Evening time.
Zhao Ya politely declined Luo Feng's generous invitation and walked out of the Escort Agency.
Just as he stepped out, he noticed someone at the street corner not far away sneaking glances in his direction. When the person saw Zhao Ya coming out, he hurriedly hid away.
Seeing this, Zhao Ya was momentarily stunned, then smiled and walked over, reaching out to pat the person's shoulder.
"Why are you hiding from me, kid?"
Tan Dong awkwardly grinned, "I'm just afraid you might ignore me now!"
"Ignore you? Why would I ignore you?"
"Now that you've achieved Great Success in Bone Refining and become a porter for the Escort Agency, my status..." Tan Dong said somewhat unnaturally.
Zhao Ya couldn't help but laugh, "So you were hiding here for that?"
"Hehe..." Tan Dong also laughed a bit embarrassedly.
"Alright, your Brother Zhao isn't that snobbish. Let's go."
"Where to?"
"To my place for a drink."
In Zhao Ya's mind, Tan Dong was quite a good friend.
Back when Zhao Ya first arrived, dazed and confused, it was Tan Dong who took the initiative to help him.
Later, he even gifted him Earthworm Dried Meat, so Zhao Ya had a good impression of Tan Dong.
On the way home, Zhao Ya bought some marinated meat and snacks, and also two jars of good wine.
When they got home, Tang Zui'Er, seeing Zhao Ya bought so much and brought a friend, quickly took the items and went to the kitchen to prepare.
In no time, the marinated meat was sliced, and Tang Zui'Er also cooked a few vegetarian dishes. Zhao Ya and Tan Dong sat across from each other, filling bowls with wine since they had no cups.
"Brother Ya, you guys go ahead and eat. Let me know if you need anything else," Tang Zui'Er said obediently and then left.
After she left, Tan Dong gave Zhao Ya a thumbs up.
"Old Zhao, I must say, you quietly found such a pretty girl, hiding beauty in a golden nest, huh?"
"Don't say nonsense. I took her in. She's also a child of misfortune."
Zhao Ya briefly recounted Tang Zui'Er's background.
After listening, Tan Dong was moved with respect, raising his glass, "A righteous act indeed. Let's have a drink first."
After a drink, Tan Dong started his chatter, rambling on and on.
But it was clear that Tan Dong was genuinely happy about Zhao Ya's breakthrough and that he still considered him a friend after it.
After several rounds of drinks, and sampling various dishes,
Zhao Ya set his chopsticks down, hesitated for a moment, and then asked, "There's something I need to ask you."
"Speak, what can't we talk about between us?"
"Where did you get the Earthworm Dried Meat you gave me, and do you have any similar Exotic Beast Flesh?"
Tan Dong set his chopsticks down upon hearing this.
"Actually, I planned to tell you even if you hadn't asked. Didn't I mention before, the Earthworm Dried Meat was left to me by my father."
"Do you know where this Exotic Beast Flesh comes from?"
"Where does it come from?"
Tan Dong pointed north, and Zhao Ya immediately understood.
"Inner City?"
"That's right." Tan Dong took another drink, letting out a loud belch before continuing.
"All the Exotic Beast Flesh and herbs, which greatly replenish Qi Blood, are basically tightly controlled by the nobles in the Inner City."
"The reason my father got the Earthworm Dried Meat is because he and my brother both work for a big noble in the Inner City."
"Is there no other way to get Exotic Beast Flesh?" Zhao Ya asked.
"There is, but you'd need to be willing to spend money."
At this, Tan Dong lowered his voice, speaking mysteriously.
"Although those nobles control almost all the channels, no one will turn down money, right? I know there's a black market where you can buy Exotic Beast Flesh."
Zhao Ya's eyes lit up, "Oh? Where is it?"
"It's in the south of the city, and tomorrow just happens to be the day of the market. If you want to go, I'll take you there tomorrow night."
"Great!"
Night gradually deepened.
After being satiated, Tan Dong staggered away.
Zhao Ya wanted to see him off, but Tan Dong said he wasn't going home tonight, he was going to the brothel to celebrate Zhao Ya's breakthrough.
Helplessly, Zhao Ya let him go on his way.
After Tan Dong left, Zhao Ya closed the courtyard door, fetched a basin of cold water to wash his face and clear his head.
Thanks to the strong Qi Blood, Zhao Ya sobered up quickly.
He then started practicing the Eight Vajra Skills.
This was his daily routine that couldn't be skipped.
Zhao Ya was acutely aware that his foundation lay in this Cultivation Technique, so he dared not slack off in the least.
After completing the sequence 64 times, Zhao Ya's forehead was slightly sweaty, and his stomach rumbled like thunder, as his empty stomach expressed its protest.
Zhao Ya consumed all the remaining marinated snacks, barely filling his stomach.
The sound also woke the sleeping Tang Zui'Er.
"Brother Ya, should I make some more food for you?"
"No need, just go back to sleep."
"Okay, you should sleep early too, Brother Ya."
Tang Zui'Er returned to the inner room, and soon, the sound of soft snores came from inside.
But Zhao Ya did not go to sleep.
Confirming Tang Zui'Er was sound asleep, Zhao Ya changed into black clothes, packed all the prepared items, as well as the short knife and Lime Package he had acquired, and then pulled a black cloth over his face.
With everything set, Zhao Ya quietly moved to the courtyard, didn't use the main gate, but climbed over the wall, identified the direction, and ran towards the east.
The whole way, Zhao Ya chose deserted alleyways, although a bit circuitous, fortunately his speed was excellent, so in just fifteen minutes he arrived outside a courtyard in the east of town.
From the outside, this courtyard looked unremarkable, but after several days of inquiry, Zhao Ya knew this was the Black Snake Gang's base in the east of the city.
Indeed.
Zhao Ya, sneaking around Wuxiang City in the middle of the night, was all for the sake of the Black Snake Gang.
That day, when Zhao Ya killed those two thugs, one of them had wielded a short knife and mentioned the Black Snake Gang.
Zhao Ya had firmly remembered it and quietly investigated since.
After a few days of close investigation, Zhao Ya had figured out the details of the Black Snake Gang.
In reality, the Black Snake Gang was less a gang and more a band of riffraff.
Their members were mostly local bullies, the dregs of society.
But don't underestimate them; though they were just scoundrels and trash, together they did form some threat.
Oppressing good folks, engaging in extortion, even taking advantage of decent women, these were typical activities for them.
The ordinary people couldn't afford to provoke them, so despite despising them, they had no choice but to endure.