The following afternoon, Su Que finished his class, bid farewell to the children he taught, and left the school heading east toward Jade Water City.
The eastern part of the city had the most Martial Arts Halls, and he wanted to inquire whether any of them were teaching Martial Arts that could harm the practitioners' bodies.
Of course, if a Martial Arts Hall were teaching such techniques, they would not openly admit it.
These self-harming martial arts are usually Evil Techniques; compared to proper Martial Arts, they certainly have immense power or progress rapidly.
Otherwise, no one would bother learning such martial arts.
Thus, he inquired at each Martial Arts Hall, asking if there were any Martial Arts that were extremely powerful or could be mastered quickly.
To his surprise, after asking around, all these halls claimed they had none.
It seemed they were all teaching proper Martial Arts.
"Heh heh, young man, if you want to learn such martial arts, you should join the White Lotus Sect!"
One of the martial arts hall instructors said this to Su Que.
After saying this, the instructor walked back into the hall, leaving Su Que standing at the door.
According to his memories, the White Lotus Sect was a notorious Evil Cult, with many disciples skilled in some treacherous techniques.
Perhaps these Evil Techniques were precisely what he needed.
"Do I really have to join the White Lotus Sect?"
Joining such an Evil Cult would mean traveling down a dark path.
Thereafter, it would be hard to lead a stable life.
Forget about passing the imperial exams or becoming an official.
Yet, for survival, one must at least try.
However, even if he wanted to join, he didn't know how.
Currently, within Jade Water City, he hadn't found any trace of the White Lotus Sect.
After pondering for a while, Su Que walked toward the west of the city.
The western part of Jade Water City housed brothels, gambling houses, and taverns, places where those living on the edge relaxed, and where information converged.
There, he might be able to gather some news on the White Lotus Sect.
Su Que entered a gambling house and placed bets alongside wandering unsavory characters and Jianghu people.
He bet just a little silver coins each time, while listening to the chit-chat of gamblers.
After three days, he noticed the gambling house indeed had many gang members.
Members of the Cao Gang, Beggar Gang, Medicine Gang, and others from Jade Water City were all there.
But the information they shared made no mention of the White Lotus Sect.
Until on the fifth day, he overheard two swarthy, hairy-chested men nearby, betting while talking.
"Why don't you bet all the silver coins in your purse, aren't you afraid you won't live to enjoy it after tonight?"
"Although tonight involves meeting with White Lotus Sect disciples, we are using water routes; the sect's land-based skills may not match our water skills!"
"Moreover, the ones coming to meet us may not include experts from White Lotus Sect."
"True!"
Su Que's heart stirred.
He finally heard some news related to the White Lotus Sect.
The two men seemed confident in their water skills, likely members of the Cao Gang.
"A water-based meeting..."
Su Que pondered.
"The only water feature near Jade Water City is the Jade River encircling the city."
"Could they be meeting at the Jade River?"
From the two men's conversation, Su Que felt the White Lotus Sect and Cao Gang were likely to clash.
"I wonder if it's possible to capture an injured White Lotus Sect disciple and then extract information about the Evil Techniques from them..."
With this thought, Su Que collected his winnings after placing bets and left the gambling house.
Over the past few days in the gambling house, he not only retained his money but increased it.
He went to the East Market, bought a dagger, a mask, a large bag of lime powder, a coil of rope, and two bags of Beast Traps.
Since he knew no martial arts, he had to rely on external tools to try capturing an injured White Lotus Sect disciple.
…
Su Que carried three large packs to a forest, gazing at the distant Jade River.
He was unskilled in martial arts and dared not get too close, to avoid being discovered.
Within fifty meters around him, he had set Beast Traps to prevent sudden attacks by people or wild beasts.
Hidden weapons were tucked into the sleeves of his shirt as lime powder bags.
The full moon hung high in the sky, and the Jade River reflected the moonlight, resembling a ribbon.
All around was silent.
Su Que didn't know how many hours he had waited.
Over thirty mosquitoes that tried to suck his blood had been killed.
"Could the White Lotus Sect and Cao Gang have decided not to fight?"
Initially intending to leave, Su Que hesitated a bit more and decided to continue waiting.
After another half-hour, suddenly, he saw under the moonlight six small boats sailing up the river.
Twenty-some men stood on the bamboo rafts and boats.
From the formation, it seemed this group was the Cao Gang.
Because he was far away, Su Que couldn't tell if the two he saw in the gambling house were among these men.
Simultaneously, a team of over ten people emerged from the other side, approaching the Cao Gang along the Jade River.
This group should be the White Lotus Sect!
The two groups stopped at a spot.
From a distance, Su Que could see their lips moving, likely conversing.
After around a stick of incense's time, suddenly, the White Lotus Sect disciples rushed toward the Cao Gang.
From afar, Su Que saw a leading figure of the White Lotus Sect throw a punch, causing the air beside the fist to distort and ripple.
However, the Cao Gang remained on the water.
As the fist force hit, the Cao Gang members raised bamboo poles and oars to block it.
The boat swayed on the water, dispersing the power.
Afterward, the Cao Gang retrieved crossbows and hidden weapons from the boat.
Crossbow arrows and various hidden weapons shot toward the White Lotus Sect disciples.
The White Lotus Sect disciple in front dodged the hidden weapons, leaping toward the Cao Gang's boat.
However, the Cao Gang handled the boat as if playing.
By pushing the bamboo pole, the boat swayed.
The leaping White Lotus Sect disciples immediately missed their footing and fell into the water.
The Cao Gang immediately wielded knives, swords, spears, and forks to stab at the White Lotus Sect disciples in the water.
Soon, patches of crimson spread within the river.
After a few deaths, along with hidden weapons striking, the White Lotus Sect found themselves at a disadvantage.
The leading figure of the White Lotus Sect immediately called for a retreat.
The Cao Gang, seeing the upper hand, pushed the bamboo poles, bringing the boats ashore.
Men leaped from the boats like birds, chasing the retreating White Lotus Sect.
The White Lotus Sect disciples were scattered and fleeing.
Most Cao Gang members chased after the lead disciple of the White Lotus Sect.
Some of the lower-ranked White Lotus Sect disciples managed to escape.
From afar, Su Que saw a White Lotus Sect disciple stained with large patches of blood running toward his forest.
He hadn't expected the opportunity to come this way, so he quickly steadied himself.
Then, from his pack, he took out Beast Traps, using bushes for cover, and while the White Lotus Sect disciple hadn't yet approached, he crouched low, almost to the ground, tossing them forward.
Soon, he laid down over twenty Beast Traps in front.
After setting them up, his gaze pierced through the leaves' gaps, watching the staggering White Lotus Sect disciple approach.