Chapter 72: Chapter 72: The Whipping Punishment

Outside the Military Preparation Camp, dusk was gradually falling.

A lavishly decorated carriage was parked quietly not far from the camp gate. The curtain moved slightly, faintly revealing a beautiful young woman sitting inside.

Yang Xueyao clutched the silk handkerchief in her hand, her knuckles turning white from the force. Her gaze darted to the camp gate from time to time, her eyes filled with worry.

’Aunt has been in the camp for nearly an hour and still hasn’t come out.’

’What on earth is happening in there?’

This gave her a faint, ominous premonition.

Her unease and worry had intensified, especially after the soldiers had stopped her from entering the camp just moments ago.

’Aunt couldn’t have run into danger, could she?’

This unusual treatment made Yang Xueyao deeply anxious. But her aunt was, after all, the County Magistrate’s Wife. No matter how arrogant Chen Sheng was, she figured he wouldn’t dare be disrespectful to her. This thought helped her suppress her rising panic.

But while she worried for her aunt’s safety, a complex and indescribable emotion also swirled within her.

After repeated persuasion from her family and her aunt, she had, despite her outward resistance, slowly come to accept the proposal of a marriage alliance with Chen Sheng. It was only for the sake of appearances that she had to feign reluctance.

Of course, acceptance was one thing, but deep down, she still harbored resentment toward the man who had killed her fiancé. Yet, for the sake of her family’s interests—and some subtle feelings of her own—she had mostly convinced herself.

What she hadn’t expected was that just as she had finally made up her mind, Chen Sheng showed a clear coldness toward her.

She had come to the Military Preparation Camp with her aunt today and had even taken great care in dressing up. Who would have thought she wouldn’t even be allowed past the camp gates? His refusal was undoubtedly a statement of his attitude.

Logically, she should have felt relieved.

But for some reason, when faced with this reality, she felt an indescribable sense of loss. She couldn’t help but wonder: was Chen Sheng displeased with the Yang Family’s earlier hesitation, or had he simply lost interest in her?

’What’s wrong with me...’

Yang Xueyao bit her lower lip, confused and bewildered by her own contradictory feelings.

Just as her mind was in turmoil, there was finally movement at the camp gate.

"Madam, please..."

Hearing the voice, Yang Xueyao quickly pulled back the curtain to look.

She saw her aunt walking out slowly, escorted by two soldiers. Although her bearing was still dignified, a closer look revealed a subtle, unsteady weakness in her steps.

"Aunt!"

Yang Xueyao quickly threw open the carriage curtain and hurried to meet her.

But the moment she touched her aunt’s arm, she could clearly feel her body trembling slightly, weak and unsteady, as if she had just gone through a great ordeal.

"What happened to you?"

Yang Xueyao helped Madam Yang into the carriage with great concern, her eyes carefully studying her face.

Madam Yang waved her hand, signaling that she was fine, but her face showed an unconcealable exhaustion.

This obviously wrong state of affairs made Yang Xueyao’s heart tighten. She quickly pressed, "Aunt, was Chen Sheng disrespectful to you?"

Madam Yang’s heart skipped a beat. She immediately shook her head, her voice somewhat hoarse.

"It’s nothing. I’m just a little tired."

"But your voice... Did Chen Sheng give you a hard time because of the marriage alliance?"

Yang Xueyao was clearly skeptical.

"Don’t be ridiculous."

Madam Yang avoided her niece’s searching gaze, her tone slightly flustered. "Commander Chen treated me with courtesy. It’s just that I caught a bit of a chill last night, which is why my voice sounds different."

"But your face..."

Yang Xueyao’s voice trembled with fear. "Did Chen Sheng... hit you?"

She had keenly noticed that not only was her aunt’s voice strange, but her cheeks were also slightly flushed and even a little swollen. This made her mind jump to some terrible possibilities.

The thought sent a chill down her spine.

If it were true, then Chen Sheng’s arrogance was far beyond her imagination. At the same time, she was terrified by the thought of what kind of treatment she would suffer if she were to marry such a man.

