The Young Are Formidable, Never Weary

After crying for a while, Zhao Ya persuaded everyone to stop. He had them find clean clothes for Wang He to change into, then went out into the courtyard alone to keep watch through the night.

What had happened today left Zhao Ya somewhat saddened as well.

After all, they had been companions laughing and chatting together just yesterday, yet today they were separated by life and death.

But Zhao Ya knew that the martial world was like this by nature, and the path of martial arts he had chosen was even more arduous.

Zhao Ya took a deep breath, cast all those negative emotions aside, and took out the waist token he had found on the corpse today.

The token had a smooth, warm texture and was made of fine material.

Three large characters were engraved upon it: Green Bamboo Ridge.

Below them was a line of smaller characters: Ranger Stockade Chieftain Lu Kun.

Green Bamboo Ridge?

Zhao Ya frowned.

He had never heard of the name.

That was hardly unusual. Bandits sprang up endlessly in these times, with new gangs appearing every day.

But Zhao Ya knew that this Green Bamboo Ridge was far from ordinary.

One could tell just from the bandits under its command. Even Lu Kun, the chieftain of a small stockade, possessed the strength of a second-realm martial artist and wielded a treasured weapon.

Though it was inferior to his Meteoric Iron Saber, it was enough to prove just how formidable Green Bamboo Ridge was.

These times... really were growing more and more chaotic!

Nothing happened through the night.

Early the next morning, Zhao Ya and the others set off again. Near evening, they finally returned to Dancing Elephant City.

By the time they reached the escort agency gates, everyone there, having already received word, was waiting outside.

At the very front stood Chief Escort Meng Lei.

"Chief Escort..." Zhao Ya had just begun to speak.

Meng Lei waved a hand. "No need to say anything. You've all worked hard. Go inside and rest first."

Someone promptly took over the escort carts.

Wang He's family had also rushed over after hearing the news. They threw themselves onto his body and began wailing in grief.

The escort agency naturally sent people to comfort them and provided generous compensation.

Zhao Ya followed Meng Lei into the rear residence. Lin Sheng and Luo Qiang, the two escort masters, had already returned as well. Everyone gathered together and listened as Zhao Ya recounted what had happened on the journey.

After Zhao Ya finished, he placed the waist token and weapon he had taken from Lu Kun on the table.

"Green Bamboo Ridge... I've never heard of this name before." Lin Sheng examined the token first and could not help frowning.

Luo Qiang, meanwhile, focused all his attention on the weapon.

Its edge was sharp and its steel was of excellent quality. It was clearly no ordinary item.

"A weapon like this could never have been made by an ordinary craftsman. It should be the work of Forge-Iron Manor. Though the edge is chipped, it would still be worth at least several hundred taels of silver on the market." Luo Qiang's expression was grave as he turned to Meng Lei.

"Chief Escort, this Green Bamboo Ridge is no ordinary bandit gang."

Meng Lei was silent for a long while before finally saying, "Whether Green Bamboo Ridge is an ordinary bandit gang or not, they tried to seize our escort shipment and were killed by us instead. That would stand up anywhere."

At that, Meng Lei looked at Zhao Ya, his eyes filled with appreciation.

"Zhao Ya, we truly have you to thank this time. Losing the shipment would have been a minor matter. These people likely would not have made it back otherwise."

"You're too kind, Chief Escort. It was simply my duty."

"Good. You've worked hard on this escort run as well. Go back and get some proper rest first. We can discuss anything else tomorrow."

"Yes!"

Zhao Ya turned to leave.

Meng Lei suddenly called out to him. "Wait!"

As he spoke, he picked up the long saber from the table and handed it to Zhao Ya.

"This is spoils you captured in battle, so it should naturally belong to you. We'll discuss the rest of your reward tomorrow."

Zhao Ya froze for a moment, but did not refuse. He accepted the saber, thanked him, and left.

After he was gone, Lin Sheng could not help sighing.

"The young are formidable indeed."

Luo Qiang nodded in agreement.

"With his own strength alone, he wiped out an entire squad of enemies. His talent in martial arts is the greatest I have ever seen."

Meng Lei laughed heartily before saying, "All right. Zhao Ya brought the shipment back safely. It is time for us to handle the rest."

"Luo Qiang, take the escort carts to House Hong in the inner city and deliver them."

"Yes!"

Zhao Ya hurried back to the small courtyard where he lived. Only after seeing that everything was as usual did he breathe a sigh of relief.

He reached out and knocked on the door ring. A moment later, Zui'er's footsteps sounded from within the courtyard.

This time, however, Zui'er did not call out to ask who it was. Instead, she leaped up, clung to the top of the wall, and peeked outside.

The moment she saw Zhao Ya standing at the gate, a brilliant smile bloomed across her face.

"Brother Zhao Ya!"

Then she eagerly opened the courtyard gate.

Zhao Ya did not know whether to laugh or cry at what Zui'er had just done.

"Who taught you to climb the wall and peek outside?"

Zui'er said nothing, only smiled sheepishly.

Once inside, Zui'er hurriedly brought out a set of clean clothes.

Zhao Ya took a bath and changed into them before sitting down to drink tea.

Zui'er busied herself excitedly by the stove, preparing a lavish dinner for Zhao Ya.

As he watched Zui'er's slender back, Zhao Ya suddenly felt a surge of heat rise in his lower abdomen.

He grabbed Zui'er by the hand and pulled her over.

"Ah, Zhao Ya..."

The rest of her words never left her mouth before they were stopped directly.

Half an hour later, Zui'er, her hair disheveled and face flushed, scrubbed at the stove that had already burned black.

After finally managing to cook dinner, Zhao Ya stopped Zui'er when she began clearing the dishes after they had eaten.

"Wait. Don't clean up yet."

"Wh... what is it, Brother Zhao Ya?" Zui'er looked at Zhao Ya somewhat fearfully.

That vigorous lesson had left her weak all over. She could barely even hold her chopsticks now, so she naturally feared Zhao Ya.

Zhao Ya did not know whether to laugh or cry. He could only take out the saber he had captured.

"I got this saber for you. Try it out."

Zhao Ya had already decided what to do with it after obtaining it.

Though Zui'er's saber technique had only just begun, wielding a sharp blade would at least raise her killing power by another level.

Moreover, the saber was not overly long. Though its edge was somewhat chipped, it suited Zui'er perfectly.

Zui'er took the saber and examined it carefully, then weighed it in her hand. Finding that it was a suitable weight as well, affection appeared in her eyes.

"Do you like it?" Zhao Ya asked.

"Mhm!" Zui'er nodded vigorously.

"Go practice with it in the courtyard for a bit," Zhao Ya said.

Zui'er blushed. "How about... practicing tomorrow instead?"

"Why... all right, tomorrow it is!" Zhao Ya suddenly understood and could not help laughing.

His laughter made Zui'er's face turn even redder. She hurriedly fled on the pretext of clearing the dishes.

Zhao Ya finally felt a bit more at ease.

Over the past two days, he had traveled a hundred li while hauling escort carts, yet he had not felt particularly tired.

Zhao Ya understood that this was likely related to the progress of unlocking his heart.

At that thought, Zhao Ya rose to his feet, took out a treasured Blood Qi Pill and swallowed it, then went out into the courtyard to begin training.

Watching through the window as Zhao Ya practiced a set of Five Tigers Fist in the courtyard with fierce, roaring force, Zui'er's cheeks could not help growing warm.

Brother Zhao Ya... doesn't he ever get tired?

(End of chapter)