Lian Hao noticed Zhao Ya’s gaze at this moment, and his heart skipped a beat. He quickly said,

"Master, have you taken a fancy to this mute girl? Then I’ll give her to you right now. Let me tell you, even though she’s deaf and mute, she’s very obedient. Whatever you ask her to do, she’ll do it."

"Since that’s the case, why do you still beat her?" Zhao Ya turned his head and said coldly.

Lian Hao was taken aback for a moment, then a sheepish look appeared on his face. "Isn’t it just to kill time? Besides, beating her now and then will make her too scared to rebel."

Zhao Ya was almost amused with anger. With a flick of his wrist, a flash of knife light slashed out suddenly.

Lian Hao screamed in fright, thinking he was a dead man.

But he quickly found himself unharmed and breathed a sigh of relief.

It turned out that Zhao Ya had used the tip of his knife to pick up the clothes on the ground and throw them to the mute girl in the corner.

The mute girl looked bewildered.

Zhao Ya gestured, indicating for her to put on the clothes first.

Otherwise, being bare-chested like this was truly inappropriate.

Despite being deaf and mute, she was still a young girl, and she had some sense of shame.

She trembled slightly as she draped the clothes over herself, and her expression finally steadied somewhat.

Then Zhao Ya once again looked at Lian Hao.

"Are you one of Yang Bin’s men?"

Lian Hao, who had been planning how to escape, shuddered slightly upon hearing Zhao Ya’s words. 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

He finally understood that the man in front of him hadn’t come for money or women.

But what did he want with Yang Bin?

Filled with fear, Lian Hao could only stammer, "Yes...yes."

He then remembered something, "But I was just following orders. If you have a grudge with Yang Bin, you should go directly to him. It has nothing to do with me."

Lian Hao quickly tried to clear his own involvement.

Zhao Ya naturally understood that someone like Lian Hao wouldn’t tell the truth unless he saw blood.

Therefore, he didn’t waste words and raised his hand with a swift slash.

The slash severed Lian Hao’s remaining ear.

Lian Hao let out a cry of pain, his face instantly turning pale.

"Stop rambling, answer my questions. If you dare to say one extra word, you’ll randomly lose a body part. Understand?" Zhao Ya said coldly.

Lian Hao didn’t dare to utter another word and nodded tremblingly.

"Where is the real account book of Nandian Town?"

The first question went straight to the point.

Zhao Ya knew very well that since Yang Bin intended to hide Nandian Town’s income, he must have cooked the books.

That’s why Zhao Ya hadn’t even mentioned wanting to see the account books during the day.

Because even if he did, they would certainly be fake.

Only by finding the real account books could the black curtain over Nandian Town be lifted.

As expected,

Lian Hao’s expression changed drastically upon hearing this question.

He finally understood that this person hadn’t come for money or women and wasn’t even seeking revenge.

It was clear that he intended to investigate Nandian Town.

Coupled with the sudden arrival at Azure Dragon Temple during the day, Lian Hao suddenly realized but was so frightened that he turned ashen.

"I...I don’t know."

"Hmm?" Zhao Ya raised an eyebrow slightly, about to raise his knife again.

Lian Hao hurriedly explained, "I’m telling the truth. Yang Bin trusts no one. He personally manages all the account books. How could I know?"

Looking at the terrified Lian Hao, Zhao Ya knew he was probably not lying.

Because someone like Yang Bin indeed couldn’t trust others.

"Then what is the real situation in Nandian Town?"

"Wh-which aspect are you asking about?" Lian Hao asked cautiously.

Zhao Ya pointed to the mute girl in the corner, "For example, those with disabilities like her."