After perceiving this change, Zhao Ya even secretly concocted a dose of sleeping potion to test on himself, and the result was pleasantly surprising.
A regular dose of sleeping potion had no effect on Zhao Ya; only when the dose reached that of three people did Zhao Ya feel a slight dizziness.
But with just a bit of rest, this feeling would disappear.
Zhao Ya didn’t dare try a larger dose.
But even the current result was very satisfying for Zhao Ya.
Although he hadn’t reached the level of immunity to a hundred poisons, ordinary poisons were already difficult to affect Zhao Ya.
This basically amounted to an additional life-saving ace.
And if the liver were to be fully unlocked, presumably the detoxification ability would become even more formidable.
Zhao Ya couldn’t help but be captivated by the thought.
But soon he had to face a very serious problem.
And that was, the Jade Brocade Snake dried meat was finished.
Before parting, Song Peiwan gave Zhao Ya a full box of Jade Brocade Snake dried meat.
Zhao Ya had been eating it sparingly, not daring to waste it in the slightest.
But even so, after barely sustaining for three months, the box of dried meat was still finished.
Although every ten days he could supplement with a Vajra Strength Pill, without the dried meat, his daily training would undoubtedly be greatly affected.
To address this, Zhao Ya had once inquired, only to find that the exotic beast dried meat circulating in the commandery market was of a wide variety, but their cost-performance ratio was not good.
Either the Qi blood content was too low, or the price of suitable dried meat was too high.
Dingtai Martial Arts Hall naturally also had exotic beast dried meat supplies, and the prices were quite favorable compared to outside.
But the quantity was limited, and with so many people in the martial arts hall, when averaged out, there actually wasn’t much.
For others, it might be enough.
But Zhao Ya’s demand for exotic beast flesh was extremely large, and this little dried meat wasn’t even enough to fill the gaps between his teeth.
After contemplating for a long time, Zhao Ya finally sighed deeply.
If there’s really no other way, he could only spend at high prices in the market, but that way, his savings wouldn’t last long at all, and some high-level dried meat didn’t even accept silver but were directly priced in gold.
In the end, it all comes down to making money!
But how to make money?
Yunxiao County was different from Wuxiang City; the forests outside the city basically had no exotic beasts, or rather, the exotic beasts had already been hunted clean by the Martial Artists.
Wanting to find a vicious gang to eliminate, like in Wuxiang City, was also impossible.
Because almost all the gangs within Yunxiao County had their own backing, causing unnecessary trouble for some money was not cost-effective in Zhao Ya’s view.
Once again, Zhao Ya found himself in a financial crisis, feeling utterly helpless.
Should I ask Senior Brother Xu De tomorrow?
His family is in the inn business and has well-connected information; perhaps they have a way.
After making up his mind, the next day Zhao Ya visited Xu De.
"Ways to make money?"
Hearing Zhao Ya’s question, Xu De was first taken aback, then burst out laughing.
"What’s the matter, short of cash lately? How much do you need, I can spare some for you first."
Of course, Zhao Ya wouldn’t borrow.
"Senior Brother Xu, I’m not here to borrow money; I just feel that I’ll need more and more places with funds in the future, so I’m laying by for a rainy day to start saving early."
After hearing this, Xu De chuckled and suddenly leaned in towards Zhao Ya, saying mysteriously, "Why? Is Zui’Er pregnant?"
Zhao Ya: "..."
Then reluctantly said, "No, I honestly just want to earn some money."
"Well, I suppose you’re preparing for the future, but it makes sense. After being with Zui’Er for so long, expecting a child is only natural."
"As for ways to make money, there are many, like accepting government bounty tasks to capture wanted criminals or eliminate bandits outside the city."
"But although these methods earn quite a lot, they’re also dangerous, so I wouldn’t recommend them; slightly safer tasks are next."
"For example, night patrols to deter bandits, protect local safety, or running errands like delivering messages. You can make money this way, but the earnings aren’t much."
"Compared to the government, the various families in the commandery city also occasionally post tasks, like temporarily hiring guards or investigating certain matters. These tasks often have good pay, but sometimes it depends on luck."
