The Rift Between Cities: The Uprisers

The car cruised along the familiar road, the same one they had traveled just over ten hours ago when the Stray Dog Pack was still whole.

"Let's head to the cave to rest up a bit," Qiao Fei broke the silence in the car.

"No need, we—" Hui Zi started to speak but was cut off by Qiao Fei. "Haven't you and the kid been up for days?"

Only then did Ning Fan remember his bet with Lin Chuan. It felt like ages ago.

A sense of surrealism washed over him.

"Besides, Big Zhuang's body... we haven't buried him yet," Qiao Fei added softly.

Hui Zi fell silent.

Ning Fan, too, remained quiet.

A short while later, the car pulled up outside the cave.

Big Zhuang's body was still propped against the wall, already stiff.

Ning Fan and Hui Zi silently dug a large hole, burying the burly Big Zhuang deep in the earth.

"Before we rest, let's take a look at your Soul Servant," Qiao Fei turned to Ning Fan.

Though she still doubted Ning Fan could have obtained a Soul Servant within the district, curiosity got the better of her. In this world, nothing was truly impossible.

Ning Fan nodded, unable to contain his excitement.

He pulled out the black sword from behind his back, closed his eyes, and tried to recall the sensation he felt when he killed Yang Beihai.

Compared to when he killed Cheng Bin, stabbing Yang Beihai didn't make him as uncomfortable.

Instead, it felt like a release, avenging his brothers.

At that moment, a voice had appeared in his mind.

"That's... not how you use a sword."

That must have been the Soul Servant.

However, now under the watchful eyes of Qiao Fei and Hui Zi, Ning Fan struggled to find that voice again, despite his efforts.

Five minutes passed.

"Rest," Qiao Fei said, not showing much disappointment. "I'll keep watch first. When you're both rested, we'll switch."

Hui Zi, equally uninterested, sat down against the wall and closed his eyes.

Ning Fan felt utterly embarrassed.

Was it really just his imagination?

Was Qiao Fei right? Was it impossible to obtain a Soul Servant within the district?

Seeing Ning Fan still trying to activate his Soul Servant, Qiao Fei thought for a moment before advising, "It's all about fate! Don't obsess over it. Get some rest first."

In the past, Qiao Fei wouldn't have bothered saying this.

But things were different now.

She was the team leader.

Ning Fan was reluctant but ultimately followed Qiao Fei's advice.

Without a Soul Servant, if his mental state deteriorated further, he'd become a complete burden.

After what seemed like an eternity, Ning Fan finally fell into a deep sleep.

And in his dream, he heard that voice again.

"A sword is meant to be danced with, not stabbed with."

"You're insulting the sword."

"Given the chance, I'll teach you."

Ning Fan's eyes snapped open, and he looked around frantically.

But what he heard was Qiao Fei's voice coming from outside the cave.

"Chen Wu, do you really have to go this far?"

Ning Fan turned his head to see Hui Zi, still leaning against the wall, but with his eyes open and filled with a sharp glint.

"Brother Hui, who is it?" Ning Fan asked in a hushed tone.

Hui Zi replied in a low voice, "The Hunting Squad, a Marauder team from F32 District."

Ning Fan immediately became cautious.

Encountering a Marauder team from F32 District at this time didn't bring any sense of camaraderie.

Different teams often clashed in the wild due to conflicting interests.

And now, the Stray Dog Pack was like a piece of fat meat, exuding an enticing aroma.

The team had lost more than half its members, and even their leader, Lin Chuan, was dead.

Inside the district, a bounty had been placed on their heads. Anyone who could bring them back, dead or alive, would receive a hefty reward.

"Hehe, Qiao Fei, that's a bit naive of you to ask," a deep voice came from outside the cave. "If you stumbled upon easy money, wouldn't you take it?"

"Easy money?" Qiao Fei snorted coldly. "You really look down on us Stray Dog Pack, huh?"

"When Lin Chuan was around, I wouldn't dare mess with you guys," the man suddenly changed his tone. "But now, with just a few stray dogs left, if I'm still afraid, I might as well quit being a Marauder!"

At this moment, Hui Zi suddenly sat up straight.

"Chen Wu, you must be part fish, your memory's so short, huh?" Hui Zi cursed as he walked towards the cave entrance. "Did you forget so quickly how you knelt before your daddy and begged for mercy?"

Ning Fan followed him out.

The man called Chen Wu was about 180 cm tall, with small eyes and a small nose, looking quite sleazy.

Behind him stood five men with unfriendly expressions.

Hearing Hui Zi's words, Chen Wu's face immediately darkened.

"Hui Zi! You're not dead yet?"

"Why so unfilial? Wishing for your dad's death?" Hui Zi sneered. "You're not a man of your word, are you? Didn't we agree? From now on, when you see me, you must kneel and call me daddy! What's wrong? Your mom getting remarried?"

Chen Wu trembled with anger and immediately roared, "F*ck you! Get them! Kill them all and claim the bounty!"

The members of the Hunting Squad didn't hesitate, each activating their Soul Servants.

However, their reactions were not as quick as Qiao Fei's.

The moment Chen Wu gave the order, Qiao Fei was already in motion.

"Soul Servant: Flower Dance!"

Qiao Fei's katana left a trail of afterimages as it headed straight for Chen Wu's neck!

Chen Wu was startled, but one of his men immediately stepped forward, raising both arms.

"Soul Servant: Pig Iron!"

Clang!!

The katana struck the arms, instantly spraying a mist of blood.

The man winced in pain.

Qiao Fei's expression also darkened a shade.

This strike hadn't severed the man's arms?

In just that moment of hesitation, two of the enemy had already moved to flank Qiao Fei.

Hui Zi was occupied with his own two opponents, unable to assist Qiao Fei.

"Haha! Qiao Fei, your blade is indeed fast, but after all, you're just a woman. When it comes to strength... you're lacking!" Chen Wu sneered. "If it were Lin Chuan's Butcher, my brother's arms would definitely be gone!"

"Stop mentioning Brother Chuan with that filthy mouth of yours!" Qiao Fei's eyes turned bloodshot as she wielded her katana, fending off the two men beside her.

The Hunting Squad's quality was actually inferior to the Stray Dog Pack's.

But even a mighty tiger can't fend off a pack of wolves.

Qiao Fei was holding her own, using her speed advantage to fight evenly against three opponents.

Hui Zi, however, wasn't as composed.

His Soul Servant's characteristics were more suited for ambushes. In a head-on confrontation, it was challenging to capture the opponent's shadow.

Chen Wu stood with his hands behind his back, like a cat toying with mice, in no hurry to finish things. He wanted to play around a bit first.

After all, he had indeed knelt before Hui Zi and called him daddy before.

If he didn't settle this score now, when would he?

He was planning to make Hui Zi kneel down and call him grandpa later!

Maybe he'd even get a chance to have some fun with that tempting woman, Qiao Fei!

However, just as he was about to throw out a few taunts, he suddenly felt a chill run down his spine!

"Soul Servant: Hurricane!"

Being a seasoned Marauder, the moment he sensed danger, he activated his Soul Servant, using the wind force to quickly dodge to the side.

Looking back, he saw a young face.

Ning Fan's sword strike missed, but without hesitation, he planted his foot and lunged at Chen Wu again.

Seeing Ning Fan's textbook moves, Chen Wu couldn't help but sneer contemptuously.

"Where did you pick up this little puppy? Still not weaned, and already trying to bare its teeth?"