After all, when a martial art reaches the realm of peak performance, it also means that your understanding of this martial art can rival that of its creator.
Of course, it seems there is still a path beyond this realm, but as of now, Zhao Ya sees nothing but a question mark.
This makes Zhao Ya even more eager to advance to the realm of the third level martial artist.
After all, once that threshold is crossed, his strength will surely experience a leap.
However, although Zhao Ya can feel the fascia in his body trembling, there is still some way to go before it is fully refined.
Zhao Ya also knows he must not rush this process.
After all, there are differences between the third realms as well.
Some third-level martial artists rely entirely on clever tricks, or even the aid of elders and the power of elixirs to advance.
The strength gained in such a way is also third level, but it is far from comparable to the progress made step by step.
For instance, if Meng Lei hadn’t been ambushed, Ma Ling would not have been his match in a one-on-one fight.
At the start of the battle, it wasn’t apparent, but as time went on, Ma Ling would undoubtedly fall behind.
Therefore, Zhao Ya is not in a hurry; he wants to solidify his foundation and strive for success at the breakthrough.
Zhao Ya hid these thoughts away and, seeing that everyone had finished eating, got up to set a few traps along the path and then waved a hand.
"Let’s move out!"
About half an hour later, another group emerged from the forest.
Leading the way were a few low-level henchmen.
As they approached the stream, someone triggered a trap, and stones tied with vines fell from a nearby tree.
A henchman failed to dodge in time and was struck by the stones, breaking four or five ribs and nearly losing his life.
Some went forward to treat the injured henchman, while others cleared the path, all done so routinely...
They had no choice but to become skilled because they had encountered situations like this a dozen times in recent days.
Initially, they aimed to be cautious and avoid traps.
But Zhao Ya’s traps were so varied and concealed that despite their precautions, it was to no avail.
Out of helplessness, they chose the crude method of sending henchmen ahead to clear the path.
At this time, Fu Tingfang, along with Ma Ling and Diao Ruhai, emerged from the forest. Their expressions turned sour at the sight of the trapped henchman and the swaying vines.
After days of pursuit through the forest, even the three strong among them felt physically and mentally exhausted.
Ma Ling and Diao Ruhai were accustomed to their rough, outlaw lifestyle and less concerned about appearances.
But Fu Tingfang was different. Though she came from a family of bandits, she was pampered from a young age, carrying an air of arrogance and pride.
Yet after days of trudging through the forest, even she was disheveled.
Her clothes were torn in many places, her hair was a tangled mess, and her once fair face was now scratched due to the lime and itching powder attacks from the other day.
The once imposing third lady of Cyan Bamboo Ridge now looked more like a beggar.
Fu Tingfang washed her face in the stream, then looked at her haggard reflection, fueling her anger.
She had come to hate everyone from Changlong Escort Agency.
This was because, even now, she didn’t know who had ambushed her multiple times.
So she could only direct her hatred toward everyone from Changlong Escort Agency.
The traps along the way only fueled Fu Tingfang’s fury.
To her, the one setting these traps must be the same person secretly ambushing her, as only such a person could devise so many tricky traps, proving their insidious and deceitful nature.
Just then, Ma Ling noticed the charcoal by the stream. He poked it with the tip of his spear and found that although the outside was wet, there was residual heat inside, indicating Zhao Ya and his group hadn’t left long ago.
But Ma Ling hesitated and didn’t tell Fu Tingfang directly. Instead, he exchanged a look with Diao Ruhai.
Diao Ruhai got the message, and the two slipped behind a large tree, pretending to relieve themselves.
Lowering his voice, Ma Ling said, "Fifth Brother, I say we should just give up. We’ve chased them all the way from Iron Forging Manor, and going any further will lead us into the area of Wuxiang Mountain. Despite our efforts, we haven’t caught them yet, which indicates there are experts in Changlong Escort Agency. Continuing the chase is meaningless; we can’t just pursue them into Wuxiang City."
Diao Ruhai nodded in agreement. "Honestly, I feel the same. After all, we’ve already seized the escort vehicle, and I struck Meng Lei a blow. Even if he’s not dead, he’s seriously injured, and both of their Escort Masters are dead. The task from above was to kill them all if possible, or at least deplete Changlong Escort Agency’s living forces, and that’s already accomplished."
"But what about the third lady? Haven’t you noticed that she’s already filled with hatred for Changlong Escort Agency? If it weren’t for her insistence on pursuing, I’d have gone back already." Ma Ling said helplessly.
Diao Ruhai was equally resigned.
Although Fu Tingfang’s strength wasn’t particularly high, her brother was formidable.
They didn’t dare to offend him, so they followed along, suffering through the past few days.
"Why don’t we walk a bit further and then claim we’ve lost their trail?" Diao Ruhai suggested.
Ma Ling’s eyes lit up.
"Yes, that’s the idea. I don’t want to stay in this forest any longer."
Having made their decision, they returned to report to Fu Tingfang, and the group continued to follow the traces left by Zhao Ya and his people.
By noon, they had reached the edge of Wuxiang Mountain.
Just then, Diao Ruhai, who had been scouting ahead, returned with a troubled look.
"Third Lady, the trail of Changlong Escort Agency’s people has suddenly disappeared up ahead. I don’t know where they might have gone."
"No trace? How is that possible? I’ll take a look!" Fu Tingfang said incredulously and strode forward.
Ma Ling exchanged a knowing look with Diao Ruhai, understanding the signal.
Sun Yue - correct?
Right?
In front was a precipice, surrounded by lush vegetation, yet there were no signs of recent human passage.
Fu Tingfang circled the area, dissatisfied.
"How could this be? Did they fly off the cliff?"
Diao Ruhai quickly interjected, "I guess they might have tried to descend using the vines and suffered an accident, falling to their deaths below!"
Fu Tingfang leaned over to inspect the abyss, and seeing it was bottomless, had no choice but to give up.
"Fine, seems they’re lucky today, let’s go!"
Fu Tingfang was also at her limit, feeling filthy after days without bathing.
Previously driven by anger, now that the trail was cold, her determination waned.
Upon hearing her decision, the group felt as if a great burden had been lifted and immediately packed up to head back to the main road outside the forest.
Meanwhile, Zhao Ya had already led Meng Lei and others to a refuge he had previously set up within Wuxiang Mountain.