Yuan Zhiwen, though surprised, remained composed.
"Retreat, switch to soft nets!"
A few simple words, and the archers immediately retreated, switching out their bows and arrows. They then took something akin to a firework tube from their waists, aimed it at Zhao Ya, and started firing.
Bang bang bang!
Amid continuous dull sounds, nets covered the sky, descending upon Zhao Ya.
These nets were woven with ox-tendon ropes, extremely tough, and ordinary swords couldn’t cut through them.
Moreover, the nets were adorned with metal spikes, making it nearly impossible to escape once ensnared. They were sinister weapons Hong Family used against martial arts masters.
When facing Meng Lei earlier, Yuan Zhiwen hadn’t planned to use these, as they were costly and not to be used lightly.
Furthermore, though Meng Lei was a Third Realm martial artist, his strength was greatly diminished due to a lost arm, making the soft nets unnecessary for him.
But this sudden masked man disrupted Yuan Zhiwen’s plan.
Although from this masked man’s moves, it was clear he was just a Second Realm martial artist, his calmness and decisiveness were striking, and he even wore inner armor, making arrows ineffective.
So, to eliminate future trouble, Yuan Zhiwen decided to use the soft nets.
He thought it would be easy to capture, but this time, he miscalculated.
Before the soft nets could get close, Zhao Ya already sensed the danger, swiftly performing the Gale Saber Technique, his Meteorite Iron Saber whirling like the wind, shielding himself and Meng Lei behind him.
There was a hissing sound as the soft nets were cut apart by the curtain-like saber light just as they got near.
Seeing this, Yuan Zhiwen couldn’t help but exclaim, "Treasure weapon?"
His voice carried a hint of regret.
Had he known that this person wielded a treasure weapon, he would never have used the soft nets against him.
But it was too late for regret now.
Yuan Zhiwen immediately ordered, "Switch to weapons, surround and attack him together. Whoever kills him will be rewarded with twenty taels of gold!"
At once, Zhao Ya’s bounty even exceeded Meng Lei’s, showing how high a threat Zhao Ya posed in Yuan Zhiwen’s mind.
Those brought by Yuan Zhiwen to besiege the Third Realm martial artist Meng Lei were naturally not amateurs.
Most had peak First Realm strength, with even a few Second Realm martial artists among them.
Yet Zhao Ya remained unafraid in the face of these people.
Though he was only Second Realm, he had plenty of little tricks on him!
Zhao Ya reached into the deer hide pouch at his side, grabbed three or four lime packages, and flung them at the approaching attackers.
These people thought they were hidden weapons, using their weapons to block.
This was quite amusing.
With a few dull explosions, the lime burst open, instantly spreading everywhere.
Caught off guard, all of them were hit.
"Ah, my eyes!"
"Damn it, what’s this? Why is it so itchy?"
Taking advantage of this gap, Zhao Ya dragged Meng Lei away.
Though he wanted to slay them all at that moment, it was not the right time.
First, the enemy numbers were greater; though Zhao Ya’s strength far exceeded that of typical Second Realm martial artists, he also had his limits.
The opponents included several Second Realm martial artists, and if surrounded, retreating would be tough.
The crucial thing now was to save Meng Lei.
So Zhao Ya dragged Meng Lei, running deep into the forest, while deliberately shouting in a hoarse voice.
"You brats, come catch me if you dare!"
The forest was Zhao Ya’s domain, and as long as they dared enter, he’d give them a lesson.
Moreover, Zhao Ya believed they would certainly do so.
After all, their mission wasn’t accomplished yet.
Indeed.
As Zhao Ya dragged Meng Lei into the forest, Yuan Zhiwen furiously shouted, "Chase them, don’t let them escape."
At this moment, Yuan Zhiwen was filled with anger and fear.
Anger at the duck getting away just before he could catch it, and fear that if he returned empty-handed after such efforts and even using the soft nets, the patriarch wouldn’t let him off easily.
But now, everyone had just got out of the lime cloud, with many itching all over. Chasing the enemy was hard, let alone protecting themselves.
However, being seasoned Jianghu people, they all carried some antidote pills, and after taking them, though the itching didn’t immediately cease, it was suppressed.
But with the delay, by the time they entered the forest, Zhao Ya and Meng Lei were long gone.
"Groups of three, search ten meters apart. If you find something, shout immediately, don’t act recklessly."
Though Yuan Zhiwen was angry, he was still clear-headed, fearing traps in the forest, so he made corresponding arrangements.
As a result, everyone dispersed by his instructions, advancing in a semicircle towards the forest’s depths.
Meanwhile, in a secluded treehouse deep in the forest.
Zhao Ya placed the extremely weakened Meng Lei on the floor, and upon seeing his bare torso, his heart sank.
Several arrows were deeply embedded in Meng Lei’s chest and abdomen, with two being particularly dangerous.
One was under the left rib, the other on the lower right abdomen, both deeply lodged, and the wounds appeared unnaturally purplish, suggesting the arrowheads were poisoned.
Such injuries would’ve killed others long ago. Only a Third Realm martial artist like Meng Lei could endure until now, even trekking through the forest with Zhao Ya.
But this was his limit.
At this moment, a strange flush appeared on Meng Lei’s previously pale face, and his eyes were frighteningly bright.
But the more this happened, the heavier Zhao Ya’s heart felt.
This was clearly a sign of the last burst of life.
This was the result of the brain detecting impending death, burning all remaining functions.
Once this last life fire burned out, he would die.
Meng Lei naturally understood this, but he showed no fear, instead struggling to sit up, leaning against the treehouse wall, and laughed at Zhao Ya.
"Kid, didn’t expect you’d save me again; I owe you two lives!"
Zhao Ya didn’t know what to say.
Meng Lei patted his shoulder, "Alright, everyone dies eventually. As a Jianghu man, this end is normal, don’t feel bad."
"Master, is there any unfinished wish you have?" Zhao Ya asked.
Meng Lei laughed, "Well, if I have a wish, there is one. I have a daughter living in the Commandery, about your age, why don’t you marry her!"
"Uh..." Zhao Ya never expected Meng Lei to say something like that, and was stunned.
"Hahaha, got you, just kidding." Meng Lei laughed heartily.
"Indeed, I have a daughter living in the Commandery, but you two aren’t a good match, and I wouldn’t let her marry you!"