I Can Strengthen Infinitely

Chapter 468 - 288: Crimson Cloud Scripture (Part 2)

Fu Bo, who had not yet made a move, looked incredulously at Qin Yuesheng, utterly surprised by the astonishing strength of this seemingly young boy.

This is truly a case of hidden talents.

The Elder of the Fire Lotus Sect was locked in a fierce battle with Changqing. Their blade techniques filled the air with slicing winds, leaving the inn they fought in riddled with holes, beyond repair, and in need of rebuilding.

The shopkeeper hiding behind the counter witnessed this scene, and couldn’t help but feel so heartbroken that tears almost fell from his eyes. "What have we done to deserve this?" he thought.

Fu Bo watched Qin Yuesheng with a vigilant expression. While Changqing’s fight with the Fire Lotus Sect Elder seemed evenly matched, the background of this young master was unknown to him, warranting extra caution.

"You two, are you here for the Crimson Cloud Scripture as well?" Fu Bo immediately asked upon seeing Qin Yuesheng sitting there with an indifferent expression in such a tense environment.

News of the Crimson Cloud Scripture had spread across the Five Mountains and Eight Hills, with many factions desperate to obtain it, going to any lengths and showing off their skills.

There were earlier rumors that someone entrusted the Crimson Cloud Scripture to Yun Teng Escort Agency for transport to Wubai City in the Central Plains.

As a result, numerous forces from the Five Mountains and Eight Hills tried their utmost to track the escort team’s movements with the intention of intercepting and seizing the Crimson Cloud Scripture along the way.

What they planned to do with the Crimson Cloud Scripture after seizing it was known only to the higher-ups of these forces.

Changqing and Fu Bo were independent adventurers, but had built a formidable reputation in the Five Mountains and Eight Hills through their formidable strength.

This time, they heard from an acquaintance that a traveling Immortal Master had temporarily stayed nearby, but the treasure, the Crimson Cloud Scripture, was inexplicably stolen by a disciple.

The Immortal Master, in his rage, issued a bounty to the forces of the Five Mountains and Eight Hills, promising a Lifespan Extension Pill to anyone who could retrieve the lost Crimson Cloud Scripture for him. Consuming the pill, barring serious injury, could extend one’s life by twenty years.

This wondrous pill sparked immediate excitement across the Five Mountains and Eight Hills, prompting not just the Five Mountain sects and Eight Hill chieftains, but also numerous smaller factions, to strive for a slim chance at success.

After all, anyone could present the Crimson Cloud Scripture to that Immortal Master; whether large factions or minor figures did so, it was all the same.

Although an Immortal Pill might not be worth much to ordinary folk, presenting it to someone of influence seeking life extension could be a great opportunity or even a grave transformation.

Looking at Qin Yuesheng, Fu Bo assumed that he too was after the Crimson Cloud Scripture.

The escort team from Yun Teng Escort Agency was first ambushed by members of the "Three Tiger Pack" under the Xiao Sect, but after their failure, Changqing and Fu Bo seized the opportunity, given their formidable abilities.

One of them held off the Female Hero Wan while the other slaughtered the entire escort team. Despite their numbers, the team was utterly defenseless, akin to lambs, against a martial expert at the seventh or eighth level of the Inner Power Realm, who all fell under Changqing’s blade.

The package placed on the table by Changqing contained Gao Chu’s head.

Wan Guying fiercely fought her way out, managing to flee with the Crimson Cloud Scripture. Her Lightweight Skill far surpassed that of Changqing and Fu Bo, causing them to lose their target after a long chase.

Consequently, they arrived at Cyan Sky Town for a quick meal, not expecting members of the Fire Lotus Sect to catch up with them.

Failing to secure the Crimson Cloud Scripture from the start had already stirred a simmering rage within them, and being pressured directly by the Fire Lotus Sect only compounded this anger. As seasoned martial artists, they had no intentions of explaining their unsuccessful attempt.

Even if they had secured it, handing it over meekly was out of the question, and a fight was inevitable.

Responding to Fu Bo’s inquiry, Qin Yuesheng said, "No, but I’m somewhat interested now."

With so many vying for this Crimson Cloud Scripture, and not being a virtuous or righteous person himself, Qin Yuesheng naturally wanted to seize the Crimson Cloud Scripture to see what it truly was.

