I Can Strengthen Infinitely-Chapter 177 - 147: Outsiders

In a town as populated as Lucky Town, having many inns isn’t surprising. But if an inn smells this bad, how would anyone want to stay?

Qin Yuesheng, feeling something was strange, decided to leave no clue unchecked and held his breath as he entered the inn, intending to investigate the situation.

As he stepped through the inn’s main entrance, he immediately saw a group of Great Han men wearing dome-shaped hats sitting around the tables in the hall, eating noodle soup. The moment Qin Yuesheng stepped in, he caught their attention, and they all turned to look at him cautiously.

Qin Yuesheng naturally met their gaze unflinchingly. The style of their hats was very typically Northern; no one in the Central Plains or the South would wear such hats.

Looking at their attire, it was clear that even though Jiangnan’s current climate was hot with sunny weather and scorching sun, these people were all wearing woolen jackets, not fearing the heat at all.

"Customer, are you here to dine or to stay?" The innkeeper at the counter quickly came out to greet him.

"Why does it smell so bad here, like the stench of livestock?" Qin Yuesheng asked.

"Hehehe..." The innkeeper’s face instantly showed a complicated smile: "A while back, a group of Northern herdsmen came to our inn. They brought a large herd of cattle, sheep, and donkeys from the Southern Province, intending to take them back North for breeding. They’re all kept in our inn’s backyard now, so of course it smells strong."

"A while back?" Qin Yuesheng suddenly became alert, "Does it coincide with the days when children started disappearing in Lucky Town?"

"Oh no," the innkeeper shook his head: "Those Northerners came earlier. When they stayed at our inn, that incident hadn’t happened yet."

Qin Yuesheng glanced at the men eating noodles and asked, "Is it them?"

"Yes, sir, are you here to dine or stay?"

Qin Yuesheng grabbed the innkeeper by the shoulder and started dragging him to the backyard.

"Hey! Hey! What are you doing, sir?"

"Less nonsense. I’m an official from Cyan Yang City. If you don’t cooperate with me, I can have you dragged back and locked up in Cyan Yang City’s prison at any time," Qin Yuesheng commanded. "Take me to your backyard."

"You’re an official?" The innkeeper scrutinized Qin Yuesheng doubtfully but couldn’t see any signs of him being an official.

Smack!

Qin Yuesheng slapped the nearby wall, and instantly, a three-finger-deep palm print appeared on the stone wall.

"Do you think your head is harder than this wall? If you don’t lead the way, my next slap will land on your head," Qin Yuesheng said.

"This way, sir. This way, sir." The innkeeper shivered all over and dared not say anything useless anymore, immediately leading Qin Yuesheng to the backyard.

Just as people said, the inn’s backyard was indeed filled with various cattle, sheep, and donkeys, like a makeshift livestock farm.

Dung and waste from the animals littered the ground, the very source of the pungent stench.

Qin Yuesheng took out the Spirit Fox Heart Eye and Exorcism Toad to inspect, yet there were no reactions at all.

"What are you doing? Get out, now." At this moment, a Great Han wielding a pitchfork suddenly walked over from the side, glaring at Qin Yuesheng and the innkeeper with great vigilance.

The place where this man appeared had a heap of hay stacks, probably food for the cattle, sheep, and donkeys.

"Sir, this is a local official here to investigate a case, I advise you to be cautious with your words," the innkeeper hurried over to remind him.

The common folk cannot contend with officials, especially those who are outsiders.

Unexpectedly, this Great Han didn’t care about the innkeeper’s words at all. With a fierce look, it seemed he was used to acting rough and didn’t take officials seriously.

"I don’t care if you’re an official or not, get out. This place has long been bought out by us, even officials can’t come in. Get out, get out," the Great Han said, waving his pitchfork as he approached to drive them away.

But if he had taken a more courteous, respectful attitude, it might have been fine. Such an agitated demeanor made Qin Yuesheng suspicious that this man might be hiding something guilty, prompting such an overreaction.

Thinking about this, Qin Yuesheng, who originally didn’t plan to stay long, decided not to leave. He had to investigate further.

"Out, out," the Great Han said, seeing Qin Yuesheng unmoving, reached out a palm to push him.

Just as he was about to touch Qin Yuesheng’s shoulder, the Great Han suddenly flew backward like a rolling gourd, landing awkwardly in the cow dung.

Qin Yuesheng smirked inwardly. Having reached the Third Layer of the Internal Power Realm, his Inner Strength was even more solid, the force exerted was equivalent to hundreds of pounds in a punch. The man, unaware and unprepared, was directly caught by his hidden move.

