📖 Note of Wave Exploration

Respected Lord: Since our parting in Jingzhou, I have traveled far and wide, gathering information on Gaunt Stallion Sect as follows: The Gaunt Stallion Sect operates in Jiangnan East and Liangzhu Circuits, overtly profiting from trade of slaves and maids, while secretly engaging in abduction and robbery. They leverage waterway transport to expand their influence along Yangtze River, causing significant harm to prosperous places like Hangzhou. The Gaunt Stallion Sect's human trafficking is different. They seek out young girls, not rushing to trade them, but instead teaching them skills. Only when the girls are well-trained do they sell them at high prices. Because Gaunt Stallion Sect's acts are similar to horse traders who buy gaunt horses cheaply, fatten them up, and sell them at a high price, the sect leader Feng Xueya named the sect "Gaunt Stallion." The girls from it are sought after by wealthy merchants. Those with the most outstanding beauty are presented to court officials. Gaunt Stallion Sect sometimes acts as fighters, eliminating troubles for officials, thus holding leverage over them, making it difficult to act against them. Gaunt Stallion Sect was founded by its leader, Feng Xueya. There was a local thug in Hangzhou, nicknamed "Phoenix Overlord," notorious for his evil deeds. It is said that Feng Xueya is his son. After Feng Xueya's birth, his mother died, leaving him to survive through robbery and extortion. As he grew older, he went to Yangzhou, engaging in the theft of corpses for ghost marriages. It was through this morally bankrupt trade that Feng Xueya quickly rose to prominence. Later, he turned to kidnapping children and abducting women to train as "Gaunt Stallions." Feng Xueya is violent and eccentric, yet shrewd in his calculations. In just a few years, he monopolized the human trafficking business along Yangtze River. Furthermore, Feng Xueya is audacious and reckless. At first, he only traded with families selling their children. Later, he also targeted daughters of noble families. About seven years ago, the young daughter of Huang Zhixing, Magistrate of Yangzhou, was abducted by Gaunt Stallion Sect. Huang Zhixing ordered a crackdown on the sect, but was framed with treason. Feng Xueya has a mistress, known as "Immortal Fang." She broke away from Gaunt Stallion Sect to form Immortalis Sect, specializing in abducting the elderly, women, and children to beg, even deliberately crippling them to earn money. Sir, we once saw a large dog at Jingzhou Port that could speak and sing. The dog was made from a three-year-old child. Truly horrifying! I only know that the secret treasure is in Hangzhou, but exact location remains undiscovered. Although Gaunt Stallion Sect is not directly connected to the secret treasure, their growing influence in Hangzhou and deep ties with the Government may prove useful in the future. I am determined to do my utmost to uncover the secret treasure and restore the glory of our sect! Respectfully submitted by Chu Tao October, Second Year of Zhenghe

