When Wang Xingjian arrived, he brought a lot of Spiritual Food. Clearly, he wanted to celebrate the good news of Qian Kun’s demise with Zou Feng over a hearty meal and drinks.
Even Ma Pingchuan’s despicable actions hadn’t soured Wang Xingjian’s good mood too much.
But before they could even have someone prepare the meal, another subordinate came rushing over.
He reported that Vice Gang Leader Xiang Kang had urgently summoned all the Black Flood Dragon Gang’s officers, including the Incense Masters, to gather on the "Dragon Gate Boat" to discuss an important matter.
The Gang Leader was still in seclusion, so all important gang affairs were managed by Vice Gang Leader Xiang Kang.
For Xiang Kang to suddenly assemble all the gang’s key figures, the matter was clearly significant.
Normally, since Zou Feng was still recovering from his injuries, he could have declined to attend.
However, the gang member delivering the message also brought a verbal message from Chen Jingsheng.
Chen Jingsheng said it would be best for Zou Feng to show his face this time, even if he just listened in from a wheelchair.
In fact, since joining the Black Flood Dragon Gang, Zou Feng had never once attended this kind of gathering.
Seeing that he couldn’t get out of it, Zou Feng had no choice but to secretly take a few more Qi Dispersing Pills and Burning Vein Pills.
He then used the excuse of relieving himself to secretly practice his Tribulation-Indestructible Body for a little while before coming out to be carried onto the carriage.
It was worth noting that this time, when he practiced the Tribulation-Indestructible Body, he didn’t activate the transfer function.
He personally experienced its exhilaratingly painful side effects.
This way, his "severely injured and unhealed" act would be even more convincing.
In the carriage, Zou Feng asked tentatively, "Brother Wang, why would the Vice Gang Leader summon all the brothers of the gang in such a hurry?"
Wang Xingjian pondered for a moment. "I heard that disciples from the Celestial Essence Sword Sect arrived in Yuan Guang County Town yesterday... This might be related."
Back when he was a Household Servant at the Yang Mansion, Zou Feng had often heard about the Celestial Essence Sword Sect.
After all, besides being a potential genius, Yang Qianqian’s biggest selling point was the rumor that she was very likely to join the Celestial Essence Sword Sect.
This was no small matter. If she were truly chosen by the Celestial Essence Sword Sect, it would be an even rarer honor than Yuan Guang County producing a provincial scholar.
The Dragon Gate Boat was a tower boat belonging to the Black Flood Dragon Gang, moored not far from the South Shore Pier.
This tower boat could essentially be considered the Black Flood Dragon Gang’s main headquarters.
During gatherings, the Dragon Gate Boat wouldn’t be docked at the pier but would instead be anchored in the middle of the Jiayue River.
Officers and gang members boarded via special ferry boats.
Of course, there were inevitably some exceptionally skilled individuals who would board by displaying marvelous techniques like "Crossing the River on a Blade of Grass."
As Zou Feng was heading over on a small boat, he saw Chen Jingsheng was one of those who liked to show off his Qinggong.
An entire deck of the tower boat had been converted into a "Gathering Hall," specifically for large meetings like this one.
When Zou Feng and Wang Xingjian entered, they were among the first to arrive.
After all, they were just Little Incense Masters; being late would make them stand out too much.
And they could easily be singled out by some high-ranking member in a bad mood.
Wang Xingjian pushed the wheelchair to a corner at the very edge of the room, a spot that best suited their status.
Every time an officer Zou Feng hadn’t seen before appeared, Wang Xingjian would immediately introduce them in a low voice.
Ma Pingchuan was there as well, of course, but the smile perpetually plastered on his face was uglier than a sob.
That stunt he pulled—selling out his sister for personal gain—had successfully helped him find a new backer, but such behavior was despised by most, even within the Black Flood Dragon Gang.
He had probably been endlessly ridiculed by his colleagues while boarding the boat.
Before long, Vice Gang Leader Xiang Kang arrived.
The man had thick brows, large eyes, and an air of righteousness about him. He looked exactly like a great hero from the Righteous Dao, straight out of a martial arts novel.
His disposition was starkly different from most members of the Black Flood Dragon Gang; he didn’t look at all like someone who practiced an Evil Skill.
