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

Chapter 69 The Most Talented Woman in the World, Shang Xiufang

For the next period of time, Lu Zuo worked diligently every day, either lingering in the harem or going to the residences of Zhang Youyuan or Kong Fan.

During this period, his cultivation level gradually improved and increased.

Several days later, at dusk. At the entrance of Zhang Youyuan's residence.

"His Majesty."

Zhang Youyuan grinned and said, "I have heard that a new courtesan has arrived at the Drunken Moon Pavilion in the red-light district."

"She was so beautiful and graceful, a beauty that could topple kingdoms, that many noble young men were captivated by her."

"Your Majesty, would you like to go and take a look?"

The emperor visiting brothels?

This tyrannical ruler's achievements haven't been tested yet —

I wonder what kind of reward they will give?

-

Lu Zuo nodded: "Then let's go take a look."

As dusk settles, lanterns along the flower-lined street light up one after another, casting warm halos on the bluestone slabs.

The sounds of string and wind instruments drifted out from the pavilions on both sides, gently entangling the footsteps of passersby.

"Lord Liu, we've been waiting for you!"

"Miss Chuntang has been talking about you all day..."

""

"Young Master Li, please come in. We have just received some new grape wine from the Western Regions, and we are waiting for you to taste it."

Greetings, pleasantries, the clatter of horses' hooves, and the shouts of sedan chair carriers mingled with the music and conversations inside the building, creating a cacophony of bustling worldly activity.

Lu Zuo, dressed casually, strolled through the sweet fragrance, while Zhang Youyuan followed behind with a bitter face.

"Young master, this is it."

Upon arriving at the most popular Zuiyue Restaurant, Zhang Youyuan immediately put on a smiling face: "Please go first."

After leaving Zhang Youyuan's house today, he mentioned that a new, graceful, and stunningly beautiful woman had arrived at a brothel in the city—

The most beautiful courtesan.

Lu Zuo nodded and stepped inside.

As soon as you step through the threshold of Putian, you are greeted by a noisy heatwave and a strong smell of alcohol.

He looked up and saw a round table several meters long set up in the hall, around which sat wealthy people dressed in fine clothes, drinking and chatting.

Each of these men was accompanied by a graceful female companion dressed in sheer gauze, drinking with them.

In the center of the hall, there was a round platform about half a person's height, where a dozen or so Hu women were dancing gracefully to music.

They had bare, snow-white feet, with golden bells tied around their ankles, and their waists were as supple as water snakes.

Her steps were light and graceful, her dance moves were exquisite, and as she turned and shifted, the light gauze on her arms fluttered, creating a wild and charming atmosphere.

"Oh, isn't this Lord Zhang?"

A woman, heavily made up and past her prime, approached Zhang Youyuan with a faint smile: "It's been a while since you've been to my Drunken Moon Pavilion—"

Zhang Youyuan cut to the chase and asked, "Where is the courtesan?"

The woman smiled and said, "I knew Lord Zhang was here for Lady Yunfu."

"Yunfu is washing up in the backyard. I'll ask her to come and sing a song for the adults later."

Zhang Youyuan waved his hand: "No need, just take me to see her."

The woman frowned slightly, then relaxed: "Lord Zhang, there are many in the capital who have their eyes on Yunfu."

"Young Master Lu, Young Master Yu—"

She rattled off names of more than a dozen scions of prominent families, laughing, "They all yearn for Yunfu."

"But we in Yunfu are like lotuses rising from the mud, untainted by its filth, selling our art but not our bodies—"

Zhang Youyuan snorted, pulled her close, and whispered a few words in her ear.

"what?"

The woman gasped in surprise, then looked at Lu Zuo, whom she hadn't paid any attention to until her expression changed slightly and her attitude instantly became respectful.

"My lord, my lord—"

"This way.

In the backyard, in a brightly lit hall.

"Finally, I've lured him here—"

A slender woman in red with snow-white skin stood in front of the hall, watching Lu Zuo walk towards her led by the madam, and thought to herself.

"You brat!"

Just then, a shout came from not far away.

The woman in red frowned and looked over. She saw a girl of about fifteen or sixteen years old, barefoot, vault over the wall and jump into the courtyard.

Her clothes were disheveled, her arms were covered with bruises, and her small face showed a stubbornness as she rushed towards the door.

Bang!

She had just stepped out the door when the guard outside kicked her back, and she fell backward to the ground.

