Upon hearing this, Yuan Zhiwen’s smile remained unchanged, but his eyes gradually turned cold. "Meng Lei, what? Are you trying to renege on the debt?"
"Of course not. If I intended to renege, I wouldn’t bother arguing with you here. Indeed, the Changlong Escort Agency has no money left; it’s all spent."
At this point, Meng Lei glanced at the empty escort agency, his eyes full of reluctance.
"If you must have compensation, I can only use this agency’s property as mortgage."
Upon hearing Meng Lei’s words, Zhao Ya was taken aback.
He hadn’t expected Meng Lei to say such a thing.
He knew that every brick and tile of this agency was a result of his hard work, and it was just going to be mortgaged like that?
Yuan Zhiwen, however, was secretly delighted.
He actually knew that demanding compensation this time might yield nothing.
Because the value of the lost goods was substantial, even selling the entire Changlong Escort Agency might not cover it.
His real purpose was to carry out the wish of the Hong Family Patriarch, to completely ruin the Changlong Escort Agency.
He thought it would take some effort, but unexpectedly, Meng Lei gave up resistance right away.
"Alright, Chief Meng, you truly are straightforward. If that’s the case, please hand over the property deed." Yuan Zhiwen pressed on relentlessly, giving no leeway.
Meng Lei was silent for a moment, then took out a deed from his chest and handed it over.
Yuan Zhiwen took a look at it and saw that it was indeed the deed to the Changlong Escort Agency, his heart filled with joy.
However, he pretended to be regretful on the surface and said, "Although land is worthless these days, since we know each other, I’ll make sure to report back to the Patriarch to spare you this time."
Meng Lei said nothing more.
In fact, after handing over the deed, it was as if he had lost his soul.
After a long silence, he finally said, "Now that you have the deed, the Changlong Escort Agency can be said to be yours from now on. I have just one request."
"Oh? What request?"
"I want to stay here for a few more days to sort things out and dismiss the porters and staff."
Yuan Zhiwen pretended to be reluctant, thought for a moment, and then held up two fingers.
"Alright, I’ll give you two days. I hope that when I return two days later, you will no longer be here."
"Alright!" Meng Lei nodded in agreement.
Yuan Zhiwen left with the people from the Hong Family.
Zhao Ya stood there, looking at Meng Lei’s now hunched figure, unsure of how to feel.
"Ya!"
"Hmm? What’s the matter, Chief?"
"Go check if anyone has arrived. If so, let them meet me in the back courtyard."
"Yes!"
Zhao Ya stepped forward.
"Also, don’t leave tonight. Come to the back courtyard; I have something to tell you."
"Alright!"
Zhao Ya went to the front courtyard.
At this time, people had already started arriving.
The first to arrive was Luo Feng, who rushed into the courtyard. Upon seeing Zhao Ya standing there, his eyes reddened.
"Zhao! Our escort agency..."
Zhao Ya sighed, "The Chief is waiting for you in the back courtyard. Go see him first!"
Luo Feng nodded heavily and hurried to the back courtyard.
A quarter of an hour later, Luo Feng came out looking lost, tears still on his face.
"Zhao, the Chief said there’s no more Changlong Escort Agency starting today. He gave me some money and some words of encouragement, but why do I feel so sad?" Luo Feng said bleakly, tears flowing uncontrollably.
Zhao Ya also felt distressed, only able to pat Luo Feng’s shoulder and offer a few words of comfort.
Luo Feng left, and Tan Dong came next.
He was a bit better than Luo Feng, having been mentally prepared, but he still couldn’t help but cry after coming out of the back courtyard.
All day, Zhao Ya was busy bidding farewell to these old colleagues.
Only when it was completely dark did no one else come.
Zhao Ya closed the escort agency’s gate and went to the back courtyard.
No lamps were lit in the back courtyard.
Meng Lei sat on a chair at the entrance of the main hall, looking even more forlorn than the night itself.
"Has everyone left?"
"Yes, they’ve all left!"
"Good, then they’re not involved anymore!" Meng Lei mumbled a few words, then looked up at Zhao Ya, eyes full of tears.
"Ya!"
"Chief!"
"I have a secret martial art that I plan to teach you. Are you willing to learn it?"
Zhao Ya’s heart tightened, finally understanding why Meng Lei wanted to see him once more at night.
He was planning to teach him everything!
"I am willing to learn!"
Zhao Ya responded firmly.
This was not a time for modesty; he needed to show enough confidence.
"Good, good! Your character and talent are both excellent choices. Passing this secret technique to you won’t bring disgrace."
With that, Meng Lei stood up, his previously stooped posture suddenly as straight as a sword, exuding an imposing aura.
"What I want to teach you is the Great Stone-Throwing Hand!"
"Watch carefully, I’ll perform it for you!"
With that, Meng Lei leapt into the courtyard, swinging his single palm, causing a resounding boom in the air.
Zhao Ya’s heart trembled.
Meanwhile, Meng Lei stepped forward, lifted his single palm as if preparing to lift something heavy, and then threw it down fiercely.
Boom!
Another resounding crash, Zhao Ya even felt the ground slightly tremble, and dust instantly spread everywhere.
Looking at the ground again, a deep pit as wide as a water tank had appeared.
Zhao Ya’s eyes couldn’t help but light up.
A single palm creating a pit in the ground, the Great Stone-Throwing Hand truly lived up to being Meng Lei’s secret martial art, it was truly remarkable!
Then Meng Lei stopped, slowly walked out of the dust, his face somewhat pale.
"Did you see clearly? This is the Great Stone-Throwing Hand. Unfortunately, I only have one hand left; otherwise, the power would be even greater!"
Zhao Ya solemnly nodded, "I saw clearly!"
"Good, now I will teach you."
"The Great Stone-Throwing Hand is an extremely hard and masculine palm technique, the essence lies in the act of throwing. You must imagine yourself carrying a weight of a thousand pounds, then release it forcefully, slamming it into the ground, with the palm gaining strength, the power naturally becomes formidable."
Meng Lei explained the secret of the Great Stone-Throwing Hand to Zhao Ya.
Zhao Ya listened intently, not daring to miss a single word.
This Great Stone-Throwing Hand was much more powerful than the Five Tiger Fist.
If the Five Tiger Fist was considered a higher-tier third-rate or bottom-tier second-rate fist technique.
Then this Great Stone-Throwing Hand would be at least a top-tier second-rate or even a low-tier first-rate secret technique.
And what Zhao Ya lacked right now was such a powerful close combat fist technique.
The practice continued until midnight.
Zhao Ya noticed Meng Lei’s increasingly pale face, even his body swaying slightly, quickly suggesting they stop, and brought out some Cured Bamboo Meat for Meng Lei to eat.
After eating the meat, Meng Lei’s condition slightly improved, then sighed softly.
"Though the Great Stone-Throwing Hand is fierce, its drawback is that it consumes too much Qi Blood, even a Third Realm Martial Artist can’t sustain it for long, only after reaching the Fourth Realm can it be used freely."
"If I had the strength of the Fourth Realm that day, with just this Great Stone-Throwing Hand, I could have driven off all the bandits from Cyan Bamboo Ridge."
"So, remember, the realm is the foundation of strength, never put the cart before the horse, understood?"
"I understand!" Zhao Ya responded sincerely.