In this freezing weather, there’s no need to worry about the heads rotting. As for the corpses, they should soon be devoured by the starving snow wolves and wild dogs.
After confirming that nothing was left behind at the scene, Zhao Ya tied Hei Yunzi’s head to his waist and swiftly began his return journey.
Hei Yunzi was dead, but his followers were still around.
These people were bandits who had followed Hei Yunzi for many years, all with blood on their hands, and not one of them could be left behind.
Although pursuing Hei Yunzi and then cultivating had wasted some time, Zhao Ya was not worried about these people escaping.
Because the scent of the drug bait on them was so obvious in this desolate forest, it was like a torch in the dark. Zhao Ya could follow the scent without much effort to find them.
After returning to where he had encountered Geng Ying and the others, Zhao Ya stood in the wind, sniffing carefully.
A moment later, Zhao Ya suddenly opened his eyes and pursued in a certain direction.
The scent in this direction was the strongest, clearly left by more than one person, indicating a group fleeing together.
This made it more convenient for Zhao Ya to take action.
Although these people had been running for a long time, it was not a problem for Zhao Ya, who had an absolute advantage in body technique.
In just the time it takes to burn an incense stick, Zhao Ya caught up with the fleeing bandits, which numbered eleven or twelve.
Coincidentally, one of them was Geng Ying.
However, this Geng Ying was extremely wretched at this moment, no longer possessing his former might.
Zhao Ya couldn’t be bothered to talk to this group; he drew his blade and cut them down one by one, reaping their lives as if he were slicing melons and cutting vegetables.
These bandits either screamed in terror and begged for mercy, turned pale and drew their blades to retaliate, or even knelt on the ground, kowtowing for their lives like pounding garlic.
But Zhao Ya ignored them all since no bandits were good people.
Soon, these bandits lay sprawled in the snow, the blood dyeing the snow crimson.
The last to die was Geng Ying, who tried to hide among the dead and pretend to be dead to survive. However, Zhao Ya gave him no chance, picked him up, and directly slashed off his head.
The same was true for the other bandits.
Soon, a dozen heads were piled together.
Zhao Ya then followed the scent and went to several other places, finally wiping out all the bandits under Hei Yunzi’s command.
After completing these tasks, Zhao Ya piled these heads up and marked the location, planning to let the sect handle it when he returned to the Azure Dragon Temple.
By then, the sky was almost bright, and although he had been busy all night, Zhao Ya didn’t feel the least bit tired, but rather invigorated.
He first changed his appearance in the woods as much as possible to conceal his current state. Then, wasting no time, he dashed towards the Azure Dragon Temple in the last darkness before dawn.
Despite his speed, by the time he returned to the Azure Dragon Temple, daylight was already bright.
The little disciples were sweeping in front of the mountain gate early.
It was unclear why they swept every day, yet the gate remained so dirty.
When they saw Zhao Ya returning from outside the mountain, these little disciples showed expressions of surprise and stepped aside.
Zhao Ya ignored them and walked straight through.
After he passed, these little monks gathered back together and whispered to each other.
"This Senior Brother Zhao stayed out all night without reporting, and Elder Xia from the Martial Arts Hall is furious, saying he wants to enforce the temple rules, but he returned so openly?"
"Who knows, but it looks like there’s going to be a good show to watch."
Although the little disciples whispered, their words reached Zhao Ya’s ears.
Hmm?
How did Xia Jiye know he was out all night?
And what was this about storming about enforcing the temple rules, what rules?
Did he not see what had become of his Martial Arts Hall?
But Zhao Ya wasn’t foolish. He understood that Xia Jiye was making a fuss over nothing, just like the previous malicious isolation, it was all aimed at him.
However, Zhao Ya had no fear and walked confidently into the temple.
As expected.
Upon entering, Zhao Ya could clearly feel many people pointing at him.
Especially those disciples from the Martial Arts Hall, many of them were looking at him with gloating expressions.
Only Gui Xuanqing appeared worried, frantically signaling with his eyes.
Zhao Ya knew that Gui Xuanqing was likely warning him, indicating he should avoid the situation.
To this, Zhao Ya simply smiled and made his way towards his residence.
From afar, Zhao Ya saw a group of people gathered in front of his courtyard.
The one speaking eloquently was none other than Xia Jiye.
He was speaking passionately, spittle flying, "See that? Zhao Ya still hasn’t come back, and according to the guards at the gate, he went out yesterday afternoon under the pretense of completing a sect mission."
"An entire night unsupervised, who can guarantee nothing happened? What if he relied on his skills to commit some heinous act; wouldn’t that tarnish the Azure Dragon Temple’s reputation?"
"So I believe this disciple seriously violated the temple rules and must be severely punished."
Those surrounding him were mostly his supporters, naturally agreeing with his words.
"That’s right! Severe punishment is necessary!"
"I agree!"
In the midst of this fervor, Zhao Ya returned.
Upon seeing him, Xia Jiye was momentarily stunned.
He did not expect Zhao Ya to return so brazenly and openly.
However, he quickly recovered, raising his hand to point at Zhao Ya.
"Well, you actually dared to return. Tell me, did you stay out all night?"
Zhao Ya naturally nodded, "That’s right, I just returned."
Xia Jiye’s heart leaped with joy, his voice rising eightfold.
"Everyone listen, don’t say I wronged him; he admitted himself he stayed out all night. So, tell us, what were you doing outside? Were you taking advantage to engage in some sordid affairs?"
This conjecture was quite malicious, clearly intending to push Zhao Ya into a pit.
Zhao Ya, understanding Xia Jiye’s intent, did not panic and merely shrugged.
"Yesterday, I took a sect mission from the Contribution Department and went outside to complete it. Unexpectedly, I encountered some situations, so I couldn’t make it back by night. Why, is that a problem?"
"Of course, it’s a problem. Who knows if you used the mission as an excuse to commit wrongdoing outside?" Xia Jiye sneered, but his smile soon stiffened.
Because immediately after saying this, Zhao Ya’s gaze became incredibly deep, like two bottomless pools.
Even Xia Jiye was startled by such a gaze.
However, this scene passed in a flash, and Zhao Ya resumed normalcy, speaking calmly.
"Elder Xia, I admit it was my mistake not to report staying out overnight. But is it not excessive to make assumptions without any evidence?"
At this point, Xia Jiye snapped back, both shocked and angry.
Shocked at the aura Zhao Ya momentarily displayed, which even left him amazed.
Angry that Zhao Ya dared to confront him directly, a blatant challenge to his authority.
If he could not handle this properly, he might as well stop being an elder of the Martial Arts Hall.
So he laughed coldly, "Oh, making assumptions without evidence, as you put it. So questioning you for staying out all night is my fault?"
"I didn’t say that, but if you insist on interpreting it that way, there’s nothing I can do." Zhao Ya replied coolly.
"Zhao Ya, don’t be so arrogant; I am your Instructor Elder! What is this attitude?" Xia Jiye asked sternly.
Zhao Ya wasn’t intimidated by his demeanor, instead smiling.
"What attitude would you like me to have?"
"You..."
As Xia Jiye was about to speak, footsteps approached from afar, and Qin Jianji arrived hurriedly with disciple Tian Yixin.
"What’s going on?" Qin Jianji immediately asked upon arrival.
Xia Jiye sneered, "You should ask your precious disciple you brought in."