Just as Zou Feng was sizing up Xiang Kang, a new clamor erupted from the crowd.
"Look, the Miss is here!"
"Greetings, Miss!"
"All hail the mighty Miss!"
A young woman with her hair in two buns walked into the Gathering Hall, immediately receiving a welcome even more enthusiastic than the one for the Vice Gang Leader.
She was petite, like a little slip of a girl.
And yet, strapped to her back were two Large Round Hammers, creating a stunning visual contrast.
"The Gang Leader’s eldest disciple, Bian Yixia. Seventh Grade!" Wang Xingjian immediately explained, before Zou Feng could even ask.
The Black Flood Dragon Gang had three Seventh Grade members: Gang Leader Deng Guangxin, Vice Gang Leader Xiang Kang, and finally, Bian Yixia.
"Don’t be fooled by how charming and cute the Miss looks. When she wields those large hammers, she’s a force of nature!"
"Plus, the Miss is extremely loyal. Most of the brothers in the gang really respect her and see her as the undisputed choice for the next Gang Leader."
Hearing this, Zou Feng’s thoughts turned to another matter.
’She’s already Seventh Grade, the same Realm as Deng Guangxin. Why hasn’t he ’refined’ her yet?’
’Surely he’s not waiting for the other five disciples to also reach Seventh Grade before closing the net?’
’But that doesn’t make sense. Leaving aside how unrealistic it is for all six disciples to reach Seventh Grade, even if they did, Deng Guangxin wouldn’t be able to control them all at that point.’
’So I was probably overthinking it before. The six disciples might not be Deng Guangxin’s Great Medicine after all.’
’Then again, Bian Yixia really is cute. Not only is her hair in buns, but her face, with its touch of baby fat, is round like one too...’
With that, Zou Feng continued to observe from the shadows.
He thought he was practically invisible in his corner, but unexpectedly, Bian Yixia seemed to ask someone a question, then turned her head to look right at him.
And that wasn’t all. A moment later, Bian Yixia actually started striding toward him.
This commotion made even Wang Xingjian, who was equally confused, a little flustered.
"You’re the new Incense Master, Zou Feng?"
Zou Feng quickly forced himself to sit up and offer a cupped fist salute. "Greetings, Miss!"
"Not bad. Daring to cultivate the Tribulation-Indestructible Body—you’ve got guts!"
"How about we spar sometime?"
Hearing this, it finally dawned on Zou Feng.
’So she didn’t come all this way to greet me because of my handsome face that even my "grievous injuries" couldn’t hide.’
’It was because I’m cultivating the Tribulation-Indestructible Body—a Skill no one else in the Black Flood Dragon Gang currently practices and one with a rather high probability of sudden death. That’s what made Bian Yixia take a special interest in me.’
’But what the hell is this about sparring? How is a Ninth Grade supposed to spar with a Seventh Grade?’
’Don’t tell me she wants us to both not use Inner Qi and just have an intense clash of pure muscle?’
"This... this subordinate has yet to achieve any real results with the Tribulation-Indestructible Body...," Zou Feng stammered. A clash of muscles didn’t sound half bad, but he couldn’t possibly agree without knowing the full situation.
But Bian Yixia gave him no chance to refuse. "When your injuries have healed, I’ll send someone to get you!"
"We’ll have a good, satisfying fight then!"
As she spoke, she even raised her little fists and shook them in front of Zou Feng’s face.
Zou Feng: "..."
’Right,’ he thought. ’It’s just as I always say: none of the officers in the Black Flood Dragon Gang are normal.’
’Is there something wrong with her? Even if we don’t use Inner Qi, how does a Seventh Grade practitioner have the nerve to challenge a Ninth Grade to a spar?’
But it was useless for Zou Feng to refuse now. Having made her unilateral decision, Bian Yixia turned and left without the slightest hesitation.
Once she was a good distance away, Wang Xingjian finally dared to whisper, "My brother, don’t be alarmed. The Miss has a very good character. She definitely doesn’t just want to use you as a punching bag."
"She’s a Martial Fool. She probably just wants to see what it’s like to fight a Martial Artist who cultivates the Tribulation-Indestructible Body. After all, you can’t find a second person in the gang who practices this Skill..."