"Not yet," said Zhao Ya.
Ning Shanfeng’s face showed a look of disappointment.
He naturally knew about his daughter Ning Shan attending the Shang Mansion banquet to seek help.
When he heard that his daughter had invited the young genius who caught the Jade Butterfly, Zhao Ya, a glimmer of hope truly rose in Ning Shanfeng’s heart.
Perhaps with Zhao Ya’s arrival, he could resolve the desperate situation the family was facing.
With this thought in mind, he struggled to stay awake, waiting for the outcome.
Now, hearing Zhao Ya say that he hadn’t found any leads either, Ning Shanfeng’s heart gradually sank again.
Zhao Ya naturally noticed this, but he didn’t address it, continuing to ask, "Shopkeeper Ning, regarding the batch of cloth stored in your warehouse, how many people know about it? Please think carefully and inform me."
Upon hearing Zhao Ya’s question, Ning Shanfeng mustered the energy to speak.
"I’ve thought about this matter countless times over this period. Besides my wife and me, only Shan’Er and the few people guarding the warehouse are aware."
"Are those people trustworthy?" Zhao Ya asked.
Ning Shanfeng smiled bitterly, "If you had asked me this before, I would have answered ’trustworthy’ without a doubt, as these people have been with me for twenty or thirty years. One could even say their lives are intertwined with Yongsheng Cloth Shop."
"But now I’m not sure; the world is in decline, and who can say who is absolutely reliable?"
His words were full of despondency, showing how deeply this theft had struck this seasoned businessman of the Jianghu.
After listening, Zhao Ya seemed thoughtful and suddenly said, "May I meet your wife?"
Ning Shanfeng paused for a moment, then nodded.
"Alright, Shan’Er, go to the back and bring your mother out."
"Yes."
Ning Shan got up and went to the back courtyard.
The wait was quite lengthy this time; it took more than half an hour for Ning Shan to return with a woman in her thirties.
The woman was plump, and although at this age she was considered old for this era, due to her proper upkeep, she retained much charm.
This woman was Ning Shanfeng’s second wife, Mrs. Ning.
"Master!" Mrs. Ning bowed to Ning Shanfeng first.
Ning Shanfeng nodded and then pointed to Zhao Ya sitting beside him.
"This is Zhao Ya, Young Hero Zhao, here specifically for the theft in our warehouse. Answer his questions without reservation."
"Yes, greetings, Young Hero Zhao."
Mrs. Ning appeared quite courteous.
Zhao Ya nodded, and directly asked, "Madam Ning, have you mentioned the stored batch of cloth in your warehouse to anyone outside?"
Mrs. Ning shook her head, "I haven’t mentioned it to anyone."
"Oh? Are you certain?" Zhao Ya asked.
Mrs. Ning showed a hint of embarrassed annoyance.
"Could it be that Young Hero Zhao suspects me? I’ve been with the master for many years without any mistakes, and this matter is significant—I wouldn’t dare treat it lightly!"
Zhao Ya laughed, "Madam Ning, don’t get excited. I’m just asking out of routine. Since Madam Ning hasn’t mentioned it to anyone, we’ll have to take a long-term view on this matter."
Then Zhao Ya stood up and said, "The day is late; I’ll head back now and investigate the scene more thoroughly tomorrow."
Although Ning Shanfeng felt disappointed, he understood this matter couldn’t be resolved in haste, so he nodded and said, "Shan’Er, see Young Hero Zhao out."
"Yes!"
Ning Shan escorted Zhao Ya all the way out of the gate, standing on the steps watching Zhao Ya’s departure, her heart filling with coldness.
If even this famed Young Hero Zhao from the Commandery couldn’t uncover the mastermind and retrieve the cloth, then bankruptcy would be the only path awaiting the Ning Family.
After standing for a moment, Ning Shan turned back inside with a heavy heart.
But she didn’t know that as she turned back, Zhao Ya had already paused and slipped into a dark alley.
While to outsiders, it seemed Zhao Ya had achieved nothing tonight, other than strolling through the warehouse and meeting Ning Shan’s parents to ask some trivial questions.
Only Zhao Ya himself understood that after meeting Madam Ning, the vague suspicion in his heart had been verified. Now, the only thing lacking was evidence.
With Zhao Ya’s current martial prowess, he no longer needed night clothes to conceal his presence.
The Concealing Breath Technique at its Peak Performance, once deployed, would prevent even martial artists of Zhao Ya’s level from discovering him without careful observation.
With a light tap of his toes on the ground, Zhao Ya silently vanished into the night.
A few leaps and bounds later, Zhao Ya arrived at the back courtyard of Yongsheng Cloth Shop.
He had covertly memorized the layout here upon his arrival.
Ning Shanfeng lived in the main house, and behind it were two courtyards, presumably where the women resided.
Zhao Ya first landed on the roof of the main house.
At that moment, the interior was still lit, with voices emanating from within.
Zhao Ya listened intently.
Ning Shanfeng was heard coughing for a while and then speaking breathlessly, "Shan’Er, do you think this Young Hero Zhao can help us find the mastermind?"
After a moment of silence, Ning Shan replied, "I’m not sure either, but from today’s appearance, it seems he hasn’t found any leads."
"Alas," Ning Shanfeng sighed deeply, "I should have realized this earlier. Although this Young Hero Zhao possesses martial skill and intellect, this matter is too strange to solve quickly."