After gaining some understanding about several strongholds and member structure of the Crimson Whale Society from the old man, Lusheng left the graveyard.

Early next morning, Lusheng went out wandering to probe into spots belonging to the Crimson Whale Society.

Passing through a bustling street, a major shop in the city was holding a promotional event. Such events here weren't called promotions but rather "Fair Gifts".

A large group of children crowded at the shop's entrance where a wooden platform was erected. Someone loudly shouted attracting many passing pedestrians to watch.

Lusheng only glanced over initially, intending to swiftly leave.

But halfway through the platform, he noticed many shabbily dressed, sallow bony figures among the spectators.

"Mountain City residents usually lead decent lives. Didn't see this many destitute refugee-like people on streets before, how come so many suddenly emerged?"

Lusheng ignored the merchants loudly touting on the platform. Instead, carefully observing these seemingly destitute commoners.

They wore sorrowful expressions with barely any hopes visible in their eyes. Just standing by the platform hoping the shop would give out something to fill their stomachs.

Lusheng walked further ahead. Soon, clamoring sounds came from his right with crowds gathered. Mingled whispers constantly exchanged within.

He drew near pushing through people for a look.

A starving skeletal couple dressed in tatters hugged a three or four year old girl kneeling on the ground. Tree bark hung around their necks with simple gray charcoal drawings resembling strings of money.

"Please kind souls, have mercy... My daughter's only three and obedient with fair features. Alms to feed her..." the kneeling woman pleaded in anguish.

The little girl beside her still wore innocent bafflement, clueless about everything.

Lusheng frowned and squeezed out from the crowd to keep walking. Shockingly, he actually saw more people selling their young children up ahead. All were very young kids.

"How come so many destitute refugees suddenly inside this city?" Lusheng muttered as he walked.

In his stroll, no less than five locations with families selling children were seen. This somewhat weighed down his heart, also increasingly puzzling him.

Because before coming to this world, he never witnessed such tragic circumstances. For a household to reach the point of selling their children required an unimaginable depth of despair with no other recourse right?

When time was about right, Lusheng returned to the small building where he resided. Shockingly, a young woman also knelt by the tavern entrance on the first floor selling herself. Speaking in a foreign accent making her words barely intelligible.

Lusheng took a look. Seeing the tavern attendant also watching the spectacle, he drew closer asking, "How come so many destitute refugees suddenly coming in recently? Some disaster happened outside?"

That waiter instantly bowed and scraped seeing it was Lusheng. He promptly responded, "Replying to Young Master, wasn't Yunzhou struck by severe droughts? Countless starving all over, displaced refugees wandering everywhere. Even the death tolls are almost one tenth of Mountain City's population. Misery all the way... Originally after hearing the news, seems like our city barred these refugees from entering at first. But seeing the utter tragedy later, authorities couldn't bear it so orders were given to open pass and let the few survivors enter the city. Actually our home is still fine. Central Plains direction had many cities completely congested by refugees with food prices soaring madly."

"Yunzhou ah..." Lusheng knew of this place. West of the central plains encompassing a region. Didn't expect droughts there to be so critical. For ordinary people to travel from so very far here, unknown how many died midway.

"That's right... I heard..." The waiter looked left and right before lowering his voice. "Rumors say Yunzhou was plagued by monstrous fiends. Such bizarre weather, how could there be ten straight days of hail followed by months of drought right?"

"Ten days of hail and months of drought?" Lusheng asked astonished.

"They say those hailstones reached egg sizes. Then eight-nine months of severe drought without a hint of rain... horrors beyond horrors... Even hearsay of people resorting to cannibalism. Too awful." As a blabbermouth, the waiter naturally rambled out all he knew the moment he opened his mouth.

This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.

"Egg-sized hailstones and eight-nine month droughts..." Lusheng was also shocked. From his knowledge, three rainfall-less months already qualified as an intense drought. Let alone nearly an entire year. No wonder entire Yunzhou collapsed. Crops certainly completely withered. Even drinking water possibly lacking.

"Some say every occasion when rains were incoming with black clouds already gathered, bizarre events would happen instead. Like whirlpools in the clouds, sudden peals of thunder and etc. Then the clouds that just emerged would instantly vanish without a trace." The waiter whispered.

After inquiring for news, Lusheng returned home still quite astonished inwardly.

Such anomalous weather failing to conform with nature's principles. First enduring ten straight days of hail before directly shifting into drought. Utterly defying natural laws.

From the time since arriving in this world, he roughly understood everything differed little from ancient China apart from some variations in land, people and customs. Natural principles were also nearly identical.

The sole difference was prevalence of supernatural monsters, ghosts and fiends.

"This weather completely violating natural laws must be caused by external forces." Lusheng guessed inwardly. His intuition told him this drought was highly related to monstrous things.

