After speaking, Zhao Ya didn’t wait for Yun Yuan’s response and disappeared into the night with a flash.
Gazing in the direction where Zhao Ya departed, Yun Yuan stood silently for a moment, then turned and entered the spirit tent.
At the same time, Zhao Ya didn’t return home but went once more to the courtyard where Mrs. Yun lived.
Just as he landed on the rooftop, Zhao Ya heard angry curses coming from inside the room.
"You fool, can’t you enjoy yourself with women anywhere else? Why did you choose to do such disgraceful things in the spirit tent?" Mrs. Yun scolded.
Then Yun Hao’s aggrieved voice followed, "I didn’t, Mom! I was just at home drinking, then everything went black. When I came to, you were already there. I really don’t know what happened!"
In truth, Mrs. Yun knew Yun Hao, foolish as he might be, couldn’t possibly do such things.
She was just venting her own anger, using it as an excuse to scold someone and blow off steam.
At this moment, Lin Shizan suddenly said, "There’s something fishy about this incident."
"Of course it’s fishy, otherwise how could Yun Hao have inexplicably ended up in the spirit tent?"
As she spoke, Mrs. Yun’s well-maintained face twisted.
"Yun Yuan shouldn’t get too proud. I’ll find a chance to make him pay a bloody price."
"No, this shouldn’t be Yun Yuan’s doing," Lin Shizan said.
"If not him, then who? Do you think it was me?" Mrs. Yun said with resentment.
Mrs. Yun, who had painstakingly plotted for so long, found it difficult to accept such an outcome.
Ignoring his sister’s complaints, Lin Shizan frowned and said, "First, we can be certain that Yun Yuan did eat the meal, so he must have been poisoned. Yet, he showed no reaction, meaning someone cured him of the poison."
"Secondly, the ability to suddenly knock out Hao’Er and covertly carry him into the spirit tent proves that this person’s skills are extraordinary. So, there must be a poison expert behind Yun Yuan helping him."
Upon hearing her brother’s analysis, Mrs. Yun finally calmed down.
"Could it be an expert Yun Yuan secretly brought back from Linhai County?"
"We can’t be sure yet, but this person’s methods are very sophisticated. So, both you and I need to be cautious. For now, don’t provoke Yun Yuan until I’ve thoroughly investigated, and then we can plan accordingly," Lin Shizan warned.
"Alright, I understand."
Even in her arrogance, Mrs. Yun understood the gravity of the situation, so she nodded.
Hearing this, Zhao Ya was finally at ease.
His part in this matter had come to an end, and the rest was up to Yun Yuan.
Once Yun Yuan inherited the third family’s assets, how he dealt with Mrs. Yun and Yun Hao was no longer his concern.
With that thought, Zhao Ya left the Yun family and returned home.
In the following days, Zhao Ya resumed his old routine, reading at the Golden Saber Institute’s library by day and practicing martial arts at night.
Time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, seven or eight days had passed.
The weather had become increasingly hot, but Shang Jingchuan remained elusive.
The Capital Prefecture had already sent messengers several times, urging Shang Jingchuan to assume office quickly.
This made Shang Luoluo restless, and she began dispatching people to search for Shang Jingchuan.
Zhao Ya naturally leveraged his connections to assist in the search.
Oddly, it was as if Shang Jingchuan had vanished without a trace, with no news whatsoever.
Shang Luoluo grew more anxious, but at this point, all she could do was patiently endure and silently pray for her father’s safety.
One day, it began to rain heavily from the morning.
Despite the bad weather, Zhao Ya arrived at the library of the Golden Saber Institute as usual.
By now, Zhao Ya had almost finished reading all the books in the library.
He couldn’t deny how greatly it benefited him.
Though his strength hadn’t increased much, his horizons had significantly expanded.
Upon finishing the last saber technique manual on the third floor, he noticed it was already completely dark outside.
Rain continued to pour down, accompanied by howling winds and occasional flashes of lightning, creating an apocalyptic atmosphere.
"Such weather is perfect for drinking!"
Wang Tiancheng laughed, carrying wine and food as he approached.
"Come, since Junior Brother Xu isn’t here today, let’s sneak a drink."
