Upon hearing the words "Cyan Bamboo Ridge," the expressions of Yao Wang and his men changed drastically.
"What is your relationship with Cyan Bamboo Ridge?" Yao Wang asked in a deep voice.
Zhao Ya smiled, "Not much really, just a debt to settle with Cyan Bamboo Ridge."
"So there’s a grudge?" Yao Wang caught the implication and immediately pursued it.
"You could say that."
Only then did Yao Wang let out a long breath and said slowly, "To be honest, we also have a grudge with Cyan Bamboo Ridge."
"Oh? What kind of grudge?"
"We have been stationed at Jade Pine Mountain, which lies at the border of Wuxiang City and Guangqing City. We had no conflicts with Cyan Bamboo Ridge."
"But two months ago, Cyan Bamboo Ridge launched a sudden attack, catching us off guard. We suffered heavy losses and even lost our longtime base. Helplessly, we fled Wuxiang City and ended up here."
Zhao Ya observed in secret and noticed the anger on Yao Wang’s face seemed genuine, not feigned, so he asked.
"Why did Cyan Bamboo Ridge suddenly attack you?"
"How should I know? It wasn’t just us; nearly all surrounding forces were wiped out. Cyan Bamboo Ridge seemed crazy, attacking everywhere with ruthless methods."
Hearing this, Zhao Ya frowned and pondered for a moment before continuing, "I heard there’s a plague in Wuxiang City and the situation is dire, are you aware of this?"
"I’ve heard something about it, but I haven’t been in the city, so I’m not sure. However, there are noticeably more wild animals in the forests around Wuxiang City, and they are unusually aggressive, attacking people at will."
Zhao Ya felt a slight stir in his heart and made a mental note of this information, then nodded.
"Very well, now let’s talk about your matter. Your Third Village Chief had improper intentions and spoke disrespectfully about my female companions, so I dealt with him accordingly to teach him a lesson, but he still persisted and even ordered an attack on me. So, I took his life."
"Now I am here. If anyone wants revenge, come on, I’ll take you on." Zhao Ya said calmly.
There was a stir among the crowd.
Though they initially seemed eager for revenge for Fang Dao’s death, when Zhao Ya calmly said, "I’ll take you on," they all became intimidated.
Nobody is foolish.
Especially those who had managed to escape the siege of Cyan Bamboo Ridge; they clearly understood the art of survival.
This unknown young man was evidently not ordinary; otherwise, he wouldn’t dare to venture into Black Water City alone.
At this moment, a hurried shout came from the distant street.
"Wait a minute!"
Then Tian Heng came running over.
He had already been injured while fighting Fang Dao earlier, and now, after running such a distance, his face was flushed with an unnatural red.
Seeing him, Zhao Ya could not help but be surprised.
"Why are you here?"
Tian Heng, out of breath, replied, "I... was worried you’d be all alone, so I came... to help you."
He then stood by the carriage, looking gravely at Yao Wang and his men on the other side.
"Are we going to fight?"
To be honest, Tian Heng’s action greatly surprised Zhao Ya, even making him slightly dumbfounded.
After all, he and Tian Heng had only just met, yet for such a brief acquaintance, Tian Heng would risk himself, showing that this nearly fifty-year-old man possessed a rare sincerity in this world.
Immediately, Zhao Ya laughed.
"Don’t worry, no fight is happening!"
He then said to the hesitating Yao Wang, "Since no one wishes to fight, prepare a clean courtyard for our rest tonight."
After a moment’s hesitation, Yao Wang finally nodded, "Understood!"
As all the inns in the city were closed, Yao Wang arranged for Zhao Ya to stay at the government office.
Once settled, Zhao Ya motioned to the bewildered Tian Heng, "Let’s go."
It wasn’t until they passed through the crowd and entered the small courtyard at the government office that Tian Heng gradually came to his senses and asked in disbelief.
"Is that it? Is it over?"
"Yes, what did you expect?" Zhao Ya responded.
"But... wasn’t Fang Dao the Third Village Chief of Jade Pine Mountain? He’s dead, and they don’t seek revenge?" Tian Heng found it hard to comprehend.
Zhao Ya smiled, "Not everyone values Jianghu loyalty as highly as you do! To be blunt, Jade Pine Mountain and even Cyan Bamboo Ridge are just bands of rabble."
"If you show weakness, they’ll bully you, but once your strength surpasses theirs, they immediately back off."
"To put it simply, they’re all just trying to survive, and few would risk their lives for others."
Tian Heng fell silent.
Though he was not young, his time in Jianghu hadn’t been long, and Zhao Ya’s words had profoundly impacted him.
"Even if others don’t seek revenge, as the Great Village Chief, isn’t Yao Wang afraid his men will lose loyalty and unity?" Tian Heng couldn’t help but ask.
"Loyalty and unity?" Zhao Ya sneered, "You overestimate these people; they’re just a gang of bullies, what loyalty?"
"And Yao Wang is evidently a smart man, otherwise he couldn’t have escaped Cyan Bamboo Ridge’s siege, so he wouldn’t dare make any moves unless he has a death wish."
Indeed, as Zhao Ya anticipated.
Back in the government hall, no one dared mention revenge.
Some even secretly rejoiced at Fang Dao’s death, as it meant fewer people to share the spoils with.