"This is also a calamity that Ning Shanfeng must endure in my life; it’s just that it has implicated you."
"Father..."
"No need to say more, I’ve already made up my mind. If we find no clues by tomorrow, then you should take the cloth shop’s money and escape far away."
"But if we do that, won’t our cloth shop be entirely finished?"
"Do you think that if you stay, our cloth shop won’t be finished? Anyway, this old body of mine has lived long enough; at worst, I’ll die and that’ll be it."
"But you’re different. You’re still young and haven’t been promised to anyone yet. If you stay, I’m afraid you’ll be targeted by evildoers again. After all... the people who attacked our Ning Family have yet to reveal themselves."
Zhao Ya nodded silently to himself.
One must admit, Ning Shanfeng truly is an old hand in the commerce world, with a clear mind.
At least in this regard, his insight is quite profound.
At this moment, Ning Shan wanted to say more, but Ning Shanfeng spoke: "No need to say more; you’ve been busy all day, go down and rest."
"Yes!"
Ning Shan could only respond, then stood up and left.
After exiting, she walked forlornly towards the back residence.
Ning Shan lived in the courtyard to the west; naturally, the east side was where Madam Ning resided.
Zhao Ya watched Ning Shan’s figure enter the west courtyard, then turned towards the east.
At that moment, the windows of the rooms in this courtyard were all dark, suggesting people were already asleep.
Zhao Ya silently landed on the eaves, moving slowly, while listening intently.
Finally.
His eyes brightened, and he halted his steps.
Just as he expected, voices began to emerge from inside the room.
Though the voices were small, with Zhao Ya’s Ear Power, he could hear them clearly if he listened carefully.
He heard the voice of an unfamiliar woman from inside the room.
"Mrs. Zhang, you don’t need to worry. Within the next couple of days, everything will be transported away. By then, you will have accomplished a great deed, and the Hall Master and Senior Brother Han will undoubtedly reward you heavily."
Then Mrs. Ning’s voice came through.
"But I’m still a bit scared. You don’t know how nervous I was when that Zhao Ya questioned me. It seemed as if his eyes could see through people. I always feel like he might have discovered something."
"Hehe, Mrs. Zhang, there’s no need to be so afraid. Even if this Zhao discovered something, what can he do? If he knows what’s good for him, it ends there; otherwise, we of the Paradise Sect will teach him a lesson," the unfamiliar woman said with a cold laugh.
Upon hearing the words "Paradise Sect," Zhao Ya on the rooftop was slightly taken aback, then let out a silent sneer.
What a narrow escape from a sworn enemy.
Is this yet another encounter with people from the Paradise Sect?
But Zhao Ya wasn’t surprised by this outcome.
From the beginning, he never believed that Madam Ning acted alone.
After all, though she was a second wife married into the Ning Family after Ning Shanfeng, not the original consort, she had been with the Ning Family for over a decade, leading a life of privilege and comfort.
Under such circumstances, any normal person would refrain from betrayal.
Unless someone was instigating from behind the scenes.
Zhao Ya continued to listen without urgency.
Mrs. Ning spoke again, "I naturally trust our Paradise Sect’s strength, but these past few days, I haven’t been able to sleep, feeling guilty towards Ning Shanfeng. After all, he treats me well..."
"Shut your mouth!" The unfamiliar woman rebuked, then continued earnestly, "Mrs. Zhang, why are you so muddle-headed?"
"Ning Shanfeng might treat you well, but those are just small favors. How can they compare to the Divine Sect saving you from this Five Turbid Evil World? Moreover, don’t you desire the Immortal Elixir, to maintain eternal youth and enjoy paradise? "
Mentioning the Immortal Elixir, Mrs. Ning’s breathing became heavy.
"Of course, I do! Honestly, only after consuming the Immortal Elixir did I understand what true earthly paradise is."
"That’s the spirit. As long as you obey, the Divine Sect won’t mistreat you!"
"Yes!"
"In the next couple of days, stay calm. If Zhao Ya comes to you again, just act clueless, and he’ll be helpless against you. I’m leaving now."
With that, a window was pushed open from behind, and a figure leaped out, quickly vanishing into the night.
Mrs. Ning stood by the window, her expression complex.
She indeed felt some guilt towards Ning Shanfeng, but thoughts of the alluring Paradise Immortal Medicine steeled her resolve.
If obtaining the elixir meant eternal youth, what did trivial betrayal matter?
She closed the window and went back to sleep.
Meanwhile, Zhao Ya was on the move.
His body, light as a feather, glided silently through the wind, akin to a swift, dexterous swallow.
If he didn’t occasionally tap on the eaves or corners, it was almost like flying.
Since reaching the peak performance realm, Zhao Ya’s Light as a Feather Body Technique had reached unimaginable heights.
Even the top martial artists of the Fourth Realm couldn’t match his speed.
Therefore, as he tracked this Paradise Sect woman, she remained oblivious.
After a few twists and turns around the Commandery, she finally arrived in a secluded alley.
She glanced back to ensure no one was following and then gently knocked on a door.
Thud, thud, thud.
Amid the rhythmic knocking, the door opened, and she slipped inside, closing it behind her.
Zhao Ya watched this unfold from the shadows outside the alley, refraining from taking action.
He sensed that someone was secretly watching the alley.
If he barged in, it would certainly alert those inside.
So Zhao Ya wasn’t in a hurry; he simply waited patiently.
After a long while, that feeling dissipated. Then Zhao Ya entered a Concealing Breath state and silently crept forward.
This was a small courtyard; inside the room, a light was on, and the woman who spoke with Mrs. Ning stood respectfully to the side, reporting to someone.
"Senior Brother Han, I’m reporting that today, the Ning Family invited Zhao Ya from Dingtai Martial Arts Hall to investigate the warehouse theft."
"I already know about this. Has Zhao Ya discovered anything?" Senior Brother Han’s voice was difficult to discern in terms of gender, adding to the eeriness.
"Probably not, but he did see Mrs. Ning briefly and asked her a few questions, which has left her worried about exposure."
"Hehe, and what if it’s exposed? We already have the goods in hand and will soon transport them. She’s just a pawn; once the deed is done, we can dispose of her. No need to bother with her."
"Yes, that’s what I thought too; that’s why I calmed her down with some words earlier."
"Well done; after the task is completed, I’ll request recognition for you before the Hall Master."
The woman was delighted, "Thank you, Senior Brother Han; I won’t forget your guidance."
The woman smiled coquettishly at him, "Senior Brother, do you require Junior Sister’s company tonight?"
"No need. I drank a little too much at the Shang Family banquet tonight and am feeling weary."
"Yes!"
"Recently, be cautious. Sui Meimei’s disappearance has greatly angered the Hall Master."
Qu Xiaoxiao shivered all over, a touch of joy flashing in her eyes, though quickly masked with feigned shock.
"Did Senior Sister Sui really have an accident?"
"Unknown, but she has indeed lost contact."
"I heard Senior Sister Sui was seeking the whereabouts of Junior Sister Cheng?"
"Exactly. That’s why the Hall Master is so furious. After all, with two missing within a year, it’s clear someone in the shadows is working against our Paradise Sect."
Qu Xiaoxiao listened with her heart tense and thanked him again, "Thank you for the warning, Senior Brother; I will remember this sincerely."
"Go rest."
"Yes!"
Qu Xiaoxiao went to the adjacent room.
Senior Brother Han sat in the room, the lamp illuminating a face even more striking than a woman’s.
He was Han Suyun, who had appeared at the Shang Family banquet.