Cultivation Begins with Caring for Sister-in-law

Xia Zhiqing gently raised her eyes, glanced at Chen Mo, but dared not make a move again. The disparity in their strength was too great, so she didn't want to pay attention to his words.

Zhi Ning endured such great suffering, how could she possibly thank him.

To be honest, if at the beginning Chen Mo was merely seeking revenge on Xia Zhining, at this moment a strong desire for possession arose in him. This possession was not about loving them, but simply wanting to make them his private property, only he could touch.

He considered this behavior quite normal, as the saying goes, victors and losers, how many of the ancient heroes took the defeated's wives and concubines.

Even those deposed monarchs, weren't their empresses and consorts taken away by the victors?

Cao Cao even built a Copper Sparrow Platform for this purpose.

What is the purpose of war, if not for the contest over resources, and aren't beauties a type of resource?

Having conquered Pingting County, possessing the beauties in the city is only natural, isn't it?

Regarding this, Chen Mo didn't speak further about it, but needed to proceed step-by-step, saying: "After spending some time together, you'll understand."

Xia Zhiqing still ignored him, but seeing her sister's eyes swollen from crying, her expression extremely distressed, she frowned and whispered: "Can't you... be a bit gentler? If this continues, Zhi Ning she..."

If she couldn't stop him, she could only ask him to be gentler.

"Alright, for your sake, I'll be gentler." Chen Mo lightly embraced Zhi Ning.

Xia Zhiqing: "..."

Xi Ning: "..."

Chen Mo turned Xia Zhining's body around, making it so he held her from behind, while Xia Zhining could face her sister Xia Zhiqing.

Xia Zhiqing's face turned red, averting her gaze.

Though Zhi Ning was furious inside, she already lacked the strength to shout, looking at the now disordered bed sheets beneath her, just hoping it would be over quickly.

Chen Mo caressed Xia Zhining's cheek, looked at Xia Zhiqing, and softly said: "By the way, I haven't decided how to handle your four guards yet, but that Seventh-Grade Martial Artist guard of yours seems like someone who will cause me trouble, I'll have someone take care of him later."

"No." Xia Zhiqing hurriedly spoke, suppressing her shame, looking at the boy holding her sister, said: "Liu... Guard Liu is innocent, I beg you not to kill him."

Guard Liu grew up with the Xia Family, in Xia Zhiqing's heart, she also saw him as an elder brother type figure, having been together for a long time, even with a blade of grass you form a bond, let alone a person.

"Alright, as you wish." Chen Mo said: "How about the other three guards?"

"Please... spare them too."

"No problem."

Seeing the boy agree so easily, Xia Zhiqing was somewhat taken aback.

Chen Mo saw this and smiled: "Didn't I say earlier, as long as you're obedient, any reasonable request, I can fulfill for you."

Xia Zhiqing's eyes flickered.

"I don't know your age, could you tell me?" Chen Mo said.

"Nineteen..." Xia Zhiqing hesitated for a moment, then said.

"So what do you like? Don't misunderstand, you might have to stay here for a while, the facilities in this room are somewhat simple, you can tell me your preferences, and I can get you some things." Chen Mo said.

Upon hearing she would be staying here for some time, Xia Zhiqing felt a slight heaviness in her heart. She initially didn't want to answer, but the surroundings were indeed simple, without books, instruments to accompany her, and having to comfort her sister, she really didn't know how to get through, so she said:

"I love reading, if possible, please bring me my set of books from the attic, and the guzheng, pipa on the second floor, and also my jade flute..."

When the boy kidnapped her, her jade flute was left in the dark alley.

"Don't worry, I had someone take care of that flute, I'll have it sent to you later." Chen Mo did this to let the two sisters live peacefully.

"...Thank you." Out of personal upbringing, seeing the boy agree, Xia Zhiqing instinctively said thank you, but quickly felt ashamed and lowered her head, as her sister was being bullied by him, yet she thanked him for the small kindnesses.

"Do you know how to play the guzheng, pipa, and flute?"

"What do you mean, do you think you're some lowly commoner? My sister is proficient in zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting, an accomplished talent in Qingzhou, you should inquire around." Xia Zhining suddenly retorted sarcastically.

But Chen Mo ignored her, he knew Xia Zhiqing was talented, Wu Mountain had told him before, he asked that on purpose, then mentioned:

"Cloudy locks, chrysanthemum scent, Qin zither's voice, the brilliance of youth, the feelings of a talented woman. No wonder, as twin sisters, there is such a difference between you two, a person filled with the fragrance of knowledge is indeed more pleasing than one who is unruly and only acts out."

With that, the rampaging bull charging.

Xia Zhining was once again overwhelmed by the tides, falling into slumber.

Xia Zhiqing was mildly astonished, not expecting the boy to speak such words, so much so that she forgot to urge him to be gentler to her sister.

"Have you read books?" After a long time, Xia Zhiqing saw the young man get off the bed and dress himself right in front of her. His robust physique and defined muscles made her avert her gaze.

