Chapter 79: Chapter 79: Refining the Yin Yuan

"This restorative soup is excellent. It was thoughtful of County Magistrate Lin."

A flute’s sorrowful, lingering melody drifted from outside the door. It was a winding tune, full of melancholy, nostalgia, and mournful regret.

Inside, Chen Sheng, casually draped in a simple white robe, sipped the restorative soup that had just been delivered from the Lin Mansion. It must have been brewed with a generous amount of Spirit Medicine, for a pleasant warmth was now spreading through his entire body.

He felt as if the energy he had just expended was already almost entirely replenished.

At this thought, Chen Sheng couldn’t help but marvel.

’Lin Shou truly is a man of honor.’

’Not only did he help me... he knew I must have exerted myself and specifically sent this soup.’

"You little rogue, you’re absolutely brazen."

"Brazen? I wouldn’t call it that. It’s just a matter of having some confidence. Besides, if I weren’t, how else would I have had the chance to gaze upon your beauty today?"

Chen Sheng offered a faint smile.

’This venture had been a complete success.’

He had taken Madam Yang’s Yin Yuan, which she had nurtured for many years. Once he returned to camp and properly refined it, his Cultivation would advance by leaps and bounds. Even now, he could feel his Inner Breath rapidly growing stronger.

The progress bar on his status panel was jumping wildly.

"What am I supposed to do now?"

Madam Yang sat beside Chen Sheng, her face etched with worry. She ladled a bowl of the restorative soup for herself, her eyes fixed on him, unable to hide her reliance on him.

Earlier, she had been swept up by Chen Sheng and had thrown all caution to the wind. But now, in the clear-headed aftermath, her anxieties began to set in.

Chen Sheng had already taken her most precious possession.

If he went back on his word, she would be utterly ruined.

Even the entire Yang Family could be plunged into a terrible crisis because of her actions.

"Don’t worry, Madam. I’ll handle everything."

Chen Sheng said reassuringly,

"If you want things to be peaceful, then just keep a low profile for a few days. I’ll come help you break free once I’ve finished my business. But if you’re truly terrified, I can take you to confront him right now."

Chen Sheng was not a man who went back on his word. Since Madam Yang had placed her trust in him, he wouldn’t be so heartless as to cast her aside. However, his most pressing concern at the moment was dealing with the Demon Monk, and he didn’t want any complications.

So, he gave her the choice. It was all up to her. But no matter what she decided, Chen Sheng would do everything in his power to help.

"What do you want me to do?"

Madam Yang didn’t look at Chen Sheng. She lowered her gaze, as if wanting to hear what he would suggest.

"I would prefer... that you endure this for just a little while longer."

Chen Sheng studied her for a moment before speaking.

According to the Celestial Book of Seeking Fortune and Avoiding Evil, the Demon Monk would launch a surprise attack on the night of the first day of the eleventh month. Based on his own experience, he figured the monk had chosen that specific time because he couldn’t find any other opportunity. After all, if not for the Celestial Book’s warning, Chen Sheng wouldn’t have been in such a rush to deal with the Huang and Yang Families. He would have finished refining the Golden Jade Ointment first.

But if something were to happen with Madam Yang, the timing of the monk’s attack could change.

So, it was best to keep things quiet for now. After he had slain the Demon Monk and settled this feud for good, that would be the time to lay his cards on the table with Lin Shou.

He didn’t want any surprises before then.

"Then I will listen to whatever you say."

Madam Yang agreed without a second thought.

’I should be safe for now,’ she thought. ’He probably won’t notice anything is wrong, especially since I haven’t even left the estate.’

’Even my trips back to my maiden home are under his arrangement.’

’He’s not likely to check on me or anything.’

"Good. I’ll come for you in a few days."

Chen Sheng squeezed Madam Yang’s delicate hand, promising softly.

If Madam Yang had been more experienced, she would have recognized this as a common line men use. But she was still lost in the afterglow of their encounter and didn’t give it a second thought.

In fact, her heart fluttered with a sweet feeling as she nodded emphatically.

"Okay."

"However, if Lin Shou really does notice something, don’t try to handle it alone. Find a way to send a message to me. I’ll come." Chen Sheng had always thought Madam Yang was quite clever.

But after actually getting to know her, he realized this woman was actually a bit ’naive.’ She was so easily swayed by just a few of his words. As such, he truly had no intention of betraying her trust and breaking his promise.

"I have a few handmaidens in the mansion who came with me as part of my dowry. If things get truly desperate, I’ll send for you then. Don’t worry."

The more he acted this way, the more Madam Yang trusted him.

Hearing her words, Chen Sheng said no more. He drained the last of the soup in a single gulp and stood up.

"I’m leaving."

With his level of skill, moving through the Lin Mansion was a trivial matter, and covering his tracks was no problem at all. After a few brief words to Madam Yang, he slipped out the back window.

Watching Chen Sheng disappear into the night, a wistful expression crossed Madam Yang’s face. She sat in silence for a long time before lying down on the bed and closing her eyes, her mind replaying their recent... encounter.

She instinctively pulled the blanket over her face.

.....

「In the Military Preparation Camp.」

Chen Sheng had slipped out and returned without anyone noticing anything amiss. For the moment, however, he didn’t immediately begin his cultivation. Instead, he savored the pleasant memory of what had just transpired.

To put it simply, his experience could be described in two words.

Very smooth!

Chen Sheng had heard all sorts of rumors and evaluations before.

