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

Chapter 203: A Prodigy! How could such a prodigy exist in the world? There's a surprise waiting for you. Click here to unlock now.

The next day, early in the morning.

[Missed the morning court session; cultivation level +68.]

[Enchanted by beautiful women, cultivation level +109.]

[Excessive indulgence in lust, bonus reward: Cultivation +59.]

[Humiliating a subject grants an extra reward: Internal Strength +3]

"Phew, finally got the attributes..."

Lu Zuo was secretly delighted. He immediately dressed himself neatly with Su Wan's help and left the palace.

......

In the following days, he frequently visited the Wang residence, his strength increasing day by day. He also mastered the "Free and Easy Wandering" technique to perfection and accumulated a considerable amount of cultivation points.

On this day, at dusk, the setting sun bathed the streets and alleys of Yingtian Prefecture in a warm golden light.

Lu Zuo slowly walked out of the quiet alley where the Wang residence was located and headed towards the imperial city.

He did not ride in the imperial carriage or ceremonial procession, but dressed as an ordinary wealthy young man. About ten steps behind him were four guards with swords, who were also dressed in plain clothes, with sharp eyes and steady steps.

This kind of setup is neither too ostentatious nor too risky, and it doesn't stand out too much in the capital.

He took the opportunity of walking to clear his mind of the jumbled thoughts.

Get rid of Qin Hui...

There needs to be a respectable and convincing reason.

However, Qin Hui is cunning and treacherous, and he is very good at putting on a show. He also conducts his faction building and purging of dissidents mostly in secret. It is not easy to find concrete evidence of his treason and collusion with the enemy.

Perhaps we could start by targeting his henchmen or servants?

Find a pretext for corruption and abuse of power, first cripple their influence, then relentlessly press them down.

Alternatively, wait for an opportunity, such as the next time when negotiating peace with the Jurchens. If he again advocates the fallacy of ceding territory and paying reparations, then we can use the power of the pro-war faction to launch an attack on him for the crime of "shaking the foundation of the country".

This matter requires careful planning to lure the enemy out of their hole, ensuring a decisive and successful strike, and ultimately ruining their reputation to deter those two-faced officials in the court.

As for developing national strength...

Lu Zuo's gaze swept over the bustling streets on both sides, which, despite their apparent prosperity, could not conceal their shallow foundations and unsettled local life.

The most important things are still food and weapons!

The Southern Song Dynasty lacked horses and had a weak cavalry, making it inherently disadvantaged in its fight against the Jurchen cavalry.

We need to vigorously develop crossbows and naval forces, especially large warships and new weapons that can project gunpowder.

With the people's livelihood in mind, we encouraged land reclamation, improved agricultural tools, and dredged the canal, so that the wealth of Jiangnan could be truly transformed into national strength to support the war effort.

Unfortunately, the Jingkang Incident led to the capture of the two emperors in the north, and the prosperity of Bianjing was reduced to ashes. Even the countless martial arts manuals and cultivation experiences treasured by predecessors in the imperial palace were looted by the Jurchens.

Thinking of this, Lu Zuo felt a pang of regret.

If those classic texts were still available, why would we need to go to such lengths to ask Hong Qigong for the Foundation Building Technique?

If the royal armory were still there, it would be enough to systematically train masters, so why would we have to rely on martial arts sects as we are now?

……

Meanwhile, in a private room on the third floor of the most famous "Fenglelou" restaurant in Yingtian Prefecture.

Two elderly men with very different demeanors sat by the window.

The man, dressed in rags with a vermilion lacquered gourd hanging from his waist, was none other than Hong Qigong, the Nine-Fingered Beggar.

The other person was slender and tall, with a refined and elegant demeanor, and a serene and divine air. He wore a blue robe and a square scarf of the same color on his head, and looked like a scholar. This was Huang Yaoshi, the Eastern Heretic.

Several delicate side dishes and a pot of pear blossom wine were laid out on the table, but neither of them seemed to be interested in the food and drink.

"Brother Medicine Master, it's been many years since we last met. What brings you to Yingtian Prefecture?" Hong Qigong asked, taking a sip of wine and smacking his lips.

