Cultivation Begins with Caring for Sister-in-law

The extremely hot noon, not a cloud in the sky, not a breath of wind in the air, as if the air had stagnated.

A gust of wind blew in, stirring up a heatwave on the ground, burning hot, making it difficult to breathe.

After Chen Mo raided the Salt Warehouse last night, he returned to the village around dawn, took a bath, absorbed the morning's Solar Purple Qi, and then led the Divine Brave Guard who did not participate in last night's action, along with three hundred Divine Martial Guards and the two captives caught last night, heading for Qingtian County.

That's right, Chen Mo's main idea was to file a complaint first.

In the hall of the Qingtian County Government Office, two beams of sunlight passed through the eaves, like two transparent golden ribbons, inside which sparkled specks of dust, spreading outside the hall, with half passing through the threshold.

Chen Mo sat at the lower seat, sipped his tea, looked up at Yuan Youchun above, with a red number "228" on his forehead.

Obviously, his strength was slightly lower than Cui Shuang's.

Bai Shu sat opposite him, looking at Chen Mo's leisure and ease, he frowned, saying: "I haven't come looking for you yet, didn't expect you to deliver yourself to the door."

Chen Mo put down his teacup, ignored Bai Shu, looked at Yuan Youchun up above, saying: "Yuan Youchun, first meeting, Chen greets you."

After speaking, Chen Mo cupped his hands towards Yuan Youchun.

Yuan Youchun was unwelcoming, saying coldly: "Spare me the pleasantries, it's good you came, I was just going to find you."

Yuan Youchun, born as a bandit, full of bandit aura, with a heart already aflame from the killing of He Jinwu, what happened last night made his attitude towards Chen Mo impossible to be good.

Su Wen, standing behind Chen Mo, frowned, was about to draw his sword, when Chen Mo raised his hand, saying: "Stay polite."

With that, Chen Mo smiled, saying: "Then that's excellent, Chen also has something to ask General Yuan."

After speaking, Chen Mo clapped his hands, and four Divine Brave Guards escorted the two captives caught last night into the hall.

As soon as the two captives entered the hall, they were pressed to kneel by the Divine Brave Guards, Bai Shu's face slightly changed upon seeing them.

Chen Mo said: "General Yuan, last night our people discovered a group of thieves outside Willow Village stealing rice, they turned and fled upon seeing us, although our people fought hard and killed some, but still some escaped, these are the two captives caught last night.

They claim to be Liu Shi and Liu Tong, soldiers under General Yuan's Tiger Swift Army, and that last night they went with Commander Bai to Ping Court County to cut grain..."

Saying this, Chen Mo looked at Bai Shu: "Commander Bai, may I ask if this is true?"

Bai Shu was slightly stunned, understanding why Chen Mo came, not only did he take advantage last night, today he even dared come and ask for justice.

Such audacity.

Bai Shu didn't rush to answer, instead looked at Yuan Youchun above.

Yuan Youchun also frowned tightly, thinking to himself that Chen Mo was too arrogant, saying: "What do you mean by this?"

"General Yuan, don't misunderstand, theoretically, Chen does not suspect General Yuan, after all considering General Yuan's character, Chen thinks he wouldn't engage in such vile, shameful acts.

But these two insist they belong to General Yuan, to investigate this matter thoroughly, not to wrong General Yuan, also for Commander He's matter not to repeat, if indeed these two are General Yuan's men, then it's proper to return them to General Yuan, if they aren't then..."

Chen Mo once again picked up his teacup, sipping some tea, saying: "Su Wen, I'll have to trouble you to use your blade, lest any stray cats and dogs come pretending to be General Yuan's men, causing General Yuan great nuisance."

"Understood." Su Wen's eyes revealed murderous intent, staring at the two.

"Save us, General, Commander Bai save us..."

Liu Shi and Liu Tong having been captured last night, suffered greatly, upon hearing Chen Mo's words, immediately frightened, they pleaded to Yuan Youchun and Bai Shu for help.

Yuan Youchun and Bai Shu's faces both darkened.

But stealing grain was done secretly, naturally couldn't be brought to light.

Moreover, above had already spoken, the matter of He Jinwu had ended, now again this happens, if it gets reported upwards, whose face does that damage?

Therefore, of course it couldn't be admitted.

Yuan Youchun gave Bai Shu a look.

Bai Shu immediately said: "Young man, don't just find two people to impersonate the general's men, our Tiger Swift Army certainly has no such people."

Upon hearing this, Chen Mo did not speak, Liu Shi and Liu Tong anxiously said: "Commander Bai, it's us, Liu Shi/Liu Tong, we spoke with you last night, it was you who led us to Ping Court to steal grain, you must save us..."

"Shut up, bold thieves, stop falsely accusing, this commander doesn't know you."

"..."

Chen Mo quietly drank tea on the side, knowing the other party wouldn't admit, immediately raised his hand.

Su Wen understood, drew his blade and stepped forward.

"Drag them outside, don't dirty General Yuan's place," said Chen Mo.

"Understood." Su Wen led the Divine Brave Guards to drag the two out of the hall.

Soon, Su Wen returned, with a trace of blood still on his face.

Chen Mo pulled out a handkerchief from his sleeve and handed it to Su Wen, saying, "Be more careful, wipe it off."

