After the handover, the safety of the silver would be the responsibility of the Changlong Escort Agency.
Even if the silver was lost before leaving the Silver House, it would still be the escort agency’s responsibility.
Fortunately, the night passed without incident. The next day, Zhao Ya bought some supplies in town to replenish their stock, and then they set out on their return journey.
Perhaps the smooth journey thus far had caused everyone to slightly relax their tense nerves, and people finally began to chat and laugh.
Zhao Ya did not overly criticize them; after all, sometimes if you push too hard, it might backfire.
But he himself didn’t relax at all, his eyes occasionally scanning the surroundings.
As the sun rose, the weather became increasingly hot.
Although Zhao Ya had purchased plenty of sour plum juice in He Kou Town to protect against heat and thirst, everyone was still dry-mouthed and thirsty from the journey.
By the time it was near noon, not only the people but even the animals pulling the carts were exhausted.
But no one complained at all, they continued on their way.
After all, this was the time when bandits were most likely to appear, and with the escort vehicle loaded with all that silver, no one dared to take it lightly.
Zhao Ya didn’t feel the heat; he was fully concentrated on observing the surroundings, feeling vaguely uneasy.
This feeling couldn’t be explained, but Zhao Ya was treating it as a serious threat.
Suddenly.
Zhao Ya heard a faint sound of something cutting through the air.
This sound was extremely weak, something ordinary people couldn’t perceive.
But having practiced the Eight Vajra Skills for so long, Zhao Ya’s senses were very sharp.
His whole body tensed, and he immediately shouted, "Enemies."
With these simple two words, the porters immediately hid behind the escort vehicles as trained at the escort agency.
These escort vehicles were designed to withstand arrow attacks.
Sure enough, just as everyone took cover, a barrage of arrows rained down.
Zhao Ya also hid behind one of the escort vehicles, but he kept observing the direction from which the arrows came.
It was from the forest on the right side of the official road ahead!
"Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!"
The flying arrows mostly embedded themselves in the escort vehicles, leaving everyone unscathed, but the animals pulling the carts were not so lucky; they were all shot dead.
Zhao Ya’s heart tightened, realizing the enemy’s intent was to prevent them from escaping.
At the same time, as the rain of arrows eased, a group of people charged out from the forest.
This group, all dressed in black and wielding sharp blades, rushed forward like wolves and tigers.
Zhao Ya took a deep breath and shouted in a deep voice, "Everyone, don’t panic. Respond as trained in the escort agency."
He said this to stabilize the porters, for if he himself were to panic under these circumstances, everything would be lost.
Indeed, upon hearing Zhao Ya’s calm voice, the previously terrified crowd settled down considerably and immediately gathered with their weapons in hand, using the escort vehicles as cover, ready to face the oncoming enemies.
The attackers clearly didn’t expect such a calm response from Zhao Ya’s group after a surprise attack. The leader let out a slight sound of surprise but didn’t slow his pace at all.
At the same time, this person raised his long knife, slightly bent at the waist, poised to charge forth and first cut through Zhao Ya’s escort vehicle.
Having heard Zhao Ya’s commanding voice earlier, he knew it must have come from the Escort Master. As long as he took care of him first, their mission would be completed.
Ten steps, eight steps...
As he charged to within three steps, a cold smile appeared on his lips, and he raised his knife to strike down.
At this moment, Zhao Ya, who was equally prepared, suddenly sprang up, wielding his Meteorite Iron Saber in an upward slash.
Zhao Ya’s intention was simple: rely on the sharpness of the Meteorite Iron Saber to break the opponent’s blade first.
Once the blade was broken, this person would be dead.
Clang!
A clear and crisp sound of metal clashing, sparks flew at the point of impact between the two blades.
Unexpectedly for Zhao Ya, the enemy’s blade didn’t break.
Not only was Zhao Ya surprised, but the charging man was even more shocked.
What he thought would be an easy and enjoyable "hunt" unexpectedly encountered a strong opponent.
The Escort Master who wielded the blade was not only skilled in saber techniques, but also clearly had a treasure blade in hand, which is why his own blade couldn’t cut through it.
But Zhao Ya couldn’t care less.
At that moment, he only felt fortunate,
Had he not obtained this Meteorite Iron Saber back then, his fate would have been sealed — his blade broken, his body dead.
After all, when skill levels are similar, a handy treasure weapon significantly enhances one’s lethality.
This thought flashed by quickly.
After blocking the incoming enemy with one strike, Zhao Ya, without hesitation, twisted his wrist to the left, slashing the blade downward to the right, targeting the opponent’s neck directly.
This change of move was both precise and ruthless.
The man in black felt a chill in his heart and had no choice but to leap backward to evade the strike.
But Zhao Ya was not about to let him go so easily. His Gale Saber Technique, now perfected, unleashed blade after blade at the opponent’s vital points.
The man in black felt utterly miserable.
If he had known this deceptively youthful opponent would be so troublesome, he would not have acted so readily.
But it was too late for regrets now.
He could only shout loudly,
"You handle the others, leave this brat to me!"
This was both to disturb Zhao Ya’s concentration and also to instruct his subordinates.
Zhao Ya’s heart sank, knowing his worst fear had come true.
But at this critical moment, besides focusing fully on dealing with the opponent in front of him and trying to swiftly kill him, Zhao Ya had no other choice.
He could only hope that his porters would hold their ground long enough.
Zhao Ya’s saber technique grew more and more ferocious, the winds whipped up by his blade even stirred up dust and sand on the ground.
Though he was the enemy, the man in black had to admit that this young Escort Master’s skills were truly exceptional.
Even among those on the mountain, he would be outstanding.
Yet, this also stirred the man’s competitive spirit.
"Impressive blade skills, but today you’re destined to die," the man said menacingly, shifting his blade technique from offense to defense.
The man’s intent was clear: to stall Zhao Ya, waiting for his subordinates to finish off the porters, then gang up on him.
Although it took more effort, the saber in this kid’s hand was truly exceptional, nearly cutting through his own; getting it would make it all worthwhile.
As the man plotted, Zhao Ya suddenly tossed out a lime package.
The man instinctively swept his blade horizontally, trying to smack away this unknown hidden weapon.
Bang.
The lime package burst open, and the spreading lime encompassed the man.
Shocked, the man reacted swiftly, immediately holding his breath, squinting his eyes as he prepared to rush out of the white mist.
Did he really think such a minor trick could stop him?
This was the man’s inner thought, but just as he was about to rush out of the white mist, a sleeve arrow came flying at an angle, aiming straight for his face.
The man was so frightened that his muscles tightened all over, but his strong survival instinct allowed him to twist his body mid-air.
The sleeve arrow grazed the hair on his throat, but before he could feel any relief, he heard the sound of a bowstring again.
Damn it!
This brat is being deceitful!
He has another arrow!
These thoughts flashed through the man’s mind, then he felt a sting on his neck as though stung by a wasp, and all his strength drained away.
"Despicable!" the man roared with all his remaining strength, his voice filled with fury in his last breath.
But Zhao Ya remained unmoved.
Wasn’t hiding in the woods and ambushing with arrows despicable?
Utterly laughable.
Suddenly, Zhao Ya stepped out briskly, lifting his blade for a diagonal slash.
With a sound of "puff," a fountain of blood erupted as the head fell to the ground.