This time, Zhao Ya's target was the Shuangsheng Treasure Bureau.
Since ancient times, black markets and gambling have been inseparable.
Shuangsheng Treasure Bureau naturally has backing, which is a small gang called Shuangsheng Gang.
Although Shuangsheng Gang is small, it specializes in gambling business and makes money hand over fist.
If it were simply about running a gambling business, it wouldn't be a problem.
After all, the world is chaotic, where life and death battles happen frequently, and gambling is trivial in comparison.
But the key is the Shuangsheng Gang's extremely underhanded methods.
For anyone with a substantial family background and no connections, Shuangsheng Gang finds ways to lure them into the trap, treating them as fat pigs to be slaughtered.
In addition, Shuangsheng Gang also loans money at usurious rates.
With an interest rate of nine for every ten borrowed, even gods would lose a layer of skin, let alone ordinary people.
Countless tragedies have occurred where after borrowing a tael of silver, accruing interest left them unable to repay, and wives and daughters were sold into brothels by Shuangsheng Gang.
That's why Zhao Ya targeted them.
The reason Zhao Ya didn't act before was because the leader of the Shuangsheng Gang, Xu Ying, who knew his own misdeeds, kept Jianghu martial artists as bodyguards.
Though these hired hands weren't highly skilled, Zhao Ya held back to ensure caution.
Until now, after breaking through to the Second Realm Martial Artist and greatly increasing in strength, Zhao Ya began his actions.
In the next few days, Zhao Ya went to the Shuangsheng Treasure Bureau daily to play a few rounds.
Winning or losing didn't matter to him; he was secretly observing the dealers and staff's behavior.
Good effort rewards the prepared; Zhao Ya finally discerned the operational patterns of Shuangsheng Treasure Bureau.
Shuangsheng Treasure Bureau operates around the clock, but every five days closes late at night to tally accounts.
At that time, the leader of Shuangsheng Gang shows up, and after settling accounts, he leaves with the silver.
This was when Zhao Ya could make his move.
Zhao Ya scouted Xu Ying's various residences.
Zhao Ya discovered that Xu Ying was extremely cautious, with multiple hideouts, and no one knew where he'd be on any given night.
So Zhao Ya decided against a frontal attack and planned to strike at the Shuangsheng Treasure Bureau.
The day Shuangsheng Treasure Bureau closed came swiftly.
Zhao Ya went nowhere that day, returning home early, practicing, and then lying on the bed, pretending to sleep with eyes closed.
At the second watch of the night, Zhao Ya rose quietly, donned his Night Clothes, gathered his equipment, checked for any oversight, and left home.
Soon Zhao Ya arrived in a small alley not far from the Shuangsheng Treasure Bureau.
Peering over, the bureau's doors were indeed closed, but lights were still on in the second-floor windows.
Zhao Ya avoided passing through the main street in front.
Shuangsheng Gang wasn't stupid; they surely had guards on lookout duty.
To not expose himself, Zhao Ya withdrew deep into the alley, leaped skillfully to the rooftop, and swiftly circled to the rear of the Shuangsheng Treasure Bureau.
Here, he was very close to the bureau's rear window.
Lying in darkness, he listened intently.
From inside came the sound of an abacus clattering, obviously someone was tallying accounts.
After a while, someone spoke: "Boss, the accounts are done. Total profit over five days is seventy-eight taels, three mace, and nine candareens of silver, confirmed accurate and error-free."
"Hmm, very good!" replied a deep voice.
"Pack all the profits into the box."
"Yes!"
Upon hearing this, Zhao Ya squinted slightly, then approached the rear wall, climbing like a gecko to the rear window.
Through the thick window paper, he could vaguely see silhouettes moving inside.
One, two, three...
He counted seven people in the room.
Seated by the window seemed like the accountant, while the others standing were likely guards.
Zhao Ya focused on a person sitting farthest from the window.
Though he couldn't see the features, the shadow showed a tall stature.
And the Shuangsheng Gang's leader, Xu Ying, was a tall man.
Zhao Ya quietly memorized each person's position and then took out an upgraded Lime Package from his Deer Hide Pouch.
Regulating his breathing, his entire body tensed like a drawn bowstring, suddenly smashing the window, and threw the Lime Package inside.
Bang!
The package exploded, lime and chili powder spread instantly.
The room fell into chaos, someone shouted, "Enemy attack!"
The next moment, the lime sent them into fits of violent coughing.
Meanwhile, Zhao Ya stormed into the room like a fierce tiger.
He had pre-soaked his mask in mint oil, and his eyes covered with a light gauze, so he didn't fear the lingering lime mist.
Entering the room, Zhao Ya headed straight for Xu Ying sitting at a distance.
Xu Ying suffered from the lime but affected less due to his distance.
Seeing a masked figure rushing at him, Xu Ying panicked and shouted.
"Stop him!"
No need for his order, two henchmen already charged forth.
These men, accustomed to the Jianghu life, caught off guard but not overwhelmed by just a bag of lime.
After a brief moment of chaos, two of them regained composure, lunged at Zhao Ya, brandishing weapons.
Both wielded short spears.
In the Great Yan's martial world, sword-users were rare, needing skilled masters for lethal proficiency.
Many used knives, passed down by families.
A well-balanced long knife was costly.
Most grassroots fighters used short spears.
Simple, brute, a few days' practice on a wooden stake made an apprentice.
Don't be fooled by its simplicity; it's deadly effective.
A hit meant life or death.
Facing the spears, Zhao Ya flicked his wrist, a flash of blade.
Clang, clang!
Two sharp noises, spear tips hit the floor.
The henchmen's faces turned to horror.
Evidently, the black-clad figure wielded a Treasure Weapon.
Such a weapon signaled extraordinary skill.
Full of regret, they attempted to flee.
Zhao Ya had no intention to spare them.
Once Zhao Ya wielded the Meteorite Iron Saber, all in the room were doomed.
A swift slice followed.
Two soft thuds, two heads fell.
At this moment, Zhao Ya reached Xu Ying.
Yet Zhao Ya suddenly felt a warning; he saw Xu Ying's face twisted viciously, raising his left hand towards him.
The long-practiced Grasshopper came into play; Zhao Ya sidestepped swiftly.
Simultaneously, two arrow shadows zipped past where Zhao Ya stood, embedding in the unlucky ones behind.
It was a Sleeve Arrow!
The realization struck Zhao Ya, his saber slicing in reaction.
With a "squelch," Xu Ying's left hand was severed.
"Ah..." Xu Ying cried in agony.
But Zhao Ya didn't stop there, severing Xu Ying's right hand and feet, to ensure safety.