Cultivation Begins with Caring for Sister-in-law

County Government Office's backyard, in the chamber.

"You mean to say, County Magistrate Geng was once a classmate of your father?"

Chen Mo gazed at the beauty dressed in a sky-blue long dress, with cloud-like moth hairstyle, adorned with a Wooden Hairpin, her snow-like face reflecting Wen Ning's gentle and Wanli's elegant aura.

Xia Zhiqing nodded: "Uncle Geng and my father were both Advanced Scholars from The Sixth Year of Jianping, my father was ranked fifth in the Second-Class."

My father has told me that Uncle Geng is an upright minister he deeply respects, and when Uncle Geng was demoted to Wutai County Magistrate, he even visited our home as a guest."

"In this case, Zhiqing and I are also destined, right?" Chen Mo looked at the beauty, involuntarily raising a hand to stroke her cheek, only for her to shy away.

Xia Zhining's heartbeat quickened, her eyes filled with panic: "You...what are you doing?"

"Couldn't help myself." Chen Mo smiled: "If County Magistrate Geng knew both of you sisters were still alive, he would be very happy."

"When we first met Uncle Geng, Zhi Ning and I were very young, we haven't seen him for many years, perhaps he no longer recognizes us." Xia Zhiqing said.

Meanwhile, Xia Zhining, who was being teased, pursed her rosy lips, her ravishing face blushing with anger, angered to have her sister flirt with this scoundrel while he was bullying her, she clenched her legs in fury.

"Hiss..."

Chen Mo took a deep breath, feeling as if he was being pinched by a clamp, he immediately raised his hand to pat the millstone: "Stop fooling around, I'm talking to your sister, pay your debt properly, you don't want to suffer at the end, do you?"

After speaking, he stopped paying attention to her, and continued talking to her sister.

Upon hearing this, Xia Zhining gritted her teeth in annoyance, her beautiful eyes showing anger, ever since that day she refused the candied hawthorn, this scoundrel hasn't shown the previous tenderness, always speaking coldly, a typical act of someone who casts aside their promises after getting what they wanted.

However, she really hasn't acted recklessly anymore.

Xia Zhiqing: "..."

She's no fool. Through these days' changes, she noticed Zhining suddenly started caring about the young man's feelings.

"Why would someone like Uncle Geng align with you?" Xia Zhiqing asked, puzzled.

After all, Chen Mo is ultimately a rebel. Geng Songfu is a Second-Class Scholar of the Court, loyalty to the monarch should be ingrained in his bones, how could he align with a rebel.

"Why couldn't he align with me? It seems Zhiqing still has a big misunderstanding about me." Chen Mo sighed, showing a sad expression before continuing: "Zhiqing, I allow you to wander around the city, why not take some time to go out and hear from others, you might learn... I'm actually a good person."

"Pah."

This remark was refuted by Xia Zhining, who spoke sharply: "If you're a good person, then there's no bad person in the world."

Yet, Chen Mo was not angry, instead, he said: "I don't care about your opinion, as long as Zhiqing doesn't misunderstand..."

Chen Mo looked up at the gentle beauty, pulling Xia Zhining closer, grabbing Xia Zhiqing's delicate hand, and softly said: "Zhiqing, I truly like you, if not, once your sister pays her debt, why don't you stay?"

Chen Mo knew he had to exert some effort to win over Xia Zhiqing.

Xia Zhiqing was speechless again.

If you weren't doing this with my sister now, I might believe your words.

She lowered her head, her jade-like face already angry, gently pushing away Chen Mo's "advances," softly saying: "You... don't mess around, you promised me, after my sister pays up, aren't you... not 'letting' us go, do you... want to go back on your word?"

Xia Zhining's face had turned frosty, for some reason, her heart felt an acidic expansion, her gaze turned dark, showing some regret for her earlier refusal.

"Not backing out. Aren't I trying to keep Zhiqing, and since County Magistrate Geng is here, there's someone more to care for, Lord Xia is no longer here, even if you leave, where could you go, Zhiqing?" Chen Mo spoke softly, yet again holding Xia Zhiqing's hand.

"That's... that's none of your business." Xia Zhiqing gave Chen Mo a cold glance and freed her hand from his.

"Alas, I offer my heart to the bright moon, but it shines upon the gutter." Chen Mo sighed again and said: "Nevermind, I'm a bit tired, how about this, accompany me once, and your sister's punishment reduces by three lashes, if things go smoothly, you can leave by early July."

Xia Zhiqing's eyes widened.

Even more surprised was Xia Zhining.

What did this scoundrel say?

He's tired?

He's actually tired of me?

Tired yet keeps tormenting me?

I'm always left weak and powerless after every time.

What's even more exasperating is, one time for sister equals three times for me.

Why is that, why is that?

We both came from the same womb with similar looks, height, and even figure.

Why is the difference so huge?

Xia Zhining grimly bit her red lips, almost tearing them apart.

If you looked closely, there were even tears swelling in her eyes.

Feeling a strong sense of unjust treatment.

"What nonsense are you talking about?" Xia Zhiqing's eyes flickered.