Huang Yaoshi snorted coldly, his gaze sweeping across the seemingly prosperous streets outside the window. His tone carried his usual arrogance and dissatisfaction: "I heard that a new court has been established here, so I came to see what it's like."

"Unfortunately, it seems he's just content with his current situation, living a life of pleasure and decadence."

He paused, then his tone turned sharp: "Especially that high-ranking official."

"He heavily relied on pro-peace figures like Qin Hui, constantly yielding to the Jin people, only knowing how to plunder the people's wealth to pay annual tribute, utterly lacking in courage and backbone!"

"How can one expect such a ruler to recover lost territories and avenge the humiliation of the Jingkang Incident?"

Throughout his life, he was eccentric and hated hypocrisy, rigid social norms, and incompetent and mediocre people. Naturally, he had little affection for this supposedly cowardly young emperor.

Upon hearing this, Hong Qigong put down his wine cup, shook his head, and revealed a profound and unfathomable smile: "Brother Yao, you are mistaken."

"Old beggar, you've probably underestimated our official."

"Oh?"

Huang Yaoshi raised a white eyebrow, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes: "Brother Hong, what makes you say that? Have you perhaps met the emperor?"

"More than just seen?"

Hong Qigong chuckled and lowered his voice: "A few days ago, this old beggar got a craving and went to the Imperial Kitchen for a treat."

"Unexpectedly, the guards discovered it and started making a scene."

"The plan was to capture the king first, then the emperor so I could escape..."

Although Huang Yaoshi found his actions absurd, he was also intrigued: "You made your move? What was the result?"

Hong Qigong's playful expression faded slightly, replaced by a look of reminiscence and amazement: "You might not believe it."

"Although I didn't use my full strength, the force of that grab was something that even an ordinary martial arts master would find difficult to dodge."

"But guess what?"

"The young official, at the last possible moment, swayed slightly and managed to get past!"

"It wasn't due to any profound internal strength or exquisite movement techniques, but rather it seemed like..."

"It's like they anticipated exactly where the old beggar would attack, and dodged half a step in advance!"

"What?" Huang Yaoshi exclaimed, moved. "He can predict your moves?"

"The emperor may have powerful bodyguards, but he himself..."

"I've never heard of Zhao Gou practicing martial arts."

"That's the strange thing!" Hong Qigong nodded: "His aura is weak, his lower body is unstable, and he definitely doesn't have any profound internal strength."

"But that eye for detail, that ability to spot enemy aircraft, and that almost instinctive anticipation—it's simply..."

"He's like a damn seasoned veteran who's been navigating the underworld for decades!"

"No, it's even more bizarre than that!"

"I've lived most of my life, and I've never heard of such talent before!"

Hong Qigong still finds it unbelievable when he recalls the scene.

That was by no means luck, but a kind of instinct akin to that of a wild beast, or rather, an extraordinary perception of "danger" and "movement".

Huang Yaoshi remained silent, his eyes filled with surprise and uncertainty.

He knew Hong Qigong's cultivation level well; for him to give such a high evaluation, Hong Qigong was no ordinary person.

How could an emperor, confined to the inner palace, possess such talent?

Hong Qigong continued, "What's even more amazing is that he didn't blame me afterwards."

Instead, he traded the food from the imperial kitchen for a foundation-building and qi-cultivating cultivation technique called "Free and Easy Wandering" from me, the old beggar.

He also instructed the Beggars' Sect disciples to keep an eye on the movements of the Jin invaders.

He looked at Huang Yaoshi and said meaningfully, "Brother Yaoshi, think about it, would an emperor who truly intends to live a life of ease and comfort in the south of the Yangtze River secretly gather intelligence on the Jurchen army, or even think about cultivating internal strength?"

Huang Yaoshi was an extremely intelligent man; he understood immediately, and his eyes flashed with a sharp light: "You mean...?"

"His previous cowardice and appeasement might have been... a form of forbearance?"

"But are they secretly accumulating power?"

"Whether he's hiding his true intentions or not, this old beggar dares not make a judgment," Hong Qigong said, shaking his wine pot. "But this man is definitely not as simple as he appears on the surface."

Just then, Hong Qigong's casual glance out the window suddenly sharpened.

