Cave, Exposed!

The White Lotus disciple with the pencil mustache, named "Old Liu," was a "First Blood Skin Refining" martial artist, but his skin wasn't tough enough yet.

And the Animal Trap that had caught him was one Su Que had bought at a high price—made of iron, not wood, extremely hard and sharp.

After Old Liu was caught, blood gushed from the wound like a spring. The Golden Wound Ointment he'd just applied was quickly washed away by the blood.

So he had to tear a strip from his clothes, tightly bind his thigh to slow the blood flow, and then reapply the ointment.

"Old Gao, wait up!" he called to his companion. After dressing the wound, he limped deeper into the cave.

Soon, he too saw several large red lacquered wooden chests and some other items.

"This must be that Mysterious Martial Artist's medicine stash!"

Old Gao, with his bristly beard, spoke excitedly. Their leader Bai Wuji had put out word a few days ago: anyone who found clues about the Mysterious Martial Artist would be heavily rewarded.

Now they'd even found his medicine hideout—the reward would probably let them live a life of luxury for a good while.

"Old Gao, go dig through that Mysterious Martial Artist's stuff and see what's there."

Old Gao acknowledged and went over to the pile of Su Que's belongings, flipping through them one by one.

Old Liu limped over to the pile too.

"A mask, clothes, quicklime..."

"Can't believe a guy this strong still uses tricks like quicklime!"

"I've never used quicklime since I hit the martial world!"

Old Liu muttered as he watched Old Gao search.

"Damn it, Old Gao, hurry up and see if there's any money!"

Old Liu barked at Old Gao, then continued:

"I checked those corpses earlier—all their silver was gone. Nine times out of ten, that Mysterious Martial Artist lifted it."

"See if there's any here. We grab it and report back fast. If that Mysterious Martial Artist comes back, we're dead."

No sooner had Old Liu finished than—

Old Gao let out a strange yell. "Old Liu, you son of a bitch, you were right! There is!" He pulled out a few Silver Ingots, several Silver Sycees, and over a dozen Silver Notes from the pile.

Both men's eyes lit up. They quickly split the money evenly.

They folded the Silver Notes and tucked them into their clothes.

As for the Silver Ingots and Silver Sycees, they grabbed a few cloths from Su Que's pile—the ones he usually used to wipe sweat—wrapped them up, and carried them in hand.

"Let's go, let's go, Old Gao! We need to get out of here!"

Old Liu urged, limping quickly toward the exit. He was afraid if they dawdled, they'd run into that "Mysterious Martial Artist."

"Hold on, Old Liu!" Old Gao suddenly said.

"What's up?" Old Liu slowed a little.

Old Gao glanced at the red lacquered chests. "Old Liu, how about we pick out a few valuable herbs, stash them somewhere nearby, and come back in a few days to sell them."

"Besides us, no one knows how much medicine that Mysterious Martial Artist had left."

"Damn, Old Gao, you're one clever bastard!" Old Liu praised, then said:

"Hurry up and grab some cloths, wrap the medicine, and let's move."

So the two took a few cloths from Su Que's pile, opened the red chests, and wrapped up Mountain Ginseng, Lingzhi, and other valuable herbs.

After a moment, they tied the bundles, slung them over their shoulders, and left the cave.

"Hey, Old Gao, carrying this stuff around isn't safe to hide anywhere else. If we stash it in Jade Water City and someone finds it, we'll be taken for accomplices of that 'Mysterious Martial Artist.'"

As they walked, Old Liu suddenly said:

"How about we find a spot nearby, dig a hole, and bury this stuff for now. Once the 'Mysterious Martial Artist' is dead for a while, we'll come back and dig it up."

"Alright, let's do that."

Old Gao agreed, and they veered off toward another patch of woods.

Each drew their bloodstained Thick-backed Blade and started digging a pit in the ground.

As Old Liu dug, he said, "Old Gao, what are you planning to do with the Silver Notes in our pockets?"

Old Gao let out a weird "heh heh" first. "Tonight, I'm going to Hui Chun Tang in Jade Water City to buy a few doses of medicine, then head to Spring Full Tower in Black Water City and call five girls."

Since Jade Water City was already under their White Lotus Sect's control, most of the brothels were run by the sect.

If they spent lavishly there, they'd likely be found out fast, and people would start questioning where their money came from.

Black Water City was a city west of Jade Water City, a bit less prosperous. The White Lotus Sect had no plans to take it over yet.

Hearing this, Old Liu also "heh heh" laughed. "Old Gao, you're pathetic. I don't need any medicine—I'm going straight to Spring Full Tower in Black Water City and calling ten girls!"

After Su Que left the city, he checked that no one was around, then broke into a run, heading straight for Qinghua Mountain.

As he passed through a forest near Qinghua Mountain, he faintly heard from deep within the woods the rhythmic sound of iron scraping against dirt and stone.

"What's going on? Someone burying a corpse? Or hiding treasure?"

Su Que furrowed his brow slightly, deciding to check it out. He immediately lightened his steps and approached quietly.

Soon, he spotted two men with odd expressions, snickering as they dug a pit with a pair of Thick-backed Blades.

When Su Que saw four bundles—two large, two small—on the ground, he steadied himself.

The cloth of those bundles looked familiar... Damn it, wasn't this the fabric he'd bought in Jade Water City?

Su Que shifted his gaze and fixed it on one man's calf.

The wound on that calf was clearly from an Animal Trap.

By now, Su Que was almost certain these two had been to his cave.

He walked straight toward them.

"Heave-ho, heave-ho..."

Afraid their stash might be discovered, the two dug the pit deep, and after a while, their strength began to wane.

Suddenly, Old Liu scratched his handlebar mustache, his body jolting.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw someone approaching them.

He turned his head quickly—it was a scholar.

"Damn it, why would a scholar pass through here?" Old Liu muttered.

Old Gao froze, followed Old Liu's gaze, and spotted the scholar walking over.

Old Liu said, "This scholar's unlucky. Picking any other time would've been fine, but he had to show up now. He saw what we're doing. Even if he doesn't know what we're up to, he might blab about it!"

"If word gets to other White Lotus Sect members, we're done for!"

"Old Gao, let's kill him."

"Fine."

Old Gao stopped digging, lifted his Thick-backed Blade. He'd killed plenty before, so his conscience was clear.

Soon, both White Lotus Sect members raised their bloodstained Thick-backed Blades, gripping them with both hands, and charged at Su Que with a burst of leg strength.

To prevent Su Que from fleeing, they flanked him from left and right.

When they got close, they raised their Thick-backed Blades high and swung them down at Su Que.

The blades sliced through the air with a whistling sound.

Su Que merely extended his right hand and punched lightly into the air. Two faint bursts of Seven Injuries Fist force shot forth.

Suddenly.

Two dull thuds—thump, thump—rang out in succession.

Struck by the Seven Injuries Fist force, the fabric over their chests caved into a dent. Their forward momentum halted abruptly, and they were flung backward through the air.

They flew a full two zhang before crashing heavily to the ground, each carving a furrow over a zhang long before finally stopping.

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