"Where can you go to take these tasks?" Zhao Ya asked.
"There’s a bounty board erected in front of the government office on Lion Street, where tasks are posted regularly. If you don’t want to hang around there, you can also buy a newsletter from the nearby teahouses and taverns, which someone has specifically compiled with recent bounty tasks, which is quite a convenient method."
"Thank you, Senior Brother Xu!" Zhao Ya gratefully expressed his thanks.
Xu De smiled, patted Zhao Ya’s shoulder, and said, "No need to be so polite among us brothers, and I fully understand how you’re feeling now. To be honest, when I first joined the martial arts hall, I was also just as ambitious as you, planning to take on tasks to support myself."
"What happened then?" Zhao Ya asked.
"Then my family found out and my father was furious, believing I was neglecting my proper duties, saying that the pittance I earned wouldn’t even cover his drinking money."
"So I was grounded, and after that, I never did it again; otherwise, I might now have been a gold-standard bounty hunter."
Xu De said, feeling infinitely regretful.
Zhao Ya decided never to ask such foolish questions again.
Because the overwhelming aura of wealth left him feeling utterly hopeless.
In the afternoon, taking advantage of a quiet moment in the martial arts hall, Zhao Ya went to the government office on Lion Street.
To be honest, this was the first time since coming to the commandery city for several months that Zhao Ya actively went out shopping.
Previously, it was Shen Dao, Miao Shaocheng, and Xu De who couldn’t bear to watch anymore and dragged him out for a stroll.
Otherwise, he wouldn’t even know where Lion Street was.
In front of the government office was indeed a giant wooden board, in front of which many people were gathered.
Zhao Ya squeezed forward and saw many notices pasted on it.
[The Jiang family in the east of the city had a pair of Jade Buddhas stolen. A reward of one hundred taels of silver is offered for information regarding the Jade Buddhas’ whereabouts, and an additional reward of one hundred taels for capturing the thieves]
[A gang of bandits has appeared fifty miles outside the city at Chaotic Burial Mountain, background unknown, strength assessed as above average. Now inviting all Martial Artists from the city to join in elimination, five hundred taels of gold will be rewarded upon completion]
These were rather formal; the notices below were a motley array of various things.
[A pet raccoon cat raised since childhood is missing, whereabouts unknown. If anyone finds it, a young lady is willing to spend a night with the finder. Anyone with information can find me at Baihua Ship on Jade Belt River; my name is Little Red Fish]
Included was even a hand-drawn portrait.
Looking at this portrait with its distinctly post-modern style, Zhao Ya suspected that the person posting the notice wasn’t looking for a cat but was rather advertising themselves.
Besides, there were many more bizarre ones.
Zhao Ya even saw a marriage notice.
[Male, age thirty-three, with house and land, excellent appearance, now seeking an eighteen-year-old young woman as a lifelong partner. Requirements: slender build, no romantic history, pure and kind-hearted character, willing to do household chores after marriage, unconditionally cooperative in bed. Interested parties please contact...]
Looking at these notices made Zhao Ya’s forehead break out in sweat, and he eventually decided not to waste more time, opting to go directly to a nearby teahouse and spend three taels of silver to buy the latest newsletter.
It was much clearer here.
All the information was categorized, useless information excluded, and then arranged from top to bottom based on the reward amount, making it extremely clear.
And the top bounty information was actually published three years ago.
[Bounty for the capture of the flower thief Jade Butterfly, alive or dead, a reward of eight hundred taels of gold will be given upon confirmation of identity]
Not only that, but an additional note was appended.
[Besides the government bounty, five families whose female members were victimized jointly issue a bounty, rewarding five hundred taels of gold]
Zhao Ya’s eyes slightly lit up.
Eight hundred plus five hundred equals one thousand three hundred taels of gold.
This flower thief Jade Butterfly was worth so much?
Zhao Ya admitted that he was tempted.
But soon enough, Zhao Ya calmed down again.
Obviously, being on the bounty board for three years without being brought in means this Jade Butterfly surely isn’t that easy to capture.