"Ah!" Covered in cow dung, the man instantly became furious, his entire face blushing with anger as if humiliated. He picked up his pitchfork, leaping up and forcefully swung it down at Qin Yuesheng with full strength, not caring if this would result in death.

This Great Han, drenched in cow dung, Qin Yuesheng had no intention to let him get any closer. With a punch infused with Inner Strength, he struck. The power of his Inner Strength, carrying such terrifying force, caused the pitchfork to instantly twist, the entire handle shattered, and the man couldn’t bear Qin Yuesheng’s Inner Strength, being thrown five or six zhang away, right into an old cow.

"Moo!" The old cow, startled, fled to the side, leaving the entire backyard in chaos.

The commotion here naturally quickly attracted the attention of outsiders, and within a few breaths, a group of Great Han men rushed out from nearby rooms. While helping their already unconscious companions, they drew the weapons they carried and aimed them at Qin Yuesheng.

"Don’t fight, don’t fight, dear guests, this person is an official. You won’t gain any advantage by attacking him, so stop it quickly." Seeing that things were going awry, the shop clerk began to mediate.

Although he did not understand martial arts, from the few moves exchanged earlier, he could sense Qin Yuesheng’s strength.

If these two sides started fighting and caused damage to the inn, it would be trouble.

The shop clerk had seen many Jiangnan martial artists come to stay and eat, and due to minor conflicts, they started fighting fiercely, damaging the wooden tables and chairs, wine jars, bowls, windows, and plaques without compensating, just escaping, making it bitter for those running small businesses.

Welcoming guests every day, fearing those carrying swords might start a fight in the inn.

"An official..." Upon hearing this from the shop clerk, the Great Han men hesitated. The apparent leader contemplated for a moment before stepping up to Qin Yuesheng, cupping his hands, "Dear official sir, it was our intrusion, forgive us for any offense, I humbly apologize."

"Hehe, it’s alright," Qin Yuesheng replied with a smile, "I’m not here to fight but as a routine investigation. Yet your companion was not very cooperative, obstructing me and even daring to strike." 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

"He’s my brother, thank you for sparing his life, I will definitely reprimand him properly," the man replied promptly.

"Good, good, discerning the situation makes one a hero. Out of respect for you, I spare his life."

"Thank you, sir."

"What’s your name?"

"I’m Su Hang."

"I need to conduct a routine check here. Take your men outside and don’t come in without my permission."

"Alright." Su Hang nodded, ignoring his companions’ eager expressions to fight Qin Yuesheng, he led them all out to the backyard as per Qin Yuesheng’s orders.

Now, only Qin Yuesheng and the shop clerk remained in the backyard.

"Officer, is there something wrong with this place?" The shop clerk asked curiously.

Qin Yuesheng glanced over, "Forgot about you too, you need to leave as well."

After the man left, Qin Yuesheng immediately began inspecting the backyard.

Every cow, sheep, and donkey was examined carefully, but he found nothing unusual.

"Could it be that person overreacted?" Qin Yuesheng thought.

Having found nothing, there was no need to stay here. Qin Yuesheng still had many places to check in Lucky Town.

Returning to the hall, Qin Yuesheng took a few extra glances at Su Hang’s group sitting around chatting at the table, then he exited the inn.

The scent was overwhelming here, he would have preferred not to linger without necessity.

Watching Qin Yuesheng’s back disappear outside the inn, a Great Han leaned in and whispered to Su Hang, "The official has already arrived, Brother, we’ve done enough here, should we leave?"

Su Hang shook his head, "Brother hasn’t returned yet, wait for him to make a decision."

Another Great Han sneered coldly, "It’s just an official, what are you afraid of? If he dares to obstruct us, we can deal with him."

"Wouldn’t that attract government attention? Wang specifically told us to be cautious, not to make too much noise that might alarm those who shouldn’t be alarmed."

"Afraid of nothing, we’re almost at the target number. Pack everyone up and leave when done."

Su Hang gestured for them to stop arguing, "Alright, shut up, just an official, and you’re scared? Don’t forget our methods, those officials have no power to uncover the mystery."

The two quickly nodded in agreement, "Brother is right."

"Are the next targets chosen? How’s the preparation going?" Su Hang asked.

"Don’t worry, Brother, you know our efficiency, when have we ever messed up?"

Su Hang shook his head, "It’s different now, with an official in Lucky Town. Fourteen, you just fought that official, tell us about his strength."

Everyone’s gaze shifted to the person sitting on the side.

It was indeed the one just sent flying by Qin Yuesheng.