The relaxed and carefree expression on his face froze instantly, replaced by extreme shock and disbelief, as if he had witnessed something utterly impossible. He subconsciously murmured, "This..."

"How is this possible?"

Seeing the sudden change in Hong Qigong's expression, Huang Yaoshi was surprised and followed his gaze to look down at the street.

A young man dressed in brocade robes was seen walking unhurriedly in the afterglow of the setting sun, escorted by four capable attendants.

The young man had a handsome face and a composed gait. Although he was dressed in a low-key manner, there was an indescribable calm demeanor between his brows, as if the surrounding noise had nothing to do with him.

Huang Yaoshi, who was arrogant and had a very high standard of vision, couldn't help but secretly admire him at this moment: What a magnificent demeanor!

This person has an extraordinary bearing and is definitely not an ordinary rich kid.

He immediately noticed Hong Qigong's ghost-like expression and couldn't help but ask, "Brother Hong, what did you see that surprised you so much?"

"But what's wrong with that young man?"

Hong Qigong withdrew his gaze, grabbed the wine jug, and took a large gulp, as if to calm his nerves. Then, pointing downstairs, his voice trembling with disbelief, he asked, "What's wrong?"

"Brother Pharmacist!"

Do you know who that young man is?

"Who is it?"

"It's the emperor we were just talking about! Zhao Gou!" Hong Qigong practically spat out the words through gritted teeth.

Upon hearing this, Huang Yaoshi's white eyebrows shot up sharply, his eyes flashing with a sharp light as he looked at the figure again. Was it the Emperor?

and……

This demeanor is indeed quite different from the rumored weak and incompetent Zhao Gou!

Hong Qigong's next words were even more astonishing: "Brother Yao, can you sense anything different about his aura?"

Huang Yaoshi focused his mind and sensed things; his internal strength was profound and his senses were keen.

Having been captivated by his demeanor and not having had time to examine him closely, his expression suddenly changed upon consciously perceiving him: "He..."

"His internal energy flowed smoothly and harmoniously, subtly harmonizing with his surroundings, as if he had grasped the true essence of Taoist breathing techniques!"

"This is clearly a sign that one's internal strength has reached a certain level of mastery, and that the foundation is extremely pure!"

"But you just said..."

"yes!"

"The old beggar just gave him the mental cultivation formula of 'Free and Easy Wandering' a few days ago!"

Hong Qigong slapped his thigh, his face full of disbelief: "Although the 'Free and Easy Wandering' is a foundation-building technique, it is a righteous sect of the Xuanmen, which places the greatest emphasis on the polishing of the foundation."

Even the most gifted person, without a year of hard work, can't even begin to grasp the basics!

"But it's only been a few days?"

"He has not only entered the gate, but judging from the smooth and effortless flow of his breath, he has clearly... has already reached the pinnacle of mastery!"

How many days will it take to complete?

Even the proud and arrogant Huang Yaoshi couldn't help but gasp in shock, his eyes filled with extreme astonishment and a sense of absurdity.

He was confident in his unparalleled martial arts talent, but he also knew that there was no shortcut to cultivating internal strength; it required persistent effort.

How can one master an internal martial art within a few days?

This is simply unheard of and defies the common sense of martial arts!

"This...how is this possible? Could it be that he was hiding his strength before?"

"Absolutely impossible!"

Hong Qigong shook his head decisively, his tone resolute: "The old beggar personally tested him that day, and his body was completely empty, with absolutely no foundation of internal strength."

The two exchanged a glance, both seeing the same shock and awe in each other's eyes.

"Ah! What are you doing! Let me go!"

A woman's panicked scream shattered the tranquility of dusk.

Not far away, at a relatively quiet alleyway, a simply dressed woman was surrounded by three or four hooligans.

The woman was in her early twenties, dressed in simple clothes, yet her natural beauty was undeniable.

Her skin was fair, her eyebrows and eyes were exquisite, especially her eyes, which were clear as water. At this moment, they were filled with tears of fear, making her look even more pitiful and endearing.

"Young lady, you must be lonely all by yourself. Why don't you keep us company for a bit?" A rogue grinned and reached out to touch her face.

