"Yes."
"If that’s truly the case, then this person’s talent is quite impressive. It’s just that we don’t know about his character."
"His character... should be quite good."
Xia Hongyu said softly, recalling the images from that night.
Xia Feiying glanced at his granddaughter with a bit of surprise.
"You seem to know him well?"
"Ah, no, I’ve just heard some things about him!" Xia Hongyu quickly covered it up.
She didn’t want to tell Xia Feiying about her encounters because he was now half-paralyzed in bed and could do nothing even if he knew—only worry.
But after roaming the Jianghu for many years, Xia Feiying could easily see through Xia Hongyu’s little attempts at deceit.
"Hongyu, you’re not being bullied in the Song Family, are you?"
"No, the Song Family has strict rules, and no one dares to bully me!" Xia Hongyu replied.
Xia Feiying gave his granddaughter a deep look, knowing she wasn’t telling the truth, but seeing his current condition, he sighed silently and didn’t press further.
"If this person’s character is indeed good, you might try to make contact, then tell him about our situation and seek some help. Of course, I won’t let him help in vain. Although I don’t have much ability, my Lightweight Ascension Technique is still quite good, and I can teach it to him completely when the time comes."
Mentioning his specialty, even paralyzed in bed, Xia Feiying’s face showed a hint of pride.
If not for his excellent lightweight skills, he couldn’t have escaped amidst the Hong Family masters’ siege with Xia Hongyu.
Upon hearing her grandfather’s words, Xia Hongyu hesitated and then nodded, "Alright, I’ll try."
After chatting a bit longer, Xia Hongyu prepared enough food for several days, placed it within Xia Feiying’s reach, and then returned to the Song Family.
She cherished her job at the Song Family very much despite the hardship. At least she could eat and earn a wage.
After all, in this world, a woman finding such work was exceedingly difficult.
Many women had to sell their bodies for a meal.
However, upon returning this time, Xia Hongyu kept thinking about what her grandfather had said.
How could she contact Zhao Ya?
She was merely a laundress at the Laundry Workshop, while he was a high-standing guard commander.
The huge gap in status left them with hardly any intersection.
Xia Hongyu was at a loss.
Unbeknownst to her, Zhao Ya was teaching Tan Dong martial arts at that moment.
With a wooden stick in hand, Zhao Ya stood on the side watching. Whenever Tan Dong’s posture was slightly incorrect, the stick would reach out to correct it immediately.
Of course, the correction also came with a slight punishment.
Although Zhao Ya controlled his strength, Tan Dong was still in pain.
But he didn’t dare to stop because his father was sitting under the corridor eaves watching.
Even Zhao Ya’s wooden stick was given to him by Tan Ziwang.
According to Tan Ziwang, there’s no need to hold back. If Tan Dong’s practice isn’t up to par, just go ahead and beat him.
Finally, after a set of fist techniques, Tan Dong was sweating profusely, with many parts of his body bruised.
"Alright, let’s stop here for today." Zhao Ya put away the stick, speaking with a smile.
Tan Dong, as if granted amnesty, almost wanted to kneel and kowtow to Zhao Ya.
Tan Ziwang then approached, "How’s his practice?"
"Hmm, a lot of progress. At this rate, breaking through the Second Realm in a short time might be uncertain, but he’ll definitely be much stronger than now."
"That’s good." Tan Ziwang relaxed.
He was most worried about his second son Tan Dong.
Currently, Tan Dong was just following him to do odd jobs in the Song family, which couldn’t go on forever.
So he pleaded with Zhao Ya to teach Tan Dong martial arts, hoping to enhance his skills and secure a formal position in the Song Family.
At this moment, Zui’Er brought in some tea, and Tan Ziwang and Zhao Ya chatted while sipping tea in the courtyard.
As for Tan Dong, he slumped in a chair, unwilling to move.
Just then, a guard hurriedly ran in.
"Commander, the Patriarch calls for you, saying there’s something urgent."
Upon hearing this, Zhao Ya immediately got up and left. As he walked outside, he asked in a deep voice, "Do you know what the urgent matter is?"
"Not sure, but it seems the Yang family sent something over."
The Yang family?
What is the Yang family sending at this time?
Zhao Ya was puzzled, and quickened his pace, soon arriving at the study room.
Upon entering, Zhao Ya sensed something was wrong because the atmosphere was extremely tense.
Song Peiwan was also present.
She sat in a chair, her face devoid of any expression, and didn’t even look up when Zhao Ya entered.
Song Linqing was full of anger, pacing back and forth in the study room, muttering.
"Too much bullying, really too much bullying."
"Patriarch, what happened?" Zhao Ya cupped his hands and asked.
"Ya, just in time, look at this. This is what the Yang family has just sent over." Song Linqing said, handing over a letter.
Zhao Ya took a look and frowned.
Because it was a letter of withdrawal from marriage.
The sender was none other than Young Master Yang Zisong from the Yang family.
In the letter, he clearly stated that since Song Peiwan encountered robbers at Cyan Bamboo Ridge and although she escaped unharmed, nobody knows what happened that night.
Therefore, for the Yang family’s reputation and his own face, he decided to cancel the engagement with Song Peiwan.
In short, Yang Zisong suspected Song Peiwan’s purity was compromised and no longer wanted her.
For a betrothed woman, this was an utter disgrace, and for the Song family, it was akin to a harsh slap in the face.
No wonder Song Linqing was so furious.
After reading the letter, Zhao Ya discreetly placed it back on the table.
"Patriarch, what do you plan to do?"
"What do I plan to do? I plan to go right over there and kill that Yang Zisong!" Song Linqing was practically losing his mind with anger.