Things like: top-tier beauties are fair, tall, and voluptuous; high-class beauties are bewitching and wild; and low-class beauties are just feisty and difficult.

But he’d never had the chance to test the theory for himself. This time, however, he had truly experienced what it meant to be with a top-tier beauty.

Of course, this was just a fleeting thought. Chen Sheng quickly shifted his focus back to the changes within his body. He calmed his breathing, centered his mind, and sat down cross-legged.

Assuming the Pile Skill stance, he began to diligently refine the pure Yin Yuan Power he had absorbed.

’The arduous cultivation... continues!’

.....

Meanwhile, treacherous undercurrents were surging within Changshan City.

Chen Sheng’s thunderous annihilation of the Gao Family had sent a chill through the various factions of Changshan, scaring them into silence.

For a time, a sense of peril gripped the city’s major powers. All eyes turned to the Huang and Yang Families, waiting to see how these two great Noble Families would react to the sudden upheaval.

Everyone assumed the Huang and Yang Families would form an alliance to jointly resist the Government Office. Even the members of the Huang Family themselves believed this would be the case.

However, in a move that no one expected, just as the storm was brewing, Yang Yi suddenly ordered his vassal faction, the Three Tigers Gang, to launch a brazen attack on the Huang Family’s own vassal, the Baisha Gang.

The two gangs immediately erupted into a violent conflict in the west of the city, abruptly dropping all pretense of civility.

When the news reached the Huang Mansion, Huang Dongchun was pacing in his study. Upon hearing it, he slammed his hand on the desk, making the teacups rattle.

"That idiot Yang Yi! Has he gone mad?"

He was about to storm off to the Yang Family to demand an explanation, but his great-uncle, who had rushed over, stopped him.

"Wait."

The Huang family’s great-uncle leaned on his cane, a sharp glint flashing in his murky eyes. ’Without Yang Yi’s consent, how would the Three Tigers Gang dare to storm into the city’s west? I’m afraid that boy sees the writing on the wall and wants to offer Chen Sheng a Pledge of Loyalty.’

Huang Dongchun’s face changed dramatically. "Don’t tell me... County Magistrate Lin is in on it with them?"

His voice held an unconcealed note of panic. If that were true, the Huang Family would be in grave peril.

"It’s hard to say for sure."

The great-uncle slowly shook his head, tapping his cane lightly on the floor. "But Yang Yi has certainly reached some kind of agreement with Chen Sheng. It seems we’ve underestimated this young man’s schemes."

"Then... should we also try to get on Chen Sheng’s good side?"

Huang Dongchun asked, his voice strained and his eyes filled with unwillingness.

If this were an ordinary feud, the Huang Family might have chosen to swallow their pride for the sake of survival. After all, as the reigning power in Changshan County, they knew that temporary gains and losses were meaningless in the long run.

Once Chen Sheng or Wu Kuang were transferred elsewhere, the Huang Family could always rise again.

The problem was, Chen Sheng had destroyed their family’s most precious treasure, the Spirit Marrow Gu!

How could they possibly let go of such a deep-seated hatred?

"Bowing our heads now would be too little, too late."

The great-uncle sighed, his deeply wrinkled face grave. "Yang Yi’s move was swift and decisive. The Military Preparation Camp, the County Magistrate’s office, the Yang Family... if those three join forces, our Huang Family has no chance of victory."

Huang Ke, who had been listening in silence, couldn’t help but speak up.

"Why hasn’t Gao Yuanfeng made his move? Is he scared?"

"The Gao Family is gone. What can you possibly expect from him?"

Huang Dongchun snorted. "Unless he can get Gao Yuanzhao to help, otherwise..."

Sending the Black Jade Healing Ointment was just a desperate gamble. They didn’t actually hold out much hope for it. After all, even the Gao Family at its peak couldn’t stand against Chen Sheng.

Let alone now, when he’s nothing more than a stray dog with no home to return to.

As dusk fell, the flickering candlelight in the study cast shifting shadows on the three men’s grim and uncertain faces.

After a long silence, the great-uncle opened his eyes, a look of resolve flashing within them. "Huang Ke, immediately pick your most capable men. You will ride to the Prefecture City tonight and ask the Xu Family for aid."

He paused, his tone growing heavier.

"’Yan’Er is the Lady of the Xu Family. Our only hope is to get reinforcements from the Prefecture City. While the Xu Family isn’t a top-tier Noble Family there, they do have an Innate Powerhouse among them. I trust that title alone will be enough to make Chen Sheng and Wu Kuang think twice.’"

The status of an Innate Powerhouse was on another level. He believed that even Chen Sheng and Wu Kuang would have to show the Xu Family some respect. If worse came to worst... they could simply pay a price to resolve the feud.

The Huang Family had spared no expense in arranging the marriage with the Xu Family, even pouring in resources to help Huang Yan secure her position as the family’s matriarch. It was all for this one lifeline in a moment of crisis.

Now, it was time to call in that favor.

They absolutely could not wait until the last second, only to regret it when it was too late.

"I’ll make the arrangements at once."

Knowing the importance of the matter, Huang Ke didn’t dare to delay and immediately rose to leave.

The great-uncle then turned to Huang Dongchun and said gravely, "For the next few days, everyone in the Huang Family must act with the utmost caution. We will lay low and endure. We’ll make our plans after the Xu Family’s people arrive."

"Rest assured, Great-Uncle. I understand."

Huang Dongchun sighed heavily and lowered his head, his expression full of reluctance.

————