"What’s the origin of these black bees, and why are they so venomous?" someone gasped in surprise.
"They should be some kind of rare exotic beast. The eggs are attached to the trees, and once someone touches them, they hatch inside the body and spread rapidly."
Zhao Ya put on gloves, inspected the corpses, and drew a conclusion.
Many people’s expressions changed.
They initially thought this task would be easy, just needing to chop down some trees and clear part of the forest. They never expected to encounter such bizarre creatures.
The key is that this isn’t like a direct confrontation with swords and guns.
In a direct confrontation, at least you can prepare in advance. With these creatures, you might get hit without even knowing how.
And once hit, the death is extremely gruesome.
Who wouldn’t be afraid?
"So, Master Zhao, what should we do now?" someone swallowed hard and asked nervously.
Zhao Ya threw away the gloves and looked at the forest ahead.
This lush forest swayed with the wind, leaves rustling, with the incessant chirping of insects and birds, seemingly full of life.
But Zhao Ya understood that beneath this vibrant exterior lay infinite danger.
The exotic beasts from last night were clearly much more cunning and formidable than he imagined, even knowing to set ambushes in the forest.
At this point, it’s obvious that continuing forward is not an option.
Just because he’s not afraid of these poisonous bees doesn’t mean others aren’t.
So he could only sigh helplessly.
"Retreat for now."
The people retreated in confusion, carrying the corpses of the deceased.
The families of the deceased rushed in upon hearing the news, weeping profusely.
The martial arts hall they belonged to sent people to comfort them with kind words.
Watching this scene, Zhao Ya’s face turned somber.
Someone patted him on the shoulder.
Zhao Ya turned to see it was his second senior brother, Shen Dao.
"Don’t blame yourself. Everyone knows that dealing with a beast tide means casualties. No one will blame you," Shen Dao said.
Zhao Ya shook his head, "I’m not blaming myself; I just find it frustrating."
Shen Dao was taken aback, "What do you mean?"
"This beast tide clearly targets the entire Commandery, so why are the government and those noble clans hiding behind the scenes, letting us martial artists be at the forefront?" Zhao Ya said coldly.
Shen Dao was startled upon hearing this.
He didn’t expect his junior brother would be angry about this matter.
"This... perhaps we martial artists are just used to it!" Shen Dao said with a bitter smile.
For years, whenever something happened in the Commandery, it was always the martial arts halls that took the lead to solve it. Over time, everyone got used to it.
Even the martial artists themselves didn’t think there was anything wrong with it.
After all, isn’t practicing martial arts meant to protect one side’s peace?
But Zhao Ya didn’t think so.
Back then, he went to the Shang Mansion to find Shang Luoluo, hoping to get Commander Shang Jingchuan to take a stand, but he was rejected.
The reason was clear: the government had no intention of interfering in this matter. If the martial artists’ powers could be weakened because of this beast tide, that would be best.
At the time, Zhao Ya returned without success and reported to his master, Lu Dingtai, who was also accustomed to this situation and didn’t find it outrageous.
But Zhao Ya always felt aggrieved.
Because he had told Shang Luoluo that this beast tide might be extraordinary and definitely not something the martial artists alone could handle.
Back then, Zhao Ya almost said that under the overturned nest, no egg would remain intact.
Shang Luoluo also agreed to persuade her father.
But after so many days, the government still remained unmoved, indicating that Shang Luoluo’s persuasion had no effect.
The government forces led by Shang Jingchuan were still dreaming of reaping benefits amid the chaos.
But they never considered that if anything went wrong this time, the entire Commandery could face a catastrophe.
As for those noble clans, they usually calculate with such precision, let alone in this situation.
But Zhao Ya was unwilling to indulge these people.
He silently watched the families take away the bodies for burial and then turned and left.
This time, he headed straight for the courthouse on Lion Street.
The guards at the gate naturally recognized him, knowing he was the promising young talent in the spotlight recently, even the Commander thought highly of him, so they didn’t dare stop him, reporting his arrival inside and letting him in.
After some rounds, upon seeing Commander Shang Jingchuan, Zhao Ya didn’t bother with pleasantries and directly said, "Lord Governor, I am here regarding the beast tide."
Shang Jingchuan’s smile didn’t fade at all, "I boldly call you Nephew Zhao. I know you have been busy with the beast tide recently. To be honest, I’ve always wanted to help, but unfortunately, my abilities are limited."
At this, Shang Jingchuan sighed helplessly, "Don’t look at me as the Commander of Yunxiao County; in reality, I lack both soldiers and generals, with only the authority to allocate some food supplies."
"The only thing I can deploy is the dozens of personal guards at the courthouse. If Nephew Zhao doesn’t mind, you can take all of them with you. I will also contribute some personal funds to support the beast tide effort."
Zhao Ya remained silent, quietly watching Shang Jingchuan lament.
Only after he finished did Zhao Ya speak, "Have you finished?"
Shang Jingchuan’s expression changed, "Nephew Zhao, do you not believe what I say?"
"I believe, of course I believe. Lord Governor is known for fairness and integrity, indeed praiseworthy, but what you did this time is somewhat unfair."
"What do you mean?"
"Honest people don’t do sneaky things. We are both smart, so let’s not beat around the bush. You’re counting on this beast tide to weaken us martial artists. Do you think this will allow you to regain full control?"