Wei Xian drawled, her tone giving away neither joy nor anger.
Eliza walked over to Wu Liang's side.
She reached out and touched Florgloria's icy body, frowning as she said,
'She's too cold; throwing her straight into the hot pool will shock her. Let her adjust first.'
Wu Liang nodded, carried Florgloria to a warm wooden bench, and sat down.
His broad palms began to glide over her, driving out the chill.
Florgloria could feel the astonishing heat and the rough texture passing through her.
She could clearly hear her heart drumming in her chest, and she could feel Wei Xian and Eliza's eyes on her.
Being watched by the other two women made her so ashamed she almost fainted.
Yet at the same time, a sense of belonging she had never known before slowly rose from the bottom of her heart.
At last, she had stepped through this door.
Wu Liang did not rush to the next step.
He sensed the change—from stiffness at first to gradual relaxation and softening, her breathing turning rapid.
'How does it feel?'
he asked in a low voice.
'Hot…'
Florgloria's voice carried a thick nasal tone.
'Just hot?'
Wu Liang's palm slid lower.
A shiver raced through her body; she went limp.
Wei Xian gave a soft hum at the sight,
as though displeased that Wu Liang was so impatient right in front of her.
But she knew this was his way of declaring sovereignty.
Eliza silently scooped up another ladle of water and poured it over the scorching stones again.
Sssss—
Thicker steam instantly filled the room, swallowing the three of them completely…
When the Sauna Room door opened again, only Wei Xian and Eliza emerged, supporting each other.
Their faces were flushed, their steps unsteady.
Florgloria and Wu Liang remained inside.
Night was deep, the wind howled.
The Military Workshop's lights were still blazing, the clear clang of metal striking metal ringing out now and then.
Suina was leading her clanswomen, studying day and night the monster called the steam engine.
In the Medical Camp, Alesha had not yet rested.
She was organizing detailed records of this epidemic.
Every symptom, every treatment, every drug reaction was carefully noted in the scrolls.
Every corner of the Tribe was operating at an unprecedented speed, driven by Wu Liang.
A new era was quietly dawning.
The next morning, when Florgloria awoke in Wu Liang's room, her body felt as though it had fallen apart.
Especially her waist—aching and weak, it hardly seemed her own.
She looked at the man still asleep beside her, his handsome, masculine face carrying a satisfied laziness, and her heart brimmed with complicated, sweet emotions.
Everything that had happened last night in the Sauna Room was branded into her mind.
Wu Liang's domineering strength had utterly shattered all her reserve and pride,
and let her taste a pleasure she had never known.
[Ding! Detected target 'Florgloria' mental defenses collapsed. Submission +30%!]
[Ding! Submission +20%!]
[Ding! Submission reached 95%! Target begins developing strong dependency!]
…When Wu Liang and Florgloria completed the final step, the system prompts rang frantically in his mind.
[Ding! Detected Host has completed first Bloodline Linkage with B+ potential target 'Florgloria'. Triggering 'Conquest Rebate' reward!]
[Mission rating: Perfect!]
[Distributing mission rewards…]
[Reward 1: Double return of Host's consumed stamina!]
[Reward 2: Acquire double racial talent from target—Tough Physique LV10! Host's endurance and recovery greatly enhanced!]
[Reward 3: Low chance to acquire talent 'Petrified Skin' failed…converted to talent enhancement. Host's 'Iron Body LV5' upgraded to LV7!]
[Reward 4: Unlock industrial technology tree branch—'Chemical Technology'! Secondary modules 'Salt Chemicals', 'Food Processing & Preservation' unlocked!]
Feeling the power surge within him again and the flood of knowledge about chemistry and food processing, Wu Liang smiled in satisfaction.
Florgloria's 'Tough Physique' talent was a huge boost to him.
It meant he would possess greater staying power and stamina on any battlefield.
He would be invincible!
Unlocking chemical technology was momentous.
Salt chemicals meant more efficient salt production and, in the future, the possibility of making caustic soda, soda ash, and other basic chemical raw materials.
Food processing and preservation could thoroughly solve the Tribe's food-spoilage problem.
It allowed the Tribe to store more winter grain, vastly improving its ability to weather risks.
This seemingly gentle, wife-like chieftess brought value far beyond her potential grade.
Florgloria didn't know what Wu Liang was thinking; she only gazed at his sleeping face in a daze.
Then, unable to resist, she cautiously leaned closer and lightly kissed his cheek.
Just then Wu Liang suddenly pulled her into his arms and opened his eyes.
'Awake?'
his voice carried the hoarseness of early morning.
'Mm…'
Florgloria nodded, cheeks red.
'Then let's go again.'
'Ah? No… I'm falling apart…'
The days that followed saw the Black Rock Tribe enter a period of rapid development.
After being conquered, Florgloria fully assumed the role of Wu Liang's head housekeeper, taking over most of Eliza's work.
Using her knowledge of food processing and preservation, she guided the clanswomen in making jerky, cured meat, dried fruit, and air-dried vegetables.
These processed foods not only kept longer but also had unique flavors, greatly enriching the Tribe's winter menu.
Meanwhile, salt-chemical technology gave her a new method to purify salt. The resulting snow-white salt was cleaner and no longer carried a bitter taste.
Florgloria's status soared; when the clanswomen spoke of her, their faces showed heartfelt respect.
At the Military Workshop, Suina led her Artisans in nonstop research.
Forging, testing.
Cylinders, pistons, connecting rods, flywheels… one unfamiliar part after another took shape beneath their hammers.
They failed countless times; once, due to poor airtightness, a small test cylinder exploded and nearly injured someone.
But Suina was not discouraged; when facing this machine she became more determined and focused than ever.
Wu Liang visited several times—the women were covered in soot, yet none of them gave up.
In the Medical Camp, Alesha combined modern medical knowledge with this world's herbalism to build a systematic healthcare system.
She trained a group of apprentices, teaching them sterilization, bandaging, herb identification, and potion brewing.
The average lifespan of clansmen and the survival rate of newborns were rising at a speed visible to the naked eye.
Lolia's Muge Tribe, supported by Florgloria's food-processing technology, also thrived in animal husbandry.
Large quantities of milk were turned into cheese and butter, and wool was collected.
Under Eliza's guidance, the clanswomen began learning simple spinning techniques, trying to make warmer felt and sweaters.
Sa Lan's scout team became Wu Liang's eyes and ears.
Their range grew ever larger, bringing back vast intelligence on surrounding geography, resources, and power distribution.
Everything was flourishing.
Yet amid this bustle and progress, one person seemed out of place.