"Madam, you don’t want to be treated as a Furnace Cauldron whose life is in constant danger, do you?"

His warm breath on her ear sent an involuntary shiver through Madam Yang, a tingling numbness spreading from head to toe. But it was Chen Sheng’s low voice that startled her fully awake, her pupils shrinking in an instant.

"You... How could you know... all this?"

Madam Yang’s eyes were filled with horror and disbelief.

She had never told anyone that she was being used as a Furnace Cauldron, or that Lin Shou preferred the company of men.

The first secret was to avoid implicating her family. Lin Shou had warned her that if she dared breathe a word to any outsider, his powerful backer would effortlessly annihilate the Yang Family.

That was precisely why she didn’t dare to resist, resigning herself to silent suffering.

No matter how much resentment festered within her, she could only bury it deep in her heart.

The second secret was a matter of pure shame. If word got out that Lin Shou was another man’s lover, not only would he be utterly disgraced, but she too would be humiliated, unable to show her face in public.

After all, Lin Shou was her husband.

For Chen Sheng to expose everything so bluntly was both shocking and deeply mortifying. Who could possibly imagine that a woman married for several years would still be a virgin?

"I know far more than you can imagine, Madam. Right now, I only want to ask you one question: are you, in the prime of your life, truly willing to die?

Being a Furnace Cauldron isn’t a one-time affair. Those who are chosen as such usually have only one fate: to be completely drained, and then... to perish in body and soul."

At that moment, Chen Sheng’s hands came to rest on Madam Yang’s delicate shoulders.

Her heart in turmoil, Madam Yang had no mind to push him away, her expression conflicted.

"I... I..."

"If you wish to live, Madam, I can help you."

Chen Sheng could see Madam Yang’s conflict and her wavering resolve. He hadn’t expected to break through her psychological defenses with just a few simple words.

’It seemed Madam Yang must have been living in extreme fear these past days.’

"You... How can you help me?"

Madam Yang suddenly turned her head, her gaze fixed on Chen Sheng.

Of course she didn’t want to die, if there was any other way. But when it came to Lin Shou, she simply couldn’t summon the courage to fight back, knowing it would inevitably drag her whole family down with her.

’But with Chen Sheng... perhaps it wasn’t impossible.’

After all, the Chen Sheng of today was no longer the young upstart who had just taken his post. From what she knew, his cultivation had reached the Marrow Transformation Realm, and he had even killed two Marrow Transformation masters from the Gao Family.

Most importantly, he now controlled all the troops of the county’s Military Preparation Camp. This made Lin Shou extremely wary, and he was already trying to use his connections to have them impeached and prevent Chen Sheng from securing his position.

He already had the power to threaten Lin Shou!

’If Chen Sheng were to help her with all his might, this crisis might just be averted.’

"What you worry about, Madam, is simply the safety of the Yang Family. I now hold military authority. Even if Lin Shou wants to make a move, he lacks the power to do so. As long as I refuse, he cannot mobilize a single soldier.

You’re simply too frightened, Madam. You’ve been scaring yourself." 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

Chen Sheng had a calm smile on his face as he softly comforted her.

"But... but the person behind Lin Shou..."

She had known Lin Shou for years and had long seen him for the paper tiger he was. But his backer was a different story—a major figure from the Prefecture City. The slightest display of his anger...

...would be more than the Yang Family could bear.

Hearing this, Chen Sheng couldn’t help but laugh.

"Madam, why don’t you consider this: if Lin Shou’s connections were truly so powerful, how could he have been suppressed by the three great families before? Besides, do you really think that County Captain Wu and I have no backing of our own?

Why do you think County Captain Wu resists the threats and temptations of the three great families, insisting on rooting out the local powers? Do you believe he’s really trying to bring justice and clarity to the common folk? Heh... that’s just a pretext.

If I dare to make such a promise to you, Madam, it’s because I am confident I can deliver."

Although Chen Sheng and Wu Kuang hadn’t fully grasped the extent of Lin Shou’s power, they could generally tell that he did indeed have a patron.

But who among those in high positions doesn’t have a patron?

Didn’t Wu Kuang also have connections to rely on?

Without backing, how could one govern a region?

Moreover, if Lin Shou’s connections were truly all-powerful, he would have long since subjugated the three great families and become the local emperor of Changshan County. How could he have been suppressed by them instead?

To the point where he even had to collude with them?

He’s even constrained at every turn within his own county office.

You have to understand, the orders from the higher-ups in the Prefecture City were to eliminate the local powers and wipe out the Changshan Water Bandits.

This directive was perfectly clear. If Lin Shou’s backer was truly all-powerful, he would have known this long ago. And as the chief official of the county, Lin Shou’s duty would have been to cooperate unconditionally.

But look at him now—the mere elimination of the Gao Family has sent him into a panic.

His attempts to obstruct my advancement are doomed to fail.

Therefore, while Lin Shou can cause some minor trouble, that’s ultimately all he’s capable of. Otherwise, why would we have so blatantly disregarded him on the day we destroyed the Gao Family?

For no other reason than that Lin Shou no longer posed much of a threat.

That was also why Chen Sheng scoffed at Lin Shou’s attempts to recruit him.

’Who does he think he is, asking me to submit to him?’

"What you’re saying... is it true?"

Seeing Chen Sheng’s confident expression, Madam Yang felt a stir of hope, and the gloom that had shrouded her seemed to lift.