Hearing this, Madam Yang shot her niece a complicated glance.

"Don’t let your imagination run wild."

Madam Yang forced herself to remain calm as she straightened her slightly disheveled clothes. "I am the County Magistrate’s Wife. No matter how bold Commander Chen is, he would not dare to be so outrageous."

She paused, then deftly changed the subject. "As for the marriage alliance... Commander Chen’s intention is to put it on hold for now."

"Did he really say that?"

Yang Xueyao was stunned, a mix of emotions swirling inside her.

Although this was the outcome she had hoped for, hearing such a blunt refusal still filled her with a strange sense of humiliation. ’In Chen Sheng’s eyes, am I, the Yang Family’s legitimate daughter, so insignificant?’

"Don’t take it too much to heart."

Madam Yang noticed the change in her niece’s expression and said gently, "I will explain things to the Patriarch."

Chen Sheng hadn’t gone into detail about the marriage, but his meaning was clear: because of the Yang Family’s prior attitude, the alliance was now impossible.

However, with her mediating, Chen Sheng was willing to let go of past grudges and promised not to pursue the Yang Family’s previous mistakes. But he had another demand—the Yang Family must clearly pick a side and fully support him and Wu Kuang.

Furthermore, they would have to pay a price for their past errors.

Madam Yang knew this condition would put her brother, Yang Yi, in a very difficult position. Unless... unless she confessed everything about what Lin Shou had done. Perhaps then there was a chance to persuade him.

As Yang Xueyao listened to her aunt, she felt a sense of relief, but also a strange discomfort, as if the marriage alliance she had come to value meant nothing in Chen Sheng’s eyes.

...

Inside the main tent of the Military Preparation Camp, steam filled the air.

Chen Sheng leaned lazily against the edge of the bath, feeling a deep comfort that spread from head to toe.

His recent "negotiation" with Madam Yang had not only achieved his goals but also provided a unique kind of pleasure.

The County Magistrate’s Wife was truly a stunner. Though a bit older, she still possessed a mature charm. What was even rarer was her perfectly timed submission and compliance.

Under his coercion, Madam Yang’s bottom line had retreated again and again. The next step was simply to crush Lin Shou.

And during his "debate" with Madam Yang, Chen Sheng had basically figured out some of Lin Shou’s secrets.

The man was certainly ’well-connected’ from behind.

His backer was Hao Tong, the Vice General of Ning’an Prefecture’s Military Preparation Army.

He held the rank of Standard Sixth Grade, wielded military power, and could be considered a man of high status and great authority. Moreover, his Cultivation was unfathomably deep, far beyond that of someone who had just entered the Innate Realm.

However, according to what Madam Yang said later, the relationship between Lin Shou and Hao Tong was rather strange.

It seemed Lin Shou had fallen out of favor, and Hao Tong no longer valued him.

Usually, it was Lin Shou who took the initiative to send gifts and curry favor, while Hao Tong rarely responded.

The reason Lin Shou had Madam Yang practice the Surprised Phoenix Nourishing Essence Skill was that he coveted her Three Yin Body. He planned to offer her as a gift to Hao Tong to win back his favor.

Learning this was undoubtedly good news for him.

Their connection wasn’t strong. As long as Wu Kuang could maneuver things properly with the higher-ups, Lin Shou posed no real threat. Vice General Hao wouldn’t go against his superiors for a pawn he had already discarded.

Furthermore, judging from the hints given by [Seeking Fortune and Avoiding Evil]...

Lin Shou’s secret homosexuality was a piece of leverage he could use.

That Vice General Hao would never accept such a filthy reputation. If he spread this news, Hao Tong would likely take the initiative to sever all ties with Lin Shou upon learning of it.

However, he would also completely offend Hao Tong in the process, making a bitter enemy of him.

Overall, it was a double-edged sword. He didn’t want to use it unless absolutely necessary. But perhaps he could use it to blackmail Lin Shou and force him to submit.

Of course, this would only be effective after Lin Shou was forced to face reality and hit a dead end.

