Dawn approached in the hour of the Tiger, the moonlight clear as water.
Clad in a noble Purple Python Robe, he stood at the ferry crossing, quietly watching the shimmering sea.
His trusted subordinates hurried over to report:
"Boss, we seized a total of a hundred and seventy thousand silver taels, a hundred and twenty thousand shi of salt, nearly a thousand suits of finely crafted armor, and three thousand eight hundred powerful bows and crossbows!"
Jia Huan turned and asked:
"Were the weapons and armor numbered?"
Scholar shook his head:
"They're all brand-new, privately manufactured armor and bows. The salt is privately produced contraband too. There's nothing we can trace."
Jia Huan's tone turned icy:
"Those two old dogs still haven't confessed?"
Twin Whips shook his head:
"We've used more than a dozen kinds of torture, but those two have bones of iron. They've clenched their teeth and won't reveal a single word. The other White Lotus Cult members gave up their hideouts in the Capital Region, but they know nothing about the cult leader or whoever's behind him."
Jia Huan pondered briefly, then ordered:
"Have our brothers wipe out the hideouts. Whatever they seize goes into their own pockets!"
"Prepare all kinds of poisonous gu for those two old dogs. Keep a breath in them while you torture them to the brink of death. First, force them to divulge secrets about each other. Once we pry their mouths open, use gu insects to cloud their minds. Breaking their spirits is the best approach, and then we can obtain important confessions!"
Everyone answered in unison:
"Yes, sir!!"
After more than half a day of torture, they finally obtained something important that afternoon.
Twin Whips brought over the Book of Impermanence and reported quietly:
"Boss, the White Lotus Cult Leader