Zhao Ya carefully searched along the Qujiang riverbank again, and finally found the arrow he had shot embedded in a large tree by the river.
This spot was over forty steps away from where Zhao Ya and Wu Bao’Er had fought.
Even so, the arrow was deeply embedded into the trunk, and it took Zhao Ya considerable effort to pull it out.
Upon examining the arrow feathers closely, Zhao Ya noticed bloodstains on them, confirming that his shot had indeed hit Wu Bao’Er.
Unexpectedly, despite being repeatedly injured, this Wu Bao’Er had still managed to flee with great tenacity.
Zhao Ya did think about diving into the water to give chase, but decided against it due to the grenade-like bomb in Wu Bao’Er’s hand.
Underwater was different from being on land; the bomb’s power would be somewhat reduced, but his own movements would also be severely restricted.
If he couldn’t dodge in time and got injured, it wouldn’t be worth the risk.
Zhao Ya always had a clear mindset — never to fight battles he wasn’t confident of winning.
Instead of taking the risk now, it would be better to return and quickly open the Hand Taiyin Lung Meridian, so next time when he meets Wu Bao’Er again, she wouldn’t escape even with wings.
With that in mind, Zhao Ya put away the arrow and decisively returned to Qujiang City, as the package of clothes and shoes he carried was shattered by the aftershock and became useless.
Nevertheless, Zhao Ya silently approached the alley where he had fought with Wu Bao’Er.
At that moment, most of the walls on both sides of the alley had collapsed, with many people coming and going.
It was evident that most of them were from the City Lord’s Mansion of Qujiang City.
Zhao Ya observed carefully and even walked through the surrounding residential houses, but ended up with nothing.
Zhao Ya didn’t feel disappointed.
He had anticipated this result.
Wu Bao’Er was from an assassin organization, and an organization capable of training or possessing such a formidable assassin was obviously extraordinary.
Such organizations usually have extremely strict rules.
Thus, Zhao Ya could assert that, after the battle with Wu Bao’Er broke out in the city, the organization members must have already withdrawn.
He was merely trying to find some clues.
In the end, Zhao Ya underestimated their meticulousness.
However, since they crossed paths this time, Zhao Ya knew they would surely meet again.
After collecting the pre-ordered dried fish from the shop, Zhao Ya hurriedly returned to the Canglong Temple Outer Sect.
After handing the dried fish to Tian Yixin, he immediately went to see Qin Jianji.
"Oh? You encountered an assassin?" Qin Jianji’s face turned serious.
"That’s right." Zhao Ya nodded.
"Tell me in detail about the methods employed by the assassin you encountered," Qin Jianji asked solemnly.
Of course, Zhao Ya didn’t hide anything from Qin Jianji and recounted his encounter with Wu Bao’Er and the subsequent battle in great detail.
After listening, Qin Jianji didn’t delve into Wu Bao’Er’s background, but instead asked in surprise.
"Did you say you’ve already opened your meridians?"
Zhao Ya didn’t conceal it any longer and nodded, "I just broke through in the past few days."
On the way back, Zhao Ya had already thought it through.
Although concealing his true strength could serve as a trump card.
It would also invite a lot of unnecessary trouble.
Especially after a fight with Wu Bao’Er, continuing to hide was meaningless.
It would be better to openly admit it, which would improve his standing in the Azure Dragon Temple and deter Xia Jiye and others from attacking him.
Qin Jianji could hardly believe his ears.
"But how come I haven’t heard you mention it, who provided you protection? Was it Elder Guo or Yun Shen?"
"No one provided me protection," Zhao Ya said honestly.
"How is that possible? Which two meridians did you open?" Qin Jianji was even more skeptical, thinking Zhao Ya might be lying.
"Indeed, no one provided protection. Following Elder Guo’s instructions, I first opened the Ren and Du Meridians."
With that, Zhao Ya circulated the Azure Dragon True Power within the Ren and Du Meridians, exuding an imposing aura, as if a dormant Azure Dragon lurked within him.
This was a phenomenon Zhao Ya recently discovered — after opening his meridians with Star-devouring True Power, the Azure Dragon True Power could also flow unimpeded within them.
This resolved the problem of hiding the secret of Star-devouring True Power.
Qin Jianji was astounded, finally confirming Zhao Ya wasn’t lying — he was telling the truth.
"It truly is the momentum after connecting the Heaven and Earth Bridge, but how did you achieve it? Without protection, without guidance, how did you manage to open the Ren and Du Meridians in such a short time?" Qin Jianji asked repeatedly.
Of course, Zhao Ya wouldn’t say he refined it point by point.
"Uh, honestly, I’m not sure what happened either. That day while meditating in front of the Cliff Dragon Painting, I had an epiphany and entered a mysterious meditation realm. When I awoke, the Ren and Du Meridians had already opened."
Zhao Ya began to used some creative storytelling.
After all, there was no way Qin Jianji or anyone could examine his mind to see exactly what happened, so he could concoct a plausible story.
Unexpectedly, Qin Jianji actually believed it.
After a long contemplation, he finally spoke solemnly.
"If that’s the case, you must have been inspired by the will condensed in the Cliff Dragon Painting over millennia, achieving a unity of spirit and body, as it’s the only way to explain how your Ren and Du Meridians so easily succeeded in breaking through."