When You Can No Longer Hold Chopsticks

That night, the Iron Palm Gang was thrown into chaos.

All the gang members were sent into Luyang City. Some looked for carpenters, some for tailors, some for embroiderers...

Han Zuo was seething with anger, yet he did not dare disobey Feng Qi's demands. He did not even dare to go through the motions.

Feng Qi acted without regard for consequences. Han Zuo feared that bastard would really push Gang Leader Qiu out the next day to inspect his work. Turning the Iron Palm Gang into the Peacekeeping Gang was embarrassing, but it was still better than letting him torment their leader to death.

Canal transport was a massive prize, coveted by countless eyes. Without Qiu Yuanlang holding things down, the Iron Palm Gang would not be far from collapse.

At worst, once Feng Qi was dealt with, Han Zuo would carry thorns on his back and beg forgiveness, then help clear the Iron Palm Gang's name. -- In Qiu Yuanlang's sickroom, Dug and Liu Cheng spent the entire night discussing ideals and probing each other.

Liu Cheng had originally intended to keep watch over Dug and look for a chance to snatch the gang leader from his hands. Yet by the end of the night, even the sickly Wang San had found time for a nap, while Feng Qi remained bright-eyed and energetic, without the slightest trace of fatigue.

He, on the other hand, yawned one after another and could barely hold on. If Feng Qi had meant him harm, he would have been the first to fall.

Dawn began to break.

With dark circles under his eyes, Liu Cheng yawned. "Seventh Master truly has remarkable stamina. You must be among the best even within the Heavenly Demon!"

Dug modestly replied, "I wouldn't call myself among the best. I'm merely fortunate enough to have a little more energy than most."

In truth, Dug had originally planned to tie Liu Cheng up, then take turns resting with Wang San. Back on Earth, he had tested the special forces' eight-minute rest method: a brief eight-minute nap every so often could restore most of one's energy.

With his sharp five senses and Wang San keeping watch, stealing eight minutes of rest should not have been difficult.

But after all that tossing and turning through the night, he did not feel sleepy at all. It was probably related to his soaring attributes and the mental strength he had gained earlier. It was an unexpected delight.

Thinking about it, that made sense.

Virtual characters in games only ever had stamina settings. When did they ever need sleep? Whenever they rested depended entirely on whether the person playing the game outside was tired.

Wang San still needed sleep, which meant the Simulation Arena's settings were already quite humanized. Still, after resting for just over half an hour, he had recovered his energy. His attribute values were likely not low either.

Just then.

A commotion rose outside.

Amid cries of, "Young Master, don't be rash!"

With a bang, the door was kicked open. Someone charged in with a gust of cold air. "I'd like to see what kind of Heavenly Demon dares to... Father..."

The man came to an abrupt stop upon seeing Qiu Yuanlang with a sword at his throat.

"The young master? Qiu Feilong?" Dug glanced at him and said calmly, "Impulsiveness is the devil. Do you know that if I had not raised my sword by an inch in time, your behavior just now would have sent your father to the afterlife? I preserved your filial piety. You should thank me..."

"Fuck you!" Qiu Feilong roared. "Let go of my father, and I'll spare your life."

Han Zuo followed him in. He had already changed into blue-black clothing, with a white circle on the front bearing a neat, upright character: "Peace."

He awkwardly surveyed the room, then reached out to pull Qiu Feilong away. "Young Master, let's go outside first. The gang leader needs quiet rest. We can talk outside..."

"My father has a sword pointed at him, and you want me to go outside and talk?" Qiu Feilong snarled. He pointed at the character on Han Zuo's chest. "And you, you idiot. He tells you to do something, and you do it? Are you from the Iron Palm Gang, or are you his man?"

"I..." Han Zuo glanced at Dug and could not bring himself to speak.

"Kneel, or I'll chop off one of your father's fingers." Dug suddenly barked at Qiu Feilong. With a clang, he drew another sword and pressed its edge against Qiu Yuanlang's thumb. "You think you can scold my people?"

Qiu Feilong froze, glaring furiously at Dug.

"Feng Qi, what nonsense are you talking about? When did I become your man?" Han Zuo protested, his face flushed red.

"If you wear the Peacekeeping Gang's clothes, you are my man." Dug spoke righteously. "If I can't even defend my people's dignity, how can I defend justice throughout the world?"