Immediately afterward, a burly man scaled the wall, whip in hand, and shouted, "Run!"

"Let's see where you can run to!"

The burly man cursed angrily as he raised his long whip and lashed it down on the girl's body!

*Smack!*

With a soft click, the man's wrist was gripped tightly like an iron clamp!

He glanced to the side and saw a tall, handsome young man with a dashing air about him standing beside him with a cold expression.

"You son of a bitch—"

"Wang San!"

The man had only uttered half of his curse when the madam, who was not far away, shouted and rushed over in a hurry, raising her arm sharply!

*Smack!*

A slap landed hard on Wang San's face.

"You roughneck!"

"How dare you offend such an honored guest? Why don't you kowtow and apologize to Young Master Chen?"

The man was stunned and immediately realized that he had offended someone he couldn't afford to offend. Otherwise, why would Xu Wuniang, who had business dealings with many powerful families, be so pale and trembling?

"No need."

Lu Zuo waved his hand and said coldly, "Insulting this young master is not something that can be resolved by simply kowtowing and apologizing."

"Zhang Youyuan!"

"exist!"

"He's now in your hands."

Zhang Youyuan grinned. He was seething with anger all day and just wanted to find someone to torment and vent his frustration. This kid had just delivered himself right to his doorstep.

The man turned around and saw the monstrous "Skin-Peeling Zhang," who struck fear into the hearts of the entire city, approaching with a sinister grin. He was immediately terrified, his legs went weak, and he collapsed to the ground with a thud.

His face was even paler than Xu Wuniang's, and his body trembled as he tried to beg for mercy, but he was so frightened that he couldn't speak a word.

"Come on, kid!"

Zhang Youyuan stepped forward, grabbed the man by the collar, and dragged him towards the door.

Lu Zuo bent down and helped the girl up, carefully looking her over from head to toe.

Her skin was fair and radiant. Although her coarse cloth clothes were torn in many places and her arms were covered with bruises, it did not diminish her beauty in the slightest. She had exquisite features that would make anyone's heart flutter.

With a straight and delicate nose, a pointed chin, full and glossy lips, and eyebrows like distant mountains shrouded in mist, she possesses a natural beauty even with a lack of complexion.

"What's your name?"

"Shang Xiufang".

The girl blinked her beautiful, watery eyes and stared at Lu Zuo for a while before speaking.

is her?

The most talented woman in the world in the original work?

According to the age in the book, she shouldn't have been born yet, right?

In this world, many people were indeed born ahead of time. Shen Luoyan is probably the same person as the beautiful strategist in the original work, not just a person with the same name.

Lu Zuo thought to himself, then ordered, "I want this girl. Take her away and take good care of her. Get her a doctor."

"If there is even the slightest negligence, your Drunken Moon Pavilion will have to close down."

Xu Wuniang trembled violently and nodded repeatedly, saying, "Yes, yes, young master, rest assured, Wuniang will take good care of you."

Immediately, she instructed her servants to take Shang Xiufang to a side room to rest, while she herself went to the woman in red and whispered a few words in her ear.

"Yunfu, Young Master Chen is an extremely distinguished guest."

"Serve me well tonight."

"Okay."

The woman in red responded sweetly, took light steps, walked to Lu Zuo, and bowed slightly: "This humble servant greets Young Master Chen—"

Tsk!

suddenly!

Her eyes narrowed, and a gleaming short sword emerged from her sleeve, tearing through the air with a sharp hiss as it hurtled straight toward Lu Zuo's throat!

The tip of the sword gleamed coldly, containing an immensely profound innate true energy, indicating that the opponent was also an innate master!

Clang!

The clang of metal clashing suddenly rang out!

In the blink of an eye, Lu Zuo had already taken out the Demon Blade Thousand Blades from his personal space. Before he could draw the blade, he twisted his wrist and held the scabbard horizontally in front of his chest to block the killing intent of the attack!

"Such a quick reaction!"

The woman in red gasped inwardly, realizing how perfectly she had timed her attack.

Seize the moment when Lu Zuo's attention is diverted and focused entirely on his chest!

and----

They went all out, without holding back at all!

impossible!

Isn't he a cultivator who achieved his cultivation level through acquired means?

Was the information provided by the Grand Tutor incorrect?

Or did he advance from the acquired to the innate in just a few months?

While pondering the matter, his hands never stopped moving.

