I Can Transfer the Side Effects of Evil Skills

Chapter 80: Chapter 80: Overly Concerned?

Supported by Xie Yang and Lu Zhenbang, Zou Feng was quickly brought out of the shantytown.

However, he wasn’t taken directly back to the private courtyard where he had been staying. Instead, he was brought to a Black Flood Dragon Gang warehouse not far from the shantytown, a place he had previously managed.

Because the operation involved searching the shantytown, the warehouse had naturally been designated as a temporary base for the various factions involved.

The wounded pulling back from the shantytown were brought here immediately for basic treatment.

Zou Feng had just returned to this familiar place when Zhao Tianhu, Xiong Datian, and Liu Chun heard the news and rushed over.

After exchanging a few pleasantries with his three original subordinates, Zou Feng was sent back to his previous room to rest.

But he had barely lain down when Wang Xingjian and Chen Jingsheng arrived in a flurry.

”Brother, how did you end up injured again?” By this point, Wang Xingjian had mostly recovered from his own previous injuries.

But he was still clearly weak, so he hadn’t participated in this raid on the shantytown.

Chen Jingsheng, standing to the side, didn’t say anything, but from his expression, it was clear he was also extremely anxious about Zou Feng being injured again.

This situation, however, put Zou Feng secretly on guard.

After all, Wang Xingjian’s concern was in line with his established character.

’But Chen Jingsheng has always been one to hide his emotions, perpetually wearing a sour, sullen face. Even though I’m a subordinate he clearly appreciates, for him to show this much anxiety and concern now... something more must be going on...’

”Brother Wang, Master Chen!”

”Sigh... I don’t know what kind of bad luck this is. I thought I’d caught a Ninth Grade remnant of the Ten Directions Sect, but then an Eighth Grade one suddenly jumped out...”

This time, before Wang Xingjian could say anything, Chen Jingsheng cut in, his tone reproachful. ”Nonsense! What were you trying to prove? How dare you take a direct hit from an Eighth Grade?”

Zou Feng gave a bitter smile. ”Master Chen, I wasn’t good enough. I couldn’t dodge in time...”

Though he said that, his heart skipped a beat.

’There’s no denying it. Chen Jingsheng is acting truly out of character.’

Wang Xingjian chimed in, ”Brother, Master Chen is just looking out for you. You really were reckless this time!”

”The Cultivation Skill you practice is already one that easily leaves behind hidden dangers and harms the body. If you keep getting injured like this...”

Zou Feng coughed a few times and said weakly, ”Thank you for your concern, Master Chen, Brother Wang. I’ll be much more careful on future operations.”

Chen Jingsheng snorted. ”Future, my ass!”

”I’ve already recommended you to Vice Gang Leader Xiang for your medical skills. For now, just focus on recovering and help treat the other brothers’ injuries.”

”Remember, when you go see Boss Xiang, you’d better show him what you can really do!”

’So, I got my transfer to a support role after all?’

’Bian Yixia had mentioned it before—that I should try treating the Vice Gang Leader’s injuries.’

’This was, in effect, the test I needed to pass for a real transfer to a support role.’

’If I don’t show some real skill, plenty of the other brothers in the gang will definitely resent my transfer.’

’But based on this, it’s very likely that Vice Gang Leader Xiang Kang’s injuries aren’t as minor as the rumors claim...’

’But that’s completely understandable.’

’Think about it. The Black Flood Dragon Gang’s Leader, Deng Guangxin, is in death-seclusion and his whereabouts are unknown. If word got out now that the Vice Gang Leader was also seriously injured, the resulting instability would be a massive headache.’

’For a long time, Yuan Guang County has been carved up by three gangs.’

’But given the chance, who wouldn’t want to swallow the others whole?’

’And the chaos stirred up by the Ten Directions Sect is the perfect opportunity to change the status quo.’

’Reducing the landscape to two gangs splitting the territory, or even one gang taking it all—that’s obviously the most tempting outcome.’

