Heroine, don't turn back, I'm just a farmer.

After finishing her sentence, Li Jiuluan continued:

"Jiu Luan has something she wants to say to you, young master. She wonders if you will blame her."

Lu Guo: "?"

What's it to you?

You gave me such a huge adventure on the Fifth Ring Road, and gave me a perfectly legitimate reason to cause trouble.

That being said, the options have been presented.

[1. Your Highness is truly resourceful. Perhaps you were already planning to use me the night you saved me? Even your actions towards those Jianghu people and Wu Gou at the funeral were probably part of your plan. Is this how you treat your savior? (Coldly refuses to cooperate and exits the adventure.)]

[2. The world is bustling with people coming and going for profit. What will I get in return for helping you? (More money)]

3. Woman, do you know the consequences of doing this? (Lust)

4. Have you ever wondered why I happened to appear before you, and how I could possibly know the secret of the Mysterious Female?

[5, ...]

Lu Guo, "..."

What was Li Jiuluan's personality like again?

These questions seem difficult to answer.

The first point, which says Li Jiuluan is to blame, is not really to blame.

Rather, it's more accurate to say that she is able to recognize her own uniqueness and use it to accomplish certain things, and does so quite well, which shows that she does indeed have some skill and ability.

Knowing what advantages to leverage and what appropriate actions to take in what situations is itself an admirable ability.

Although she felt she had been used, she still admired her methods as she passed by.

After all, a teammate who knows when to advance and retreat and understands gains and losses is always better than someone who is foolish.

The second one was straightforward, but Li Jiuluan was a bit love-struck. Previously, Li Xiuer had only mentioned that he was the personal bodyguard of the Holy Maiden of the Demonic Sect. Once she mentioned that he had other identities, her goodwill towards him dropped.

Therefore, option 2 is also not acceptable.

As for the third,

It's a bit too greasy.

Therefore, it seems that option 4 is the only viable choice.

Lu Guo chose option 4.

"Li Jiuluan's favorability +10".

Lu Guo, "..."

She really is a bit love-struck.

When someone is love-struck, you shouldn't just give them the answer. You should let them fill in the blanks and think about it themselves. That's the best approach.

Others' opinions have little effect; they only believe what they imagine.

"Why is Brother Zhao looking for me?!"

Li Jiuluan was taken aback upon hearing Lu Guo's reply.

This, it seems, is also her question.

She was indeed puzzled.

[1. To be honest, I actually liked you at first sight. (Telling the truth)]

[2. He's just simply interested in your body (stubbornly)]

[3. Actually... I'm somewhat interested in the quest for supremacy and your cultivation techniques.]

[4, ...]

Hmm, this option seems to be quite crucial.

"The third option seems to be directly related to the Mysterious Female. Choosing it will allow you to complete the side quest directly, then activate the Mysterious Female Pearl and obtain the Mysterious Female True Qi inside."

Normally, choosing 3 would be correct.

In this way, one can immediately obtain the opportunity to activate the Mysterious Female Pearl and acquire the Mysterious Female True Qi.

In Lu Guo's view, there is probably a long series of tasks behind this Xuanpin, and there is a high probability that there will be various adventures later on.

Once there's a first treasure like this, there will be a second, and even a third or more.

In that case,

"To be honest, I need Your Highness's cultivation method to unlock the secret of the Mysterious Female, which is also a gift I'm giving to Your Highness upon our first meeting."

"Your Highness is of exceptional intelligence; you should understand what I mean."

"Li Jiuluan's favorability -3".

"Li Jiuluan's favorability +5".

"..."

After hesitating a few times, Lu Guo spoke directly, "Your Highness, don't overthink it. One day, I will not keep any of my secrets from you."

Li Jiuluan paused, looking into Lu Guo's eyes, and thought of how she had personally wiped his body these past few days.

That strong, muscular body, that arrogant gaze, and the identity I've learned about him through Li Xiuer over the past few days.

Why is this person so complicated?

She didn't think this person was there to kill her; if someone had ulterior motives, then they certainly did, there was no doubt about that.

But who approaches me without ulterior motives?

Judging from his speech and words just now, he is not such a superficial person.

"Li Jiuluan's favorability +10".

Lu Guo was speechless for a moment.

The topic continues.

"I know Your Highness is worried, and there is nothing to hide about my identity."

Li Jiuluan looked at Lu Guo with her clear, cold eyes, "I wonder what good plan you have, young master?"

"Does Your Highness know the foundation of Buddhism in the Southern Tang Dynasty?"

So Li Jiuluan began to tell Lu Guo the whole story, from the founding of the Southern Tang Dynasty to his Buddhist practice.

"Your Highness, from the perspective of the influence of Buddhism and even the affairs of the Southern Tang court, these are all insignificant."

"Irrelevant?"

Li Jiuluan looked puzzled.

These were things she had thought about seriously for a long time, and she wanted to use the selection of officials by the imperial court to deal with the influence of Buddhism.

"Your Highness, if the sects and aristocratic families of Southern Tang remain neutral, is the court alone capable of resolving the current situation where Buddhism surpasses imperial power in Southern Tang?"

Li Jiuluan's expression stiffened, and finally changed slightly as she shook her head.

"Noble families have their own foundations, and Buddhism is the state religion of the Southern Tang Dynasty; they won't..."

"Really not?"

Lu Guo asked in return, his deep gaze fixed on Li Jiuluan, as if he could see through her soft heart.

"Since we are considering solutions to the fundamental problems of Buddhism, we must take local factors into account and prepare for the worst."

"The Buddhist community knows all too well how much power and benefits they have encroached upon over the years."

"Relying solely on the policies of the imperial court cannot solve the problem of the Buddhist sect's growing power and its deep-rooted influence in local areas."

"Not to mention His Highness's father..."

If your emperor surrenders first, how can the officials below fight?

Li Jiuluan was speechless for a moment.

"Since the imperial court currently lacks the capacity to confront Buddhism, why choose a confrontation of strength?"

Lu Guo drank another glass of wine, his words carrying a lingering, leisurely air.

"It's nothing more than killing to take a life, eliminating the enemy and destroying their spirit!"

"To be honest, I have many identities, one of which is that of a successor of relics."

"To kill someone is to take their life, but to kill someone is to destroy their spirit?"

Li Jiuluan pondered those words, her eyes seemingly touched.

Lu Guo smiled.

"Does Your Highness truly believe that the foundation of Buddhism in the Southern Tang Dynasty lies solely in those Vajras, Dharma Protectors, Arhats, and Bodhisattvas?"

Although Li Jiuluan looked puzzled, she didn't pretend to know, but humbly offered him another cup of wine.

"May I ask, Brother Zhao, what is the meaning of these satirical remarks?"

Lu Guo did not answer directly, but instead asked, "Back then, the Great Sheng Dynasty suppressed Buddhism, leading to the southward migration of Buddhist sects. How can this conflict between Buddhism and Taoism be called a conflict over the orthodox lineage?"

"A dispute over the orthodox tradition?"

Li Jiuluan pondered, wondering why the topic had been elevated to such a level.