Though a more composed Fu Bo could feel from Qin Yuesheng’s earlier action that his strength was extraordinary. It was wise to avoid making an enemy of someone like this when unnecessary.

"The Crimson Cloud Scripture isn’t with us, the ’Unkind Hands’ Wan Guying has taken it away. There’s no use fixating on us," Fu Bo said.

With his words, if Qin Yuesheng believed him, all would be good; if not, Fu Bo wasn’t afraid of a battle either. He had spent years on the edge of danger, accustomed to the life of licking blood off the blade.

It’s just that he didn’t want to clash with Qin Yuesheng at this critical juncture, not out of fear, but prudence.

"Wan Guying..." Upon hearing this familiar name, Qin Yuesheng was slightly surprised, not expecting to hear it during this chaos.

"Indeed, my brother and I intended to take the Crimson Cloud Scripture from Yun Teng Escort Agency, but who would’ve thought that woman Wan Guying would escape with it, leaving us at a loss."

The sincerity in his words left Qin Yuesheng briefly unsure of truth or falsehood.

Just then, Bai Ningxuan whispered into Qin Yuesheng’s ear, "He’s not lying."

Qin Yuesheng asked, "How do you know?"

"The White Lotus Saint Sect has a technique for discerning truth from facial expressions, which I have learned from a young age," Bai Ningxuan said with a smile.

"Is there really such a skill?" Qin Yuesheng was taken aback.

"It’s essentially the observation of micro-expressions," he thought, surprised that the White Lotus Saint Sect possessed it.

Trusting that Bai Ningxuan wouldn’t deceive him over an outsider, Qin Yuesheng told Fu Bo, "You should go assist your brother, for we are but strangers."

"You are generous, Young Hero." Fu Bo clasped his fists and hurried to reunite with Changqing to attack the Fire Lotus Sect Elder.

Poor Fire Lotus Sect Elder, who could originally hold his own against Changqing, suddenly found the battle’s balance tilting as Fu Bo engaged.

Within fifty moves, the Fire Lotus Sect Elder was slashed on the shoulder by a blade. The weapons of Changqing and Fu Bo capable of breaking Inner Strength made it difficult for the Elder to defend, even harder to face two opponents at once.

On the sixty-second move, Fu Bo struck the elder’s chest, followed by Changqing stabbing from behind, penetrating the Fire Lotus Sect Elder’s torso.

"Urgh!!!"

In utter unwillingness, the Fire Lotus Sect Elder lost his breath.

"Pah! Coming solo to chase us, this Fire Lotus Sect truly underestimates us," Changqing spat on the Elder’s corpse.

"We need to go; staying here isn’t safe, and more pursuers will likely arrive soon, so we must leave posthaste," advised Fu Bo.

Clearly, Changqing was the more reckless and impulsive, while Fu Bo maintained the composed rationality between them.

They sheathed their blades and swiftly left the scene, leaving not a single coin for the damaged inn.

Watching them depart, Qin Yuesheng couldn’t help but sigh, "The Central Plains are truly chaotic. I haven’t even truly stepped into them yet, and already encountered such a series of conflicts."

"Such is the world, as a single treasure can incite massive upheaval. Many are willing to risk their lives for its sake," Bai Ningxuan responded.

"Interesting." Qin Yuesheng found himself half-full and since the inn had collapsed, making it inhabitable, he called forth the shopkeeper hiding under the counter, tossed him money for his meal, and headed to the backyard to retrieve his horse.

Seizing what daylight remained, he planned to quickly find a family willing to take him in temporarily, willing to pay extra if needed.

Seeing even customers like Qin Yuesheng leave, the waiter, with a mournful look, asked the shopkeeper, "Shopkeeper, what do we do now, the inn is gone."

Observing the injured female disciples of the Fire Lotus Sect, lying incapacitated from Changqing’s Inner Strength strikes, the shopkeeper’s eyes twinkled with an idea.

"Rummage through those women’s belongings and take anything of value. We won’t stay in Cyan Sky Town anymore; we’ll set up an inn elsewhere."

"But shopkeeper, isn’t that robbery?" the waiter asked fearfully.

"What do you mean robbery? They’ve destroyed our inn, and you’re talking to me about this," the shopkeeper retorted angrily.

Left with no choice, the waiter could only comply. Under the angry glares of the Fire Lotus Sect women, the two swiftly looted all their wealth and fled Cyan Sky Town overnight.