I Can See Your Combat Power
Chapter 1691 - 130: Crossing... Calamity

Chapter 1691: Chapter 130: Crossing... Calamity

Sects that have withdrawn from worldly affairs should not be entangled with noble families, yet in the mortal world, how many such ties can truly be severed?

I originally thought he was just an exception, but to my surprise, in Apricot Yellow City alone, there have already been several cases.

No wonder the brothers at the top of the hill are so "outstanding"—in just half a month’s time, not only can they find a number of gifted children within a ten-mile radius, cure malignant diseases, track down bizarre illnesses, but also complete academic papers, unlike ordinary people.

After Fu Dongqing’s hints, all previous confusions had answers, and simultaneously, a surge of... anger arose.

Angry that the Divine Sect does not investigate, yet the heaviest comparison in Inner Sect missions turns out to be mortal support!

Angry at the slickness of fellow disciples, blatantly ignoring the elders’ commands merely to compete for false accomplishments!

"Get out."

Fu Baibu said coldly to Fu Yuanzhi and Fu Dongqing.

"But..."

"Enough!"

Fu Yuanzhi pulled Fu Dongqing, who was indignant and wanted to speak further, then turned to Fu Baibu with a smile, "Little brother, rest well. Big brother and second brother will step out first."

Only after the eldest brother led the reluctant second brother out of the main hall and out of sight did Fu Baibu slump down in his seat, just one day after descending the mountain, and the order he had established in his heart had collapsed.

On the other hand, the dragged-away Fu Dongqing shook off his eldest brother’s arm unwillingly, saying anxiously, "Why are you pulling me, big brother? I haven’t even mentioned this time’s Inner Sect mission yet. If we let others lay their plans first in this half-month, it’ll be too late for regrets!"

"Foolish!"

Fu Yuanzhi said angrily, "Have these years of running trade on horseback made you forget where you come from? Or have you believed the nonsense from outside and think you’ve become the lord of Apricot Yellow City?"

"Why do you think they would even disclose the secrecy of including a Dao Child from the Divine Sect in the mission to you? Is it truly because the Fu Family has become particularly outstanding?"

"Wrong! They want to use our words to influence little brother’s judgment, so on this matter, if we don’t mention it ourselves, we can only pretend to be ignorant!"

"Don’t feel regretful. We were originally just low to middle-class farmers from Apricot Yellow City. Without little brother joining Divine Sect, none of what the Fu Family has today would exist!"

"Don’t be resentful, and even less think that you can make any decisions for little brother. If his position within the Divine Sect is in the slightest bit unstable, everything that the Fu Family has today will vanish like bubbles!"

Having his ears reddened by a barrage of scolding from his older brother, Fu Dongqing still muttered with his head lowered, "I was just thinking, if little brother could outperform that Dao Child in the mission this time, maybe he could rise further within the Divine Sect, and wouldn’t the Fu Family’s foundation become more stable then?"

"You don’t understand, our medical hall’s business has been booming these years, many noble families are targeting us overtly and covertly. Even the herb farmers deep in the mountains are raising prices without reason, and there are even orders from outsiders that attract robbers every now and then..."

"Enough!"

Fu Yuanzhi interrupted with a frown, "I’ve told you not to expand but you wouldn’t listen. Isn’t it better just to maintain our foundations in Apricot Yellow City? We, the Fu Family, have only flourished for a few years. One should be content and know one’s place, without my permission, you are not allowed to speak such foolish words to little brother anymore!"

Fu Dongqing raised his head with pursed lips, his eyes wide and round with dissatisfaction and anger written all over his face.

The two brothers stared at each other for quite a while, until the joy and noise from the courtyard began, and they both humphed, swapping out their expressions to greet the friends from Apricot Yellow City.

The person of honor did not even show his face, but that did not affect the liveliness of the banquet. After three rounds of drinks, an elder with a white beard and chest high raised his glass to toast from afar to the back courtyard, flattering with nauseatingly sycophantic words.

With someone taking the lead, the guests naturally followed suit, spouting auspicious words with a slight drunkenness free of charge.

A banquet that flowed like water lasted for two entire days. Without Fu Baibu appearing, Fu Yuanzhi and Fu Dongqing naturally became the center of attention.

So, when they were called to the central hall two days later, they were teeming with the smell of alcohol.

After two days of contemplation, an entirely changed Fu Baibu originally wanted to discuss important matters with his two elder brothers, but seeing them in such a state, he could only cover his nose in displeasure and said, "Elder brother, since the Fu Family engages in the medical business, we should hold ourselves to the standards of a medical practitioner. With such unrestrained behavior, what example does it set, to spend time holding banquets..."

