Thirty li distance, even with someone in tow, Zhao Ya took just over two quarters of an hour to get there.
Sure enough, hidden amidst the mountain woods was an estate.
"Who usually guards this place?" Zhao Ya asked.
Xiang Gui was dizzy from the jostling along the way, but faced with Zhao Ya’s question, he dared not hold anything back and quickly replied.
"Cong Bo specifically instructed that I am in charge of developing contacts on the periphery, but the defense of this stronghold is overseen by someone named Li De."
"Li De? What kind of person is he, and what’s his strength?"
"Much stronger than me, but I don’t know his exact realm. Although he is also a Hall Master, he followed Cong Bo earlier, considered one of the elders of the Five Poison Sect."
"This person usually doesn’t talk much, but acts ruthless and calculating, so no one in the Sect dares to cross him. I seldom engage with him," Xiang Gui said.
"What’s the specific layout inside?"
Even if the strength gap is wide, Zhao Ya still wouldn’t take it lightly.
A lion uses full strength even when catching a rabbit, let alone the Five Poison Sect backed by the Beast Taming Sect, who knows what special ambushes might be set inside.
Xiang Gui confessed everything truthfully, then Zhao Ya randomly queried several segments to ensure he wasn’t lying, knocking him out with a slap and tossing him into the roadside bushes.
For now, he couldn’t kill Xiang Gui, waiting until this base is completely eradicated before dealing with him.
Zhao Ya employed the Spirit Turtle Hibernation Technique, quickly diminishing his presence until nearly none.
Then Zhao Ya silently infiltrated the estate.
The defenses within the estate were not stringent.
At least for Zhao Ya.
The patrolling Manor Guards couldn’t spot Zhao Ya in his hibernating state.
So he effortlessly reached the estate’s core area.
This was a courtyard but with a bizarre layout; a small tower stood in the center, seeming out of place.
Zhao Ya knew this should be the Five Poison Tower, mentioned by Xiang Gui, used by the Five Poison Sect to cultivate poisonous insects.
The name Five Poison Sect suggests that its followers mainly use poison in their acts.
But like today’s Exotic Insect Fragrance Xiang Gui used is exceptionally precious, only high-ranking members like Hall Masters in the Sect have the right to use it; ordinary followers can only use common poisons extracted from various poisonous insects.
This creates an extremely large demand.
So besides developing contacts, the Five Poison Sect also has an important task of cultivating poisonous insects.
The Five Poison Tower was used for this purpose.
The guards here were also more stringent than the periphery but still couldn’t deter Zhao Ya.
With a light leap, Zhao Ya silently crossed the night sky and landed on the rooftop of the Five Poison Tower.
The entire process was soundless, without even disturbing the warning bells on the roof.
Then Zhao Ya moved to a corner in the courtyard where the light didn’t reach, leaned down, and clung to the wall like a gecko, moving silently with powerful muscular strength.
Soon, Zhao Ya arrived at a lit window, inclining to listen.
Inside, it was silent, but merely from the breathing, Zhao Ya could deduce there were at least four people in the room.
One breath was the longest, likely a Martial Artist with Skin Grinding Great Success, probably the Li De mentioned by Xiang Gui.
The other three had much heavier breathing, their strength around the Third Realm.
Zhao Ya was assured.
If there are only four with such strength, Zhao Ya could easily execute them instantly.
As he was about to act, someone inside spoke: "Hall Master, that Xiang Gui went to intercept Yongshun Escort Agency’s cargo, why hasn’t he returned yet? Could something have gone wrong?"
"Indeed, the Lan Family is not easily provoked, Lan Tang may be old, but his grandson Lan Qingshan possesses considerable strength."
"Relax, Xiang Gui took the Exotic Insect Fragrance this time, no matter the Lan Family’s grandfather and grandson’s prowess, they can’t overturn the situation," someone said coldly.
The voice was chilling, merely hearing it felt like seeing a hidden venomous snake in the dark.
"Oh, then we can rest easy."
"Indeed, with Sect Leader’s Exotic Insect Fragrance, even if the Lan Tang grandfather and grandson have Fifth Realm strength, they’d still be caught off guard."
"What do you think Xuanhu Hall invests so much, creating such a big fuss intending to send this Centennial Ginseng to where?"
"Who knows, anyway it’s in our hands, it’s ours."
These people chatted away, and Zhao Ya listened attentively outside.
Because he heard a very useful piece of information.
The current commission for the Lan Family’s grandfather and grandson execution was from Xuanhu Hall.
Speaking of Xuanhu Hall, it’s quite renowned.
Originally an informal alliance of physicians, with the world in chaos, the status of physicians rose.
Eventually, under the leadership of the medical genius Sun Jingbo, Xuanhu Hall was born and eventually became a vast medical organization.
This Centennial Ginseng originating from Xuanhu Hall makes perfect sense.
It’s just unknown where it was being sent.
As someone originating from the escort service, Zhao Ya naturally understood that this information isn’t typically sensitive; however, if the employer demands confidentiality, a reputable Escort Agency would never leak it.
This concerns the Escort Agency’s reputation, without compromise.
So previously, Zhao Ya tactfully refrained from asking the Lan’s grandfather and grandson.