Online: I Can See Health Bars Chapter 1240 - 548: Undercurrents at the Inn (Part 2)

Brother Tian's expression brimmed with thrill.

Through relentless battles and ordeals in Thunder City, he had weathered endless trials and thrashings to claim his present level of influence and might.

His Lucky Gift Package talent, [Polar Star Shift], had been pivotal in all this success.

Regrettably, the [Polar Star Shift] skill carries restrictions. When confronting martial arts vastly superior to his or from elevated realms, a single observation fails to grant mastery.

To grasp it, multiple viewings are required, along with repeated stealthy practice and endless grinding. Facing the pinnacle masters of the Ten Major Families, Brother Tian calculated that his current power would demand thousands or even tens of thousands of covert glances to successfully imitate and acquire.

Yet for celebrated figures like the Poison Scorpion Sisters, the chances of stealthily mastering their martial arts remain strong. Provided he conceals himself adeptly and persists in trailing for several stealth learning attempts, success might come.

Even if the stealthily obtained martial arts start as mere basics, demanding full practice from the ground up. Still, this beats struggling to learn any technique in Thunder City sans connections—where gangs conceal secrets, refusing decent arts until loyalty proves absolute—making direct theft of famed martial arts from others a supreme boon.

Beyond that, stealth learning martial arts spares heaps of initial attribute points otherwise spent on acquisition.

"Brother Tian, if you nail the stealth learning this round, we'll skyrocket!"

"Brother Tian, when you make it big, remember us!"

"Brother Tian, you've got our backs!"

Brother Tian's companions chimed in swiftly.

Though low-level thugs, they had stood by Brother Tian throughout their journey, their zeal and reverence exploding upon learning of his Lucky Gift Package status, all dreaming of riding his coattails to glory when he finally soared.

Inside the humble inn, the air crackled with varied tensions, dark undercurrents roiling.

Precisely as the inn's assorted factions covertly vied and coiled their energies in wait...

Step.

Step.

Step.

A figure descended from the upstairs guest quarters.

Swish—

In an instant, utter silence gripped the entire inn for a heartbeat.

Every eye, abandoning prior tasks, riveted straight to the staircase.

Qin Er froze in shock at the spectacle.

What’s going on? Why are all these people suddenly fixating on me?

She had only come downstairs to prod the waiter about the delayed meal delivery to her room, discovering the inn teeming with activity.

Those stares felt predatory, utterly terrifying.

Qin Er had never faced such intensity, leaving her paralyzed on the spot.

Thankfully, the stares withdrew in the next instant, chatter resuming across the inn about unrelated topics, as if the mass gawking had never occurred—snapping back to the standard bustle of dining patrons.

Though puzzled, Qin Er steadied her nerves.

Right then, the waiter scurried over at a jog.

"Guest, why come down here?"

"...Uh, I, I just wondered why the food's taking forever..."

Qin Er murmured softly.

Her pulse still raced from the earlier collective scrutiny.

"Guest..."

The waiter awkwardly gestured to the packed tables downstairs.

"Please wait a bit longer; I'll dash to the kitchen and hurry them up now."

"Mm, mm..."

With that, Qin Er spun around and fled upstairs.

Far too scary—all those tables crammed with weapon-bearing roughnecks, none appearing trustworthy.

Are they targeting me?

Has my Rebel Army identity leaked?

Qin Er first suspected this, but reason soon prevailed.

How could they possibly hunt her?

Their mark must be that white-robed youth in the adjacent room!

He's definitely the quarry!

Qin Er's racing heart eased somewhat, though another worry surfaced.

If a brawl erupts later, I hope it doesn't pull me in...

Qin Er resolved to barricade herself in her room, eavesdropping through the wall for disturbances, vowing never to venture out!

The very moment Qin Er shut her door upon returning.

Fang Yu from the neighboring chamber swung his door open and headed downstairs.

...

"That's her, isn't it."

[Poison Marrow Sword] Zhao Jinci lifted her gaze.

"No doubt—descending from upstairs, matches the target." Poison Marrow Sword Zhao Yinxin gave a subtle nod.

The smile-hidden-flower Lin Yi Yuan grinned as he added,

"Looks like our goals align, so I beseech my two sisters to watch over us this evening."

"Hmph!"

Zhao Yinxin huffed coldly, falling silent.

At a nearby table, the black-clad youth's group murmured lowly.

"Master, that woman... doesn't appear to know Martial Arts?"

"Some things, best not to pry too deeply."

Humblebane Plague raised his brows, dropping a clue.

"For a bounty this rich, expect complications. With all these powerhouses assembled, haven't you realized? The true hurdle isn't the target—it's rivaling these foes!"

The black-clad youth nodded, half-comprehending the insight.

Meanwhile, at the corner table, Brother Tian rubbed his chin.

"Smart move, scouting from downstairs. But fleeing now? Far too late. Surrounded by elite predators, any twitch and they'll pounce!"

A lackey sidled closer, whispering,

"Brother Tian, hold on—intel mentioned a man and woman. Why only her so far?"

No sooner had the words left than fresh footsteps resounded from the stairs.

The steps came neither rushed nor dawdling.

A steady, ordinary rhythm, soon hitting the ground floor.

This round, glances flicked over slyly rather than en masse.

"Waiter, what's with the delay on food? Ages passed, still nothing."

Fang Yu rapped the counter, ignoring the covert stares at his back.

From his descent, he had surveyed the room fully, instantly relaxing.

He had descended ahead to gauge potential threats below.

Conclusion: nothing noteworthy.

"My apologies, sir! Our humble shop's swamped tonight, but I'll prioritize your order immediately! Right now!"

The shopkeeper bobbed his head, bolting to the kitchen to prod the cooks.

Fang Yu pivoted then, prompting his watchers to hastily look away.

Fang Yu feigned ignorance, hollering toward the kitchen, "Speed it up, we're starving," before climbing the stairs.

Low murmurs stirred in his wake.

"Breathing even, steps solid... this guy's no pushover."

Poison Marrow Sword Zhao Jinci noted, brow furrowed in contemplation.

Above her head floated the health bar...

[Zhao Jinci: 2000/2000.]

"Power means little; once big sis's Poison Sword lands, they'll drop like flies."

Zhao Yinxin's eyes gleamed with disdain.

[Zhao Yinxin: 1500/1500.]

"No need for sisters to act—in my view, I alone suffice for trash like him."

Smile-hidden-flower Lin Yi Yuan fanned himself with a chuckle.

[Lin Yi Yuan: 1500/1500.]

Across the room, the black-clad youth eyed his master.

"Master..."

"Quiet!"

His master’s face grew grave, retreat already tempting.

For...

He couldn't gauge that youth's true prowess!

[Humblebane Plague: 3500/3500.]

Over at the corner.

"Brother Tian, your take?"

"Nothing special; I could crush him effortlessly. As expected, the real snag is these overpowered rivals."

Brother Tian grinned.

[Zhao Wutian: 500/500.]

As Fang Yu ascended fully, the stares pulled back.

For a beat, calm settled over the inn, yet beneath, all poised to strike—merely awaiting night's total descent!

...