Laying an Ambush for Evil Arts!

The following afternoon, Su Que dismissed class, bade farewell to the children he taught, left the School, and headed toward the east of Jade Water City.

East City was where the most martial arts schools were located. He wanted to ask around and see whether any of them taught Martial Arts that harmed the practitioner's body.

Of course, even if a martial arts school taught such Martial Arts, they would not openly admit it.

Such self-damaging Martial Arts were generally evil arts. Compared with proper Martial Arts, they were bound to be either immensely powerful or incredibly quick to advance.

Otherwise, no one would bother learning them.

So he went from one martial arts school to another, asking whether they had any Martial Arts with tremendous power or ones that could be mastered quickly.

Who would have thought that, after making the rounds, every one of those schools said no.

It seemed they were all martial arts schools that taught proper Martial Arts.

"Heh heh, little brother, if you want to learn that sort of Martial Arts, join the White Lotus Sect!"

One of the martial arts instructors said this to Su Que.

After saying so, the instructor returned to the school, leaving Su Que standing outside the door.

According to the original owner's memories, the White Lotus Sect was a notorious evil cult, and quite a few of its disciples knew strange and wicked techniques.

Perhaps those evil arts were exactly what he needed.

"Do I really have to join the White Lotus Sect?"

Joining such an evil cult meant walking a road into darkness, never to turn back.

He likely would not have much of a peaceful life afterward.

And becoming a successful candidate in the imperial examinations, let alone an official, would be out of the question.

But if he wanted to survive, he had to give it a try.

The only problem was that even if he wanted to join, he had no idea how.

So far, he had not found any trace of the White Lotus Sect within Jade Water City.

After thinking for a while, Su Que headed west.

West City of Jade Water City had brothels, gambling houses, and taverns. It was where gang members who licked blood from knife edges went to unwind, and where information gathered.

Perhaps he could learn something about the White Lotus Sect there.

Su Que entered a gambling house and placed bets alongside the idlers and wandering martial artists inside.

Each time, he only wagered a tiny amount of silver, while listening to the gamblers chat.

After three days of listening, he discovered that there were indeed many gang members in the gambling house.

The Caobang Gang, Beggars' Gang, Medicine Gang, and others from Jade Water City were all represented.

Yet none of the information they discussed mentioned the White Lotus Sect.

Not until the fifth day did he hear two burly men beside him, dark-skinned and hairy-chested, talking as they placed their bets.

"Why aren't you wagering all the silver in your money pouch? Aren't you afraid that after tonight, you won't live to enjoy it?"

"Tonight may be a meeting with White Lotus Sect disciples, but we're taking the water route. Their land-based skills may not measure up to our skills on the water!"

"Besides, the White Lotus Sect members coming to the meeting might not necessarily include any experts."

"That's true!"

Su Que's heart stirred.

At last, he had heard some news connected to the White Lotus Sect.

Those two burly men considered themselves formidable on the water, so they were very likely from the Caobang Gang.

"A meeting on the water..."

Su Que pondered inwardly.

"The only place with water near Jade Water City is the Jade Water River that winds around the city."

"Could they be meeting on the Jade Water River?"

From what the two men said, Su Que felt it was highly likely that the White Lotus Sect and the Caobang Gang would come to blows.

"I wonder if I can catch an injured White Lotus Sect disciple, then pry the method for practicing their wicked arts from his mouth..."

Thinking this, Su Que collected the money he had won once betting resumed, then left the gambling house.

After spending the past few days in the gambling house, not only had his money not dwindled, it had actually increased.

He went to East Market and bought a dagger, a mask, a large sack of lime, a bundle of hemp rope, and two bags of Animal Traps.

He did not know any Martial Arts at all, so he could only rely on external tools and see whether he could capture an injured White Lotus Sect disciple.

Su Que carried three large bundles on his back and went to a forest, where he gazed toward the distant Jade Water River.

He had no Martial Arts, so he did not dare get too close, lest he be discovered.

Within fifty meters around himself, he laid Animal Traps everywhere to guard against sudden attacks by people or wild beasts.

He also had two bags of lime powder tucked into his sleeves.

A full moon hung high in the sky, its light reflected on the Jade Water River like a ribbon.

The surroundings were utterly silent.

Su Que did not know how many hours he had waited.

He had already slapped dead dozens of mosquitoes and insects that wanted to suck his blood.

"Could it be that the White Lotus Sect and the Caobang Gang aren't fighting after all?"

Su Que had intended to leave, but after hesitating for a while, he decided to keep waiting.

After another half hour, he suddenly saw six small boats approaching along the river beneath the moonlight.

More than twenty men stood on the bamboo rafts and boats combined.

Judging by their formation, this group had to be the Caobang Gang.

Because he was so far away, Su Que could not see clearly and did not know whether the two men from the gambling house were among those twenty-odd men.

At the same time, a group of more than ten people swept in from the other side along the Jade Water River, heading toward the Caobang Gang members.

This group should be the White Lotus Sect!

The two parties stopped at one spot.

From afar, Su Que could see their lips moving. They were likely talking.

After about the time it took for an incense stick to burn, the White Lotus Sect disciples suddenly rushed toward the Caobang Gang members.

From where he stood, Su Que could see the leader of the White Lotus Sect throw a punch. The air beside his fist actually distorted, as though ripples had spread through it.

However, the Caobang Gang members were all on the water.

As the force of the punch came at them, the Caobang Gang members raised their bamboo poles and oars to block it.

The small boats beneath their feet rocked over the water, instantly dissipating all that force.

Then, the Caobang Gang members took bows, crossbows, and hidden weapons from their boats.

Crossbow Bolts and all manner of hidden weapons shot toward the White Lotus Sect disciples.

The White Lotus Sect disciples at the front dodged the hidden weapons, leaped into the air, and jumped toward the Caobang Gang's small boats.

But the Caobang Gang members handled the boats as easily as if they were toys.

With a thrust of their bamboo poles, the small boats drifted away.

The leaping White Lotus Sect disciples immediately stepped into empty air and fell into the water.

The Caobang Gang members instantly drew sabers and swords, thrusting spears and forks at the White Lotus Sect disciples who had fallen into the water.

At once, patches of scarlet spread through the river.

After several people died and more were struck by hidden weapons, the White Lotus Sect fell into a disadvantage.

The White Lotus Sect leader immediately called for everyone to retreat.

Seeing that they had gained the upper hand, the Caobang Gang members thrust their bamboo poles and brought their boats to shore.

One after another, the men kicked off from their boats and leaped onto the bank like flying birds, pursuing the White Lotus Sect in victory.

The White Lotus Sect disciples were scattered and fled in all directions.

Most of the Caobang Gang members chased after the White Lotus Sect disciple who had led them.

Some White Lotus Sect disciples of lower status managed to escape.

From afar, Su Que saw a White Lotus Sect disciple with a large smear of blood on his body running toward this forest.

He had not expected the opportunity to arrive so quickly, and he hurriedly steadied himself.

Then he took Animal Traps from his bundles one by one. Concealed by the brush, before the White Lotus Sect disciple came close, he threw them low, almost skimming the ground, toward the area ahead.

Very quickly, he laid more than twenty Animal Traps across the stretch of ground before him.

Once he was done, he stared through the gaps between the leaves at the White Lotus Sect disciple staggering toward him.