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

Lu Zuo didn't have much time to argue with Wang Fu about this matter at the moment.

Even if we were to hold a grudge, now wouldn't be the time.

He can just have Butterfly and the others take the Imperial City Guard to raid the house later; there's no need for him to waste his time on him.

With that in mind, he waved his hand and said, "Get lost."

"Thank you, Imperial Preceptor! Thank you, Imperial Preceptor Lu!"

Wang Fu felt as if he had been granted a pardon, and kowtowed several more times before leaving the scene with his soldiers.

Before leaving, they didn't forget to take all of his guards with them.

After these people left, Lu Zuo turned his gaze to the madam, who immediately felt a chill run down her spine and broke out in a cold sweat.

Oh no, it's my turn!

I just called him a scoundrel and pointed my finger at him, saying he was a troublemaker...

If the Grand Preceptor is to hold this against me, I fear I will lose my life right here!

Fear made her legs go weak, and she almost collapsed to her knees like Wang Fu had just done, but...

Survival instinct, along with the keen observation and resourcefulness honed through years of experience in the world of prostitution, allowed her to grasp a glimmer of hope amidst extreme fear.

and many more……

This Imperial Advisor Lu is here tonight seeking pleasure!

His willingness to intervene and teach a lesson to the Wang family's wicked servant, even for someone as unrelated as Yu Xiang, speaks volumes about his character...

He's at least a hundred times better than ruthless scoundrels like Wang Fu!

They probably won't hold it against me for such a trivial matter.

Even if he's picky, as long as Shishi is offered to him and he's served comfortably...

Yes, yes, with Shishi's looks and talent, she will surely satisfy him!

At that time, not only will they not hold me accountable for my offense today, but Zui Xing Lou might even benefit from the misfortune and get close to this powerful patron!

Thinking of this, the madam quickly knelt down in front of Lu Zuo: "Grand Preceptor, please forgive me, I was blind and out of my mind."

"Please forgive my ramblings, I am a magnanimous woman!"

Lu Zuo waved his hand: "Get up, I'm not that petty."

"Thank you very much, Your Excellency, Grand Preceptor." The madam beamed with joy, finally able to breathe a sigh of relief.

Then, she smiled obsequiously, "The presence of the Imperial Preceptor tonight is a great blessing for my Drunken Apricot Pavilion."

"You must give us a chance to properly thank the Imperial Preceptor for saving our lives."

"Speaking of which, one of the young ladies at my Drunken Apricot Pavilion has long admired the Imperial Preceptor and hopes to serve you well."

Lu Zuo glanced at her, thinking to himself, "This madam is really good at making things up..."

"Who is it?"

"It's Li Shishi! I'm not bragging, but my Shishi is proficient in everything—music, chess, calligraphy, and painting—and she's always impeccably clean and tidy..."

Before the madam could finish speaking, Lu Zuo interrupted her: "Didn't she say she only sells her art, not her body?"

"Hi."

"If the Imperial Advisor doesn't pay, then it doesn't count as a sale."

"Please wait in the private room, my lord. I'll have Shishi do her hair and makeup right away. I guarantee she'll serve you to your satisfaction tonight."

……

A short while later, we moved to a private room with a king-size bed.

Lu Zuo was sitting at the table, sipping wine alone, when he suddenly heard a creak, and then the door slowly opened, revealing a slender woman with an exquisite face.

Li Shishi, dressed in a light blue long dress, slowly walked into the room, her skirt trailing on the ground, her movements as graceful as moonlight.

Her clothes were made of very thin fabric, which vaguely revealed her slender waist. The collar of her shirt slipped loosely off her shoulder, revealing half of her fair and delicate shoulder and her exquisite collarbone.

"Truly deserving of her title as the most famous courtesan in Bianliang..."

Lu Zuo glanced at her and saw that Li Shishi's eyebrows were like distant mountains shrouded in mist, and her eyes were like autumn waters rippling across the surface, revealing a breathtakingly alluring charm.

Her lips were adorned with a touch of bright red lip rouge. Her body was smooth and supple, and her waist swayed naturally as she walked, exuding a natural and graceful charm that was neither deliberately unrestrained nor lacking in silent allure.

Her delicate features intertwine with this deliberate yet measured allure, creating a strikingly contradictory attraction...

It possesses both the purity of emerging from the mud unsullied and the allure of being freely picked.

"Shishi greets the Imperial Preceptor."

She knelt gracefully before Lu Zuo and said softly, "Thanks to the Imperial Preceptor tonight, otherwise Zui Xing Lou and Shi Shi would have been in trouble..."

Lu Zuo waved his hand: "Get up."

"If you came only out of fear, you can leave after playing a few tunes."

"But if you're looking for someone to rely on..."

Lu Zuo paused briefly, then looked up and glanced at her: "You're wearing a bit too much."

Li Shishi was slightly taken aback. She hadn't expected the Grand Preceptor to be so direct, and she hadn't expected him to see through her thoughts at a glance.

Ever since Emperor Huizong of Song visited Zuixinglou, she had thought things through very clearly.

Since we're going to have to go through this sooner or later, we might as well choose someone we find agreeable, someone with power and influence.

In this way, I only need to serve him well from now on, and I can be more at ease.

And this Grand Preceptor Lu in front of us is young and handsome, wields immense power, and is of good character. Is there a more suitable choice than him?

"Your Excellency the Imperial Advisor has such discerning eyes that Shishi dares not conceal anything."

She raised her eyes and looked at Lu Zuo with clear eyes: "Shi Shi has fallen into prostitution. She may seem glamorous, but in reality, she is like a rootless duckweed, living in constant fear."

