After leaving the Shang Mansion, Meng Shiwen still felt a bit bewildered. Clearly, the conversation between Zhao Ya and Shang Luoluo just now had left her greatly shocked.

It wasn't until they were nearly back at the Martial Arts Hall that Meng Shiwen couldn't help but ask, "Could it be that the government will truly sit back and do nothing?"

"They will certainly intervene, but only after most of the Martial Artists have died. That way, they can not only weaken the force of the Martial Artists but also win the people's hearts — a strategy that kills two birds with one stone." Zhao Ya explained.

Meng Shiwen fell silent again, and after a long while, she responded, "Is it really this dirty?"

Zhao Ya stopped in his tracks, sighed, and said, "Such is the nature of humanity. Shang Luoluo sees it more clearly than I do. I was too naive before."

"Then we simply shouldn't care either!" Meng Shiwen retorted in a huff.

"That's impossible." Zhao Ya said softly, "Not to mention that our teacher wouldn't stand by idly, none of the Martial Artists in the city would just watch either, since they are the ones most affected by the impending Beast Tide."

Meng Shiwen had no reply to that.

"Come on, let's go back to the Martial Arts Hall and report this to Master. We can't control what others do, we just need to manage our own Martial Arts Hall well."

With that, Zhao Ya strode towards the Martial Arts Hall.

Meng Shiwen watched his departing figure, a hint of doubt in her eyes.

Why is it that although Little Junior Brother is younger than me, he is much more mature and adept in handling matters?

Regarding this recent affair, it seems I am the naive junior sister while Zhao Ya is the weathered senior brother.

Meng Shiwen shook her head, trying her best to discard these strange thoughts, then hurried to catch up.

Upon their return to the Martial Arts Hall, Zhao Ya recounted to Lu Dingtai what he had seen and heard at the Shang Mansion with Shang Luoluo.

After listening, Lu Dingtai was not the least bit surprised. He merely smiled faintly.

"It's not surprising for Shang Jingchuan to act this way. That guy comes from a conventional Civil Servant background, always filled with thoughts of loyalty to the monarch and restoring the past glory of the Great Yan. But what does he know? The current Great Yan is no longer the unparalleled dynasty of the past."

"However, Shang Luoluo, though a woman, possesses some unique insights. The fact that she's willing to speak frankly with you shows she knows things aren't as simple as her father thinks."

"Actually, I never planned on relying on the government's power from the start. You haven't interacted with them much, but involving them only complicates matters — they have little ability to help but excel at making things worse."

As he spoke, Lu Dingtai's face was filled with a mocking expression.

"I've already informed all the major Martial Arts Halls about this, telling them the Beast Tide outside the city will gradually escalate and advising them to prepare in advance. It's best not to let their disciples go outside the city. I've done all I can; whether they listen or not is beyond our control."

Hearing Lu Dingtai's words, Zhao Ya was filled with admiration.

Indeed, he's worthy of being a long-standing figure in the Commandery, with such piercing insight into people and matters.

So he clasped his hands in salute, "Understood, Master!"

Lu Dingtai stood up, walked to Zhao Ya's side, and patted him on the shoulder.

"You've done well in this matter, but remember, if you can manage yourself well in these times, you're doing good. If you have the ability to look after those around you, you're truly extraordinary, but as for others…"

"They're beyond your control!"

Zhao Ya agreed wholeheartedly.

Soon, with Lu Dingtai himself taking charge, news about the Beast Tide outside the city spread quickly, causing quite a stir.

Opinions on Lu Dingtai's reminder and warning varied.

Some believed Lu Dingtai was indeed the top Martial Artist in the Commandery, acting with grandeur in this affair.

But others were dismissive, some even thinking Lu Dingtai was being pretentious, perhaps looking to scare others off and monopolize the benefits of the Beast Tide himself.

For a time, the Martial Arts Halls in the Commandery divided into two camps.

Those who agreed with Lu Dingtai's view were generally on good terms with Dingtai Martial Arts Hall, like Ren Yong Martial Arts Hall and the Hundred Steps Martial Arts Hall that Zhao Ya had previously rescued.

These Martial Arts Halls immediately expressed their support for Dingtai Martial Arts Hall.

Conversely, those who disagreed with Lu Dingtai, or saw his words as ill-intentioned, usually had grievances with Dingtai Martial Arts Hall.

Like Chenfeng Martial Arts Hall.

Yuan Chenfeng even declared openly that this Beast Tide was a heaven-sent opportunity, and Chenfeng Martial Arts Hall would not give it up, nor heed some alarming rhetoric.

The two factions thus argued incessantly.

But Lu Dingtai, as the initiator, never publicly stated his opinion again.

Zhao Ya was the same.

He has been quite busy lately.

Busy developing poisons and busy training Zui'Er.

At the same time, he couldn't neglect matters at the Martial Arts Hall.

Having advanced to the Fourth Realm, Zhao Ya was also tasked with some responsibility for instructing the disciples of the Martial Arts Hall.

Seizing this opportunity, Zhao Ya trained the group of Martial Arts Hall disciples daily, focusing on honing their coordination, so they could quickly become combat-ready, thus preparing for any future events.

He was diligent in his efforts.

Shen Dao, Miao Shaocheng, and others naturally couldn't remain idle.

Everyone began intensifying their training, and for a while, the entire Dingtai Martial Arts Hall was as busy as a tightly wound clock spring.

Under these circumstances, the situation in the Commandery gradually began to change.

Thanks to Lu Dingtai's reminder and warning, the number of teams going outside the city to hunt Exotic Beasts significantly decreased.

Many Martial Arts Halls also began preparing in secret.

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