A Deathbed Entrustment, Wei Yu Breaks Through

Zhao Ya strode to the bedside, crouched down, and gently took the old woman's hand.

The old woman gripped Zhao Ya's hand back at once.

"Xiao Ya, you're a good child. Before Grandma dies, there's something I want to entrust to you. Can you promise me?"

"Grandma, don't say that. I'll go find a doctor in a while. You'll definitely be fine," Zhao Ya comforted her.

The old woman chuckled a few times. "No need to comfort me. I know my own condition. Not even some divine physician can save my life now. This old woman has lived long enough—more than enough. But the one thing I cannot stop worrying about is my little granddaughter."

"She's a child born under an unlucky star. Her mother died the moment she came into this world. Later, her father went away to conduct business and never returned. He's probably long dead somewhere outside. Once this old woman dies too, she'll be all alone in this world."

Behind them, Tang Zuier lowered her head and began to sob softly.

Zhao Ya's heart felt heavy as well.

"So before this old woman dies, I only want to beg one thing of you: take good care of Zui'er. Are you willing?"

Zhao Ya did not hesitate.

Whether it was the care the Tang family had shown his former self in childhood or the righteousness in his own heart, neither allowed him to stand by with his arms folded.

"Don't worry, Grandma. I'll treat Zui'er like my own little sister. As long as I have a mouthful of food to eat, I'll never let her go hungry," Zhao Ya said solemnly.

"Good child. But there's no need to go that far. You're someone destined for great things, and I ask for nothing else. In a few years, if you find Zui'er to be a good, sensible girl, then take her as your wife or concubine. Then, even in the netherworld, I'll die content."

"Grandma!" Tang Zuier cried out, her face full of bashfulness.

The old woman did not answer and simply continued, "Of course, if you don't think much of her, then it would be fine to keep her as a servant girl for rough work."

"In any case, in this world, she is a lone orphan girl and has some looks to her. If you do not help her, she will surely be harmed by wicked people."

Zhao Ya felt that although this old woman was blind, her mind was remarkably clear.

"Mm-hm, I'll certainly do everything I can to take care of Zui'er. Grandma, just rest and recover in peace. Leave everything else to me."

Only after hearing Zhao Ya say this did the old woman release his hand.

"Go on. You're a man meant for great things. Go attend to your business."

Tang Zuier walked Zhao Ya out the door.

Zhao Ya hesitated for a moment before saying, "Sister Zui'er, keep a close eye on things these next few days. If anything happens, come find me at once. I'm afraid Grandma she..."

Zhao Ya did not finish, but his meaning was already plain.

"Mm, I understand, Brother Xiao Ya."

Only then did Zhao Ya return to the Escort Agency. Delayed by this matter, he had arrived later than usual today.

The moment he entered, Tan Dong hurried over with an anxious look on his face.

"Old Zhao, why are you only getting here now?"

"Oh, something at home delayed me. What happened?" Zhao Ya asked.

Tan Dong first glanced around, then lowered his voice. "You don't know? Something big happened last night."

Zhao Ya's heart skipped a beat. His first instinct was that people had learned he had killed those two thugs, but he quickly calmed down.

Those two thugs had clearly been lowly scum with no backing. A few people like that died in Dancing Elephant City every day; it was nothing new.

So he calmly shook his head. "I don't know. What happened?"

"According to reliable news, that bastard Wei Yu successfully broke through last night. He's now a Bone Forging Great Accomplishment expert," Tan Dong said enviously.

Only then did Zhao Ya understand.

He had not expected Wei Yu to break through last night as well. What a coincidence.

"Oh, so that's what it is. Then we should congratulate Junior Brother Wei."

Seeing Zhao Ya's indifferent expression, Tan Dong felt like iron was failing to become steel.

"You, honestly! At a time like this, you still have the mood to say that? Don't you feel even a shred of crisis?"

"You, Luo Feng, Zhou Hua, and Wei Yu are all elites personally selected by the Chief Escort. Now that he's the first to break through, there's no need to ask—the Chief Escort will definitely praise him highly. He might even directly appoint him an Escort Guard. Doesn't that put pressure on you?"

Seeing Tan Dong's anxious face, Zhao Ya could not help but smile.

"What can I do about it? No matter how much pressure I feel, he still broke through first!"

"Sigh, that's true. But I just can't stand that Wei Yu fellow. He spends all day looking down his nose at everyone, barely acknowledging people, acting as if he's the greatest thing alive."

"Enough. If you had his talent, you might be even more full of yourself than he is." Zhao Ya patted Tan Dong on the shoulder, comforting him.

Sure enough.

Once everyone at the Escort Agency had arrived, Chief Escort Meng Lei gathered them all and publicly announced that Wei Yu had successfully broken through and reached Bone Forging Great Accomplishment.

For a moment, the entire place erupted.

"Damn, how long has this guy been at the Escort Agency? He actually reached Bone Forging Great Accomplishment so quickly?"

"I heard he's only fifteen this year. Comparing people really does make people furious."

"A hero truly rises in youth. His future is boundless now."

Reaching Bone Forging Great Accomplishment at fifteen was outstanding even in Dancing Elephant City, so everyone sighed in admiration.

Standing amid the crowd, Zhao Ya raised his head and looked at Wei Yu, who stood proudly on the platform, while quietly calculating in his heart.

He had to admit that Wei Yu's talent was indeed formidable.

After all, Zhao Ya himself had only reached Bone Forging Great Accomplishment so quickly with the aid of his golden finger.

More importantly, Wei Yu was even a year younger than him.

In martial arts, a difference of a single year could sometimes be the distance between clouds and mud.

No wonder Meng Lei valued him so highly.

For an instant, Zhao Ya even had the urge to announce publicly that he too had broken through to Bone Forging Great Accomplishment.

But Zhao Ya quickly restrained himself.

First, doing so might make others think he was merely following Wei Yu's lead. Second, drawing too much attention would go against Zhao Ya's principle of keeping a low profile and proceeding cautiously.

Being a genius was not always such an easy thing.

So Zhao Ya decided it would be better to "break through" after some time had passed.

Unlike his calmness, Luo Feng beside him was terribly envious.

"Senior Brother Wei is really amazing. He reached Bone Forging Great Accomplishment so quickly. Doesn't that mean the third realm is within reach for him in the future, and he may even have hopes of breaking into the fourth realm?"

Luo Feng muttered to himself, but Zhou Hua, who had remained silent all this time, suddenly gave a cold laugh.

"Not necessarily. There are plenty of geniuses who reach Bone Forging Great Accomplishment in their teens, but how many of them ever become Fascia Tempering experts?"

After saying this, Zhou Hua turned and left on his own.

"What's with that? He talks in that strange, sarcastic way all day long." Luo Feng curled his lip, then said to Zhao Ya.

"Don't you think so, Brother Zhao?"

Zhao Ya merely smiled and did not respond.

At that moment, Meng Lei, his face glowing with pride, said from the platform, "Since Wei Yu has reached Bone Forging Great Accomplishment, it is no longer suitable for him to remain a menial. I announce that from today onward, he is promoted to Escort Guard."