"Little brother speaks truly. I will abstain from wine from now on and spend more time in the medical hall preparing medicines,"

Fu Yuanzhi, his face flushed and somewhat drunk, was still amiable in the presence of Fu Baibu.

If one only listened to the content without the titles, they would think that Fu Baibu was the elder brother.

"I didn’t ask for my elder brothers to come over just to discuss this."

Softened by his elder brother’s tender approach, Fu Baibu’s demeanor also became more gentle. Rubbing the fingers that had been resting under his nose, he mumbled, "I was thinking, about the task for the Inner Sect Disciples, I’d like to ask my elder brothers for some advice..."

"Hmm!?"

Fu Dongqing, who had been slouching in his chair with bleary drunk eyes, suddenly sat up with a grunt. Slapping his palm heavily on the armrest, his irritated bloodshot eyes bulging with unconcealable excitement, he burst out, "This is how it should be done, little brother, hurry up and tell us, what exactly is this task!?"

So they were only pretending to be drunk, merely unwilling to talk to me!

Coming to this realization, Fu Baibu also felt somewhat embarrassed and decided not to beat around the bush anymore, saying directly, "This task involves an important figure, and the elder’s explanation was unclear, but what’s certain is that gathering materials will no longer be the focus of the assessment. It will be the latter two objectives—the trials of Overcoming Adversity and Benefiting the World."

With a look of puzzlement in his eyes, Fu Baibu said, "With only half a month’s time, how should I complete these two questions? I have no idea. Do my elder brothers have any direction in mind?"

"Overcoming Adversity... Benefiting the World?"

Fu Dongqing, who was just bubbling with excitement, after pondering for a long while upon hearing these two objectives, uncertainly said, "Let’s put this Overcoming Adversity aside for now. The meaning of Benefiting the World seems clear enough—it’s about doctors offering treatments, helping the world, healing people. But for the Inner Sect Disciples of the Divine Sect, surely it’s not about who cures more people, right?"

"Definitely not like that."

Fu Baibu shook his head and said, "Even the most skilled physician cannot cook without rice. Without the support of medicinal materials, no matter how skilled a healer, they cannot prescribe treatments. Since the sect hasn’t provided us with a pharmacy, they surely won’t use the number of people cured as the criteria for Benefiting the World."

"Could it be about holding lectures?"

Fu Dongqing suggested, "Last year, the one from the Divine Sect who came back to Apricot Yellow City did just that, giving lectures on treatments for many intricate diseases to the medical officers of the city. Perhaps we can follow that example."

"That’s an idea!"

Fu Baibu’s eyes lit up as he said, "Over the years, I have accumulated some medical knowledge. That should be sufficient to support half a month of teaching and lecturing!"

"Hold on a moment! Little brother, is this trial very important to you?"

"Of course, it’s important."

Fu Baibu nodded earnestly, "The score of this trial is not only related to personal capability but also affects the evaluation rankings of our peaks. Plus, with that figure involved this time, the entire Divine Sect is watching. If I succeed, it will be a splendid achievement and the chance for true inheritance is hopeful!"

"Is that the case..."

Fu Yuanzhi’s gaze suddenly shifted, and he lowered his head, deep in thought.

After discussing the matter of holding lectures excitedly for a while, he lifted his head and said, "Merely disseminating established methods is not enough to claim as Benefiting the World—such claims would be too far-fetched. Little brother, do you have any research on epidemics?"

"Epidemics?"

Fu Baibu didn’t understand why his brother was asking this, but replied, "Because of Dao Child’s influence in recent years, Divine Sect has a comprehensive understanding of various plagues. Generally, such diseases are within our grasp to manage."

"So that’s how it is. Then I’ll go and inquire whether there’s an outbreak of disease around Apricot Yellow City."

"Sure, elder brother, please do as you see fit."

After Fu Yuanzhi left his seat to leave, Fu Dongqing also found a pretext to follow him out.

"Big brother, Apricot Yellow City is full of medical officers; where would the disease come from around here?"

"Octagon Village has a chicken plague; they placed an order with the pharmacy for medicine."

Walking hastily forward, head bowed, Fu Yuanzhi’s expression was grave.

"I know about this, but that’s a chicken plague, not a human..."

Fu Dongqing started with a shock, then grabbed his elder brother’s arm. His brother, turning his back and arching over, had half of his face cloaked in shadow, only his eyes revealing a cold gleam.

"Big... big... big... big... big brother... what... what are you planning to do."

"There’s still time to rush to the pharmacy now."