"Thank you, County Magistrate." Su Wen did not hesitate, accepting it to wipe his face.

Chen Mo then looked at Yuan Youchun and said, "It seems the thieves were impersonators. Truly bold, to even dare impersonate General Yuan's men."

Saying this, Chen Mo brushed the dust off his body and continued, "By the way, when I came over, I heard General Yuan's salt warehouse was also robbed." He clicked his tongue and continued, "General Yuan, do you think the thieves who attacked the salt warehouse are the same group that stole rice from Pingting County?"

"Stop pretending, how dare mere thieves rob our Tiger Swift Army's salt warehouse? Clearly, it's you calling a thief to catch a thief. I will report this matter to the Commander and charge you with a crime."

Bai Shu, seeing Chen Mo take advantage and demand justice, and even shamelessly shift the blame of the salt warehouse theft onto them, angrily slapped the table, stood up, and pointed at Chen Mo.

"Insolent." A strong wave of Innate Spiritual Qi emanated from Chen Mo, and just as Yuan Youchun reacted, Bai Shu was suppressed to kneel, only stopping when Chen Mo set down the teacup.

A calm glance swept over Bai Shu, as he said, "In terms of rank, I am superior to you by a level. In terms of strength, I am also stronger than you. Previously, I forgave your disrespect. How dare you defy superior orders again? This time is a lesson; if it happens again, I won't spare you..."

"You are the insolent one." It's said to hit a dog you must consider the master, and now they even brought the fight to his territory. If Yuan Youchun doesn't intervene, who will respect him below?

He softly reprimanded, slowly standing up, as a wave of earthy-yellow Innate Spiritual Qi surged out of him. However, just as it left his body, a stronger wave of Innate Spiritual Qi engulfed him, forcing him to sit back down.

"I suggest General Yuan calm down first. The robbery of the salt warehouse is not what Chen wants to see. Instead, we should discuss how to catch the thieves." Chen Mo finished the tea in his cup in one go.

If not for Yuan Youchun's close relationship with Yang Minggui, eliminating him would cause unnecessary trouble, Chen Mo wouldn't have desired to spare him.

Yuan Youchun, having sat back down in shock, despite not having formally fought, could immediately tell from the earlier situation that the difference in strength was evident at a glance.

"Well, well, well, a truly promising young talent." Yuan Youchun, having been put in his place, wore a bitter expression, his words laced with a cold sharpness.

Chen Mo seemed not to hear Yuan Youchun's words, saying:

"Last night, rice from my jurisdiction was stolen. Our men chased them all the way to Qingtian County, and soon after, your salt warehouse was robbed. Thus, Chen has reason to suspect it's a coordinated group. Therefore, Chen invites General Yuan to investigate with us, to uncover the thieves and bring them to justice as soon as possible."

After speaking, Chen Mo glanced at Bai Shu, who wore a sullen expression, saying, "If Commander Bai suspects Chen, produce the evidence, but don't wrongfully accuse me."

The guards at the salt warehouse were all killed, not a single eyewitness; where could the evidence come from?

Bai Shu was at a loss, but still retorted, "Dare you swear that the looting of the salt warehouse wasn't your doing?"

"It wasn't," Chen Mo said calmly.

"Swear it."

"Don't you find yourself very childish?"

Shifting his gaze from Bai Shu, Chen Mo looked again at General Yuan, "What does General Yuan think of my proposal?"

"Hmph, the matters in Qingtian County, this General will investigate personally, no need for County Magistrate Chen to worry." Yuan Youchun huffed coldly, "See them out."

He felt if he didn't let Chen Mo leave soon, he wouldn't be able to control his anger, leading him to do something rash.

"Alas," Chen Mo sighed, "Since General Yuan isn't interested, then so be it. However, once Chen finds out who those disgraceful rice thieves are, I will surely inform General Yuan."

Saying this, Chen Mo stood and walked toward the hall's exit.

Su Wen immediately followed.

But a group of Tiger Swift Army soldiers blocked the entrance.

Su Wen's expression changed, quickly retrieving the Tang Blade strapped to his back, handing it to Chen Mo.

Chen Mo didn't take it; instead, he turned to Yuan Youchun and calmly asked, "What does General Yuan mean by this?"

"What do you intend, staging a rebellion? Let them leave." Yuan Youchun barked, not sure at whom his anger was directed.

Thus, Chen Mo led his people out of the hall.

After Chen Mo left, Bai Shu, somewhat unwilling, said, "General, you're just letting them go? When they came, my subordinates counted, they brought just over a thousand men; we have more people, why not..."

Bai Shu made a slicing gesture across his neck.

"Do you think that since they dared to come, they hadn't considered leaving? A big battle is imminent; if we start a fight first, and if we're not victorious, who will bear the blame when the Commander questions us?" Yuan Youchun said.

He even worried in his heart, that if a real fight broke out and the opposing side charged, he might not be able to hold them off.

"So we'll just... let it go?" Bai Shu asked through gritted teeth.

"Don't worry, this won't end so easily. The reason he's so arrogant now is merely because the Commander is on his side. But in the end, he's an outsider. Once he falls out of favor, it'll be his demise.

We have a long time ahead of us, let's wait and see."