"General, please show leniency. But if you give me your orders, even if it means going to my death, I will obey!"

"General, Da Mu can't speak, and the Holy Maiden..."

"Shut up!"

After being reprimanded by Zhang Ning, Li Damu swallowed back the words he was about to say.

Zhao Hao wasn't stupid; he could tell at a glance that there was a story behind this, and also... information that Zhang Ning was using this to blackmail him!

"Heh, trying to play the victim here? Fine, I won't bother with a woman like you. Li Damu, Zhang Yan, I know all about your sincere allegiance and the good deeds you've done with your men."

You two can go down now; you'll have something to do later.

I'd like to speak with your saintess alone!

"this.."

"The general is right, Da Mu. Let's go down first. Please take good care of my junior sister."

Zhang Yan was not only a hero promoted to the position of leader of the Black Mountain by Zhang Niujiao, but he was also one of Zhang Jiao's last disciples.

With the two of them present, Zhang Ning probably wouldn't say anything to him. It would be better to give them a way out so that both of them could save face.

This would also make Zhang Ning willingly reveal why his hair had turned white.

"Alright, they've gone down. Your situation doesn't look good."

Zhao Hao remained calm, and after the two left, he pulled Zhang Ning back to their seats quietly.

"No need for the general to worry about this. Please do not change the subject."

Zhang Ning's stubbornness was unexpected by Zhao Hao.

"Alright, with you taking the lead in surrendering, we can reduce their punishment of forced labor in various places to three years."

However, they must serve another two years of reformation orders, traveling to the desolate northern wilderness to assist in the construction of fortified settlements and horse breeding.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Ning's expression softened slightly.

In her eyes, the forced labor Zhao Hao imposed on criminals was no different from going through fire and water.

Going to mine for minerals, controlling sandstorms in the desert, or picking rare crops on cliffs—these things are almost synonymous with torture.

Fortunately, she had done some research and found that although these tasks were dangerous and difficult, those who completed them would be able to eat and drink well, and those who performed well could have their service period reduced.

Otherwise, she might have taken a more aggressive stance in negotiating with Zhao Hao today.

"In that case, I thank the General!"

"Heh, tell me, what did you do to make yourself look so haggard? I suppose the information you can use to negotiate with me is either about your sister or about Yu Ji?"

Zhang Ning's expression shifted slightly, secretly thinking that Zhao Hao was indeed exceptionally intelligent.

After a pause, he told the truth.

"General, you are indeed no ordinary man. I have indeed found out some things."

Zhao Hao nodded. "Judging from your appearance, according to those tales of the strange and immortal, this is the result of sacrificing your lifespan?"

Zhang Ning was shocked again; Zhao Hao had actually seen through her all along.

Even so, Zhao Hao was still willing to give Zhang Ning face, and Zhang Ning kept that in mind.

"General, you are indeed wise... In that case, I will not beat around the bush."

"Through the Great Evolution Technique and drawing upon my father's notes, I deduced that Yu Jin and his gang were plotting to steal the nation's destiny!"

Luck...?

Is this something that can be absorbed not only by one's own system, but also by others?

This world is truly complex...

"Oh? Holy Maiden, please explain in detail how Yu Ji, even if he possesses some sorcery, was able to seize the fate of the nation?"

"That's natural. To my shame, both Yu Ji and my late father were disciples of the Immortal Master Nanhua. They also had a senior uncle named Zuo Ci..."

"Hmm, I've heard of Daoist Wujiao."

"Indeed, General, would you like to hear the story from the very beginning, or would you like to hear my summary?"

"Tell me in detail, I'd also like to know some of the circumstances from back then."

Zhang Ning paused for a moment, then composed himself and continued.

"Back then, my father received the Taiping Essentials from the Immortal Master of Nanhua, which he passed on to Ji Taiping Qing, the leader of the Dao, so that the two of them could enter the world and save the people. Unexpectedly, my father could not bear the oppression of the people by officials and the indifference of those in power towards the common folk, and chose the path of rebellion..."

The result, naturally, was failure. After his father's failure, Uncle Yu Ji used the experience his father had accumulated to embark on his own path.

Both the Taiping Essentials and the Taiping Pure Way contain different Taoist methods and divine techniques. If one can rely on what one has learned from these books, saving people will be an easy task.

However, based on my deductive reasoning, I've discovered that several years ago, my Uncle-Master Yu stopped using his skills to govern the world and save lives. Instead, he went astray, using magic to transform people or livestock... into the very form the general saw in the palace!

Zhao Hao nodded. "That appearance, wouldn't it be an exaggeration to call it demonic possession?"

Zhang Ning pondered, "Becoming a demon... that's true. Those who are misled by Uncle Yu all have dark demonic energy swirling around their bodies. If the demonic energy gets out of control, they will become neither human nor ghost."

None of that matters. According to the observations of the deductive arts, the person misled by my master must be entangled with a certain amount of luck, only differing in quantity. And after this luck was plundered by my master, it either strengthened him or disappeared without a trace, making it difficult to find.

To arrive at this conclusion, I expended nearly seventy years of my lifespan. Roughly estimating, I have only ten years left to live... Therefore, I hope the General will treat the people kindly and accumulate popular support and good fortune. When the day comes that the source of my uncle's chaos in the world has been discovered, we can quell it all in one fell swoop!

Zhao Hao frowned slightly but did not reply.

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