To my esteemed lord, There have been significant changes recently within the Gaunt Stallion Sect. Eleven years ago, Huang Zhixing, the Magistrate of Yangzhou, had his youngest daughter, Huang Mengtong, abducted by the Gaunt Stallion Sect. Sect Leader Feng Xueya colluded with the government, leading to the massacre of the Huang family as they tried to rescue her. To make an example of them, Feng Xueya changed Huang Mengtong's name to "Feng Huanchao" and gave her the surname of the family that wiped out hers, mocking her by making her name mean "returning to the nest" when she had no nest to return to. For years, Feng Huanchao feigned obedience, acting docile before Feng Xueya and even calling him her adoptive father. In reality, however, she is every bit as cunning and formidable as Feng Xueya, never forgetting her desire for revenge. She has quietly remained within the Gaunt Stallion Sect, biding her time and plotting her retaliation. Feng Huanchao is naturally gifted with extraordinary talents, excelling in swordsmanship, dance, music, and calligraphy. Feng Xueya, seeing her potential, made her his pet and invested heavily in her training. This "favor" was used by Feng Huanchao to her advantage, making her a powerful figure within the Gaunt Stallion Sect, and eventually, she seized control of its inner workings. Months ago, Feng Huanchao devised a plan to swallow the tribute that the sect intended to send to the Prefect of Hangzhou, Cai Yun. Then, she volunteered to deliver the tribute herself as an apology from the Sect Leader. Feng Xueya, unaware of her true intentions, agreed. But Feng Huanchao's plan was more than just an apology she promised Cai Yun and other officials an even larger tribute than Feng Xueya had offered. Not long after, Feng Xueya was captured by the government and sent to the Cangzhou Prison. However, Feng Xueya is no ordinary criminal. Just a few days ago, he took advantage of a prison guard's visit to kill the guard and escape from the notoriously harsh Cangzhou Prison. Yet, given his injuries and the harsh conditions of the icy land, his survival chances are slim. Even if he did manage to escape, he is unlikely to stir up any further trouble. There is also a matter, both promising and troubling, that I must report to you. On the bright side, I have discovered that the secret treasure is hidden in the heart of West Lake in Hangzhou. The problem is that Hangzhou is not only defended by the powerful Huaiyuan Camp, led by the skilled Han Shizhong, but it is also the stronghold of Ji Hanxiu, the leader of the Tempest Spire. The Huaiyuan Camp has posted sentries every few steps along the shores of West Lake, making it incredibly difficult to sneak in. As for Ji Hanxiu, his presence needs no further explanation. However, I have devised a plan. While the Gaunt Stallion Sect's main base is in Yangzhou, it also has a branch in Hangzhou. If we can incite the Gaunt Stallion Sect to cause chaos in the city, it will distract both the Huaiyuan Camp and the Tempest Spire. In the ensuing turmoil, we can easily seize the treasure. A few days ago, I saw Long Xiaoshui, the Gaunt Stallion Sect's leader in Hangzhou, gaming at Scarlet House. His opponent, a young man, tricked him out of a hundred taels of silver, and Long Xiaoshui remained completely unaware. This reveals his lack of intelligence. If I can manipulate him into contacting the Gaunt Stallion Sect, our plan will likely succeed. I await your instructions. Sincerely, Chu Tao Winter's end, 6th Year of the Zhenghe Era

To my esteemed lord, Long Xiaoshui, the leader of the Gaunt Stallion Sect in Hangzhou, is a master of martial arts, but his mind is rather simple. I only had to whisper a few flattering words in his ear, praising him as the future ruler of Jiangnan, and he immediately thought of me as a kindred spirit. He was so eager to become friends that he practically begged me to become sworn brothers right then and there. After spending some time with him, I saw the perfect moment to put your plan into action. I shared it with him, and without hesitation, he wholeheartedly agreed to join forces with us. Right now, he's dreaming of taking down the Huaiyuan Camp and seizing Hangzhou's wealth to supply the Gaunt Stallion Sect. Just last night, six red-topped sedan chairs, carrying twelve beautiful young women, quietly entered Cai Estate under the cover of darkness. Gold and silver have been flowing into the homes of officials all across Hangzhou from the lowest rank to the second-highest prefect. Every official, no matter how minor, has been generously bribed. Everything is in place now, and we can be sure that when the night raid happens, not a single soldier will be there to stop us. I've also learned that the northern forces of the Darkwing Sect have been active lately, and Ji Hanxiu will soon be heading to the capital to take up his post. By the time of our raid, he'll be far from Hangzhou, leaving us with one less obstacle. Once the raid begins, the Gaunt Stallion Sect's forces will travel by water, taking the southern route through Jingci Temple and heading straight for the Huaiyuan Camp. The Huaiyuan soldiers stationed around the city will be busy fighting off the attack, giving you the perfect opportunity to slip into the lake's heart and retrieve the treasure. After years of patience and planning, victory is finally within our reach. The "Tempest Tamer" will soon be ours what was once taken from us will be returned, and Tempest Spire will claim everything that rightfully belongs to us! Wishing you great success in the upcoming raid. Sincerely, Chu Tao March, 1st Year of the Xuanhe Era