"Why would I go to the trouble of deceiving you, Madam?"

Chen Sheng reached out and took her small, soft, fair hand in his.

"Why do you want to help me? And what repayment do you expect from me?"

Madam Yang’s cheeks flushed under his stare. She tried to pull her hand from his tight grip but found she couldn’t, as if all her strength had left her. Still, she had already found an excuse to console herself.

’It wasn’t that she was being unfaithful. The truth was, Chen Sheng was a master of the Martial Dao, while she was as weak as a kitten. She was simply powerless against his overbearing pressure and forceful advances.’

"Repayment? That depends on how you choose to show your gratitude."

Chen Sheng smiled calmly.

"I... I don’t understand what you mean, Commander Chen. I hope... I hope you can be more explicit."

Madam Yang felt her head spinning, unable to think clearly. The strong masculine scent from Chen Sheng’s body was overwhelming, throwing her mind into a panic.

Seeing her play coy, Chen Sheng simply pulled her soft hand, guiding it gently.

"I’m giving you a hand, Madam. I hope in the future you can give me a hand... or two."

"You..."

The moment her hand touched... it... she was jolted back to her senses. She snatched her arm back and stared at Chen Sheng.

"You... Don’t tell me you also want to use me as a Furnace Cauldron?"

’At that moment, she finally understood. Why would Chen Sheng help her for no reason? They were practically strangers, having met only twice. Why would he bother helping her escape her misery?

He clearly wanted the same thing: to take her Yin Yuan and aid his own cultivation.’

"You misunderstand, Madam. It’s not about a Furnace Cauldron. I just want you to help me with my cultivation in the future."

Chen Sheng shook his head.

’He had no interest in taking her life. It was just that Madam Yang’s Yin Yuan was genuinely beneficial to his cultivation. It could even give him an extra edge when it was time to break through to the Innate Realm.

His cultivation was already at the Marrow Transformation Realm, and with the help of the Golden Jade Ointment, he fully expected to reach the peak of the realm in due time. This was the moment to start preparing for the next step: the Innate Realm.’

Madam Yang’s expression was uncertain. After a long while, she nodded.

"Alright. As long as you can make Lin Shou submit and make me feel secure, then what I have is yours for the taking. But... but not now."

This was her last bargaining chip.

’If Chen Sheng were to deceive her after getting what he wanted, she would be utterly helpless with no one to turn to.’

Afraid that Chen Sheng would misunderstand, Madam Yang hurriedly explained:

"It’s not that I don’t trust you, Commander Chen. It’s just that Lin Shou keeps a very close eye on me. He regularly checks my Chastity Sand. If it disappears, he will surely not spare me."

Once her head cleared, Madam Yang understood this was simply a transaction. She would help his cultivation, and he would help her escape her misery. There was nothing inherently wrong with that, yet she still felt an unexplainable ache in her heart.

But after thinking it through, she found peace with it. As long as Chen Sheng could get her through this crisis, she would not go back on her word.

After all, compared to being used as a Furnace Cauldron and dying, Chen Sheng was an undoubtedly more satisfactory choice.

Hearing this, Chen Sheng was faintly disappointed.

’He had thought he could convince her completely. It seemed he had underestimated Madam Yang; she clearly had a good head on her shoulders. But that was to be expected.

She wasn’t the type to offer her body after just a few sentences.’

However, he wasn’t in a hurry.

’The Golden Jade Ointment was enough for his current cultivation. He could save Madam Yang’s... contribution for his breakthrough to the Innate Realm.’

But even if he couldn’t have the main course, Chen Sheng wasn’t about to let her visit be for nothing.

He narrowed his eyes, staring at her.

"But what am I supposed to do? I’m feeling very... worked up right now."

Madam Yang didn’t dare meet his gaze, afraid her resolve would crumble and she would give in to him. If that happened, she would lose her only bargaining chip.

She bit the tip of her tongue to clear her head, then turned and smiled.

"Xueyao is right outside the Military Preparation Camp. Why don’t you..."

"Forget Miss Yang. I find you far more alluring, Madam. Besides, my ’mood’ aside, the Yang Family did offend me in the past, and you are a Yang.

Shouldn’t you be the one to atone for that crime?"

Chen Sheng shook his head.

’Boundaries are meant to be pushed, little by little. No matter what, he had to make some progress today.

This would serve as preparation for the future.’

"As long as Commander Chen promises not to touch my Yin Yuan, I don’t mind atoning for the Yang Family’s transgressions myself." Hearing his praise, Madam Yang’s face lit up with a smile.

"Agreed. Madam, please put your hair up."

"Put my hair up?"

Madam Yang frowned, confused, until she followed his gaze. Realization dawned, and she shot him a playful, reproachful glance.

"And here I was, thinking Commander Chen was a man of honor. I didn’t expect..."

"So does Madam prefer a man of honor? Or does she prefer someone as direct as me?"

Chen Sheng leaned forward slightly and raised her chin with his hand.

Madam Yang blinked her eyelashes in a fluster and took a few deep breaths.

"I like neither."

"Is that so?"

...

Inside the main tent of the Military Preparation Camp, the candlelight flickered, its light projecting two figures.

Chen Sheng sternly reprimanded the Yang Family for their past actions. And Madam Yang, as the Yang Family’s Legitimate Daughter, was filled with remorse, forced to kneel before him to admit her faults and atone.

All to quell his fiery anger.

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