Everything changed after Wei Yu had an accident.
After all, back then, the hope of the Escort Agency was Wei Yu. Although I performed well, I was far behind in comparison.
Now that Wei Yu was paralyzed in bed, becoming a complete waste, I suddenly became the outstanding one among the younger generation in the Escort Agency, naturally attracting many people’s deliberate attempts to befriend me.
But Zhao Ya remained calm and composed, warning himself against arrogance and impatience, and would never let this feeling muddle his mind.
After all, the negative example was right in front of him.
After the New Year, Zhao Ya went to visit Wei Yu once, and that scene left a deep impression on him.
The once high-spirited youth now lay in bed, emaciated to the bone, like a living dead, with no reaction to the outside world.
So Zhao Ya was deeply cautious.
It was soon noon, and Zhao Ya, along with Luo Feng and Zhou Hua, went to the back canteen under the envious eyes of everyone.
There, the Escort Agency had specially prepared meat and Great Nourishing Soup for them.
Although the effects of these meats became limited with Zhao Ya’s breakthrough, they were still much better than the cured meats sold in the market.
Zhao Ya was engrossed in eating when Luo Qiang suddenly walked in with a hurried look.
"Second Uncle!" Luo Feng called out.
Luo Qiang just glanced at them and then went inside.
Inside was where Chief of the Escort, Meng Lei, and the Escort Masters were dining.
Luo Feng found it a bit strange.
"What’s up with Second Uncle today? Did something happen?"
Zhou Hua remained silent.
Zhao Ya seemed not to hear, continuing to deal with the meal in front of him.
Meanwhile, inside the private room, Meng Lei furrowed his brows slightly after listening to Luo Qiang’s words,
"Is the information confirmed?"
"Absolutely true, the people from Six Gates have already sealed off the place. I know Wang from Six Gates, so I found out some inside information."
At this point, Luo Qiang’s expression turned a bit serious.
"All those guards were killed with a single blow, and this person meticulously delivered an extra strike to each of them."
"As for Xu Ying, Wang said he was first chopped off his limbs, then had his throat slit, his blood drained completely."
Upon hearing this, the Escort Masters couldn’t help but change their expressions slightly.
Even though they were seasoned veterans of Jianghu, they had never heard of such methods before.
But soon, someone clapped their hands in joy.
"Good! Well done!"
"That’s right, Shuangsheng Gang did not just run a casino, but lured people into borrowing high-interest loans. When they couldn’t repay, it drove families to ruin. I know at least a dozen families that suffered such calamities, so it’s karma for them to be dealt with like this now!"
Amidst the praises, Meng Lei slightly furrowed his brows and said in a deep voice.
"Although Shuangsheng Gang was just an inconspicuous small gang, I’ve heard their backing was quite unusual, which is why they’ve stood firm in the western city for so many years without falling, yet they were wiped out overnight."
"And judging from this person’s methods, it seems meticulously planned. Could it be an act of revenge?"
Luo Qiang nodded, "Indeed, Six Gates also suspects this. I’ve heard they plan to investigate who exactly were Shuangsheng Gang’s enemies."
Many couldn’t help but chuckle at this.
"Can they investigate all of them? Shuangsheng Gang had countless enemies, anyone could be a suspect; going through them one by one would take forever!"
Others showed disdain for Six Gates’ ability to handle cases.
"Relying on them to solve a case is like expecting a thunderbolt to strike the culprit dead!"
The private room erupted in laughter.
Then Meng Lei waved his hand, and everyone quieted down.
Then Meng Lei said in a solemn voice: "No matter what, Wuxiang City won’t be peaceful for a while, everyone stay vigilant, and ensure the Escort Agency’s members do not cause trouble, understand?"
"Yes!"
At this moment, Zhao Ya was unaware of the storm stirred outside due to the sudden downfall of Shuangsheng Gang.
He calmly finished his lunch and was about to find a place to take a nap.
As soon as he left the canteen, Tan Dong approached.
"Old Zhao, shall we go to the tea stand nearby for some tea?"
Zhao Ya was taken aback, then smiled and said, "Sure!"
The Outer City didn’t have teahouses; at most, there were a few tea stalls by the street.
After all, for those who couldn’t even get enough to eat, drinking tea was too much of a luxury.
Zhao Ya and Tan Dong chose a clean table to sit at and ordered a pot of Gold Needle Plum.
At this time, there were no other customers in the tea stall, and after the tea vendor served them tea, he went outside to mind his own business.
Seeing no one around, Tan Dong couldn’t help giving Zhao Ya a thumbs-up.
"Zhao, you are like a brother to me, I really admire you!"
"Not sure what you’re talking about!" Zhao Ya pretended not to understand.
"Hehe, heard about the Shuangsheng Gang incident?"
"Shuangsheng Gang? What’s up with Shuangsheng Gang?" Zhao Ya said with a face full of innocence.
"Come on, between us brothers, do we really need to play this game? Just last night, the entire Shuangsheng Gang was wiped out, and now countless households are setting off firecrackers in celebration. You didn’t know?"
Zhao Ya shook his head, "I don’t know, I was home sleeping last night, ask Zui’Er if you don’t believe me."
"Forget it, that girl Zui’Er is hopelessly devoted to you, what could I ask from her?"
Tan Dong said with a smile, then raised his teacup, and solemnly said to Zhao Ya.
"Come, I toast you with tea instead of wine!"
Zhao Ya looked puzzled, "Why are you toasting me for no reason?"
Tan Dong chuckled, not pressing further, and downed his cup of tea in one go, then sighed.
"Zhao, this cup of tea is on behalf of the people oppressed by Shuangsheng Gang to toast you."
"So sure it’s me who dealt with Shuangsheng Gang? It really wasn’t me!"
"Yes, yes, not you! It was an unknown passing hero, happy?"
Tan Dong’s tone turned serious, "Rest assured, what I said stays in this moment; once we leave the tea stall, I know nothing."
"Moreover, that unknown hero surely accumulated great virtue with this act."
Zhao Ya couldn’t help asking, "Do you have such a big problem with Shuangsheng Gang?"
"A huge problem, it’s not just a trivial one!"
At this, Tan Dong was practically gritting his teeth.
"At first glance, it seems Shuangsheng Gang hasn’t committed any heinous acts, just lured people into gambling, but you don’t know how crazy they would go to make money."
"So many families were ruined by falling into their traps. I’ve seen several girls in the brothel who were sold there by Shuangsheng Gang."
Only now did Zhao Ya understand, couldn’t help but laugh: "Didn’t you redeem them?"
"Ah, don’t you think I want to? But I lack the money, can’t afford it, or help them all. Otherwise, I would certainly rescue all the suffering women in the world."
Hearing Tan Dong’s vow, Zhao Ya could not help but feel deep respect for him.