Zou Feng didn’t rush over. After all, there was no guarantee he would find anything even if he went.
Furthermore, if the Ten Directions Sect had truly used some incomprehensible method to plot against Bian Yixia, then they could use the same tactic against him.
Therefore, even though he could surmise that Fang Jingchuan was definitely not there, charging in recklessly with so many unknowns was still not a wise move.
Besides, Zou Feng actually preferred to stay here, witness Bian Yixia’s victory, and continue to ensure her safety.
Sun Kai’s defeat was already a foregone conclusion.
The glance he had just spared in the direction of the shantytowns had only hastened his own death.
Moreover, from the very beginning, Sun Kai had underestimated the resilience Bian Yixia could summon in a life-or-death battle, even when her back was against the wall.
Although Sun Kai was the Dragon Head of the Mountain and River Association and had genuinely fought his way to the top, he had rarely taken action personally since claiming the position.
While he had not neglected his cultivation, he ultimately lacked the experience of the life-and-death battles of his past.
He had been the one to challenge Bian Yixia this time, but that was only because he had received a prior promise from the Ten Directions Sect guaranteeing he would win the duel.
Bian Yixia, however, was different. She had always been fighting on the front lines.
During the previous operations to suppress the Ten Directions Sect, she had always been the one to charge in most ferociously.
WHAM—
With a dull thud, Bian Yixia’s Round Hammer smashed viciously into Sun Kai’s stomach.
Letting out a pained howl, Sun Kai was sent spinning backward through the air.
Bian Yixia’s Round Hammer always maintained a high-speed rotation during her attacks. The moment it connected, the rotational force alone was enough to make one’s Protective Inner Force seem as fragile as paper.
A single misstep sealed Sun Kai’s total defeat.
Before long, the duel fell into a rhythm Bian Yixia knew best, entering a phase all the present Black Flood Dragon Gang members recognized: the part where she hammered her opponent into a meat patty.
At first, Zou Feng wanted to advise Bian Yixia not to kill him yet. He wanted to interrogate the man about his collusion with the Ten Directions Sect and what methods they had used against her.
But it was too late. Bian Yixia was completely caught up in a battle frenzy, finishing Sun Kai off in a few swings.
Once the "Sun Family meat patty" was complete, Bian Yixia raised her Double Hammers and let out a triumphant roar to the heavens.
This had been a true escape from death’s door, a clutch reversal. The resulting refinement of her mental state was immeasurable.
Previously, the flaws in her Six Harmonies Reincarnation Skill had prevented her from breaking through to the Gang Qi Realm, leaving Bian Yixia in a constant state of stifling frustration.
Though she still hadn’t advanced, it felt as if most of that pent-up frustration had been released.
It even gave Bian Yixia the confidence to improve the Six Harmonies Reincarnation Skill herself.
In short, the sunlight illuminating her face was now the light of hope.
That’s right. Although it was just a feeling, Bian Yixia could finally see hope for breaking through to the Gang Qi Realm.
’And it should be soon...’
At this thought, her gaze inevitably shifted to Zou Feng.
Zou Feng had arrived in the nick of time, slaughtering the Mountain and River Association members and putting psychological pressure on Sun Kai. It was tantamount to saving her life.
It was more than just saving her life; he had also brought her the opportunity for a breakthrough.
Bian Yixia desperately wanted to thank Zou Feng, but when she opened her mouth, the words simply wouldn’t come.
In the end, she simply gave Zou Feng a grateful nod.
Zou Feng, as was his way, stepped forward and cupped his fist in salute. "Incredible, Miss!"
"Not as incredible as you, Master Zou..." Bian Yixia said, making a rare joke. "I was blind. It turns out you really are a one-in-ten-thousand Evil Genius..."
Previously, Zou Feng had asked her for Demon Beast Meat on credit, claiming he was about to advance to Seventh Grade.
Bian Yixia, however, hadn’t believed him at the time.
Zou Feng smiled. "I’m almost there, Miss... I just need about another half hour..."
He wasn’t lying. The purification and transformation of his Inner Qi was nearly complete, but not quite.
But in about half an hour, the transformation would surely be finished, and he would officially break through to Seventh Grade.
"So you’re just a hair’s breadth away from stepping into Seventh Grade." As someone who had been through it herself, Bian Yixia immediately understood what he meant.
Zou Feng then asked, "By the way, Miss, are you still feeling any discomfort?"
He was asking if the strange condition she’d experienced earlier had disappeared.
