I Can Strengthen Infinitely-Chapter 173 - 143: Another Promotion (Part 4)

"Officer, the two of us are from Cyan Yang City and have no intention of causing a disturbance in the street. It's purely Situ Xing who was looking for trouble. I hope you can be lenient and not throw us in jail," Zhangqiu Mountain said with some lingering fear.

The government prison is a terrifying presence for both commoners and Martial Artists alike. If it were merely a group of officers, Zhangqiu Mountain and his companion could escape using their Lightweight Skill. However, with Situ Xing, who was just brutally beaten, standing before them, they dared not resist arrest, fearing that Qin Yuesheng's fierce blade energy might cleave them in two as soon as they ran.

"Not a problem, not a problem. I've already figured this out. You two are well-known heroes in Jiangnan, upholding justice and helping ordinary people, leaving a good reputation. How could I arrest you?" Qin Yuesheng chuckled. "But since the teahouse collapsed because of you, and the Shopkeeper's business isn't easy, shouldn't you both show some responsibility?"

"Oh, oh, oh! I understand, I understand." Zhangqiu Mountain quickly said, "I'll pay for the silver taels needed to rebuild the teahouse."

"Hero Zhang, you are indeed generous, so I can rest assured," Qin Yuesheng gave him a meaningful look, then left with Xun Sheng.

Watching Qin Yuesheng's departing figure, Zhangqiu Mountain couldn't help but wipe the sweat from his forehead. "When did Cyan Yang City get such a powerful young official, able to defeat Situ Xing in a single strike? He's a master in the Second Layer of the Internal Power Realm."

Huangling looked at Qin Yuesheng with some envy. "The senior brothers and sisters at the mountain villa always said I was a martial arts genius. Now, seeing this, how can I be considered a genius? At most, I'm a stone stepped on by a genius."

"Hey, Young Hero Huang, don't belittle yourself like that. I bet your future accomplishments won't be lacking."

"Thank you for your kind words, Hero Zhang. Let's go pay the compensation first."

"Yes, yes, yes, let's go pay the compensation first."

...

In the dark prison, the light comes solely from the fire in the brazier.

Qin Yuesheng stood in a cell at the deepest part, observing Situ Xing who was tied to an iron frame.

"Lord Qin, this is something we found on the prisoner," the jailer handed a letter to Qin Yuesheng.

The envelope had eight large characters written with a brush pen on the front: 'Demon Slaying Gathering - Autumn Water Family,' a bit unclear and hard to comprehend at first glance.

Qin Yuesheng opened the envelope and took out the letter to read it.

****

Master Situ:

Lately, Demon Sect operatives have been active in Jiangnan. Our disciples captured two individuals from the Demon Sect and learned they came to Jiangnan for the hidden treasure in the Sword Tomb. It is said that the Sword Tomb houses a peerless Divine Skill and a supreme sword, remnants of Bai Yue Sword Saint. We, Jiangnan's martial arts community, must not let such treasures fall into the hands of the Demon Sect. The Autumn Water Family specially invites you to a banquet before the fifth of next month to discuss important matters with fellow martial artists of Jiangnan.

Autumn Water Family, Qiu Chong.

Autumn Water Family, Shui Cangsheng.

****

"So it's an invitation," Qin Yuesheng realized.

Situ Xing looked at Qin Yuesheng with a serious expression, "Are those two your old friends?"

"No."

"Then why did you arrest only me and not them?"

"Because only you dared to attack me. How could I not arrest someone who dares to strike at a court official?" Qin Yuesheng shook the letter in his hand. "Where is the Autumn Water Family? Tell me about it."

"If I tell you, will you let me go?"

"Copy all your martial arts and cultivation techniques for me. If I verify them as correct, you'll be released immediately."

"Bah! Corrupt official, you're dreaming!" As soon as he heard that Qin Yuesheng was coveting his martial arts, Situ Xing instantly became furious.

The martial arts he learned were not common public secrets; they were second-rate techniques passed down from generation to generation in his Situ family, never taught to outsiders.

Martial artist families like Situ Xing's highly cherish the inheritance of martial arts, so agreeing to Qin Yuesheng's request was out of the question.

"You'd better think it over. If you don't agree, you'll spend the rest of your life locked in this dark prison, never seeing the light of day. I'm young and have all the time in the world to wait," Qin Yuesheng stood up, waving the letter. "I'll give you three days, and no more."

Qin Yuesheng was eager to learn Situ Xing's absorbing technique. If he could master it, tasks like grabbing people or items from afar would become much easier.

Once out of the prison, Xun Sheng immediately approached with two dossiers, smiling as he handed them to Qin Yuesheng. "Lord Qin, these are cases around Cyan Yang City that Lord Bai didn't have time to handle. He asked me to pass them to you as part of the handover."

Qin Yuesheng was surprised, "Bai Hao left more unfinished business? Didn't the Seven Star Surveillance team solve everything with so many people here?"

"The officials from the Seven Star Surveillance have been busy with sealing duties these days and naturally didn't have time to resolve the surrounding strange events."

"Let me take a look." Qin Yuesheng briefly skimmed the dossiers. From the descriptions, these didn't seem like too difficult issues, so he nodded in agreement. "Alright, I'll find time to handle them."

"Thank you, Lord Qin."

...

Lucky Town is a large town with a huge population. Were it not for the lack of approval from the court, Lucky Town would have long since separated from Cyan Yang City's domain and been elevated from a town to a city.

In recent days, Lucky Town has been plagued by a terrifying event, causing a town-wide panic. Children have been disappearing nightly, from ten-year-olds to infants just months old, vanishing without a trace.

Parents whose children have gone missing called upon all their relatives to search inside and outside Lucky Town, but to no avail. The children seemed to vanish into thin air, completely disappearing from Lucky Town.

With no results, other parents naturally increased their vigilance over their children at night, often letting them sleep in the center of the bed, sandwiched tightly between both parents. This way, if anyone attempted to steal the child, they would have no opportunity.

Yet such cautious behavior still couldn't stop the disappearances. Upon waking the next day to find their child missing from the bed, these parents went mad, either crying daily or running everywhere, searching desperately for their children.

Under such circumstances, the once peaceful Lucky Town became engulfed in an incessant panic.

Many parents went directly to the town's blacksmiths to have chains made, fastening themselves and their children's hands and feet together, attempting to protect their children this way.

But it was as if a ghost was secretly at work. Even chains on hands and feet couldn't stop the inevitable from happening.

Even now, children continue to disappear silently in Lucky Town every night.