Once Lin Shou suffered repeated setbacks with his superiors, Chen Sheng could then reveal this leverage at the right moment, leaving Lin Shou with no other way out.

At this thought, a cold smile touched Chen Sheng’s lips. He leaped out of the bath and assumed a Pile Skill stance. A white mist immediately rose from his body, and in just a moment, the water on his skin had completely evaporated.

’The path of Cultivation allows for no slack.’

’Time to continue my arduous training!’

...

"How did it go?"

When Madam Yang dragged her exhausted body back to the residence, she was immediately summoned by the County Magistrate, Lin Shou, who asked about the results of her attempt to win Chen Sheng over.

Madam Yang felt a strange twist in her heart.

’How did it go?’

’The harvest was immense.’

’I went there empty, and returned fully loaded.’

But of course, Madam Yang didn’t dare say these words aloud. She forced a smile and said in a low voice, "My lord, Commander Chen did not agree. He only said... he would do his duty and respect the orders of the County Captain and the County Magistrate."

Originally, Madam Yang had suggested to Chen Sheng that they could temporarily placate Lin Shou. Perhaps she could feign allegiance and then turn on him after the position of Grand Commander was settled.

But Chen Sheng had told her to just reject Lin Shou outright.

After all, from Chen Sheng’s perspective, this so-called feigned allegiance would become a messy affair if word got out, and it would especially make Wu Kuang suspicious.

He didn’t want any rift to form between him and Wu Kuang.

Moreover, Lin Shou would never believe a mere verbal promise. He might even use it as an excuse to spread rumors and cut off Chen Sheng’s escape routes.

Therefore, in Chen Sheng’s view, there was no need to hide anything.

As soon as Madam Yang finished speaking, Lin Shou’s expression darkened instantly.

He had harbored a sliver of hope, thinking that the lure of benefits might persuade Chen Sheng to change his stance.

Now, it seemed he had been overthinking things.

The man hadn’t even bothered to put up a front.

"Hah! ’Do his duty’!"

Lin Shou sneered. "He’s dead set on following Wu Kuang."

Madam Yang carefully observed her husband’s expression and said softly, "My lord, perhaps we could give him some more time to consider..."

"There’s no need!"

Lin Shou cut her off in annoyance. "Since he wants to do this the hard way, then don’t blame me for getting rough!"

He had already written a formal impeachment of Wu Kuang and also sent a secret letter to Lord Hao.

With this two-pronged attack, he’d like to see if Chen Sheng could still secure his promotion to Grand Commander of the Military Preparation Camp.

’Does he really think I, the County Magistrate, am just a decoration?’

’I have people backing me!’

"Then... I will return to my room to rest."

Madam Yang didn’t dare meet Lin Shou’s gaze, afraid he would notice something was amiss. After all, she wasn’t in a good state, and if he found out, the regret would be endless. She quickly bowed and prepared to leave. 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

"Wait."

Lin Shou suddenly stopped Madam Yang, his eyes scanning her up and down.

Although he had no interest in women, he had to admit that Madam Yang’s beauty and voluptuous figure were among the best in Changshan County. To some men, she was incredibly tempting.

And she had gone to see Chen Sheng late at night. He had to be cautious.

"Does my lord have any other instructions?"

Madam Yang’s heart tightened, but she forced herself to ask calmly.

"Show me your Chastity Sand," Lin Shou said coldly.

For someone practicing the Surprised Phoenix Nourishing Essence Skill, the Chastity Sand was distinctly different from an ordinary person’s. He could spot the abnormality at a glance.

Hearing this, Madam Yang was secretly relieved that she hadn’t done anything more out of line. She had merely engaged in a bit of a verbal spar with Chen Sheng. Sighing with relief internally, she feigned a heartbroken expression, rolled up her sleeve, and revealed the turquoise-and-crimson mark on her arm.

Lin Shou examined it carefully before finally relaxing. "Go."

Watching his wife’s retreating back, a sinister glint flashed in Lin Shou’s eyes.

’This ignorant Martial Artist must pay the price for his choice.’