internal strength +3.]

[Enchanted by beautiful women, physique +2.]

[Abandoning official duties, bonus reward: Swordsmanship +1, Lifespan +3.]

[Excessive indulgence, bonus: Internal Energy +2.]

[Colluding with rebels, bonus reward: Dao Enlightenment +1.]

"Not bad..."

Last night, they not only eliminated the hidden threat of the Bone-Painting Demoness, but also gained 1 point of the Dao Enlightenment attribute, which is currently the most important thing for Lu Zuo.

He's in a really good mood right now!

"Next, during the day we'll find people to discuss scriptures and doctrines, and at night we'll go on incognito visits while increasing our attributes through Chu Yunlong and others."

"Also... we need to find a way to enhance our poison attribute soon!"

I've heard that Kong Fan's wife is quite beautiful, as are the wives of Chen Shubao's brothers in the capital; they're all said to be stunningly beautiful...

Only after their first encounter did Lu Zuo understand why Cao Cao loved married women so much.

As soon as you pat her butt, she knows to change positions.

As soon as you lie down, she knows to sit on top of you.

As soon as you stand up, she knows to kneel down.

As soon as you kneel down, she knows to bend over...

How can I not love it?

Of course……

Now that Su Chenghua is dead, Zhang Youyuan is gradually accepting the status quo and is providing Lu Zuo with fewer and fewer poison-related attributes.

He was looking for multiple targets for the sake of attributes, not because he was fickle, lustful, or greedy.

At least, that's what Lu Zuo thinks...

Although he knew he wasn't a virtuous person, he was very pure when it came to women...

"Su Yanzhi's injuries haven't fully healed yet. Let's go talk to Zhang Lihua first before leaving the palace."

……

Upon arriving at Shuyuzhai and seeing Zhang Lihua's weary expression, Lu Zuofang realized that he hadn't acquired the art of seduction in a long time.

Was it because this most beautiful woman of the Six Dynasties was too tired and had no energy to use her seductive arts?

Zhang Lihua was utterly dumbfounded when she saw Lu Zuo arrive so early in the morning…

She lay on her side on the bed, her weak voice carrying a hint of delicate charm: "Your Majesty..."

"I am not feeling well today. May I rest for a few days before returning to serve Your Majesty?"

Lu Zuo currently has no martial arts to practice, so his need for Zhang Lihua has diminished considerably.

Seeing her like this, he nodded and said, "My beloved consort, I have come to see you today to ask you to recommend someone who is well-versed in the teachings of all schools of thought."

My senior sister!

My senior sister is amazing!

Why am I being tormented in the palace while she's living a carefree life outside?

True sisters share joys and sorrows...

Zhang Lihua immediately recommended Zhu Yuyan in order to bring her and Lu Zuo together.

After all, this tyrannical emperor showed signs of coveting Zhu Yuyan's beauty on their very first meeting.

If she could also enter the palace, my pressure would be much lighter...

In fact, Lu Zuo had already decided on Zhu Yuyan as his candidate.

There were many great scholars in the imperial court, but he couldn't contact any of them.

Otherwise, Shi Wenqing would think that he was colluding with his ministers in an attempt to break free from control.

As Zhang Lihua's senior sister, Zhu Yuyan is a ruthless character in the original work who is exceptionally beautiful, intelligent, and has extremely high cultivation.

He guessed that this woman's knowledge must be superior to Zhang Lihua's.

……

The bedroom of the Confucius Mansion.

Sunlight filtered through the window, casting soft shadows on the rosewood desk.

A corner of the Xuan paper was lifted by a gentle breeze, making a rustling sound.

The leftover tea on the desk had gone cold, and a faint wisp of sandalwood incense wafted from the white porcelain cup, swirling and dancing with the scent of ink.

Zhu Yuyan sat by the window, flipping through a book in her hand. Sometimes she frowned, sometimes she relaxed, and occasionally she would pick up a teacup and take a sip of cool tea.

After a short while, she put down her book, her gaze falling on the green willow tree outside the window, and murmured to herself, "Lihua has been in the palace for many days, why hasn't she contacted me yet?"

"Was it that the foolish emperor was so engrossed in his pleasures that she couldn't escape?"

"If that's the case, it would be a good thing for me."

Lu Zuo's performance last time really startled Zhu Yuyan. If this tyrant takes a liking to her, she will have no choice but to compromise for the sake of the Holy Sect's cause.

But so much time has passed, and the tyrant has not heard a word from her. He must be infatuated with Li Hua's beauty and being manipulated by her seductive arts.

I can finally rest easy...

Thinking of this, Zhu Yuyan's gaze fell on a letter on the desk, and a murderous glint flashed in her eyes!

"Once we're certain Lihua has succeeded, we'll find those two successors of Cihang Jingzhai!"

"The Yin Gui Sect has already lost the Northern Sui Dynasty; the Southern Chen Dynasty must not allow the Cihang Jingzhai to infiltrate first!"

dong dong dong...

Suddenly, there was a knock on the door.

"Miss Zhu, the master asked me to inform you that His Majesty has arrived."

Zhu Yuyan frowned: "If he's coming, he's coming. Why did he have to tell me?"

"The master said that His Majesty wishes to meet Miss Zhu."

What?

Zhu Yuyan suddenly stood up!

Is this tyrannical ruler coming after me?