I Can Strengthen Infinitely-Chapter 68 - 63: The River-Crossing Dragon

In today’s Great Tang Dynasty, things appear to be peaceful and grand, but in reality, many crises and hidden dangers have emerged behind the scenes.

Among them, the ten eunuchs listening to politics behind the curtain is the sharpest thorn in the hearts of civil and military officials.

The ten eunuchs possess the beauty of blooms that shame the moon and flowers, and appearances that sink fish and alight geese; they are born with male and female features, each with rosy lips and white teeth, beautiful as jade, causing those who see them to feel an inexplicable surge of shy thoughts.

Some suspect whether the emperor harbors a liking for the Dragon Yang, but whether this is true is unknown, becoming a mystery within the palace.

The emperor of Great Tang is immersed in beauty all day long, indifferent to the affairs of the state, even not attending court for several months, truly intoxicated in the lap of beauty, awaking not to wield power over the world.

All memorials and trivial matters are entrusted to the ten eunuchs who serve him closely.

Anyone who wants to reach the emperor’s ears must pass through this barrier of the ten eunuchs, thus naturally enlarging the power held by them.

Furthermore, some corrupt officials and treacherous ministers, to facilitate the approval of fund-related memorials, privately host the ten eunuchs to seal it with the imperial seal, bypassing the emperor to directly obtain money from the national treasury.

Consequently, they leave evidence of wrongdoing, forced to collude with the ten eunuchs, joining the thieves’ ship, becoming grasshoppers tied on a rope.

Meanwhile, the ten eunuchs secretly gather evidence against officials, forcing more ministers to rely on them.

Over time, with the ten eunuchs as the head, the eunuch faction becomes deeply rooted, extraordinarily vast, and no one in the court, aside from Lin Po’s faction and the generals’ force, can match them.

However, the ten eunuchs are not content with this. They collude with various officials and have the emperor issue an edict declaring that eunuchs can also hold official positions, gradually appointing eunuchs across the thirty-six states of Great Tang.

From the three provinces and six ministries, nine temple craftsmen,

down to a state’s chasse, a prefectural governor, a city’s governor, a county’s magistrate, a pavilion’s head, all witness the assignment of eunuchs.

If not for the military department’s strong stance, sacrificing blood to any eunuch daring to serve as officers, otherwise Great Tang would already have eunuchs controlling military power.

There have also been several loyal ministers secretly dispatching death warriors, or loyal heroic knights from the martial world infiltrating the palace, attempting to assassinate the ten eunuchs and restore the Great Tang to prosperity.

Yet, all those who went ultimately perished within the imperial city, unable to even touch the hem of the ten eunuchs’ clothing, let alone assassinate them.

Later, it was discovered that behind the ten eunuchs, there existed a sect named ’Rootless Sect,’ whose masters secretly protect them, allowing the ten eunuchs to rest easy within the imperial city, with no one able to plot against them.

After listening to Bai Hao’s words, Qin Yuesheng felt deeply moved, but didn’t know what to say for a moment.

Before this, he was entirely unaware that the Great Tang is in such a precarious situation; if the ten eunuchs continue to control Great Tang from the shadows, this country surely won’t last much longer.

However, despite his emotions, Qin Yuesheng cannot do anything, as he is merely an ordinary young master, and the ten eunuchs hold court power, with a mysterious martial sect secretly guarding them, comparing Qin Yuesheng to them is akin to comparing an ant to an elephant.

"What I just told you, keep it to yourself, no need to publicly proclaim it, lest misfortune befalls you."

Qin Yuesheng nods: "Rest assured, Lord, I understand."

"Alright, after idle chat, let me evaluate the goods of your mission this time."

Bai Hao took the iron Exorcism Toad from the table and brought it close to the woman wrapped in a burlap sack.

As he approached, a change occurred on the glass disk on the back of the Exorcism Toad, a straight red line appeared inside the disk, immediately beginning to move.

From the initial ’one,’ it slowly turned to the next character, ’ten.’

Finally, the red light stopped at the position less than ten; Qin Yuesheng looked up at Bai Hao: "Only this much?"

Bai Hao replied: "So it seems."

"Then, when can I exchange for a bottle of precious elixir?"

"Don’t be in a hurry; learn the principle of accumulation, like gathering sand to form a tower; don’t worry, I’ll record this for you, and when reported to the Seven Star Observatory for registration, once it amounts to a hundred, you can exchange for what you want."

Bai Hao took out a booklet from his bosom, then picked up a brush and noted down inside.

Qin Yuesheng glanced slightly, seeing content like ’Qin Yuesheng eight points.’

He couldn’t help but ask: "Lord Bai, do we rely solely on paper and pen for registration at the Seven Star Observatory?"

Bai Hao turned his head: "Or else?"

"Isn’t there some jade token or jade tube, with relevant content recorded, and when we touch it, the characters and numbers appear?"

"Do you think the Seven Star Observatory is like immortals descending? How can such things exist in this world." Bai Hao finished wielding the ink, dried the ink markings, and stuffed the booklet back into his bosom.

"Lord, if there’s nothing more, I’ll take my leave; after spending two days outside, it’s time to return home to report safety to my parents."

"Do you want this?" Bai Hao pointed at the woman’s half-body on the ground.

Qin Yuesheng intended to shake his head but suddenly recalled that Celestial Demon Heart, which brought him 5000 points of All-Purpose Essence, and said as if guided by an unseen force: "I’ll take this spider’s heart, but discard the rest."

