He had only just immersed himself in an ocean of knowledge when another wounded man was brought over.
The extermination campaign against the Ten Directions Sect, led by the major powers of Yuan Guang County, was no longer as frequent as it had been at the start. Still, they had to act immediately whenever they received new intelligence.
The fact that they still hadn’t managed to completely eradicate the remnants of the Ten Directions Sect after so long was starting to cause a great deal of resentment among the various powers of Yuan Guang County.
However, rumor had it that the Celestial Essence Sword Sect would soon dispatch a disciple at the Sixth Grade Gang Qi Realm.
But Zou Feng couldn’t help but feel this was just an empty promise the Celestial Essence Sword Sect was making to the major powers of Yuan Guang County.
Besides, for the remnants of the Ten Directions Sect to be resisting so tenaciously while being beaten back at every turn... ’It’d be a miracle if they weren’t planning something big.’
"Zou Incense Master, Master Zhang... can he be saved?"
The man they called Master Zhang had also been struck by a Great Compassion Hand Seal.
However, the Power of the Ten Directions Sect remnant who had struck this time was far inferior to that of the one who had attacked Xiang Kang.
Otherwise, this Hall Master Zhang, an Eighth Grade Realm Martial Artist, wouldn’t have survived long enough to be brought here.
Looking at the all-too-familiar Great Compassion Hand Seal, Zou Feng once again felt an intense craving for it.
He couldn’t help it; the Cultivation Skill was highly compatible with his primary Five Poison Skill, and he truly wanted to learn it.
’So, should I consider going ’fishing’ again?’
Even if he did manage to bait another remnant of the Ten Directions Sect, it was highly unlikely the fellow would be carrying a Cultivation Technique Secret Manual.
But his Chaos Finger, which had now reached the level of "Refined Skill," should be even more effective at inducing "Dementia" in his opponents.
’It’s worth a try if the opportunity arises.’
As these thoughts churned in his mind, Zou Feng’s hands were not idle. He began treating the Hall Master according to the established procedure.
Throughout the entire treatment, the part that had the greatest effect was the final "needling."
Not long after, as soon as the needling was complete, the Hall Master, whose name was Zhang Chi, let out a long sigh of relief.
"Many thanks, Zou Incense Master!"
"Your skill with the needles is truly miraculous!"
Among all the Hall Masters in the Black Flood Dragon Gang, Zhang Chi was considered one of the youngest. With his dignified appearance and abundant Inner Qi, he gave off the impression of having limitless potential.
"Master Zhang, you flatter me!"
Zou Feng cupped his hands in response, but inwardly, he was a little puzzled.
While treating Zhang Chi, he’d gotten the distinct feeling that the Ten Directions Cultist who injured him had likely let him go on purpose.
The reason was simple: he had taken a Great Compassion Hand strike squarely to the back.
Even if the attacker’s Power was less than that of the one who had injured Xiang Kang, given the might of the Great Compassion Hand, a successful sneak attack like that shouldn’t have left a survivor.
After all, Zou Feng was an expert in the Poison Palm, so his assessment of the likely outcome of a successful Great Compassion Hand sneak attack was quite authoritative.
Of course, it couldn’t be ruled out that Zhang Chi had some special life-saving skill that allowed him to escape this fate.
"Sigh, slaving away for the Celestial Essence Sword Sect like this... When will it ever end!"
Instead of leaving, Zhang Chi surprisingly struck up a conversation with Zou Feng.
"Zou Incense Master, what do you think?"
"Er, I just hope it ends soon. Too many of our brothers in the gang have already been injured or killed," Zou Feng replied noncommittally.
He had no desire to chat with Zhang Chi; he just wanted the man to leave quickly so he could get back to swimming in his ocean of knowledge.
But Zhang Chi still didn’t take the hint, sighing to himself, "Yes, too many brothers lost... Actually, when you think about it, the Ten Directions Sect never provoked us in the first place. Why are we fighting them to the death...?"
Hearing this, Zou Feng couldn’t help but shoot the man a look.
’It’s not that such things can’t be said,’ he thought. ’It’s just that Zhang Chi should be complaining to a close friend, not an ’outsider’ like me whom he barely knows.’
The next moment, perhaps realizing his slip of the tongue, Zhang Chi gave an awkward smile. "My apologies, Zou Incense Master. I’m still a bit shaken from that near-death experience..."
"Well, I won’t disturb you any longer!"
Before leaving, Zhang Chi left a silver banknote worth fifty taels.
As the Black Flood Dragon Gang’s Physician, he wasn’t supposed to charge his own gang members for treatment.
Zou Feng performed his duties well, and the Vice Gang Leader rewarded him handsomely for it.
He had even been promised a promotion to Hall Master if he kept up the good work for a while longer.
So, upon seeing the fifty-tael silver banknote, Zou Feng’s first instinct was to hand it back immediately.
But Zhang Chi insisted he take it.
After going back and forth for a while, Zhang Chi finally had to pull rank as a Hall Master to force Zou Feng to accept the money, and only then did the matter end.
After Zhang Chi left, Zou Feng held the silver banknote, feeling that it wasn’t a payment for treatment, but rather hush money.
After all, hadn’t Zhang Chi’s earlier words not only questioned Vice Gang Leader Xiang Kang’s initial decision but also spoken up for the Ten Directions Sect—an Evil Cult that everyone was supposed to be denouncing?
’The Ten Directions Sect never provoked us?’
Zou Feng didn’t agree with that at all.
’Just because they haven’t provoked us yet doesn’t mean they won’t.’
