The Rift Between Cities: The Uprisers

Being a Marauder was always a gamble with one's life.

When Ning Fan first joined the Stray Dog Pack, Lin Chuan had told him that everyone had their reasons for becoming a Marauder, so he wasn't special.

Everyone was gambling.

Wang Ye, Da Zhuang, and Old Duan had lost their bets and died.

Qiao Fei and Hui Zi returning to the F32 District to avenge Yang Beihai was also a gamble.

If that guard hadn't let them pass, they would have lost their bet too.

So, Ning Fan knew clearly that without a Soul Servant, if he didn't die this time, he might not survive the next.

He might even endanger Qiao Fei and Hui Zi because of himself.

Ning Fan had to take this gamble.

Once on this gambling table, life...

Was the stake.

Fortunately, he won the bet.

Qiao Fei gazed at Ning Fan intently, finally letting out a sigh.

She didn't express any opinion on Ning Fan's words but silently took out a Courage Crystal from a rotten-faced frog.

"Eat it."

Ning Fan looked at the Courage Crystal, which had already darkened in color, feeling a bit repulsed.

However, after only a moment's hesitation, he grabbed the crystal and swallowed it with his eyes closed.

The taste wasn't bad.

At least it was much better than shadow dog meat.

The pain-relieving and hemostatic effects of the Courage Crystal quickly took effect. Ning Fan felt the pain in his body ease considerably.

"Come here."

Qiao Fei tore off a strip of cloth from her sleeve, revealing her fair arm.

Ning Fan didn't understand her intention.

But Qiao Fei forcefully pulled his collar, dragging him to her side, and tied the cloth strip around his head, covering his bloodshot eyes.

"The Miasma outside the district is too heavy. With this kind of injury, if not treated properly, your eyes will be ruined," Qiao Fei said calmly.

Because they were so close, Qiao Fei's warm breath as she spoke blew right onto Ning Fan's face.

Moreover, due to the battle earlier, Qiao Fei's clothes were also somewhat damaged...

Ning Fan swore he didn't mean to.

But at eighteen, it was just the age when one was curious about everything.

Slap!

A hand struck his head.

"Just got a Soul Servant and you think you're all that? Starting to have naughty thoughts?" Qiao Fei glared at him.

"Sister Fei, it's not..." Ning Fan's face immediately turned red.

Sneaking a peek wasn't scary, but getting caught red-handed was embarrassing.

"Get out, go work with Hui Zi!" Qiao Fei waved her hand dismissively.

"Oh." Ning Fan got up, hanging his head as he walked outside.

Qiao Fei watched Ning Fan's back for a long time, suddenly chuckling.

"Heh... little brat!"

Outside the cave.

"Why did you come out?" Hui Zi, who was moving the corpses towards the forest, waved enthusiastically when he saw Ning Fan come out. "Perfect timing, help me carry this one! These rotten guys, don't know what they ate, they're as heavy as pigs."

Ning Fan obediently helped Hui Zi lift a corpse.

As they walked towards the forest, Hui Zi sensed something was off with Ning Fan. "Did Qiao Fei scold you?"

"No, no..." Ning Fan was worried Hui Zi would figure out he had sneaked a peek at Qiao Fei.

But Hui Zi waved his hand dismissively. "Don't think too much. That's just Qiao Fei's personality. Now that she's newly in charge, of course she's going to be a bit harsh!"

Seeing that he hadn't noticed, Ning Fan finally let out a sigh of relief.

"Brother Hui, have you been scolded by Sister Fei too?"

"She's a woman, why would I bother with her?" Hui Zi's old face turned red.

Soon, the two of them had thrown all the members of the Hunting Group into the forest.

Hui Zi handed the weapons and Solas looted from the corpses to Ning Fan.

"These things, when we get into the district, sell them in the black market."

After the two returned to the cave, Ning Fan felt a bit uneasy.

He even didn't dare to look at Qiao Fei too much.

Qiao Fei acted as if nothing had happened.

"Now this kid also has a Soul Servant. Although it's only Single Soul level, at least he can handle general combat now," Qiao Fei said calmly. "If you feel your bodies are fine, we can set off."

Seeing that Qiao Fei didn't mention what had just happened, Ning Fan let out a sigh of relief and calmed down.

"Sister Fei, I have an idea."

"Speak."

"The appearance of those guys from the Hunting Group gave me a wake-up call." Ning Fan adjusted his emotions. "You've been to the F27 District so many times before, surely quite a few people recognize you?"

"There should be some," Hui Zi nodded. "We have a decent reputation in the F27 District, sometimes we bring back some goods too."

"Then I think you shouldn't show your faces!" Ning Fan said seriously. "We're not clear about what connections the War Bears have in the F27 District! After all, the War Bears are a team from F27, we're outsiders."

Ning Fan continued earnestly, "Moreover, although Yang Beihai's batch of goods doesn't exist, will the receiving party completely trust us?"

"Who cares if they trust us or not! We've already helped them kill Yang Beihai, what, are they going to frame us?" Hui Zi got angry.

But Qiao Fei waved her hand at him, then said to Ning Fan, "So, what you mean is..."

"I'll go to the F27 District alone."

Ning Fan smiled. "My face is unfamiliar, probably no one in F27 will recognize me! Even the War Bears' people, from our previous encounter, wouldn't have paid attention to a newcomer like me."

Hui Zi frowned and said nothing.

Qiao Fei narrowed her eyes. "Are you sure? Once you encounter trouble in the F27 District, we won't be able to help you."

"I'm sure!" Ning Fan said firmly. "I'll find a way to lure out the remaining members of the War Bears."

Qiao Fei lowered her head in thought, seeming to hesitate.

Hui Zi nudged Ning Fan. "Kid, if any of the surviving War Bears members recognize you, you'll be in trouble!"

To lure the War Bears out of the district, Ning Fan would have to get close to them.

This risk was too great.

"Brother Hui." Ning Fan licked his lips. "We can't just wait endlessly outside the district for the War Bears to come out, can we?"

Hui Zi was stunned.

Ning Fan looked at the mound of earth in the cave, under which lay Da Zhuang's body.

"If you can think of a better plan, we can discuss it again. If not, then let's go with my idea!"

Hui Zi looked towards Qiao Fei.

After a long silence, Qiao Fei finally nodded. "Alright, be careful on your own then."

"Got it!" Ning Fan's eyes lit up. "Let's set a time. Between 3 PM and 5 PM every day, you two lie in ambush at the entrance of the F27 District. Once you see me leading the War Bears' people out, you can prepare to make your move."

"Okay." Qiao Fei nodded again.

After briefly communicating about the upcoming arrangements, the three finally set off again.

Qiao Fei and Hui Zi escorted Ning Fan to the vicinity of the F27 District entrance.

The three parted ways there.

"Qiao Fei, are you really okay with letting this kid go on such a dangerous mission alone?" As soon as Ning Fan left, Hui Zi immediately asked worriedly.

Qiao Fei looked at him, pondered for a moment, then sighed. "I know you're afraid of losing another family member."

Hui Zi was taken aback but didn't refute.

Qiao Fei continued, "But that kid just said something to me that I think makes a lot of sense."

"What did he say?"

"What he said isn't important. Hui Zi, let me ask you this." Qiao Fei looked directly at Hui Zi. "If for this operation, you were the one going into the F27 District to lure people out, would you refuse?"

"Of course not!" Hui Zi said, then immediately froze.

"Exactly! So, if you can go, why can't he?" Qiao Fei said calmly. "He already has a Soul Servant. We don't need to treat him like a child anymore."