Cultivation Begins with Caring for Sister-in-law

On the other side, Qingtian County.

Bai Shu, after being humiliated so much in Pingting County, naturally embellished the events of the day when recounting them to Yuan Youchun.

"How dare he be so audacious?" Yuan Youchun frowned as he spoke.

"Exactly, he completely disregarded you, General. He said Commander He deserved to die, even if he was your adopted son. And, as we were leaving, the spy you placed in Pingting County was shot dead by Chen Mo's men." Bai Shu said hurriedly.

"Bang!"

Yuan Youchun slapped the table in front of him heavily, causing it to split into two halves instantly. The servants were too frightened to make a sound, only retreating when Yuan Youchun gestured for them to leave.

"A stray dog begging the Commander for shelter now dares to bite the owner. Does he really think just because the Commander took him in, he can stand on equal footing with me, the General?"

Yuan Youchun fumed. From what he understood, the opponent was just a brat without any real skill, while his Tiger Swift Army comprised over ten thousand men. The Qingzhou Army had been defeated by them. Yuan himself had been a Sixth-Grade Martial Artist for nearly ten years, so it was truly infuriating that the boy dared to disregard him.

Seeing the General's anger, Bai Shu immediately suggested vengefully, "This lad is so arrogant, it's time for the General to teach him a lesson..."

Speaking, he made a throat-slitting gesture.

Yet at that moment, Yuan Youchun fell silent again.

From the reports previously sent back by spies from Pingting County, Chen Mo had recently organized a Defense Army of several thousand men. Although Yuan Youchun was not afraid, having never lost a battle, fortified by the castle, without help, even if the Tiger Swift Army broke through, it would incur considerable casualties.

And if the effort proved fruitless, it might even attract accusations of internal conflict, something he couldn't explain to his superiors.

However, he certainly wouldn't swallow this insult. Weighing his options for a moment, he said, "Set out for Xia Lin immediately, tell the Commander about recent events, and let him make a decision."

He had pledged loyalty to Yang Minggui early on, even recognizing him as godfather. He held significant standing in the Celestial Master Army, confident that Yang Minggui would favor him.

"Understood." Bai Shu replied and prepared to leave.

"Wait, also mention the matter of fine salt to the Commander."

Yuan Youchun knew Yang Minggui needed money to construct the palace, and he could use this as leverage to increase his stakes.

...

In the dark.

Han Anniang rose to sit, kneeling in front of Chen Mo, then reconsidered and undid the freshly worn blouse, revealing the corset beneath.

The night remained suffocatingly hot, the windows were not open, and the room was like a steam room.

Han Anniang, with her voluptuous figure, suffered the heat the most, her body glistening with sweat, as if coated with oil. Using the faint warmth of moonlight from the window, she undid the corset once more...

Han Anniang's cheeks were slightly flushed, her hair cascading down like waves. She reached up to stroke the hair behind her ear, then cradled her ample bosom, placing it on..

"Hoo..."

Chen Mo, lost in thought, paused mid-breath, looking downward to find his focus obscured by his sister-in-law's assets. Observing the busy scene, Chen Mo raised an eyebrow, "Sister-in-law, what's wrong?"

"Uncle... don't like?" Han Anniang noticed the change in Chen Mo's gaze, looked up, and quietly asked.

"Not exactly, it's just... ahem, sister-in-law, you're different tonight."

She was indeed different; he noticed that she was exceptionally earnest tonight, meeting his desires whatever they might be, even taking initiative.

Han Anniang's face trembled red, her delicate body quivered slightly, "What's different?"

"Sister-in-law is particularly pleasing to me tonight." Chen Mo sat up, pulled Han Anniang to sit upright, worried she'd tire carrying the burden, and reached out to support her, asking directly, "What's really going on?"

Upon Chen Mo's persistent questioning, Han Anniang embraced him, teary-eyed, and began to speak.

Ultimately, Han Anniang was jealous.

Because Chen Mo spent every other night at the government office, and she heard tales of two particularly beautiful bed warmer maids by his side, fearing they might overshadow her in his affections.

Hence, this night she aimed to increase her standing in Chen Mo's heart, hoping he would become even more attached to her.

Chen Mo gently patted her back, comforting, "Foolish girl, to me, you're the most important. No one compares to you, you don't need to be jealous of anyone."

Although he had said similar things more than once, and Han Anniang had heard similar assurances before, the fear of losing Chen Mo lingered in her heart.

The root cause of such emotions was chiefly her insecurity.

She was merely a village woman, having been married before, not a new bride, while Chen Mo step by step grew stronger, increasingly honored, admired by thousands.

The gap between them widened, while she remained stagnant, but beside Chen Mo lay endless temptations, even daughters of noble clans reduced to concubines, how could she compete?

She worried that one day Chen Mo might tire of her, thus she tried her utmost to please him, risking phobia of social interaction to establish a textile factory, hoping to be useful to Chen Mo.

