I Can Strengthen Infinitely

Chapter 248 - 185: Envoys from the Court

"Young Master Qin, don’t resist," Lan Xiaoyuan said, pouting.

"What happened? Why are you hitting me with this?" Qin Yuesheng asked, puzzled.

"This morning, a group of refugees from the west entered Yangzhou Prefecture, and later someone discovered that there were patients with the plague among them. To prevent the disease from spreading, the whole city is currently searching for that batch of refugees. Young Master Qin, this is glutinous rice to ward off illness and disaster, it can clear any infectious energy possibly clinging to you."

"Your excuse is quite something, alright, I won’t resist," Qin Yuesheng chuckled.

In the next moment, Lan Xiaoyuan directly threw a handful of glutinous rice onto him, resulting in no reaction at all.

"Great, Young Master Qin, you’re normal," Lan Xiaoyuan laughed.

"You continue, I’m going back to rest," Qin Yuesheng shook his head helplessly and walked along the cobblestone path into Yixin Residence.

...

Nowadays, the world situation is quite dire, with catastrophes everywhere, either the floods in the south or the drought and locust plague in the west. Sometimes, certain places also experience earthquakes and hail, one after another reported on memorials sent to Chang’an, amounting to enough to fill an entire desk in the Imperial Study.

However, the court over there has not devised any countermeasure, the memorials about the people’s plight sent from various places to Chang’an seem like stones dropped into the ocean, not even stirring up a ripple.

As they accumulate over time, the people’s grievances boil over, and here and there throughout the land, bad sentiments emerge in varying amounts.

But the situation is still not obvious; if no one intentionally focuses, it’s really hard to detect.

Yangzhou Prefecture North Gate.

A luxurious carriage slowly entered Yangzhou Prefecture. When the city guards raised their guns intending to stop it for inspection, among the four horse-riding escorts accompanying it, someone immediately held up a token: "Take a good look, you may not block this carriage."

An older guard took a close look at the token, his expression promptly changed, and he quickly stepped aside with reverence, silently watching the carriage enter the city.

"Brother Zhou, what are the origins of these people, that they speak with such authority?" A young soldier quickly came over to ask secretly, watching the departing carriage.

"I will teach you this just once, remember it well. These adults are from Chang’an, they are from the court, usually handling affairs in the palace, rarely leaving. When they do leave, blood will be shed, do you understand?"

The young soldier nodded, somewhat understanding: "Brother Zhou, did something happen here in Yangzhou Prefecture for these big shots to come here this time?"

"What is not your concern, don’t go imagining things to avoid bringing death upon yourself. Come to my house for a drink tonight, I will teach you the ropes." The old soldier patted the young soldier’s shoulder: "Remember to bring roast chicken and wine, I have peanuts."

"Brother Zhou, why do I always have to buy the roast chicken and wine whenever we dine?"

"Stop whining, I’m even providing the peanuts, what more do you want?"

Yangzhou Prefecture, being the largest city in Jiangnan, holds a status akin to that of a provincial capital, naturally having a large population.

The carriage leisurely moved along the streets, the copper bells hanging on both sides slightly chiming with the wheels’ rolling.

Accompanying the carriage on horseback were four people, three men and one woman.

Except for a man dressed as a middle-aged scholar, the rest were all wearing light armor, with weapons on their waists, clearly not easy to mess with.

The scholar held an octagonal bronze plate, occasionally gazing at the sky, occasionally at the ground, muttering endlessly about something unknown.

"Mr. Wang, have you discovered anything yet? We’ve been traveling for many days now," the short-haired woman asked, turning her head.

"Can’t blame me, Miss He, I’ve been observing the sky every day too, but I haven’t seen any movement of dragon energy, I’m truly powerless," Wang Chengfeng smiled bitterly.

He, a reputable observer from the Astronomical Bureau, was summoned by the lord inside the carriage to accompany him down to Jiangnan to find and eliminate the owners of the seven dragon energies there.

But since arriving in Jiangnan, his qi observation technique became like a wilted eggplant, showing no reaction at all.

Thus, he was urged frequently by others, which made him feel a bit embarrassed, though thankfully the lord in the carriage always showed indifference and hadn’t set any deadlines like demanding swift results, allowing Wang Chengfeng to feel grateful secretly.

Their group this time to Jiangnan seemed more like a leisurely tour rather than a mission to kill.

"What if we never find anything? Wouldn’t we be wandering around Jiangnan forever then?" He Rui sighed, she seemed quite young, at most twenty-five or six, but with her energy restrained and spirit fused, manifesting herself as an Inner Strength expert.

"Xiaohu, Lord Yuwen hasn’t even spoken yet, why are you in such a hurry. Staying long in the palace, the imposing red walls and high tiles of the royal city become dull, coming south to witness the rumored misty beauty of Jiangnan isn’t such a bad treat either," chuckled a one-eyed youth.

"Only you would know how to enjoy," He Rui rolled her eyes.

