Although Meng Lei didn’t want him to see him off, as master and disciple, Zhao Ya was truly uneasy.
So the next day before dawn, Zhao Ya got up, but when he arrived at the Escort Agency, the main gate was already locked.
A note was left under the door, with three words written on it.
No need to see off.
Holding the note, Zhao Ya stood at the door for a long time before finally returning home in disappointment.
When he got home, Zui’Er was already up. Seeing Zhao Ya’s gloomy expression, she knew he was in a bad mood but didn’t say anything, simply hastening to prepare breakfast.
Today’s breakfast was steamed buns.
When the steaming hot meat buns were served on the table and Zhao Ya picked one up to eat, a sudden urgent knocking came from outside.
"Who is it, so early!"
Zui’Er, a bit puzzled, went into the yard and heard the anxious voice of Tan Dong from outside.
"Sister-in-law, is Zhao here?"
"Ah, yes, yes, yes!"
Upon hearing it was Tan Dong, Zui’Er opened the door in a hurry.
Tan Dong hurried inside, gasping and said to Zhao Ya, "My dad... my dad just sent a message through someone, it’s for you, saying there’s something urgent!"
Zhao Ya quickly took the letter, opened it, and his expression immediately changed.
The letter was written by Tan Ziwang, and its content was simple.
It was telling Zhao Ya he must keep Meng Lei from leaving alone at all costs.
Because according to the information Tan Ziwang had learned, the Hong family seemed to have ill intentions towards Meng Lei and did not plan to let him go easily.
After reading it, Zhao Ya stood up without any hesitation, grabbed his sword and necessary items, and rushed out.
Tan Dong wanted to follow too.
Zhao Ya said, "You stay and wait for news."
"But...."
Before Tan Dong could finish speaking, Zhao Ya had leapt onto the wall, and with a few more bounds, he disappeared from sight.
After exiting the city through a breach in the wall, Zhao Ya determined the direction and then pursued along the official road.
At this moment, his heart was like fire, and he could only hope that Meng Lei hadn’t yet fallen into the Hong family’s ambush.
But he also knew that such hope was extremely slim.
Since the Hong family planned to crush Meng Lei, they would certainly have made preparations in advance.
Alongside this anxiety rose a murderous intent.
Zhao Ya, for the first time, felt that his growth in strength was so slow, how great it would be to have the power of the Fourth Realm or even the Fifth Realm at this moment.
In that case, he could directly confront the Hong family, even eradicate them.
But thinking about these things was useless now. Zhao Ya quickened his pace, employing his Lightweight Body Technique to its fullest extent.
But after chasing for a dozen miles, Zhao Ya didn’t spot any trace of Meng Lei.
Could it be that he noticed something too, so he left at midnight?
If that’s the case, then it would be great!
Comforting himself with this thought, Zhao Ya continued to run a few more miles until he arrived outside the Separation Pavilion.
This was a place for travelers to rest and occasionally used for farewells, hence the name Separation Pavilion.
But at this moment, the pavilion had collapsed, with traces of a fight everywhere.
Moreover, there were bloodstains on the ground, extending into the forest.
Seeing this, Zhao Ya’s heart sank, realizing that the worst had indeed happened.
But Zhao Ya did not rush into the forest. First, he covered his face with a black cloth, cocked his hand crossbow, prepared everything, then adjusted his breathing, entered the Concealing Breath state, and followed the bloodstains into the woods.
The forest could be considered Zhao Ya’s stage.
What seemed a perilous and intricate woodland to others, was to Zhao Ya like a fish in water.
His figure swiftly maneuvered through the forest, occasionally stopping to examine the tracks on the ground.
In this manner, stopping and going, about a stick of incense’s time passed when Zhao Ya suddenly halted.
Because faintly, he heard the sounds of fighting.
Zhao Ya discerned the direction, then performed his Lightweight Skill, heading straight towards the source of the sound.
Meanwhile, within the forest, a brutal fight was ongoing.
Meng Lei, covered in blood, had several arrows embedded in his chest and abdomen. With a single palm, he struck back sharply, hitting the chest of someone attempting to ambush him.
With a crack, the person’s ribs were completely shattered, sent flying, crashing into a large tree, and dying instantly.
On the ground lay seven or eight bodies, sprawled in various positions.
Meng Lei’s fierce bravery intimidated the remaining assailants, making them shrink back, not daring to advance.
Meng Lei panted heavily, the blood on him not only his own.
He felt bouts of dizziness, a metallic taste in his throat, realizing he was like a spent force with no strength to fight any longer.
Even so, his gaze was still as intimidating as a tiger, firmly fixating on the martial artists surrounding him.
"Does the Hong family truly wish to annihilate us completely?"
"Hehe, Chief Meng, I admit I underestimated you before. I didn’t expect that even with one arm left, you’re still so formidable, able to take out several of my men. But the more it is so, the more you must die!"
As the words were spoken, Yuan Zhiwen appeared in the distance, his eyes filled with icy killing intent.
"After all, only a dead martial artist is a good martial artist. The Hong family cannot allow a Third Realm martial artist with a grudge like you to exist in the world."
Saying this, he signaled to his men with his eyes.
"He’s at his limit, finish him off quickly. Whoever can decapitate him will be rewarded with ten taels of gold!"
Spurred on by the lure of gold, the men’s breathing became heavy, then charged towards Meng Lei.
Meng Lei gave a wry smile, sending flying the person charging ahead with a palm strike, but that hit also made him stagger, almost collapsing to the ground.
Seeing this, the assailants’ eyes lit up, and someone aimed a spear at Meng Lei’s heart.
Meng Lei barely dodged, but only moved aside enough to avoid a fatal blow, the spear still pierced his shoulder.
Simultaneously, someone slashed a knife, aiming directly at Meng Lei’s throat.
Meng Lei closed his eyes, ready to face death.
But at that moment, two swishing sounds echoed, and Meng Lei felt his cheek warm, opening his eyes to see.
The man who was about to slash him now had a sleeve arrow embedded in his throat, eyes wide open, staring at the distance with surprise and despair.
At the same time, a streaking blade light swept over, instantly cutting down two men, and a masked figure lunged forward to Meng Lei’s front.
Meng Lei was stunned.
Zhao Ya did not speak, slicing off the spear embedded in Meng Lei’s shoulder with a single slash, then dragging Meng Lei away.
But just then, a barrage of arrows rained down, followed by Yuan Zhiwen’s sneer.
"Leaving won’t be that easy! Since you wish to save him, then both of you can stay!"
Zhao Ya swung his sword, deflecting the arrows, shielding Meng Lei behind him. He then changed direction and instead of heading deeper into the forest, he charged towards the archers.
Ding!
An arrow struck Zhao Ya’s chest, producing a crisp clashing sound, then fell to the ground.
This action of Zhao Ya’s caused a commotion among the archers.
Once he gets close, they’re all finished.