Bian Yixia understood his meaning and immediately circulated her Inner Qi to inspect her body.
After a moment, she said, "I’m fine now!"
’So it’s just as I thought. The Ten Directions Cultists causing trouble from the shadows must have retreated, and that’s why the problem with her body vanished instantly?’
"Old Sixth... he’s already taken the Dragon Gate Boat?" Bian Yixia turned to look in the direction of the Dragon Gate Boat.
Zou Feng replied, "Yes. I had to fight my way out..."
"And Uncle Xiang?"
"I didn’t see Boss Xiang make a move."
Bian Yixia didn’t look particularly angry. She just shook her head with a wry smile. "Old Sixth, oh, Old Sixth... why did you have to be so impatient..."
In the crowd of Black Flood Dragon Gang members, it was actually her third and fourth brothers who were seething with rage, furiously cursing Song Sixing as a heartless, ungrateful beast.
The next moment, one of Bian Yixia’s confidants stepped forward. "Miss, since the Dragon Gate Boat has been lost, we should fall back to Yuan Guang City, rally our other forces, and plan our next move carefully..."
The man’s suggestion was indeed the best option for now.
The Black Flood Dragon Gang still had other assets and forces deployed within Yuan Guang City.
For instance, if Wang Xingjian of the Guangfa Gambling House hadn’t already sided with Song Sixing, he could still muster a contingent of skilled fighters.
Unfortunately for him, Bian Yixia’s idea of a "best option" never involved careful planning.
As expected, Bian Yixia immediately shook her head at this perfectly reasonable advice. She raised her Round Hammer and pointed it in the direction of the Dragon Gate Boat. "No. Old Sixth may have taken the Dragon Gate Boat, but his footing is still unstable."
"If we strike back right now, we can definitely catch him unprepared."
"Our brothers who were forced by the situation to submit to Old Sixth will rise up and fight back when they see me return!"
With that, she turned to the subordinates behind her, a brilliant grin spreading across her face. "So, brothers! Are you willing to charge back to the Dragon Gate Boat with me and capture my good-for-nothing sixth brother!"
Zou Feng was not the least bit surprised by Bian Yixia’s decision.
"I will follow you to the end, Miss!"
He was the first to step forward and declare his allegiance.
After all, ever since he had chosen to kill Zhang Chi—the man sent to persuade him to surrender—there was no longer any room for reconciliation between him and Song Sixing.
The others, inspired by Bian Yixia’s powerful and confident presence and still riding the high from slaughtering the Mountain and River Association members, eagerly voiced their support.
"Miss, there’s nothing I hate more than a thankless traitor who stomps on brotherhood! Let’s go back and kill them!"
"My wife is still on the Dragon Gate Boat! I can’t let her fall into the Sixth Young Master’s hands..."
After a chorus of indignant shouts, Bian Yixia roared, "Good!" and immediately took the lead, sprinting in the direction of the Dragon Gate Boat.
At the same time, she didn’t forget to pop a few elixirs into her mouth to replenish the energy she had expended during the duel.
In truth, the journey back to the Dragon Gate Boat was itself a chance to rest and regroup.
Everyone took elixirs, bandaged their wounds, or gnawed on some Dried Demon Beast Meat.
While it was impossible to recover to peak condition, Song Sixing’s side was also in an unstable position. Moreover, he would most likely never anticipate that Bian Yixia would choose to charge straight back at him so brazenly.
Meanwhile, Zou Feng planned to use this time to finish purifying his Inner Qi and officially step into the Seventh Grade.
To him, charging back immediately might seem reckless, but it wasn’t.
After all, with him assisting Bian Yixia, retaking the Dragon Gate Boat shouldn’t be a problem, even if the Mountain and River Association had another Seventh Grade Expert with Song Sixing.
"Zou Feng, you’ve hidden your strength well..."
Since the two of them were running closest to each other, Zou Feng could hear her even though she had deliberately lowered her voice.
"Uh, Miss, it’s not really like that..."
"I’m not blaming you!" Bian Yixia cut off the excuses Zou Feng was about to make. "You and I are both Martial Artists who fought our way up from the very bottom. If the Black Flood Dragon Gang has two more experts at the Gang Qi Realm soon, the remnants of the Danxin Alliance and the Mountain and River Association will likely surrender on the spot."
Hearing this, Zou Feng froze for a second before a look of delighted surprise crossed his face. "Miss, you’re about to break through your bottleneck!?"