Grace Miller lightly tied her silk dress, not taking it off, revealing a hint of jade-like skin at her chest. Although Adam Carter's eyes didn't pop out, he still couldn't look away.

Seeing Adam Carter's gaze, Grace Miller gritted her teeth, grabbed her dress, and knelt down.

Adam Carter was taken aback. "What are you doing?"

"I only ask that after Mr. Carter takes me, you let me go. Otherwise, I would rather die than submit." Grace Miller spoke resolutely, without any hesitation.

The passion that had just risen in Adam Carter was instantly extinguished; he couldn't understand this woman's intentions.

"Please, Mr. Carter, grant my wish." Grace Miller bit her lip lightly, but anyone could see her determination.

"Why?" Adam Carter was completely confused.

"Because my clansmen are waiting for me to save them." Tears streamed down Grace Miller's face. "Mr. Carter, I beg you to have mercy on me. After you take me, please let me go."

"Oh." Adam Carter responded, suddenly understanding a little. Seeing Grace Miller's tear-streaked face, Adam Carter felt a bit of pity in his heart. He got up, walked to the bed, and lay down. "We're both tired. Let's sleep."

His "sleep" had no other meaning; as soon as he lay down, his snores already filled the room.

Grace Miller stood there in a daze, unable to understand Adam Carter's intentions.

According to her thinking, it was absolutely impossible to leave this mountain stronghold unscathed. Since that was the case, her fallback plan was to use her body as a bargaining chip to beg this young master to let her go.

But this was a desperate move; no one could guarantee whether Adam Carter would keep his word, or if after a night together, he would be even less willing to let her go. Yet she had no other choice.

She hadn't expected Adam Carter to refuse her, not taking advantage of the situation. For the first time, she felt a complicated emotion toward Adam Carter—he seemed not only to be a man, but a real man!

While pretending to sleep, Adam Carter actually felt quite uncomfortable inside. Other than pigs, few could fall asleep so quickly. He admitted that he had indeed wanted to possess Grace Miller just now—he was no saint—but at the very least, he was still a human being. He would not take advantage of someone in distress!

Sex is just sex, but if one party has to endure it in pain, then he felt it was no different from rape.

He was clearly not that kind of person.

Seeing Grace Miller's tears, he had already softened a bit inside. She was using her body to exchange for her freedom; no matter what, he couldn't ignore that. But if he just let her go, what would the people in the stronghold say? Would they think he had lost his mind?

Sensing Grace Miller's confusion and timidity, Adam Carter squinted at her curled up in the corner, sitting weakly on the mat, and sighed inwardly, having already made up his mind.

The night passed without words. When Grace Miller felt the sunlight streaming through the window onto her body, she slowly opened her eyes, only to find that at some point, a quilt had been draped over her. She couldn't help but be startled.

She turned her head abruptly and found the bed already empty; Adam Carter had disappeared at some point. Looking at the quilt covering her, Grace Miller was filled with suspicion and uncertainty. Thinking of all that Adam Carter had done, she was overwhelmed with mixed feelings, and found herself lost in thought.

Section Six: Famous General

Adam Carter got up early and saw Grace Miller curled up like a kitten in the corner of the mat on the floor.

She was exhausted, clutching the corner of her clothes to protect herself, yet already fast asleep. In truth, she looked as if she couldn't protect anything at all, as delicate as an early spring flower. Adam Carter could have possessed this woman with just a move of his hand, without any responsibility.

Awake, Grace Miller was alluring and charming; asleep, she was pure and fragile, making any man who saw her unable to help but let his imagination run wild.

In the end, he still controlled his impulses. Adam Carter didn't think of himself as noble, just that he had to stick to his own principles.

Gently covering Grace Miller with a quilt, Adam Carter silently left the wooden cabin, breathed in some fresh air, and went to do his morning exercises—running to the mountaintop to swing his blade a thousand times.

Although he knew his swordsmanship was still clumsy and awkward, lately, when he swung the blade, it was full of vigor. Adam Carter enjoyed it, knowing that the early bird catches the worm.

Practicing one more swing now might save his life in a future crisis.

After coming down the mountain, Adam Carter was drenched in sweat. He walked to the mountain stream to wash up a bit, and thinking of Grace Miller, a faint smile appeared on his lips. He wondered whether bringing her a bucket of fresh water at this moment would make Grace Miller thank him or curse him.

The stronghold was surrounded by mountains and water. Although it wasn't as convenient as his own era, it was fresh and natural, with a unique charm.

After bathing, Adam Carter thought it over carefully and decided to discuss releasing Grace Miller with his reincarnated father, Peter Carter.

Since Adam Carter had come to the stronghold, he naturally had to follow its rules. He had staked his claim first, treating Grace Miller as his private property—no one would object to that.

But even though he was the young master, it wasn't right to release a woman on his own authority. It's like not eating rations, but you can't just throw them away and waste them either.

Just as he arrived at the assembly hall, someone hurriedly rushed out, almost bumping into Adam Carter.

Adam Carter caught him. "Frank Reed, what's the matter?"

"The chief is looking for you," Frank Reed said with some excitement. "Adam, you're up so early. We were still debating whether to wake you."

Adam Carter understood their teasing and could only smile. "Isn't it still early in the day?"