Cultivation Begins with Caring for Sister-in-law

The river water surged, like a galloping dragon, crashing east and west, slapping against the shore and hitting the reefs, its roaring sound audible from several miles away.

In June, during the height of summer, the scorching sun hung high. Chen Mo and his new bride stood on the deck, enjoying the river breeze. Though their hearts were anxious about the affairs in Qingzhou, there was nothing they could do while on the river, so they sought enjoyment amidst their urgency.

Just as Chen Mo was about to embrace Wu Mi, emulating that scene from the movie Titanic with Jack and Rose at the bow of the ship enjoying the breeze.

Upstream, several warships appeared, blocking the way ahead and obstructing the waterway, making passage impossible.

Chen Mo frowned slightly, and Sun Meng behind him looked shocked, quickly stepping forward to await orders.

Wu Mi said softly, "This is the territory where my second brother, Wu Yu, is stationed. Those are his navy's warships. Why would they block the waterway? Could it be a drill?"

"I fear they come with ill intentions," Chen Mo said.

Wu Mi: "???"

"Mi'Er, didn't you tell me last night that Liu Ji was brought by your second brother to meet your father? Now they're blocking the road; they're likely colluding with Liu Ji," Chen Mo said, a serious expression on his face. Due to the sudden urgency and hasty departure, he hadn't thought of this.

However, the seriousness on his face quickly vanished. He had come to Jiangdong fully prepared for their deception.

Wu Mi's expression changed.

"Prepare for battle," Chen Mo ordered Sun Meng.

"Prepare for battle," Sun Meng relayed, and in no time, the accompanying warships were ready. The specially modified small catapults on board were all aimed at the warships ahead, loaded with pottery bombs they had brought along.

At that moment, behind Chen Mo's fleet, another dozen warships appeared, their decks filled with soldiers wielding long spears and clad in armor.

Sun Meng reported that our fleet was surrounded.

Simultaneously, Wu Yu's loud and clear voice carried by the river wind reached the ears of Chen Mo and his group.

"Chen Mo, you traitor! You rise in rebellion, defy the natural order, harm the loyal and good, bringing ruin to millions across the Qing, Yu, and Lin Three States. People and deities alike are outraged. Today, by the patriarch's order, I, Wu Yu, intercept you here. Surrender immediately!"

"Father's order?" Wu Mi's face changed drastically.

Before she could think further, a wave of voices like a tide echoed above Chen Mo's fleet, one wave after another:

"Surrender and you won't be killed!"

"Surrender and you won't be killed!"

"Surrender and you won't be killed!"

...

"Mi'Er, don't worry. We bid farewell to your father before leaving. He did not speak against it, surely he wouldn't send the navy to intercept us on the river. Even if he wanted me dead, he had a great opportunity in Yongkang, not necessarily needing to take such a redundant action now.

I believe your second brother is acting on his own, falsely claiming your father's order against me. Once I'm dead, your father will have no choice but to side with Prince Huai," Chen Mo said.

Wu Mi, who was extraordinarily intelligent, quickly realized this after Chen Mo's words. Despite usually being calm, she became furious.

Because Wu Yu's actions were clearly aimed at staining their father with disloyalty.

Wu Mi shouted, "Wu Yu, you traitor! Father has not wronged you, so why such a vicious plot.

Chen Mo is the Marquis of the Great Song, my husband, betrothed by my parents, a marriage publicly acknowledged. Yet you intercept us on the river and slander my husband, what is your intent?"

Wu Mi's brows were raised in anger. Being a Seventh-Grade Martial Artist, her voice was loud and clear even against the headwind.

But the only response Wu Mi got was, "Miss is being threatened by the traitor Chen Mo, forced to speak nonsense, everyone should not believe it."

Infuriated, Wu Mi was about to speak again when Wu Yu's loud voice rang out once more: "Chen Mo, I gave you a chance. Not only did you refuse to surrender, but you also threaten Miss Mi.

All units, follow me to charge and rescue the lady."

"Marquis, this is not good. Their warships are rapidly closing in on us, surrounding us," Sun Meng said anxiously.

"Guards, protect the madam into the cabin. Sun Meng, bring me the bow," Chen Mo ordered.

"Yes," Sun Meng went to fetch the bow.

"My lady, please come this way." The personal soldiers guarding Chen Mo stepped forward, escorting Wu Mi into the cabin.

Understanding the gravity of the situation, Wu Mi knew staying wouldn't help. She urged Chen Mo to be careful before retreating into the cabin.

Chen Mo's ship was the flagship. He went to the highest point of the command platform, surveyed front and back, and saw two large enemy warships charging swiftly. Smoke billowed from the ships, and no soldiers could be seen.

During his earlier inspection of the shipyard, Nangong Wen had mentioned to Chen Mo that some navies specially crafted warships for ramming battles, built to be extremely sturdy, intended for do-or-die charges.

However, this strategy was usually adopted only when vastly outnumbered.

But currently, Chen Mo's side had merely over a thousand people and seven warships.

In contrast, Wu Yu's side was five to six times larger.

Choosing this method indicated they wanted a quick resolution.

In naval warfare, it's most advantageous to fight against the wind and current, next best is going with the current but against the wind.

It's most perilous to have both wind and current in one's favor. Though the warship charges forward quickly, it can't retreat, the path is singular, a slight misstep leads to encirclement by enemy forces, and isolated, the troops are doomed to defeat.

However, Wu Yu's navy dared to fight with both wind and current because they held an overwhelming advantage in manpower and ships. They only needed to advance without retreating, without fear of encirclement by enemy forces.

Given that Chen Mo had so few ships and people, there was no possibility of encirclement.

"Marquis, they are going to ram us, what do we do now?" Sun Meng asked.

"Accelerate and charge past. Instruct all catapults to aim at the fleet ahead, ignore the ships charging at us," Chen Mo commanded.

Hearing this, Sun Meng was shocked. Ignore the charging ships? At such speed with the wind, a collision would mean total destruction.

But Chen Mo's order was to be executed.

Sun Meng relayed Chen Mo's orders, and the standard bearer signaled the other six escort ships using flag signals.

Receiving the orders, the seven warships went full throttle upstream.

On Wu Yu and Liu Ji's flagship, witnessing this scene, they were stunned.

"Are you actually daring to charge?"

The next scene left them even more dumbfounded.

On the command platform of the flagship, a massive purple sun, like a divine halo, hovered behind Chen Mo. At this moment, the blazing sun in the sky seemed connected to Chen Mo's purple sun.

The purple sun behind him constantly flickered with auspicious lights, eager to move.

This dazzling scene naturally caught everyone's attention.

Chen Mo, harnessing the innate spiritual qi within him, raised his hand and pointed through the air at the two suicide attack warships approaching.

The next second, two purple-golden wheels shot out from the purple sun behind Chen Mo successively.

```