“Yes!” The guard retreated…
Shan Xiaoya heard his words and was shocked, loudly questioning: “What do you want that wine for?”
Hu Yan Nan looked coldly at Shan Xiaoya on the ground. “I want to know if a woman who swears to never submit will still maintain her self-righteous appearance after drinking that wine. I want to know how low her bones are.”
Soon, the guard brought a pot of wine, placing it on the table. He turned and left, closing the door.
Hu Yan Nan brought the wine pot to Shan Xiaoya’s front. Coldly, he said: “Will you drink by yourself? Or do you need me to feed you?”
Shan Xiaoya said hatefully: “You are shameless!”
Hu Yan Nan said nonchalantly: “It seems you want me to feed you. Since that’s the case, I’ll go along with you.” As he spoke, he pinched Shan Xiaoya’s mouth, tilting the pot to pour into her mouth… Shan Xiaoya used her tongue to push it all out.
Furious, Hu Yan Nan forcefully let go of his hand and shouted excitedly: “You won’t get away! I will definitely make you willingly submit beneath me.” After finishing, he turned away with an unwilling expression and walked out of the bedroom…
Shan Xiao Ya was brought by the guards to a place called ‘Shi Zhan Yuan’. Shi Zhan Yuan was actually a closed courtyard. There were many masters here.
The girls here not only had to learn music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, but also had to master the skills of pleasing men and serving them perfectly. Girls who left here were top-tier courtesans in any brothel – sought-after and rare commodities.
Girls wanting to enter Shi Zhan Yuan, if not beautiful, could not enter no matter how much money they had. Once inside, leaving was impossible. They had to meet every requirement to exit. However, this place was also known as a ‘demon kiln’, with a rumor that out of ten girls who entered, it was already remarkable if one survived. Thus, it was always considered mysterious and terrifying by outsiders.
The old woman finished speaking and pointed to the left. A man and a woman sat at the table drinking. The man was incredibly ugly, while the woman was delicate and beautiful as a flower. They were worlds apart. Yet this woman’s face was full of adoration, her eyes brimming with admiration. The words from her mouth were soft as water, and her intentional or unintentional physical contact with the man drew his disgusting laugh…
These girls with aimless gazes watched the man and woman’s passionate performance, their eyes flashing with a curious thirst for knowledge.
They watched their movements on the bed, not even blinking…
After all the sensual scenes faded, the beautiful woman reluctantly saw off the ugly man, and her face was filled with disgust… When she saw the silver he left behind, her disgust turned to greed…
The old woman waved her hand, and the large curtain closed again, as if everything had just been an illusion that never happened. The old woman continued: “Everything is fake. Only silver is real. Your ultimate goal is to earn as much silver as possible, understand?”
The girls seemed to comprehend her words, blinking their eyes…
To be a woman who plays men in the palm of her hand, one must not only understand techniques and skills but also design a perfect plan beneficial to oneself.
The ‘anger’ degree; the ‘laughter’ degree; The ‘drinking’ skill; the ‘singing’ skill; ‘Persuasion’ has its method; ‘doing’ has its technique; ‘calling’ requires ability.
The ‘degree’ of ‘feigned resistance yet welcoming’ must be precisely controlled; the ‘measure’ of ‘catching while letting go’ must be carefully managed; the ‘scheme’ of ‘cunning and treacherous’ must be rationally designed…
Each lesson would have a live performance with commentary and the girls’ personal experiments. The girls couldn’t distinguish between good and evil, knowing only their own pleasure and silver were most important. Their task was to defeat opponents and earn more silver.
Shan Xiaoya stayed in the training circle for an entire year. During this time, she transformed into a beautiful, enchanting woman. Her every gesture carried a charming rhythm and a cold, proud quality that made her unforgettable.
The old woman gathered the trained girls. Each girl’s expression was rich and focused, completely different from their initial blank looks.
The old woman scanned the girls, speaking coldly: “Everything you should learn, I’ve taught you without reservation. Now it’s time for your test. Girls who pass will leave the training circle and start a new life. If you fail this test, don’t blame me for being heartless.” Her stern tone made every girl feel anxious.
These girls must pass eight trials. Passing meant freedom; failing meant destruction.
Chapter 081
These girls must pass eight trials. Passing meant freedom and prosperity; failing meant death and total destruction…
First trial: Loyalty; Second trial: Music, Chess, Calligraphy, Painting; Third trial: Emotion; Fourth trial: Technique; Fifth trial: Skill; Sixth trial: Sensitivity; Seventh trial: Compassion in the face of money; Eighth trial: Survival in the face of conspiracy.
In the days that followed, these girls lived in one conspiracy after another. Men’s false affections, women’s jealous fights, hands showing no mercy before money, using almost every possible means for a gold ingot. The surface was calm, but underneath was bloody and sinister. A small training circle was shrouded in cunning and viciousness…
Manyi Nation underwent earth-shattering changes this year. Man Hanting tightly controlled military affairs, rapidly expanding the army. With great momentum, strict military law, standardized discipline, every soldier mastering basic skills. Both military and national affairs were handled methodically… Man Hanting’s ambition to unify the world was known to all…
The Gold Sun Nation’s emperor was inherently kind, opposing war between nations, believing war brought disaster to people, causing displacement and family destruction.
Therefore, he paid no attention to military affairs, focusing all energy on people’s livelihood. Although deeply loved by his people, to neighboring countries, Gold Sun Nation was a fat, delicious meal that everyone eyed covetously. Without Hu Yan Nan guarding it, it would have disappeared long ago…
Hu Yan Nan knew Man Hanting would not easily give up. Every day, he intensified training his subordinates…
After careful consideration, Man Hanting believed his national strength was sufficient to confront Hu Yan Nan. Defeating Hu Yan Nan would make Gold Sun Nation his possession. Man Hanting began contacting Gold Sun Nation’s internal informants, planning to attack from inside and outside…
The Emperor of Jin Ri Guo listened to the slander of treacherous courtiers and reduced the military funds given to Hu Yan Nan to the bare minimum. Hu Yan Nan submitted memorial after memorial, but the responses he received were always about resource constraints. Helplessly, Hu Yan Nan could only cut military expenses, and the soldiers’ provisions became worse and worse, with frequent complaints.
We might as well go home and farm, cuddle our wives and children, and live a comfortable life…”
Such words became more and more frequent, and military morale became increasingly scattered. Many soldiers applied to return home and farm. Hu Yan Nan was just a military general, unable to bear these huge expenses, and could only watch painfully as soldiers left one by one. Only those bodyguards and soldiers who swore lifelong loyalty remained with Hu Yan Nan, accompanying him to defend An City.
One year later, the financial resources of the two countries were comparable, but their military strengths differed dramatically. Those who understood could see that behind this seemingly prosperous facade, undercurrents were surging, and a real storm was about to break.