After giving his instructions, Chen Jingsheng impatiently grumbled, ”So damn irritating,” and then hurried away.

He was obviously off to find his personal maid to ”exchange insights on musical instruments.”

Once only Wang Xingjian remained, Zou Feng decided to probe, ”Brother Wang, why is Master Chen so exceptionally angry about me getting injured again?”

”I mean, Master Chen has treated me well, but I only just joined the gang not long ago...”

Zou Feng’s implication was clear: Chen Jingsheng was being overly concerned.

Upon hearing this, Wang Xingjian indeed revealed a somewhat troubled smile.

After a moment of silence, he said, ”Brother, don’t worry. Master Chen doesn’t have any ulterior motives. He just needs us brothers to help him with something big in the future!”

”And when it’s done, there will be huge benefits for both of us.”

”Brother Wang, what is this ’something big’...?” Zou Feng immediately pressed.

Wang Xingjian replied, ”Brother, you don’t need to worry about it for now. When the time is right, Master Chen will tell you himself.”

He seemed like he wanted to say more, but Chen Jingsheng had previously forbidden it.

But with the explanation only half-given, the weight in Zou Feng’s heart was only half-lifted.

Still, for Wang Xingjian to say this much meant that, at least on the surface, the ”big thing” he needed their help with probably wasn’t becoming Chen Jingsheng’s Great Medicine or some other obviously shady business.

But even if it really was something good, Zou Feng couldn’t bring himself to be happy about it.

After all, the higher the reward, the higher the risk.

But it was useless to worry about it now. It wouldn’t be too late to make a decision after Chen Jingsheng finally came clean.

’If the risk feels too great, with my current strength, I can always just refuse.’

’As for the support Chen Jingsheng has given me, I can just repay him in other ways once I’ve climbed to a higher position.’

After chatting idly with Wang Xingjian for a while longer, Zou Feng rested, eating and drinking well.

According to the occasional reports from Zhao Tianhu, the raid on the shantytown continued until dawn.

The results were quite good. Over ten Ninth Grade remnants of the Ten Directions Sect were killed on the spot.

Another five Eighth Grade members were executed, and most impressively, they managed to corner a Seventh Grade member, who was slain by an Elite Disciple from the Celestial Essence Sword Sect.

However, that Elite Disciple also suffered considerable injuries from the cultist’s desperate counterattack before death.

This was also why it was so difficult to capture any remnants of the Ten Directions Sect alive.

The Cultists were all fanatics. Every one of them would rather die than surrender, and if pushed too far, they would consume Evil Pills and launch all sorts of frenzied counterattacks.

As a result, the various powers in Yuan Guang County also suffered considerable losses.

The number of fatalities was low, but the number of wounded was enormous.

In the Black Flood Dragon Gang alone, out of the hundred or so members who participated, a full twenty-three were injured, including Zou Feng.

By the time this phase of the shantytown raid came to a close, the sky was already growing light.

The various factions began to disperse, but Bian Yixia came straight to the warehouse district to find Zou Feng.

This was, of course, to have him try and help treat Vice Gang Leader Xiang’s injuries, just as they had discussed.

”Why do you still look so pale?”

”Are your internal injuries that bad?” Bian Yixia frowned the moment she saw Zou Feng again.

In truth, the sword wound on Zou Feng’s arm, while fearsome-looking, was only a minor injury for a Martial Artist who practiced a Body Refining Skill.

The truly terrifying part was the internal injury caused by the Eighth Grade Martial Artist’s Sword Qi rampaging through his body.

However, Zou Feng’s current condition was just a ruse.

Before Bian Yixia had entered, Zou Feng had already taken a Qi Dispersing Pill and a Burning Vein Pill.

That was why he still looked so weak.

But even so, Zou Feng immediately forced himself up and into a wheelchair his subordinates had prepared, projecting an air of stubborn determination to fulfill his duties as quickly as possible, no matter the cost.