"If it weren't for you, sir, Shishi and the hundreds of people at Zuixinglou would likely have perished tonight."

"After this experience, Shishi realized that without protection, even with talent and fame, one is ultimately just a plaything that can be crushed at will in the hands of the powerful."

"Shishi came here tonight with a selfish motive... she wanted to find someone to rely on."

"Your Excellency holds a high position and wields great power, yet you are willing to uphold justice for someone as insignificant as Yu Xiang. Your character is truly admirable."

"Shishi dares to be so bold... I beg Your Excellency to have mercy and allow me to become your servant."

"If I can gain your protection, Shishi is willing to do everything in her power to serve you, without any disloyalty."

As she spoke, she reached for the belt around her waist and then gently tugged it...

.......

The next day, early in the morning.

Lu Zuo had just woken up when the prompt from the cheat system came into view.

[Missed the morning court session; internal strength +6.]

[Enchanted by beautiful women, internal strength +3.]

[Colluding with the demonic path, Demonic Heart +5.]

[Excessive indulgence, bonus reward: Constitution +30.]

[Spending the night in a brothel, utterly absurd, Yin Yang and Five Elements +5.]

[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 moment the prompt appeared, Lu Zuo clearly felt that the Yin-Yang and Five Elements Qi within his body became more concentrated and circulated more smoothly and without obstruction.

Yin and Yang and the Five Elements are the fundamental nature of human beings.

At the same time, it is also closely related to advancing to the state of harmony between man and nature.

Only when the Qi of Yin and Yang and the Five Elements reach a certain level, and the Yin and Yang and the Five Elements that are built up in the body flow smoothly, can one perceive the wonders of heaven and earth and understand the principles of the universe.

This realm requires no cultivation.

Simply keep strengthening yourself, and once you reach a certain bottleneck, you will naturally experience a mysterious sensation.

This connection is also known as the interaction between heaven and man.

In the communion between heaven and man, practitioners can instantly attain enlightenment, break through barriers, and enter the state of oneness with heaven and man.

At that time, the application of martial arts will not only rely on one's own strength, but will also be able to utilize a portion of the power of heaven and earth.

"Spending the night in a brothel has such advantages?"

"If you have time in the future, you should come often..."

……

Lu Zuo didn't leave that day and spent another day and night talking with Li Shishi.

After that, he first instructed Liu Ruyan, Butterfly, and others on the follow-up matters before going to the Qin Dynasty world through the Nine Heavens Mystic Maiden's Touring Order.

Xinzheng, the royal palace.

"Your Majesty."

Chao Nu Yao narrowed her eyes slightly and said in a low voice, "The Mo family always acts in secrecy, and I don't know where they are."

Upon hearing this, Lu Zuo looked at Jing Ni beside him and asked, "Is there no news from the Mo family either, from the Luo Wang?"

Jing Ni shook her head: "Yes, but they were all assassination targets, and now they've all perished under the swords of the Luo Net."

"If you, young master, are interested in the Mohist school..."

She hesitated for a moment and said, "We should ask a well-informed person in the martial arts world."

A well-informed person in the martial arts world...

After thinking it over for a while, Lu Zuo actually came up with a candidate in his mind.

Purple Maiden!

.......

Night falls in Xinzheng City, at Zilan Pavilion.

Lu Zuo stepped inside and saw that the hall was extremely spacious, with melodious and pleasant sounds of string and wind instruments playing continuously.

The floor is covered with a thick velvet carpet, and dozens of low tables and couches are arranged in a staggered manner, cleverly separated by screens painted with landscapes or beauties, forming semi-open small rooms.

Beautiful maids moved gracefully between the tables, carrying jade pots and gold cups, serving wine and dishes to the guests.

"Why is he here?"

On the second floor, a woman in purple looked down and her gaze suddenly fell on Lu Zuo, who had just entered. Her eyebrows twitched slightly.

That night, Zi Nu and Wei Zhuang witnessed firsthand how Lu Zuo slaughtered everyone and massacred the General's Mansion.

She felt both curiosity and a touch of fear towards this man.

But for nearly two years afterward, he did not see Lu Zuo and gradually forgot about him.

Now that he has come to her door on his own initiative, Zi Nu couldn't help but wonder whether his arrival was a blessing or a curse.

After thinking for a moment, she gracefully walked down the stairs.

……

"Oh, this young master looks quite unfamiliar."

Lu Zuo was looking around, searching for Zi Nu's figure, when he suddenly heard a woman's voice that was both aloof and alluring.

He looked up and saw a woman in a deep purple dress, with stunningly beautiful features, porcelain-like skin, and a slightly aloof demeanor, walking gracefully towards him.

That's right...

Upon seeing the purple-haired woman's attire, Lu Zuo knew that she was Zi Nu.

Nothing special, it's almost identical to the character in the anime!

"Oh."

Lu Zuo smiled and stepped forward: "You must be the owner of Zi Lan Xuan, young lady?"

"Exactly."

Zi Nu nodded: "I wonder if you've come here tonight, young master, to have some fun, or is there another reason?"

Lu Zuo said half-jokingly, "If Miss Zi Nu is willing to keep me company, then I'm naturally here to have some fun."

Upon hearing this, Zi Nu blushed slightly, but she could tell that Lu Zuo had another purpose for coming.

She gave Lu Zuo a charming and seductive look, her tone tinged with a hint of reproach as she said, "Young master, you jest."

After a pause, Zi Nu got straight to the point: "If there is anything that you, young master, can do for Zi Lan Xuan, please feel free to speak up."

Lu Zuo stopped beating around the bush and asked, "Does Miss Zi Nu know anyone from the Mo family?"