"As you wish."

Severing the thick and thin nerves linking the heart and woman’s half-body, Qin Yuesheng wrapped the spider heart in a burlap sack and then bid farewell to Bai Hao, leaving the yamen.

...

Having not returned to the Qin Mansion for two days, Qin Yuesheng felt an overwhelming sense of familiarity; upon entering the door, he saw his Second Aunt, readying himself with several hospital guards and maids for departure.

"Second Aunt? Where are you going?" Qin Yuesheng asked.

Upon seeing Qin Yuesheng, Duan Hongjin immediately trotted over with concern and said, "Why have you been outside for so long? Where did you wander off to these last two days?"

"Haha." Qin Yuesheng scratched the back of his head, "I just went out with some friends to enjoy the scenery around Cyan Yang City. It’s quite nice."

"You, still such a playboy." Duan Hongjin affectionately tapped Qin Yuesheng’s forehead, "Alright, I won’t keep you any longer. I’m heading out to buy some things."

Qin Yuesheng: "Is there something we don’t already have at the mansion? Or you could just have the servants go buy it. Why do you have to do it yourself, Second Aunt?"

"It’s because one of your distant cousins is coming from the south. He’s heading to the capital for examinations, and will stop by Cyan Yang City to stay at Qin Mansion for a few days. I need to make proper arrangements to avoid Master saying I was neglectful."

Duan Hongjin pinched Qin Yuesheng’s cheeks and then left the Qin Mansion with some accompanying servants.

"Distant cousin? Which one is it?" Qin Yuesheng pondered, but truly couldn’t recall who it might be.

The Qin family, being a large family, naturally has many kin and relatives, but in Cyan Yang City, it is only the branch of Qin Feng, and Qin Feng’s branch is the most successful.

Returning to his own room, the maids Chunfeng, Xia Yu, Qiushuang, and Dongxue were cleaning the room. Just as Qin Yuesheng entered, Cao Zhengchun popped out from the side.

"Young master, you’re back."

He was holding Ah Hu in his arms, evidently having played with Ah Hu.

"Hmm, has this little guy been behaving well these past few days?"

"Ah Hu has been very well-behaved. Aside from eating and sleeping, he just runs to the courtyard to sunbathe, very quiet."

"Let me hold him." Qin Yuesheng reached out to take Ah Hu, instinctively pinching the chubby tiger’s butt in a friendly gesture.

"Haven’t seen you for a few days, why does it feel like you’ve gained weight? Looks like you’re eating well." Qin Yuesheng joked as he stroked Ah Hu’s tiger fur.

Ah Hu could only gazingly look at Qin Yuesheng with his innocent tiger eyes, inexplicably conveying a sense of weakness, pity, and helplessness.

"Young master, yesterday, the young lady of the Su family came looking for you. She said you promised her to go to the Gusu River to join the Prayer Festival tonight and release lanterns." Cao Zhengchun said.

Qin Yuesheng stopped his hand from stroking the tiger abruptly, "Is today the Prayer Festival?"

"Yes."

"So soon... Okay, go prepare an outfit for me to go out tonight, elegant but not too flashy, and remind me again in the evening."

"Yes, young master. How many hospital guards do you plan to take tonight? I could arrange it now."

"Hmm... Six people should do. Any more is unnecessary."

"Understood."

Qin Yuesheng carried Ah Hu over to the table, "Little one, I’ll take you out tonight to see the world, don’t spend all day in the mansion, or you’ll end up being raised like a house cat instead of a proper tiger."

"Graow." Whether or not Ah Hu understood, he responded in a childlike voice, his young tiger’s distinctive aura of dominance hadn’t manifested yet.

...

Fierce Tiger Gang headquarters.

Upon discovering Wang Ba’s sudden death, Deputy Gang Leader Chen Sheng immediately reported to their hidden financier, the Gold and Silver Pavilion, awaiting further instructions from them.

The saying goes, "A group cannot be without a leader for even a day," and the Fierce Tiger Gang certainly cannot be without a gang leader.

During this period of time, Chen Sheng couldn’t help but dream; previously, he had been suppressed by Wang Ba, which delayed his rise in position.

Now that Wang Ba is dead, among those in the Fierce Tiger Gang, he has the oldest and deepest qualifications, so the position of gang leader could be...

As Chen Sheng sat in the hall smirking, a subordinate suddenly rushed in from outside the door.

"Master Chen, two outsiders have arrived, claiming they want to see you. They said they’re from Yangzhou Prefecture."

"Outsiders? Then take them to the side hall to wait, I’ll change clothes before meeting them."

Boom!!!

Suddenly, the main hall door bursts entirely, shards of wood flying as two figures quickly walked in from outside.

The two were tall and short, a brawny man and a youth, both exuding a fierce aura that made one feel intimidated at a glance.

In fact, the youth wasn’t short, but compared to the brawny man towering at eight feet, he appeared a bit lacking in height.

The brawny man was bald, with bushy eyebrows, big eyes, and a thick beard.

He wore a black embroidered vest, baring his chest and arms, all rippling with muscles, and across his chest was a fierce black dragon tattoo.

This dragon bore thirteen claws, ink-scaled with long whiskers and three-pointed horns, eyes red like fangs and claws like hooks, vivid yet exuding ominous qi.

The dragon’s body curled from the man’s left waist, around his back to his right arm, with its tail stopping at his hand.

The tattoo’s size was astonishing, Chen Sheng confessed it’s the first time he’s ever seen one like it.