Yuan Zhiwen was confident that no one could refuse his words.

Sure enough.

The masked man across from him nodded.

"Fine, if it's true, sparing your life is no big deal."

Yuan Zhiwen was overjoyed, "Shall we return now?"

"Let's go back!"

As he said this, the masked man stepped forward, reaching out as if to help Yuan Zhiwen.

Yuan Zhiwen, without suspecting anything, also extended his hand.

But at that moment, a flash of a blade passed, and Yuan Zhiwen's extended hand was severed at the elbow.

The severed arm fell to the ground, blood spattering everywhere.

Yuan Zhiwen was initially stunned, then began to scream in pain.

"You..."

Zhao Ya kicked him to the ground, placed a foot on his chest, pressed the blade tip to his throat, and said coldly, "Trying to deceive me?"

Yuan Zhiwen immediately swallowed his screams, looked at Zhao Ya with a pale face, and trembled as he spoke.

"I... I'm really not lying; I do have a secret technique for breaking through."

"I believe the Hong Family indeed has this secret technique, but you didn't mention a word about the side effects after breaking through the realm with it?" Zhao Ya said coldly.

Yuan Zhiwen was instantly dumbfounded, looking at Zhao Ya in disbelief.

"How did I know, right? Haha, today I found it odd when fighting your men, why some who were obviously Second Realm Martial Artists were so weak."

"This weakness wasn't just in combat experience; it was all-encompassing, with even their Qi Blood significantly inferior. For this reason, I just broke open the body of a Second Realm Martial Artist and found that his meridians were not fully refined, and his internal organs were obviously diseased, probably unable to live past forty."

"So, the Hong Family's secret technique must have serious side effects!"

Yuan Zhiwen's lips trembled, his eyes full of despair.

He never imagined in his wildest dreams that this masked man could deduce the truth from such subtle clues.

Indeed.

As Zhao Ya said, the Hong Family's secret technique did have significant side effects.

The Martial Artists enhanced by this method lose all potential, and their lifespans are greatly reduced, becoming nothing more than expendable tools.

But alas, in times when human life is as cheap as grass, many are willing to do such things for a full meal.

Like Wang Ada mentioned earlier, who didn't even know this inside information and was instead full of gratitude towards the Hong Family.

"I have other things I can trade with you; I have one hundred taels of gold hidden in the Hong Family. If you spare me, it's all yours!" Yuan Zhiwen shouted urgently, begging for his life.

But Zhao Ya paid no heed to these pleas. His wrist moved forward, the blade-tip pierced through Yuan Zhiwen's throat, pinning him to the ground.

Yuan Zhiwen clawed and kicked, his eyes filled with boundless resentment and hatred, as if questioning why Zhao Ya suddenly killed him.

"Sorry, the things you said are tempting, but for my master's revenge, you must die!" Zhao Ya said calmly.

Yuan Zhiwen's limbs gradually went limp, and he finally succumbed to death.

Zhao Ya exhaled a long breath, feeling utterly exhausted, wishing he could collapse right there and sleep.

He had been fighting through an entire day and half a night, setting traps and rushing back and forth, which took a considerable toll on his stamina.

Even though Zhao Ya had unlocked most of his heart's potential, he still felt deeply fatigued.

However, the gains were rewarding.

Firstly, not one of the people besieging Meng Lei was left; all became trophies under Zhao Ya's blade.

Secondly, through this day and night of battle, both the Lightweight Grasshopper Skill and the Swallow's Three Dips achieved a breakthrough, reaching the level of Refined Skill.

This meant that Zhao Ya's Lightweight Body Technique had reached the limit bearable at his current realm.

Zhao Ya slowly exhaled, glancing at Yuan Zhiwen on the ground.

This person was indirectly the main culprit, so in Zhao Ya's eyes, he must be killed.

Even if he could speak eloquently, Zhao Ya wouldn't hesitate, only solidifying his resolve to kill him.

After all, this person was deceitful; if he escaped, he would be a major hassle.

Thus, earlier, to dispel Yuan Zhiwen's suspicions, Zhao Ya deliberately feigned being persuaded, then attacked suddenly when close, finishing him off completely.

Zhao Ya first decapitated Yuan Zhiwen, wrapped the head in oiled cloth, then searched his body.

Disappointingly, aside from a few silver notes, he found nothing.

It was clear that Yuan Zhiwen had likely hidden his belongings somewhere in the Hong Family.

But Zhao Ya didn't care too much.

Even if he had been forced to reveal the location, Zhao Ya wouldn't dare retrieve it.

After all, who knows if this guy would deliberately set a trap?

As for the others, Zhao Ya also searched their bodies, only to be disappointed.

These people were Manor Guards raised by the Hong Family; they didn't have any valuables, not even loose silver taels.

The only thing of some value was their weapons.

Zhao Ya selected a few good ones and stored them in a nearby refuge, then carried Yuan Zhiwen's head to the treehouse where Meng Lei's body was placed.

He lifted Meng Lei's body, found a sunny slope and dug a deep pit, then buried him.

Without a tombstone, Zhao Ya dared not inscribe Meng Lei's name.

Because he didn't know if the Hong Family would search, and if they found it, Meng Lei's body might not remain intact.

He merely moved a large stone, placing it in front of the pit as a marker.

Then Zhao Ya placed Yuan Zhiwen's head in front of the grave.

"Master, now that Yuan Zhiwen has been killed by me, as for the rest of the Hong Family and those at Cyan Bamboo Ridge, I will deal with them one by one, so you can rest in peace!"

After saying this, Zhao Ya bowed three times heavily, then turned and left.

As for Yuan Zhiwen and the others' bodies, Zhao Ya did not bury them.

Because he knew this forest too well.

In the darkness, countless predators were eyeing these corpses, and once he was gone, it wouldn't be long before they became a feast for wild beasts.

By then, not even a deity would find a trace of him.

Zhao Ya returned to the treehouse, tidied himself up a bit, then secured his belongings, especially that jade plaque.

Afterward, Zhao Ya took out a dose of Blood Replenishing Powder, washed it down with some wine from a gourd.

He had prepared this before leaving the city to prevent exhaustion.

After consuming the Blood Replenishing Powder, Zhao Ya sat for a bit, waiting for its effects to be fully absorbed. Once his hungry stomach calmed, and his strength returned to normal, he set off for the city.

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