The Hong Family had a lot of power, and for the sake of the family’s safety, he had always swallowed his pride.
Who would have thought that the Yang Family, which they relied on as allies, would stab them in the back at such a crucial moment?
Moreover, the matter involved his sister’s reputation, which made it even more unbearable for Song Linqing.
Zhao Ya knew that Song Linqing was just venting his anger.
But this matter was different from others, and there was nothing he could say, so he chose to remain silent.
Just then, Song Peiwan, who had been sitting silently in a chair, suddenly spoke.
"Brother, you don’t need to be so angry. If he wants to call it off, then let him call it off."
"Wan’Er, you..."
"Brother, since I came back so many days ago, he hasn’t even offered a basic greeting. Isn’t that enough to see through it? Since the Yang Family has already made their decision, why should we persist in pestering them?"
Song Peiwan’s tone was calm as if she were discussing something unrelated to herself.
"But have you considered that if the engagement is indeed called off, it will ruin your reputation completely. Who would marry you then?"
"Then I simply won’t marry!" Song Peiwan declared resolutely, then stood up and looked at Zhao Ya.
"Commander Zhao, could I ask a favor from you?"
"Please go ahead, Miss."
"I want you to return the engagement letter and all the items that the Yang Family sent over, especially this engagement letter. It must be handed personally to Yang Zisong’s hands. Can you do that?"
Zhao Ya did not hesitate and cupped his hands in response, "I can."
"Good!"
"You..." Song Linqing wanted to say something, but upon seeing his sister’s calm face, he knew it was futile to say more.
Though Song Peiwan was gentle in nature, once she decided on something, it was nearly impossible to change her mind.
He could only reluctantly agree.
When the engagement was first arranged, the Yang Family had sent many gifts, none of which Song Peiwan touched, and now all of them were returned.
Zhao Ya, with a team of guards, escorted these items out of the Song Family’s gates.
The Inner City was not large, and the Yang Family residence was just two streets away from the Song Family, so Zhao Ya quickly reached his destination.
The Yang Family’s estate was in no way inferior to the Song Family’s, even surpassing it in luxury.
It’s worth noting that the Yang Family excelled in the art of alchemy, nearly monopolizing the entire pharmaceutical trade in Wuxiang City, with substantial profits.
In the Inner City, the three major families were the Hong Family, renowned for their Martial Dao secret techniques, the Yang Family for alchemy, and the Song Family for breeding Meat Fields.
Each family had its own strengths.
However, in terms of comparison, the Hong Family was undoubtedly the strongest, while the Yang and Song Families were on par, with the Yang Family being slightly stronger.
At that moment, the guards at the Yang Family gate, seeing so many people approaching, with a martial expert leading them, couldn’t help but feel nervous.
"I am Zhao Ya, the Commander of the Song Family guard. Please inform that I request an audience with the Young Master Yang Zisong."
Upon hearing that it was the Song Family’s Commander, the guard breathed a slight sigh of relief.
"Alright, please wait here for a moment. I will go in and report."
Saying this, the guard hurriedly ran into the Yang Mansion.
Zhao Ya and his people waited outside the gate.
This wait lasted for about half an hour before the guard returned.
"I’m sorry, Commander Zhao, my Young Master said he is occupied right now and has no time to see guests. If you have any matters, you can tell me, and I will convey it for you."
Upon hearing this, Zhao Ya frowned.
"This matter must be discussed face-to-face. What about the other responsible members of the Yang Family?"
"The Patriarch and others are also busy. Commander Zhao, perhaps you should go back for now and come back in a few days."
As he spoke, Zhao Ya suddenly noticed someone watching him from the gap in the door, prompting a cold smile.
The claim of being busy was purely an excuse.
He suddenly darted to the side, bypassing the guard effortlessly.
The guards at the entrance were startled and attempted to block him, but Zhao Ya’s agility allowed him to easily evade their obstruction, reaching the doorway.
The door was tightly shut, yet Zhao Ya didn’t hesitate, delivering a punch directly.
Bang!
With a loud bang, the door latch broke under the force of the punch, and Zhao Ya casually pushed the door open, revealing a well-dressed man standing inside the doorway.
The man was quite handsome, but his eyes flickered, clearly not a person with a firm mind.
At that moment, he looked at Zhao Ya with some panic, "You... what do you want?"
Zhao Ya smiled slightly, "You must be Young Master Yang Zisong!"
"So what if I am?" Yang Zisong responded, forcefully trying to remain calm.
By now, the guards at the Yang Family’s gate had rushed over, surrounding Zhao Ya as if facing a formidable enemy.
Simultaneously, the manor guards of the Yang Family, having heard the commotion, hurried over to protect Yang Zisong.
With so many guards, Yang Zisong regained his composure.
"You must be the Song Family’s guard, Zhao Ya. What boldness you have to dare cause trouble at my Yang Family’s estate."
Yet Zhao Ya showed no sign of fear, even motioning to his own men not to act rashly, before turning to Yang Zisong and speaking.
"I am here by order of my young lady, to return some items to you in person. Since you refuse to meet, I had no choice but to come in this manner."
With that, Zhao Ya reached into his robe and took out a large red letter, the engagement letter.
Seeing the engagement letter, Yang Zisong’s expression turned a bit unsightly, but he still commanded.
"Someone, come and receive this for me!"
A guard responded, stepping forward to take the engagement letter from Zhao Ya’s hand, but Zhao Ya gently raised his hand and smiled at Yang Zisong.
"I’m sorry, my lady specifically said that this must be given to you personally, no one else can do it."