"Get out of here!"

Bao Xiruo was both shocked and furious. She tried her best to dodge, her eyes filled with tears, and her heart was filled with helplessness and fear.

How could there be such wicked people in the capital?

Lu Zuo frowned. He was looking for someone to test his skills and verify the power of "Free and Easy Wandering" after it had been mastered. This was an opportunity that had come knocking on his door.

He moved faster than the four guards behind him who had reacted!

call out!

Everyone only saw a blur before their eyes, and Lu Zuo had already swept more than ten steps away like a ghost, instantly cutting into the battle!

boom!

A simple and direct push from the "Free and Easy Wandering" technique landed squarely on the chest of the first rogue.

The ruffian felt a gentle yet irresistible force surge towards him. Before he could even scream, he was sent flying backward, crashing into the wall at the alley entrance, sliding down softly, and losing consciousness.

Click!

The second ruffian threw a punch, but Lu Zuo neither dodged nor avoided it. His left hand darted out like a nimble snake, precisely grabbing the ruffian's wrist. With a gentle twist, a crisp sound of bone cracking rang out, accompanied by a pig-like scream.

Snapped!Snapped!

Facing the last two hooligans who rushed at him at the same time, Lu Zuo used his footwork to step out with a mysterious speed, his body sliding away like a fish. At the same time, he attacked with both hands, delivering two incredibly swift palm strikes to the sides of their necks.

The two men collapsed to the ground without uttering a sound, unconscious.

In the blink of an eye, all four hooligans were lying on the ground, unable to get up!

The whole process was clean and efficient, without any unnecessary frills, yet it perfectly showcased the agility of the "Free and Easy Wandering" movement, the precision of the moves, and the control of force!

Lu Zuo stood with his hands behind his back, his breathing steady, as if he had just casually swatted a few flies.

The four guards rushed forward and, seeing the situation, immediately knelt on one knee: "Your subordinates are late, please forgive us, young master!"

Lu Zuo waved his hand, his gaze falling on the woman who was still in shock and staring blankly at him.

Bao Xiruo clutched her chest, her heart pounding like a drum, as she looked at the handsome young man who had suddenly appeared and saved her like a god descending from heaven.

She felt that he had an extraordinary demeanor and a charming personality, unlike any other man she had ever met.

Especially his moves just now, seemingly effortless, yet containing unimaginable power and confidence, made her heart pound involuntarily, and her cheeks flush slightly.

She quickly curtsied, her voice still trembling slightly, "Thank you so much for saving me, young master! I, Bao Xiruo, am deeply grateful!"

Bao Xiruo?

Lu Zuo's heart skipped a beat; it seemed that Yang Tiexin and Guo Xiaotian had already arrived in Yingtian Prefecture.

He smiled slightly and said gently, "It was nothing, Miss Bao, no need for such formalities."

"Although Yingtian Prefecture is under the emperor's nose, there are still some villains around. You must be careful in the future."

Bao Xiruo felt a warmth in her heart, thinking that this young master was not only highly skilled in martial arts, but also a humble and gentlemanly person, which increased her goodwill towards him.

She lowered her head and said softly, "Yes, thank you for the reminder, young master. I will remember it."

……

At this moment, the private room upstairs at Fengle Tower was completely silent.

Hong Qigong and Huang Yaoshi were both martial arts masters of their time, and their eyesight was incredibly sharp.

Lu Zuo's lightning-fast move, though seemingly simple, was nothing short of a thunderclap in their eyes!

"This...this..."

Hong Qigong opened his mouth, but it took him a long time to find his voice. Pointing at the departing figure downstairs, his fingers trembled slightly: "Brother Yao, did you...did you see clearly?!"

Huang Yaoshi's face was also filled with unprecedented solemnity and shock. He slowly exhaled a breath of stale air, his voice dry: "I saw it clearly..."

A tremendous storm was brewing in their hearts at the same time.

Lu Zuo's moves were not only fast, but even more terrifying was his exquisite control over timing, angle, and force!

Dodging, cutting in, striking – every movement is as if it has been honed through countless trials, as if all possible reactions of the opponent have already been calculated!

