Zhao Ya shook his head, "No need. Didn't she say that the cavalry captain will bring Ning Shanfeng to get married tomorrow? I'll handle it myself when the time comes and see where this so-called captain gets his courage from."
At the end of his words, a flash of fierceness appeared in Zhao Ya's eyes.
After leaving the customs, he heard about the recent happenings, especially how Wei Hongbin's cavalry had become more and more reckless.
If we don't teach them a lesson soon, it won't be long before the whole commandery suffers from their pillaging.
"Alright, with you handling the matter, I'm relieved," Meng Shiwen said with a sigh of relief.
Unknowingly, she had already regarded Zhao Ya as their mainstay.
As long as he takes action, it seems nothing is impossible to accomplish.
As for Ning Shan, she was even more eager to kneel and kowtow again.
Zhao Ya stopped her, then said, "There's no time to lose. It's just over an hour until dawn. I'll go back with you now."
"Okay."
Zhao Ya collected his necessary belongings, took Ning Shan, and left the Martial Arts Hall, heading in the direction of the Yongsheng Cloth Shop.
On the road, Zhao Ya asked about the details of the situation.
Upon hearing about an unknown individual secretly sending messages to Ning Shan, Zhao Ya took note.
He understood.
The person who was able to contact Ning Shanfeng in prison and secretly deliver a message must hold a significant position, likely a prison guard.
The fact that even these people are involved in secret indicates how unpopular Wei Hongbin has become.
It seems public sentiment can be utilized.
Zhao Ya pondered silently as he followed Ning Shan to the Yongsheng Cloth Shop.
The shop had been sealed, with the front doors bearing seals, so they entered through the side door.
By then, the shop clerks had all returned to their homes.
After such a big incident, whether the shop could continue its business was uncertain. Waiting there held no significance, so they all went home for news.
In the empty shop, only Zhao Ya and Ning Shan remained.
Ning Shan brought tea and snacks for Zhao Ya.
Zhao Ya waved his hand, indicating that she need not be so formal, then took a chair and sat facing the main entrance.
Ning Shan sat nervously to one side, occasionally glancing at Zhao Ya. Seeing his composed demeanor, her heart gradually settled down.
Soon, the east began to lighten with the first hints of dawn.
Weddings in Yunxiao County typically take place before sunrise, so when the first light pierced the darkness, chaotic footsteps suddenly sounded outside, followed by a loud knock on the door.
"Open up! Our captain has come to marry. What's the meaning of keeping the door closed?"
"Yeah, open up quickly, or else we'll set your shop on fire!"
Laughter came from outside.
Zhao Ya stood and said, "Stay seated and don't move; I'll go open the door."
Ning Shan, who had been panicking, stood up too. "Is... is that okay?"
"Don't worry."
Zhao Ya walked straight to the door, removed the latch, and the door burst open with a bang.
Several burly men rushed in from outside.
"Hey, where's the young lady?"
"Why is there a pretty boy here?"
"Get lost! Our captain's getting married today. If you don't want to get beaten, get out of here!"
Amidst the scolding, someone reached out to push Zhao Ya.
The next second, this person's wrist was twisted like a pretzel.
"Ahhhhhh!" The man paused for a moment before howling in pain.
The other men saw this and realized they encountered a tough opponent, so they came forward without saying anything.
But within seconds, these people were sent flying, landing with grunting sounds and unable to get up.
Afterwards, Zhao Ya looked up calmly at the door, where the cavalrymen were drawing their weapons, ready to storm in, and said indifferently, "My name is Zhao Ya."
Those simple four words seemed to hold magic, causing the previously aggressive cavalrymen to freeze in place.
Because they were all too familiar with the name.
The moment he entered the town, he had crushed a captain's head on the street, and crucially, no one dared to challenge him, not even Lord Commander had remarked anything.
This made Zhao Ya a shadow in the hearts of these cavalrymen.
"Who is the captain getting married this time?" Zhao Ya asked.
Though no one spoke, many turned to look at the rear at his question.
A burly and ugly man, weighing over 200 pounds, stood there with a sullen face.