This one-eyed youth named Wu Fan, his age similar to hers, while the other quiet man named Huang Tianhu, is the strongest among the four, a Fifth Layer of the Internal Power Realm expert.

Watching the two banter, Wang Chengfeng once again delved into observing the sky and earth.

Dragon energy is invisible to the naked eye of ordinary people, only those born with spiritual eyes or those who have mastered the technique to open their eyes can see it.

Those accepted into the Astronomical Bureau as qi observers must possess either of these two abilities regarding spiritual eyes.

Wang Chengfeng is the latter.

His ancestors were a Feng Shui family, skilled in observing wind and water, particularly adept at reading the earth’s Feng Shui patterns. This technique is known as ’Mountain and River View of the Nine States.’

"Yangzhou Prefecture, as the center of Jiangnan’s fortunes, might host someone with Dragon Qi. Under the guise of fortune, the first layer of opening my eyes is likely insufficient," Wang Chengfeng thought, and then decided to use the second layer of ’Mountain and River View of the Nine States.’

This Secret Technique consists of three layers, each stronger than the last.

Also known as:

First layer: Eyeside rivers and mountains fully revealed.

Second layer: Eyeside none of the nine states hidden.

Third layer: Eyeside heaven and earth observed.

However, opening each layer requires bearing a certain cost. With Wang Chengfeng’s current strength, he usually stops at the first layer. The second layer would significantly impact his body.

Carefully biting his tongue, Wang Chengfeng immediately used the Secret Technique to open the second layer. A sudden brilliance emerged from his eyes, and the scenery before him changed drastically.

Streams of green air flowed chaotically between the streets and alleys, that was wind.

Underfoot, brown veins seemed to flow slowly on the road surface, that was water.

Wang Chengfeng’s head felt like it was about to explode, overwhelmingly heavy and painful.

Yet he forced himself to look up at the sky.

Instantly, a golden star floating above Yangzhou Prefecture vividly appeared in his eyes.

The dazzling flames, the indistinct tall figure, all seemed like thousands of arrows piercing deeply into Wang Chengfeng’s body.

"Ah!!!"

A scream echoed, drawing the attention of passersby as they saw Wang Chengfeng, who was riding well, suddenly clutch his face and tumble awkwardly from his horse, blood streaming continuously from his eyes.

"Ah!! My eyes!" Wang Chengfeng lay on the ground, continually screaming.

This commotion naturally caught his companions’ attention. He Rui, who had just criticized Wang Chengfeng, saw his plight and immediately jumped from her horse, rushed to his side, and applied medicine to his eyes.

"Mr. Wang, quickly apply my medicine," He Rui commanded, holding onto Wang Chengfeng’s wrist.

Wu Fan glowered at Wang Chengfeng. Someone had attacked him without his notice, probably a master far superior to him.

Huang Tianhu looked around. Not only Wu Fan, even he hadn’t noticed anything. Was the attacker truly this skillful?

"He Rui, is Mr. Wang alright?" A man with squinted eyes asked, pulling open the carriage curtain from inside.

"Lord Yuwen, Mr. Wang’s eyes are injured, as if attacked by a hidden weapon."

"Help him inside the carriage," Yuwen Sanzui said calmly. "No need to worry, continue on your way. Nobody attacked Mr. Wang; he likely used a Secret Technique."

Following Yuwen Sanzui’s words, everyone relaxed, though curiosity about what Secret Technique Wang Chengfeng used lingered.

After applying He Rui’s medicine, Wang Chengfeng sat inside the carriage. Yuwen Sanzui placed a hand on his shoulder, transferring Inner Strength to heal his injuries.

Soon, Wang Chengfeng gradually ceased his cries.

"Mr. Wang, how did you end up injured this way?" Yuwen Sanzui asked with a smile.

"Lord Yuwen, Life Star, there’s a Life Star above Yangzhou Prefecture! Someone here possesses a Life Star!" Wang Chengfeng stammered, his voice trembling.

"Life Star!" Yuwen Sanzui’s expression turned serious. A person with a Life Star is destined for great achievements, worthy of being watched and valued.

But people with Life Stars are exceedingly rare, without a natural Spiritual Eye, it’s nearly impossible to find or notice their presence.

"Is it related to Dragon Qi?" Yuwen Sanzui inquired.

"I... I didn’t see. The light from the Life Star was too dazzling. Just one glance injured my eyes. Any longer, and they might have been ruined," Wang Chengfeng said, filled with lingering fear.

He never expected that merely looking at the sky would result in such unforeseen disaster.

"Rest well, Mr. Wang. Our search for the person of fortune depends entirely on you."

"I... I understand," Wang Chengfeng nodded and proceeded to rest with closed eyes.

Yuwen Sanzui contemplated as he gazed out the window, thinking: "Such an interesting Life Star. With the court seized by the Ten Eunuchs and the nation’s fate precarious, while unspoken, everyone knows the Great Tang can’t last much longer this way. Now, seven dragons emerge in Jiangnan and a Life Star appears as well, the situation grows increasingly chaotic."