Zhao Ya laughed heartily, "Then I’ll let Senior Brother Wang indulge me this time."
The wine was excellent, and the dishes were exquisite.
The two sat across from each other, sipping wine while enjoying the view of the rain outside.
"Finished reading everything?"
"Mm, almost all of it," Zhao Ya replied.
"What I really want to say is, those saber technique manuals can only offer some reference. To advance further, you must have your own convictions."
"I understand."
"As long as you understand. Your talent with the saber far surpasses mine. As long as you don’t stray, you’ll surely shine brilliantly in this path," Wang Tiancheng sighed.
"Senior Brother Wang flatters me!" Zhao Ya chuckled.
"This is not flattery; it’s the shared opinion of Elders Yan and Lin."
Zhao Ya paused for a moment, then raised his cup.
"I must express my gratitude to Senior Brother Wang and the two elders for their help. I, Zhao Ya, will remember this kindness. Should the Golden Saber Institute ever face trouble, I will surely lend my aid."
Hearing this, Wang Tiancheng laughed heartily, "Good! With your promise, that’s more than enough!"
The drinking session lasted until late at night before they parted ways.
While the rain had lessened, the wind had only intensified.
The drunken Wang Tiancheng suggested Zhao Ya should stay the night at the institute, but Zhao Ya politely declined.
Although Guangde Square was relatively peaceful, leaving Zui’Er and Shang Luoluo home alone made him uneasy. Regardless of how late it was, he needed to return.
Seeing that he couldn’t persuade him otherwise, Wang Tiancheng fetched a raincoat.
After donning the raincoat and a straw hat, Zhao Ya bid farewell to Wang Tiancheng and stepped out into the storm.
Although it was already summer, the stormy night felt somewhat cold.
But Zhao Ya didn’t mind. His body technique was light as a feather, allowing him to swiftly move through the rain.
The gale swayed the trees along the road, occasionally accompanied by the sound of breaking.
Some household tiles even flew away.
Feeling the fierce wind against his face, Zhao Ya was suddenly inspired and drew his Meteorite Iron Saber.
As a branch, caught in the wind, hurtled towards him, Zhao Ya gently swung his hand.
The blade cut through the air.
In an instant, the branch split into four equal parts.
Not only that, but before the pieces even touched the ground, Zhao Ya’s saber, carried by the wind, slashed again.
The branch was reduced to fragments, scattering into the wind and disappearing.
If Wang Tiancheng were present to witness this, he would surely be astounded.
What seemed to be two ordinary cuts were actually perfected and exceedingly swift.
That’s why he could reduce the branch to splinters in such a short time.
Meanwhile, two notifications appeared before Zhao Ya.
[Gale Saber Technique proficiency increased by 11%, beginning ascension]
[Ascension successful, acquired Wind-Slaying Saber Technique]
Without joy or sorrow, Zhao Ya then opened the attribute panel.
Name: Zhao Ya. Age: 20 years. Remaining lifespan: 744 (+132 days) years
Skills: Eight Vajra Longevity Skill (Peak Performance 94%)
Five Tiger Fist (Returning to the Essence 88%)
Wind-Slaying Saber Technique (Extraordinary to Saint)
Light as a Feather (Returning to the Essence 66%)
Concealing Breath Technique (Peak Performance 99%)
Great Stone-Throwing Hand (Peak Performance 96%)
Great Vajra Fist (Peak Performance 90%)
Golden Body Technique (Peak Performance 99%)
Little Five Paths Chasing Soul Leg (Peak Performance 40%)
[Gallbladder unlock progress: 19%]
After years of honing, Zhao Ya’s Gale Saber Technique finally reached Great Success, successfully ascending to Extraordinary to Saint, and even its name changed.
Don’t be fooled by the mere change of one word from Gale Saber Technique to Wind-Slaying Saber Technique.
Only Zhao Ya understood the immense transformation and enhancement involved.
According to the Golden Saber Institute’s tier classification, the previous Gale Saber Technique was only an ordinary Yellow Tier middle-grade cultivation technique.
Now it reached at least the level of a Profound Tier technique, possibly even Profound Tier high-grade.