"That's me, you dare... "
Before he could finish speaking, Zhao Ya's figure suddenly flashed, and in an instant, he rushed to the front of the ugly man, then threw out a punch.
This ugly man had some skills, not flustered upon seeing this, and did not dodge but instead lifted his knee to hit Zhao Ya's abdomen.
If Zhao Ya continued to punch, this knee strike would be unavoidable.
This was a mutual destruction tactic.
A hint of a smug smile appeared on the ugly man's face.
What nonsense about Zhao Ya, I am going to break your spirit today.
But in the next moment, the smile on his face froze.
Because Zhao Ya showed no intention of dodging at all, not even blinking an eye.
The ugly man could even see that hint of mockery in his eyes.
Not right!
The ugly man just wanted to withdraw his move, but it was too late.
Zhao Ya's punch landed squarely on the ugly man's abdomen, as big as a six-month pregnant belly, followed by a loud bang.
Although at the same time, the ugly man's knee strike hit Zhao Ya's abdomen as well, Zhao Ya's figure didn't move a bit.
On the contrary, the ugly man didn't move either, but his belly quickly deflated.
It turned out that the power of this punch was so great that it went right through, blasting a big hole out of the ugly man's back.
Organs, blood, and the fat within the belly were ejected from this hole, staining a large section of the street red.
This shocking blow also stunned these cavalrymen.
They watched this scene with pale faces, fear filling their eyes.
Zhao Ya, however, casually withdrew his fist, lightly dusting off his abdomen.
At this time, the ugly man's eyes gradually dimmed, then with a thud, his corpse fell to the ground.
Zhao Ya turned back to look at the others, and no one dared to raise their heads wherever his gaze passed, fearing they'd be targeted by this god of slaughter.
"Take the body back, and tell Wei Hongbin and your associates that if they dare to commit wrongdoings again, this will be their end." Zhao Ya said coldly.
No one dared to refute.
They hurriedly picked up the corpse on the ground and fled without looking back.
By this time, it was already dawn, and many people were gathered on the street.
But they all dared not come close, watching from a distance.
Zhao Ya was indifferent, walked to a prisoner's cart in the distance, raised his hand to break the iron chain, and saw Ning Shanfeng.
At this moment, Ning Shanfeng was unrecognizable, his entire body covered in wounds, and he remained in a state of unconsciousness.
Zhao Ya carried him back to the cloth shop.
Terrified, Ning Shan, upon seeing her father's condition, burst into tears.
Zhao Ya said, "Don't rush to cry, go get a doctor, your father should have only suffered superficial wounds, he can still be saved."
Ning Shan wiped her tears, then hurried outside to find someone.
After she found a doctor, treated the wounds, and administered medicine, Ning Shanfeng's life was finally saved.
"Alright, your father is out of danger, and the rogue who robbed you has been slain by me, my task is complete, I'm leaving now."
Zhao Ya advised, turning to leave.
"Wait a moment!" Ning Shan hurried out to catch him.
"Is there something else?" Zhao Ya asked.
Looking at Zhao Ya, Ning Shan took a deep breath, "Thank you, Young Hero Zhao, this is just a small token of my gratitude."
With that, she took out a stack of gold notes and respectfully handed them to Zhao Ya.
Zhao Ya paused slightly, then smiled and accepted them.
"Alright, consider us even then."
Zhao Ya could tell that Ning Shan was a very prideful young lady, and if he didn't accept her money, she would feel even worse.
Sure enough.
When Zhao Ya accepted the money, Ning Shan breathed a sigh of relief and thanked him again, "Benefactor, I know this matter will bring you a lot of trouble, this is just a small token, it's far from even, if you ever need anything in the future, I will do my utmost."
"Haha, Miss Ning, you are too kind, my conflict with Wei Hongbin is already irreconcilable, trouble doesn't bother me at all."
"However, you, Miss Ning, should be cautious, it's best not to open your doors during this time, perhaps find a place to hide."
"Yes, I understand."
"Farewell!"
Zhao Ya waved his hand and strode away.
Watching his figure fade into the distance, Ning Shan took a deep breath, quickly closed the door, and started planning the move.
At the same time, the incident of Zhao Ya publicly defeating a cavalry captain spread throughout the entire Commandery.