Wuxiang City.
When Zhao Ya safely returned home, the great weight on Zui’Er’s heart finally settled.
She hadn’t closed her eyes the whole night, worried that something might happen to Zhao Ya again.
"Did Tan Dong leave?"
"Yes, yesterday he waited until evening. Seeing you hadn’t returned, he left first, but he’ll probably come by later," Zui’Er said while busy preparing breakfast.
It was already daylight, and after a night of running around, Zhao Ya felt quite fatigued, so he leaned back on his chair and closed his eyes to rest.
"Call me when the food is ready!"
"Alright!"
But shortly after he closed his eyes, Tan Dong arrived in a hurry.
Seeing Zhao Ya unharmed, he let out a sigh of relief.
"Thank heavens, Zhao, it’s good that you’re alright."
Zhao Ya smiled, "What could happen to me? But it’s good you came; I want to see Uncle."
"No problem. I’ll send the message right away; my father should arrive by the afternoon!"
By then, breakfast was ready. After joining them for a meal, Tan Dong left to deliver the message.
Throughout the process, he tactfully refrained from asking what had happened, and Zhao Ya didn’t bring it up.
After Tan Dong left, Zhao Ya lay down on the bed and fell asleep.
He slept until the afternoon, got up to wash, and ate something simple; only then did Zhao Ya feel refreshed.
At this time, Tan Dong returned with his father, Tan Ziwang.
Upon seeing Tan Ziwang, Zhao Ya straightforwardly said, "Uncle, I want to join the Song Family!"
Tan Ziwang nodded immediately, "Alright, I will report back, and by tomorrow morning at the latest, you can start at the Inner City!"
At that, Tan Ziwang instructed Tan Dong to wait outside.
Zui’Er, seeing this, also left the room.
Once they were alone, Tan Ziwang’s expression turned solemn.
"Ya, what exactly did you do yesterday? Why has the Hong Family been in an uproar since today, sending many people outside the city?"
Zhao Ya did not hide anything, and even if he wanted to, he couldn’t hide it from Tan Ziwang.
Since it was Tan Ziwang who informed him about the Hong Family’s plan to ambush Meng Lei.
So Zhao Ya simply recounted the events that transpired.
When Tan Ziwang learned that Zhao Ya alone had wiped out a Hong Family squad, he couldn’t help but be taken aback, even though he had anticipated some of it.
"Did you also kill Yuan Zhiwen?"
Zhao Ya nodded, "Yes, I took his head as an offering to the Chief of the Escort."
Tan Ziwang exhaled deeply, lowering his voice, "Good, he was cunning as a fox, responsible for most schemes against the Changlong Escort Agency, and deserved his end."
Then, Tan Ziwang said sternly, "But this matter must remain a secret. Even if you join the Song Family, it won’t guarantee your safety. The Hong Family will try everything to deal with you!"
"I understand. That’s why I wore a mask, and everyone who saw me act is already dead," Zhao Ya replied calmly.
Tan Ziwang nodded, "That’s good. There’s no time to lose; I’ll report this to the Patriarch now. I’m sure he’ll eagerly welcome you!"
Tan Ziwang left, taking Tan Dong with him.
As he put it, with the disbandment of the Changlong Escort Agency, staying in the Outer City was pointless for Tan Dong. It was better to join him in the Inner City, even if just as a menial worker in the Song Family.
Tan Dong no longer protested as vehemently as before, knowing that Zhao Ya would soon join the Song Family too, so he obediently followed Tan Ziwang.
After they left, Zhao Ya said to Zui’Er, "Pack your things and come with me to the Inner City tomorrow."
"Are we moving?"
"Yes."
Zui’Er’s face was full of reluctance.
Though the small courtyard was dilapidated, after living there for so long, Zui’Er had grown attached to it.
Now, suddenly having to leave made her feel quite empty at heart.
But she understood the gravity of the situation. With the Escort Agency gone and Ya joining the Inner City Song Family, she naturally couldn’t stand in the way.
All she could do was pack as much as possible, even if just for mementos.
Zhao Ya organized his personal belongings, keeping the important ones close, and checked his hand crossbow, lime packages, and other defensive items.
Though entering the Inner City was to join the Song Family, none could guarantee they wouldn’t encounter danger.
Especially with the martial artists in the Inner City being generally stronger than those in the Outer City, caution was never unwarranted.
After loading the freshly poisoned sleeve arrows into his hand crossbow, Zhao Ya took out the jade token to inspect it.
Though the token only bore the simple words "Outer Disciple Meng Lei," revealing no further information, Zhao Ya discerned much.
First, the jade’s smooth texture and quality suggested the sect was quite powerful, otherwise it couldn’t afford such fine jade.
Secondly, the carved text differed from Great Yan’s common script, leading Zhao Ya to conclude, based on Meng Lei’s dying words, that the sect lay outside Great Yan’s borders.
Now, Zhao Ya understood the vastness of the world. Great Yan’s territory was already immense, but still nothing on this world’s scale.
Beyond Great Yan were numerous countries and powers, though Zhao Ya lacked details.
After all, Wuxiang City was a remote town with limited knowledge of the outside world.
Zhao Ya wasn’t in a rush; with his current strength, knowing more wouldn’t make much difference.
Simply put, power was fundamental.
He put the jade token away and went into the courtyard to practice martial arts.
Eight Vajra Skills, Five Tiger Fist....
After methodically practicing, Zhao Ya summoned his attribute panel with a thought.
Name: Zhao Ya. Age: 17 years. Remaining life: 47 (+111 days) years
Skills: Eight Vajra Skills (Refined Skill 231/5000)
Five Tiger Fist (Refined Skill 332/5000)
Gale Saber Technique (Refined Skill 299/5000)
Lightweight Grasshopper Skill (Refined Skill 11/5000)
Swallow’s Three Dips (Refined Skill 4/5000)
Concealing Breath Technique (Minor Achievement 311/1000)
Great Stone-Throwing Hand (Novice Practice 2/100)
[Heart Unlock Progress: 83%]
Now, aside from Concealing Breath Technique and Great Stone-Throwing Hand, all martial arts had reached a refined skill level.
The heart unlock progress had increased slightly. Though slow, Zhao Ya wasn’t worried.
At this pace, he estimated he could unlock his heart within two months.
With a powerful heart then, he could charge into the Three Realms.
As for Great Stone-Throwing Hand, despite its immense power, it was still beyond Zhao Ya, requiring mastery at the Three Realms tier, so there was no hurry.
However, the Concealing Breath Technique deserved attention.
During yesterday’s battle, this seemingly inconspicuous martial art had proven its worth tremendously.