"I was a Child Student the year before last. If it weren't for this damned Court giving us no way out, I wouldn't have rebelled." With that, Chen Mo suddenly said, "Could I ask for your help with something?"

"What... help?"

"Help me tie my belt. As a reward, I'll find two maids to serve you later, and I'll be gentler with your sister in the future." Chen Mo looked at the belt at Xia Zhiqing's feet, stood upright, and opened his arms.

Xia Zhiqing's face froze.

"If you're unwilling, forget it. I'm not the type to force others." Chen Mo said.

Xia Zhiqing thought, "You weren't like this when you bullied Zhi Ning just now."

Of course, this was Xia Zhiqing's inner voice and wasn't spoken aloud.

She picked up the belt from the ground, slowly walked over, suppressed the emotions in her heart, and tied it around Chen Mo's waist.

She originally thought Chen Mo would take advantage of the situation, but he didn't.

As she was leaving, Chen Mo said, "Could I ask for another favor? Paint me a picture; as payment, I'll waive ten lashes."

Xia Zhiqing: "..."

"If you don't speak, I'll take it as a yes, and I'll send someone to bring you the painting materials." After saying this, Chen Mo left.

Chen Mo didn't dare to rest in the room with the two sisters; if they found an opportunity while he was asleep, he might never get up.

After leaving the room, Chen Mo found Han Wu, who was on duty, and asked him to find a few maids who could serve people and cook.

He specifically instructed Han Wu not to use force but to hire them with money.

...

Shortly after Chen Mo left, Xia Zhiqing wanted to find clothes for her sister but discovered that the black outfit had been torn by the young man beyond repair. She took the nearby bedding and covered Xia Zhining, yet this simple touch suddenly woke the latter up.

Xia Zhiqing tidied her sister's sweat-drenched hair and looked at the red marks on her sister's fair skin, her eyes gradually reddening:

"It's because I'm useless that I couldn't help you. That bastard, treating you so badly."

Looking at her comforting sister, Xia Zhining furrowed her brow and became momentarily lost in thought, feeling inexplicably resentful. What do you mean you couldn't help me? You clearly could have.

But soon, Xia Zhining was startled by this thought. She emptied her mind briefly and sighed lightly: "It's that wretch's fault, not yours."

Xia Zhiqing's heart slightly relaxed as she said, "Zhi Ning, you shouldn't call him a 'wretch' all the time."

Upon hearing this, Xia Zhining said, "That wretch treated me this way... you're actually speaking for him?"

"I'm not speaking for him; it's just that we've fallen into his hands now, and his strength is much greater than ours. If you... lower your head a bit, you might suffer less, and perhaps we'll have a chance... to escape once he lets his guard down." Seeing her sister's misunderstanding, Xia Zhiqing quickly explained.

"He humiliated me so much, and you're still asking me to lower my head?" Xia Zhining bit her pink lip, feeling distressed.

"I... I didn't mean it that way. I mean that since he's currently stronger than us, we should pretend to be weak and lower our heads for now, and once we escape and become strong, we'll return for revenge."

"No, I can't wait that long."

"But we can't do anything to him right now. Zhi Ning, please hold back for now. Why are you always like this? If you had listened to me before, you wouldn't be in this situation now."

"Sister, is that really how you feel?" Upon hearing this, Xia Zhining felt extremely wronged.

"No, Zhi Ning, that's not what I meant..."

"It is. Do you know how much I'm suffering? You've never experienced it. If you had, you wouldn't say such things. You would be just like me, unable to endure for even a moment. That wretch spoils you and agrees to everything for you, but he doesn't treat me as a human at all. You've seen it, even brothel prostitutes aren't treated like this. You don't really want to help me. If you did, you would've helped me earlier."

Filled with grievances, Xia Zhining had nowhere to vent, but upon hearing her sister's words, she immediately let it all out, and tears began to fall, soon turning into a rain of tears.

"Zhi... Ning, how can you say that about me..." Xia Zhiqing's tears fell as well.

"Did I say anything wrong? You've never experienced my suffering, so why are you telling me to hold back?"

"How could I? Wasn't it you, Zhi Ning, who told me not to trust him? Otherwise, I would have... helped you." Xia Zhiqing gritted her teeth.

Xia Zhining's gaze flickered. For a moment, she realized she shouldn't have said that to her sister. But this matter couldn't just end like this; she couldn't wait for even a moment longer, nor could she let it go easily.

She said, "Fine, then Sister, this time you must help me."

Upon hearing this, Xia Zhiqing's expression changed slightly. She pressed her lips together and said, "Do you really have to seek revenge now? We can't defeat him currently."

Xia Zhining said softly, "Don't worry, Sister. I have my ways. When a person is most relaxed, that's when they are most vulnerable. I just need your help."

Seeing her sister's determined attitude and the fierce glint in her eyes, Xia Zhiqing's thoughts grew complicated, rendering her momentarily speechless, hoping not to backfire.