The instigator had been the scar-faced man, while his accomplices were the men standing guard by the pot. But now, every last one of them was dead.
As for the remaining refugees, they were merely pitiable people who had been exploited and enslaved.
There was no meaning in killing them, so Zhao Ya turned and left.
After returning home, Zhao Ya set down what he had gained from this trip, then silently sat in the courtyard, his heart feeling heavy.
Zui'er noticed that something was off with Zhao Ya, but she said nothing. She merely brought him a cup of hot water, then quietly sat beside him and gently rested her head against his shoulder.
After a long while, night had fully fallen. Only then did Zhao Ya rise to his feet and slowly let out a breath.
"Zui'er, make dinner!"
"Mm, Brother Zhao Ya, what do you want to eat?"
"Stewed meat!" Zhao Ya said through gritted teeth.
"Alright!"
After dinner, Zhao Ya began training.
As he performed the Eight-Part Vajra Art, the gloom knotted in Zhao Ya's heart gradually loosened.
In a daze, Zhao Ya seemed to gain a flash of insight.
Seizing that state of mind, after finishing the Eight-Part Vajra Art, Zhao Ya immediately practiced his other martial arts.
The Five Tigers Fist struck with power in every punch; the Gale Saber Technique severed souls with every slash; Grass-Treading Flight clung like a shadow; Swallow Three Skims the Water was as swift as racing thunder.
After practicing every martial art once, Zhao Ya stopped and stood still. Suddenly, he felt his heart pounding like a drum, while his qi and blood surged like a rushing river, endlessly scouring every part of his body.
Vaguely, the fascia wrapped around his muscles, organs, nerves, and blood vessels began