Returning home, little Qiao'er was mending something. Seeing Lusheng enter, she promptly got up. "Young Master, you've returned? Need to bathe? Let me heat some water."

Lusheng asked offhandedly, "No need. How much silver still left at home?"

"Around twenty or so taels." Little Qiao'er swiftly replied a helpless number.

Lusheng was speechless. He even considered borrowing from Song Zhenguo and Chen Jiaorong. Or selling the white jade qilins gifted by Chen Jiaorong. Things worth astronomical values. Plus that gloomy-qi absorbed purple jade hairpin. The material itself was extremely valuable.

"Just makeshift plans. Still best to proceed as I previously thought. Perhaps a foothold for the Lu family can still be squeezed out in Mountain City." Lusheng plotted inwardly and began eating the meal little Qiao'er brought over from the neighboring restaurant. Taste was pretty good.

Little Qiao'er stood at the side pouring wine for Lusheng, chatting some sentences from time to time.

"How long till ranking announcements?" Lusheng casually asked.

"Around a month later. Academy will send notices then. Qiao'er will pay attention for it," little Qiao'er swiftly answered.

"Don't forget it. May be rather busy these days so alone at home. Be cautious, refugees entering the city means higher chances of unsavory characters," Lusheng reminded.

"Qiao'er understands," little Qiao'er obediently replied.

After the meal, Lusheng went out again. He already scouted those spots belonging to Crimson Whale Society this morning.

Right at noon, next was seeing what method could get him to join.

Lusheng slowly strolled at ease before boarding a carriage heading unhurriedly towards a gambling hall.

Golden Seal Gambling Hall.

This premise's name was rather tacky yet also fitting. The entire front entrance resembled a gigantic golden seal. Square and eye-catching.

Lusheng alighted and unfurled a decorative golden silk fan with a flick. Slowly squeezing amidst the crowds streaming in and out as he entered the gambling hall.

Stepping inside, all kinds of chaotic clamoring and betting sounds rushed up. Assorted gambling tables filled the great hall with groups and groups of gamblers gathered by each table. Faces red as they loudly shouted as if voice volume correlated to winning money.

Lusheng held no interest towards gambling itself. His first glance rapidly landed on a ruddy middle-aged man standing deepest inside by the final table.

This man silently stood by an innermost table watching the exceptionally bustling interior without any expression. His attire differed little from guards around.

But Lusheng knew this was precisely Golden Seal Gambling Hall's sub-chief with the moniker Redface Zhao Jie. Also the premises' regular overseer. Easiest to find for joining Crimson Whale Society.

He slowly walked straight towards Redface Zhao Jie.

The other swiftly noticed his approach. Shooting him an astonished look.

"Why's brother loitering in this corner instead of having fun?" Zhao Jie asked casually. Although also next to a table, no bets occurred here. Merely used as an ordinary table.

"This student is from East Mountain Academy. Wish to join Crimson Whale Society, may I ask if introductions can be provided?" Lusheng directly revealed his objective with a smile.

"East Mountain Academy student?" Zhao Jie froze up.

In his many years with the Society, this was his first seeing an academy student voluntarily seek joining.

Although his Crimson Whale Society was the foremost gang, academy students always regarded themselves highly. Apart from some top brass who entered via connections, or some coerced by special circumstances, never has he seen scholar students take initiative for recruitment.

After all, these students held greater ambitions. Officialdom, not some mere gang bound them.

His astonishment swiftly shifted to sizing Lusheng up and down. "Since you claim being an academy student, may I see some form of proof?"

Lusheng smiled taking out his academy plaque with surname and institute stamped. A large character 'East' and below it a small 'Lu'.

The plaque was yellow brass. Quite heavy with delicate engravings making falsifications difficult.

Seeing the plaque convinced Zhao Jie. Regular people couldn't obtain this which also hampered replicas. All craftsmen in the city rejected private commissions. Those from eminent families who secretly made them would be convicted of grave offenses, possibly sentenced to beheading.

"Why do you want to join us then?" Zhao Jie further asked. Most who sought joining their ranks were destitute drifters, merchants or skilled craftsmen and artisans. This type before him with visible household foundations though, scholars need not involve with gangs.

"I heard Crimson Whale Society is the foremost north gang with masters everywhere and mighty skills. I wish to train the optimal techniques so hope to join." Lusheng directly revealed his purpose. No mood to beat around the bush.

"Martial arts huh..." Now Zhao Jie understood. Crimson Whale Society's martial prowess was indeed best up north. Other associations paled in comparison.

"Very well. Go register your name, age and specialties over there." He directly pointed Lusheng to a small side door.

"Advance notice. Disciples in our gang who wish to train martial arts all enter the Academy of Martial Glory. Entering requires appraising your level of strength and contributions towards the gang."