"Uncle." With an indescribable intimacy, Han Anniang took the initiative to kiss Chen Mo, her hands climbing onto his young shoulders, then holding his head and gently pushing it down.

Until her delicate neck and collarbone felt a warm sensation, Han Anniang's cheeks blushed like rosy clouds, extending all the way to her earlobes, a blend of red and white, lustrous and dripping, as if it permeated to the space between the two.

When the other party leaned into her embrace, Han Anniang glanced down and whispered, "Is it big?"

Chen Mo: "..."

That night, Han Anniang seemed to transform into a female warrior, tireless.

...

Two days later.

Hu Qiang returned. As Chen Mo anticipated, after Yang Minggui read the letter, he immediately declined, saying the Celestial Master Army had extensive affairs and needed money everywhere, instructing Chen Mo to overcome difficulties himself.

When Hu Qiang proposed purchasing Red Copper, Yang Minggui indeed raised the price, setting it twenty percent above the market price per pound, but exempted Chen Mo from the palace construction fees he owed.

Chen Mo asked Hu Qiang about the current situation in Xia Lin.

Hu Qiang said, "Yang Minggui gathered tens of thousands of laborers to build. The forest outside Xia Lin City has been cut down, and he plans not to expand but to rebuild a palace.

I heard he plans to call the palace Celestial King Hall, with walls extending over ten miles, and walls several feet high, with inner and outer layers, a mock mountain, forest garden, and winding hallway, comparable to an Immortal Cave Mansion."

"Hiss." Zhao Daoxian heard this and gasped, dazedly saying, "How much silver will this cost?"

"That's not all. His kitchen chief even uses twenty Jinwan to prepare land and sea delicacies, and the wine cups are gold-studded, and it's said even the washbasins are Jade Basin," Hu Qiang added.

"This is too extravagant." Zhao Daoxian frowned, disliking it as a scholar.

Chen Mo, however, laughed, "Almost all the Northern Land has been conquered by the Celestial Master Army, and there's been no war for a long time. What's wrong with enjoying a bit?"

Though this laughter carried a hint of sarcasm.

"Have you seen the military camp?" Chen Mo asked.

Hearing this, Hu Qiang began to speak animatedly, "The Celestial Master Army in the camp doesn't even train; they invite the city's prostitutes to the camp every few days, living it up. Their camp doesn't forbid drinking. The day I arrived, we had a night of revelry...

After saying this, Hu Qiang licked his lips, showing a hint of envy, clearly having enjoyed it at the time.

Zhang River slapped the back of Hu Qiang's head, saying, "If the soldiers don't train, they won't have fighting power in battle. Don't deceive the County Magistrate."

"No, I'm telling the truth."

"Why, seeing you look so envious, you wouldn't want to join them, would you?" Zhang River said.

"Don't talk nonsense." Startled, Hu Qiang quickly pledged loyalty to Chen Mo, "I'm utterly loyal to Immortal Master Chen; those Celestial Master Army soldiers are just a bunch of bandits. The day I arrived, I saw them robbing women and property under the commanders' indulgence, which I cannot tolerate."

"That's strange." Zhao Daoxian was surprised, "If the Celestial Master Army indulges subordinates in harming civilians, robbing women and property, how did they grow so large?"

In this regard, Chen Mo had some guesses. The Celestial Master Army's initial growth and unstoppable advance were due to their rebellion aligning with the lower populace's expectations.

Later, with the army's expansion, the mix of good and bad, especially the indulgence after city conquests, weakened military discipline, leading some to revel in the pleasure of looting.

Like a wild horse released from its reins, it becomes hard to restrain later.

Now, with war ceased, the looting stopped. Strictly restraining them now would backfire, so indulgence is the only option.

However, Chen Mo didn't voice this but instead looked toward Hu Qiang.

Extravagance can cloud one's judgment.

Looks like Hu Qiang can't be sent next time, or what Zhang River said might just happen.

Hu Qiang didn't notice this but said, "By the way, Immortal Master Chen, on my way back, I saw Tiger Swift Army people riding fast horses. They were going so fast, I wonder what happened?"

"What, the Tiger Swift Army? They're going to Xia Lin?" Zhao Daoxian was startled.

"Judging by the direction, they should be heading to Xia Lin." Hu Qiang wondered, "Why, is something wrong?"

Zhao Daoxian didn't answer but looked at Chen Mo, "County Magistrate, it seems Yuan Youchun indeed went to Xia Lin to report."

Hu Qiang was a bit confused.

Zhang River explained what had recently happened, finally making Hu Qiang understand.

Hu Qiang's face became a bit solemn, "Could it be Yuan Youchun wants Yang Minggui to send troops to fight us?"

"This is unlikely; it's more likely that Yang Minggui is pressing us for compensation." Chen Mo narrowed his eyes and then had an idea; rather than compensating Yuan Youchun, it's better to...

ps: Some writer's block; the next chapter will speed up.