The woman in red missed her first attack, then slightly withdrew her arm to gather her strength again, condensing her energy before swiftly unleashing over a dozen sword flowers in an instant.

In that instant!

Lu Zuo felt a strange sensation rekindled in his heart, just like when he fought the Bone-Painting Demoness.

Everything around was blurry and indistinct, and even the woman in red in his sight was not clearly visible.

Only a dozen or so red lines, spreading slowly from different angles, appeared.

Anticipate the enemy's moves!

A slight tremor ran through him, and he instantly realized that this phenomenon was caused by the activation of a special ability after he entered the Innate Realm.

Lu Zuo slowly and deliberately drew the Demon Blade Thousand Blades, severing the dozen or so red lines one after another.

Ding ding ding ding————

With a series of crisp sounds and sparks flying, the red-clad woman's relentless attacks were all blocked by the Demon Blade Thousand Blades.

"They blocked them all?"

The woman in red was shocked again. Once she unleashed her Nineteen Strikes of the Swiftness, even a martial artist who had just entered the Three Elements Unity stage would die on the spot.

In the past, five martial artists who had just entered the Three Realms had met their demise under the Jinghong Sword!

"This is no ordinary innate talent—"

Her nineteen piercing attacks were earth-shattering and incredibly powerful, but also extremely powerful!

It requires more than 70% of the body's true energy to unleash!

Now that the raid has failed, they can only retreat and look for other opportunities.

With that thought in mind, the woman in red lightly tapped her feet and floated backward.

*Sizzle!*

As she retreated, Lu Zuo's left hand reached forward.

She intended to grab the woman's wrist, but instead grabbed the woman in red's sleeve. Both of them exerted force in opposite directions, tearing their clothes and ripping off the woman's outer garment.

With a soft thud, the woman's snow-white jade feet landed on the roof of the hall, her long, slender legs exposed, her waist and hips wrapped in red satin, and her upper body covered only by a light red bodice.

Under the moonlight.

Her hair cascaded down like a waterfall, dancing lightly in the wind, exuding a captivating charm and a unique, alluring beauty.

"I've seen people get injured in fights."

"This girl is the first one to have her clothes smashed to pieces."

Lu Zuo chuckled lightly, then suddenly exerted force with both feet, causing the stone slab beneath his feet to shatter with a crack. His figure shot out like an arrow, a fleeting glimpse of light, as his ink-black blade hurtled straight for the female assassin's throat!

"You bastard!"

The woman cursed inwardly, then used her lightness technique to shoot out of the Drunken Moon Pavilion.

Lu Zuo had already realized that she was exhausted after unleashing a series of attacks, otherwise she would not have retreated immediately.

Given this situation, how could he possibly let it go?

He immediately followed, disappearing into the vast darkness of the night, leaping and bounding across rooftops with the assassin, chasing him under the moonlight.

"It's over————"

Xu Wuniang collapsed to the ground, her face deathly pale and drenched in cold sweat. First she insulted the emperor, and now an assassin had appeared out of nowhere—

Even if they weren't executed along with their entire family, they would still be arrested, imprisoned, and subjected to all kinds of torture.

after all----

In the emperor's eyes, this assassination attempt was most likely orchestrated by him!

"explain!"

"Who sent you?"

"Tell me who's behind this, and I might spare your life!"

As he pursued, he questioned the pursuer in a deep voice.

The woman in red didn't say a word, only focused on running wildly, heading rapidly towards the southeast of Jiankang.

suddenly!

The woman in red suddenly stopped and turned around, throwing a cold glint in her eyes!

Ding~~!

Lu Zuo raised his hand and knocked the cold light off, sending it crashing down onto the roof. It was the short sword that the woman was using!

Looking up again, all I could see was darkness; the woman in red was nowhere to be seen.

"Which side sent them?"

"The Sui Dynasty?"

"Shen Xun?"

"Still one of the six great families?"

The assassin isn't important; what matters is the person behind the scenes.

besides----

Lu Zuo's eyes turned cold: "Is there a problem with this Zhang Youyuan?"

He brought me to the brothel tonight, and he secretly harbors resentment towards me; I can't escape suspicion!

After thinking for a moment, Lu Zuo sheathed his sword, turned around, and headed straight for the palace, intending to have Gu Han arrest Zhang Youyuan and the madam of Zuiyuelou and throw them into prison for severe torture.

Speaking of which—

This Zhang Youyuan bullied men and women, framed the innocent, and persecuted the people with cruel punishments, arousing widespread resentment among the people.