"I'm not talking nonsense."

Chen Mo gently pulled Xia Zhiqing into his arms, inhaling a pleasant fragrance that greeted him. He tightened his hold on her waist, whispered beside her ear:

"To be honest, from the moment I saw Zhiqing, I was smitten. Taking revenge on your sister was merely an excuse to get close to you. In my heart, there's only you; your sister is just a stand-in. Haven't you noticed that all these days?"

Xia Zhiqing's delicate body trembled, overwhelmed by the boy's fervent gaze. Her almond-shaped face blushed with a rose tint. She struggled a few times but couldn't break free. She raised her fist to pound on Chen Mo's chest, her voice slightly trembling, "Let... let me go."

Meanwhile, Zhi Ning's eyes widened.

What had she heard?

A stand-in?

How could this bastard treat her this way?

Why did he treat her like this?

These words hurt even more than the boy's previous cold remarks and sarcasm.

Her snowy face flushed like blood, her lips gasping for breath in anger. Her long, captivating eyes stared furiously at the boy, her slender body shaking violently.

Recalling the scenes she had experienced over these days, an endless feeling of grievance filled her heart, and she could no longer hold it in. She lunged at Chen Mo, "Bastard, I'll kill you, I'll kill you..."

At this moment, Zhi Ning was in a complete breakdown, like a deranged woman, tearing at Chen Mo.

As she cursed, "Bastard, I'll fight you, fight you..."

But how could she be a match for Chen Mo? In just a few moves, he had subdued her.

"What's gotten into you?" Chen Mo's expression remained calm, pretending to be displeased.

He hadn't expected Zhi Ning's reaction to be so intense, but this confirmed that his plan was quite effective.

"I've always liked your sister. Isn't this something you already knew? Whether she's a stand-in doesn't conflict with settling the debt. Why are you so anxious?" Chen Mo continued speaking.

"Bastard, you damn bastard, I will kill you, chop you into a thousand pieces, pulverize your bones, scatter your ashes, and ensure you can't find peace in the afterlife."

At this moment, Zhi Ning's hatred and anger toward Chen Mo surpassed even when she lost her chastity.

"Still anxious." Chen Mo looked indifferent and then coldly said, "Could you be jealous of your sister?"

As soon as he said that, Xia Zhiqing's face flushed red.

Zhi Ning's heart trembled intensely, as if her innermost thoughts had been exposed, but she would never admit it. Instead, she burst out in vulgar words, "You bastard, lowly peasant, would I be jealous of you?"

"If not, then why are you anxious?"

"I want to kill you!"

"See, you're anxious again?"

"Bastard." Unknowingly, Zhi Ning's eyes, with rose-red eyeshadow, had completely moistened. When she called him a bastard, her voice trembled.

But Chen Mo had already stopped paying her any attention. While restraining her, he said to Xia Zhiqing, "Zhiqing, what do you think of my proposal? Since both you and your sister hate me so much, leaving earlier would surely be for the best."

Xia Zhiqing bit her lip. Although she did not want to admit it, when the boy had said those words just now, her heart couldn't help but tremble slightly, even feeling a tiny bit of delight. However, regarding the boy's proposal, she hesitated.

Seeing she hadn't outright refused, Chen Mo knew it was likely to work. He said, "Doing the math, deducting this time, there are still twenty-seven lashes left. If it's Zhiqing, it would only take nine more times to repay, very quickly. And if she's together with you..."

At this point, Xia Zhiqing couldn't help but spit out. This bastard still thought of making them both pay together.

Chen Mo chuckled lightly, releasing Zhi Ning, and then whispered to Xia Zhiqing, under the furious gaze of a beautiful woman, "After all, you've already had a one-night stand with me, so nine more times wouldn't make a difference.

Getting bitten by a dog once is no different than being bitten ten times; you've already been bitten."

Xia Zhiqing: "..."

This person actually compared himself to a dog.

How could being bitten by a dog once and ten times make no difference? These words were so shameful.

But thinking about how Zhi Ning seemed to care about the boy's feelings recently, Xia Zhiqing hesitated repeatedly, not wanting Zhi Ning to be manipulated by him, finally saying, "Fine, I agree, but you... you can't touch Zhi Ning anymore."

"Deal." Chen Mo agreed without a second thought.

Zhi Ning: "..."

"Sis, you can't agree with this lowly person." Released from Chen Mo's grip, Zhi Ning rushed at him again, gritting her teeth, "Bastard, shameless bastard, don't you dare have designs on my sister, I'll fight you."

Zhi Ning bit into Chen Mo's arm.

Chen Mo initially wanted to channel his Innate Spiritual Qi but, perhaps thinking better of it, allowed the beautiful woman to bite him.

"Zhi Ning, don't." Xia Zhiqing was startled. Her sister gave him a whipping, which now required a hundred lashings to repay. If she angered him and he didn't let them leave, it would be trouble.

Xia Zhiqing wanted to pull Zhi Ning away, but she was a step too late.

Moments later, Zhi Ning tasted the blood in her mouth and seemed to regain some composure. She lifted her enchanting, cold face, tears swirling in her eyes.