That almost instinctive fighting instinct and terrifyingly precise efficiency is something that someone who has only recently mastered internal energy cultivation should not possess!

This can no longer be explained by the phrase "extraordinary talent"; it's almost like...

It's like the instinct of a peerless killing god who has fought countless battles and crawled out of mountains of corpses and seas of blood!

"The skill in applying force, the precision of timing, the cunning of angle... Even after decades of immersing myself in martial arts, I cannot achieve such a feat... It's like a gazelle hanging its horns, leaving no trace!"

Huang Yaoshi muttered to himself, his eyes filled with disbelief.

He was confident in his unparalleled talent and martial arts skills, but he knew that with the same level of internal energy, it was impossible for him to handle an encounter battle so perfectly and efficiently!

This is no longer a skill, but almost a "Tao"!

Hong Qigong took a big gulp of wine to suppress the turmoil in his heart, and said with a wry smile, "It's not just you!"

"I've been fighting my whole life, and I've never seen anything this bizarre!"

"He seems... as if he knew exactly what those hooligans were going to do, and was waiting for them somewhere!"

"That insight, that prediction... damn, it sends chills down my spine!"

Only now did he truly realize that it was no accident that Lu Zuo was able to dodge his grab that day in the palace!

This child's understanding of "battle" has probably reached an unbelievable level!

Just as the two grandmasters were still in a state of shock and were horrified by the terrifying combat skills displayed by Lu Zuo.

Down on the long street, Lu Zuo, with Bao Xiruo who had just recovered from her shock, gradually drove away with his guards.

……

On the way, Bao Xiruo calmed herself down a little and stole a glance at Lu Zuo, who was handsome, tall and composed, beside her.

He seemed more composed and handsome than when she caught a glimpse of him in her panic earlier, and her heart skipped a beat for no reason.

She took a slight step back and softly thanked him again, "I am truly grateful to Young Master Zhao today. If it weren't for your righteous intervention, I really don't know what I would have done..."

"I am truly sorry to trouble you, young master, to see me off."

Lu Zuo glanced at her and said, "It was nothing, Miss Bao, don't worry about it."

"Young lady, you've just arrived in the capital. Why are you wandering the streets alone, only to be harassed by ruffians?"

Bao Xiruo sighed softly, "To be honest, young master, I only recently arrived in Yingtian with my two elder brothers. Seeing that it was still early, I thought I would go out for a walk to familiarize myself with the surroundings, but who knew..."

"Who would have thought that such rampant people would exist even in the capital?"

Lu Zuo nodded: "I see."

"Now that the imperial court has just been established, everything is in need of rebuilding. Although Yingtian Prefecture appears prosperous, it is actually a place where all sorts of people mingle and the security situation is far from stable."

"If you need to go out in the future, young lady, it would be best to go with others and avoid going to remote places."

Hearing this, Bao Xiruo felt even warmer inside, thinking that this young master was very thoughtful. She replied softly, "Yes, young master's words are invaluable, Xiruo will remember them."

As they spoke, they arrived at a street corner near the inn.

From afar, one could see a burly man with a kind and anxious face looking around; it was Yang Tiexin.

He caught sight of Bao Xiruo at a glance, immediately breathed a sigh of relief, and quickly went to greet her, his tone filled with concern and reproach: "Xiruo! Where did you run off to?"

"It took Brother Guo and me a long time to find it!"

"We're completely unfamiliar with the capital; what if something happens to us?"

Upon seeing Yang Tiexin, Bao Xiruo felt relieved and quickly stepped forward to explain, "Brother Tie, I'm alright."

"I just encountered some hooligans on the street, but fortunately this young master Zhao came to my rescue."

Yang Tiexin then noticed Lu Zuo and his guards behind Bao Xiruo. Seeing their extraordinary bearing, he quickly clasped his hands in thanks, saying, "Thank you for your righteous help, young master!"

"My name is Yang Tiexin, and I am deeply grateful! May I ask your esteemed name, sir? I will repay your kindness in the future!"

Just then, a slightly high-pitched voice, distorted by urgency, filled with utter astonishment, came from behind Yang Tiexin:

"Your Majesty... Your Majesty?"

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