Zhao Ya came deep into the night this time, firstly to rid the people of evil, and secondly to gather some funds for purchasing Exotic Beast Flesh tomorrow.
He had already investigated clearly that the most formidable in the Black Snake Gang was none other than their leader.
This so-called leader was actually just a street thug, big and strong by nature but without any cultivation.
But Zhao Ya still dared not be careless, hence he had been planning in secret until today when Tan Dong mentioned there was a black market where Exotic Beast Flesh could be bought, prompting Zhao Ya to make his move.
Now, Zhao Ya stealthily approached outside the courtyard wall, took out a pre-prepared drugged chicken leg, and threw it inside.
Soon, a commotion was heard inside the yard, as the vicious dogs scrambled for the food.
Counting silently in his mind, Zhao Ya waited until he counted to fifty, then heard the sound of thuds from within the yard.
Yet, Zhao Ya didn't enter immediately; instead, he picked up a stone and tossed it into the yard.
The rolling sound of the stone was distinctly clear in the darkness, and besides that, there was nothing unusual.
Only then did Zhao Ya leap onto the top of the wall, carefully observed around, and noticed most of the houses in the yard were dark, except the main house in the second set of courtyard still flickered with candlelight.
Zhao Ya climbed down the wall and saw five or six vicious dogs lying on the ground, sound asleep.
Ignoring them, he began to check the rooms one by one.
In the front yard lived four or five members of the Black Snake Gang, who were the mainstay, the right-hand men of the leader.
These guys had drunk themselves into a stupor and were now snoring away.
Zhao Ya showed no courtesy, sending these people to their demise in their sleep.
After twisting the last person's neck, Zhao Ya calmly exited the room, feeling no guilt.
Because Zhao Ya knew well that the hands of these people were stained with blood, unforgivable.
Having killed them, Zhao Ya searched around, only finding a bit more than two taels of silver, and then stealthily moved to the gate of the second courtyard.
The gate was half-open; Zhao Ya slipped in and dashed quickly to the window of the main house, pressing his ear to listen.
Inside, there was laughing and chatting between a man and a woman.
"Master, it's late, aren't you going to rest?"
"Hehe, you little minx, I think I need to teach you a lesson after I finish this jug of wine."
"Oh master, you're so naughty!"
Outside the window, Zhao Ya frowned.
He had intended to eavesdrop on some secrets of the Black Snake Gang's leader, but ended up hearing only nonsense.
He could no longer bear it, withdrew a short knife from his waist, and also took out a bag of homemade upgraded lime.
In it were finely ground quicklime mixed with crushed chili powder, a combo of physical and psychological attack.
Then Zhao Ya threw the lime package into the room as he flung open the window.
With a bang, lime and chili powder scattered everywhere, instantly engulfing the room tightly.
"Who goes there? Cough cough!" A man's coughing and angry shouts came from within.
Yet Zhao Ya didn't rush in; instead, he waited quietly by the window with a short knife in hand.
Soon enough, the window was suddenly kicked from inside, and a silhouette rushed out.
Fan Hao, at this moment, was both shocked and afraid.
Shocked by the sudden night attack by an unknown assailant, using devious quicklime, and fearing the eerie quiet in the front yard, not even a sound from the dogs.
This strange silence was ominous.
So, after charging out of the room, Fan Hao didn't dare look back, sprinting crazily forward.
But Zhao Ya was prepared. The moment he saw the figure rush out, he swung his short knife down.
Though Zhao Ya had not practiced blade techniques for long, the strong Qi Blood from his Great Success in Bone Refining gave him immense power.
Even a simple chop was full of force.
The blade flickered by, and blood splattered.
Fan Hao groaned, but his fleeing momentum didn't slow down, increasing speed instead.
Yet he was fast, Zhao Ya was faster.
Zhao Ya took a stride, clenched his fist, and delivered a Black Tiger Heart Stealer from behind.
This was a move from the Five Tiger Fist, which Zhao Ya had mastered excellently, executing it without thinking, punching toward Fan Hao's back.
Fan Hao sensed the ill wind from behind, inwardly lamented, and desperately tried to dodge aside to evade the punch.
But how could he match Zhao Ya's speed?
With a muffled thud, Zhao Ya's punch landed squarely on his shoulder, shattering his shoulder blade.
Simultaneously, Zhao Ya kicked Fan Hao's knee.
Fan Hao fell to the ground with a thud.
Zhao Ya rushed up, pressing the short knife against Fan Hao's throat.
"Don't move."
Fan Hao shivered all over.
"I won't, I won't, noble warrior, I absolutely won't move."
It was then, by the light from the room, that Fan Hao saw clearly the person before him, and his heart skipped a beat.
The figure was tall, Qi Blood vigorous, although his face was covered with a black cloth, his eyes shone bright and intimidating, clearly a Martial Dao expert.
How could such a person come after him?
Fan Hao couldn't make sense of it.
He always kept a low profile, investigating well before bullying anyone, fearing to offend the powerful or those with Martial Arts skills.
But seeing the short knife at his throat, Fan Hao understood everything.
Xu San, you bastard, you've set me up!
"Noble warrior, there must be some misunderstanding between us. Did Xu San offend you? Let me tell you, I usually tell them to be honest, but they never listen. Xu San deserved what he got, but I'm innocent. Could you be generous and spare my life?"
Fan Hao pleaded incessantly, but Zhao Ya only looked at him coldly and spoke only after he finished.
"Where are the assets your Black Snake Gang extorted?"
Fan Hao shivered.
So this killer didn't come seeking revenge but was after his fortunes?
Fan Hao lamented inwardly but dared not anger Zhao Ya, only said bitterly, "It's all in the hidden compartment under the bed."
"Get up and fetch it for me."
Zhao Ya wouldn't trust Fan Hao's word easily, what if there was a trap in fetching it?
Besides Martial Dao, this world had all sorts of odd and strange tricks, Zhao Ya didn't want to risk it.
"But my leg is broken; I can't move at all!" said Fan Hao.
"Then crawl over there."
Zhao Ya naturally felt no pity for someone like Fan Hao.
With no choice left, Fan Hao, trembling, crawled into the room.
Inside the room lay a woman on the ground, seemingly choked to death from inhaling too much quicklime.
Fan Hao reached the bed, painfully opened the hidden compartment.
"Noble warrior, it's all here!"