It's time to tidy up!

Lu Zuo had disliked him for a long time, but he kept him around until today because he could provide some attributes.

But now that Zhang Youyuan is gradually adapting, he is giving fewer and fewer attributes, making it extremely worthless.

There's no shortage of lackeys, and cruel officials are plentiful.

Even if we deal with this one, there are still many others in the court.

The following morning, in Wanyi Pavilion.

[Missed the morning court session; internal strength +5.]

-

[Enchanted by beautiful women, internal strength +1.]

[Excessive indulgence in lust, bonus reward: Cultivation +1299.]

[Digging your own grave, bonus reward: Charm skill +50.]

[Leading a rebellion, utterly absurd, Dao Enlightenment +2.]

[Reusing a wicked concubine can bring ruin to a country; calligraphy +10, painting +10, chess +10, musical instrument skills +10.]

"The brothel didn't give you any attributes?"

"Is it because it wasn't kept overnight—?"

At that moment, a shrill voice came from outside the hall: "Your Majesty, Gu Baiwei is requesting an audience at the Hall of Mental Cultivation."

A short while later, in the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

"No problems at all?"

Gu Han nodded: "Your Majesty, I interrogated them overnight, and everything at Zuiyue Tower is normal. Zhang Youyuan is merely..."

for----"

"That's why they urged His Majesty to go to such a place."

"However, I can roughly guess the origin of that red-clad assassin."

Lu Zuo: "Tell me about it."

Gu Han: "If I am not mistaken, she should be Hong Fu Nu, the elite assassin trained by Yang Su, the Grand Tutor of the Sui Dynasty."

Another character born prematurely—

I wonder if Wanwan, Shi Feixuan, Shang Xiuxun, Bai Qing'er, and Dong Shuni and Rong Jiaojiao of Luoyang are the same.

Are you sure it's her?

Gu Han nodded: "I fought with her several years ago, so I remember her appearance."

"Based on the description given by the brothel madam, I have determined that this is indeed the person!"

"His Majesty."

"The Red-Robed Woman is a specialist in assassination, and she is highly experienced. You should—"

Lu Zuo waved his hand: "I have my own plan, no need to say more."

3

"Yes."

Gu Han stopped himself from speaking and asked, "Then—"

What should be done with Zhang Youyuan?

"Kill them."

Lu Zuo waved his hand casually; this lackey was no longer of any use.

After Gu Han left, Lu Zuo took out the "Ethereal Steps" and cultivation tips that Lu Shiyu had left him.

Yesterday's chase with Hong Fu Nu made him realize that he should work on his lightness skill footwork.

Although the "Nine Yang Return to Origin Great Method" and the "Thousand Blade Flowing Slash Technique" also include footwork, it is to coordinate with the moves and is completely different from light footwork.

After this period of reading and the improvement of my Daoist enlightenment attribute.

He was now able to understand some of the originally obscure and difficult-to-understand incantations of the Misty Steps.

Holding a book in his left hand, Lu paced back and forth in the main hall, reading aloud: "Returning to the source of sight and sound, the mind becomes clear and tranquil; the wind stirs the duckweed, and the ants fight amidst the thunder."

"Responding to things as if they were echoes, yielding to curves and stretching, my body is emptiness, and emptiness is all phenomena..."

'

As I walked, my figure became ethereal, as if immersed in a pool of autumn water, winding and indistinct.

At the same time, the innate true qi flows like a hot spring, descending from the dantian and flowing into the Foot Shaoyin Kidney Meridian, pouring into the Yongquan acupoint.

A loud sound!

Lu Zuo took a step forward, and his figure instantly swept across several feet, almost crashing into the gate of the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

"Did it work?"

He came to his senses, opened the character panel and looked at it. He saw that the skill column had been newly added: Ethereal Step (1/1000000).

"A cultivation requirement of one million?"

"That footwork is amazing!"

At that moment, a eunuch's voice came from outside the hall: "Your Majesty, the newly appointed commander of the Divine Martial Battalion, Yue Qing, requests an audience."

"Announce."

With a soft creak, the palace doors opened.

A tall, handsome, and spirited young general strode forward and knelt on the ground: "This humble general, Yue Qing, pays his respects to Your Majesty."

"Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!"

"Rise." Lu Zuo waved his hand. "Yue Qing, I have a question for you."

"If you were asked to attack Nantong, how many men would you need?"