Relying on those Evil Pills, if the Ten Directions Sect truly established a firm foothold in Yuan Guang County, who knew how chaotic things would become...?
The next day, the sun was brilliant and high in the sky.
Dressed in deep cyan Martial Attire, Zou Feng headed to the Yang Mansion for a banquet, accompanied by Zhao Tianhu, Liu Chun, and Xiong Datian.
His appearance now was quite different from when he had last left the Yang Mansion.
For one, after cultivating the Tribulation-Indestructible Body, his physique had become more toned and solid.
His skin, thanks to his Cultivation of the Black Tortoise Sea-Suppressing Force, had lost its roughness and become fair and smooth—not the unhealthy pallor of someone whose Realm was lacking.
However, despite looking every bit the pampered young master, there was still an air of unsteadiness about Zou Feng’s temperament.
Even an ordinary person with no martial arts training would likely take him for a rich playboy after a closer look.
He hadn’t even stepped through the main gate of the Yang Mansion when voices began to call out to him from all around.
"Zou Incense Master, have you been well?"
"Brother Zou, you’re looking well!"
"Master Zou, my daughter has long admired you. I wonder if you would grace our humble home with a visit?"
Of all the people greeting him and trying to curry favor, Zou Feng was certain he didn’t know more than half of them.
Nevertheless, he put on an awkward yet polite smile and returned their pleasantries one by one.
Once he passed through the main gate, Yang Chen, the very man who had sparred with him upon his departure, actually came out to greet him personally.
Yang Chen stared at Zou Feng for a long moment, as if appraising a junior member of his own family, before stepping forward and patting him on the shoulder. "Worthy indeed of being the young talent who fought this old man to a draw right after Entering Grade!"
Despite his words, he had actually been teased endlessly about it by his fellow Entering Grade Martial Artist acquaintances, which had left Yang Chen in a funk for quite some time.
But now, no one dared to tease him about it anymore.
The reason was simple: not long after joining the Black Flood Dragon Gang, Zou Feng had killed two Entering Grade assassins who had come for him.
During the purge of the shantytown, he had also heavily wounded a Ninth Grade remnant of the Ten Directions Sect.
Even more incredibly, he had managed to stall an Eighth Grade opponent without taking much damage himself...
These were all publicly verifiable achievements.
Now, no ordinary Ninth Grade Martial Artist in Yuan Guang County would dare claim they could have done better than Zou Feng if faced with similar circumstances.
Forget doing better—if they had encountered the same dangers, they’d most likely be pushing up daisies by now.
With such a track record, the teasing directed at Yang Chen had instantly transformed into elaborate flattery.
"What? You actually fought that kid to a draw?"
"Goes to show, there’s no substitute for experience!"
"Elder Yang, you’re as vigorous as ever! My deepest admiration!"
As a result, Yang Chen had been in a wonderfully pleasant mood for some time.
Typically, the older one gets, the more one cares about reputation and face.
In any case, Yang Chen was truly loving it.
If he didn’t know he was no longer qualified, he would have been tempted to adopt Zou Feng as his godson.
"My dear nephew, I imagine it won’t be long before you advance to the Eighth Grade, will it?" Yang Chen asked, his face wreathed in smiles.
Zou Feng hurriedly waved his hands. "Elder Yang, you flatter me. This junior still has a long way to go..."
Next, Yang Chen intended to personally lead Zou Feng to the seating in the inner courtyard, which was reserved for honored guests.
Treating Zou Feng as an honored guest from the outset showed that the Yang Mansion had its own ways of gathering information.
They had most likely caught wind that Zou Feng was about to be promoted to Hall Master in the Black Flood Dragon Gang.
That certainly made him a bona fide honored guest.
However, before taking his seat, Zou Feng insisted on first going to see his master, Luo Yong, who was undoubtedly busy in the rear kitchen.
Yang Chen immediately praised his commendable filial piety and allowed him to go on ahead.
"Go on, go on. This was your home once, after all. Make yourself comfortable!" The more casual Yang Chen acted, the more it showed that the Yang Mansion truly wanted to be on good terms with him.
After thanking Yang Chen, Zou Feng led Zhao Tianhu and the others down a path he was once incredibly familiar with.
Walking on the small gravel path that led to the rear kitchen, Zou Feng felt as if a lifetime had passed.
Not long ago, he had been a Household Slave here, as well as the Human Gu being raised by Yang Yanpeng...
And now, while he couldn’t say he was anything incredible, he had at least taken a significant step on the path to longevity.
Along the way, the Household Servants of the Yang Mansion naturally flocked to watch and follow him.
To them, Zou Feng was a living legend.
Before, none of them would have believed that someone of a Household Servant’s status could make such a huge leap in social standing in such a short amount of time.
Even the storytellers in the teahouses of Yuan Guang County Town wouldn’t dare to spin such a yarn; they’d be booed off the stage!
Just as he was about to reach the rear kitchen, a Household Servant Zou Feng had never seen before—likely a recent hire—suddenly darted out from the crowd of onlookers.
With a look of desperation, he blocked Zou Feng’s path, fell to his knees, and kowtowed repeatedly. "Master Zou, this humble one is also named Zou! My name is Zou Xingjian, and I believe I have the makings of a great Martial Artist."
"I can endure any hardship! I only beg Master Zou to show mercy and give me a chance. Let me become your disciple, learn martial arts, and change my fate!"
By the time he finished speaking, Zou Xingjian’s forehead was already split open and bleeding from his kowtows.
He was clearly treating this reckless act as the rare, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to change his destiny.
Among the onlookers, many were already starting to regret not having such courage themselves.
After all, what if Zou Feng was in a good mood today and actually agreed?