He looked back at Qiu Feilong. "Kneel!"

Dug did not miss any opportunity to defend someone. He pressed his sword down, and Qiu Yuanlang's finger immediately bled. The unconscious Qiu Yuanlang twitched instinctively.

"You dare?" Qiu Feilong cried anxiously. He stepped forward abruptly, and Dug pressed the sword in his other hand closer to Qiu Yuanlang's throat, looking provocatively at Qiu Feilong. "Unfilial son, are you trying to murder your father and seize his position?"

Qiu Feilong's face darkened as he found himself trapped between advancing and retreating.

Only then.

Did he understand why Han Zuo had tried to stop him at the door. Unless Feng Qi was killed, this was an unsolvable situation. Whoever came in would be humiliated, unless he wanted his father dead.

"Not kneeling?" Dug shook his head and gave a mocking laugh. "Old Qiu, Old Qiu, you gave birth to such an ambitious son. What a pity. From now on, your nickname in the martial world will probably be Nine-Fingered Divine Palm. In the future, when you can no longer hold chopsticks, I hope you won't resent your son..."

As he spoke, he raised his sword, making as if to strike.

"Stop!" Qiu Feilong's eyes nearly split with rage. Gritting his teeth, he said, "I'll kneel."

He glared at Dug and slowly dropped to his knees, enunciating every word. "Are you satisfied now?"

"Why are you kneeling to me?" Dug looked astonished. "Kneel to Han Zuo! You insulted his dignity, not mine."

Qiu Feilong froze. With a livid face, he stood and turned toward Han Zuo, bending his knees to kneel. "Hall Master Han, I was wrong."

Han Zuo hurriedly caught him. "Young Master, there's no need." He looked at Dug in a panic. "Seventh Master, there's no need to stand up for me. I don't have any dignity to speak of..."

"Hall Master Han, you may have no dignity, but once you put on those clothes, you represent the Peacekeeping Gang. What I am defending is not only your dignity, but the Peacekeeping Gang's honor as well." Dug said righteously. "I want every member of the Peacekeeping Gang to know that as long as they wear this uniform, no one can bully them."

No one could bully us? You were the one fucking bullying us!

I could have survived changing the signboard and uniforms, but after the young master kneels to me, I'll have no way to survive in the Iron Palm Gang...

Han Zuo was on the verge of tears.

Dug's move was too ruthless. With ease, he had driven a wedge between him and the young master.

"Hall Master Han, don't stop me. I brought this kneeling upon myself." Qiu Feilong's face was grim as he pushed aside Han Zuo's hand and gave him a solid kowtow. "I'm sorry. I should not have insulted the Peacekeeping Gang."

It was over!

Han Zuo shut his eyes in anguish, his heart filled with despair.

"Are you satisfied now?" Qiu Feilong stood again and stared at Dug with a cold gaze, as though looking at a dead man.

"Young Master, don't blame me. The Peacekeeping Gang was founded jointly by your father and me. Upholding the martial world's principles requires iron-blooded methods. I had no choice. Besides, you are also from the Iron Palm Gang. Since you are back, you should fulfill some filial duty and put on the Peacekeeping Gang uniform first!" Dug smiled. "The old man has not awakened yet. When he does, I hope he sees a completely renewed gang..."

"Feng Qi, don't push people too far!" Qiu Feilong snapped.

"You've already knelt. What's changing clothes worth? Don't tell me I have to threaten you with your father's fingers again!" Dug looked regretfully at Qiu Yuanlang, then raised his sword again, eager to try it on his fingers. "In the future, when you can no longer hold chopsticks, I hope you won't resent your son..."

The reverse staircase effect: after asking a target to do something excessive, asking them to do something less excessive afterward made it relatively easier for them to accept.

"Fine, I'll change." Qiu Feilong's eyes widened, his face flushing crimson as he said in profound humiliation, "Hall Master Han, go bring me a set of clothes."

Han Zuo nodded.

"Four sets," Dug corrected. "The gang leader, Hall Master Liu, and this doctor need to change as well."

Liu Cheng said nothing. After a night of confrontations, he had long understood that obedience was the best approach when facing Dug. That way, the old gang leader would suffer a little less.

Over the course of one night, Dug had rubbed more than ten marks into his neck. If it happened a few more times, calluses would form, and they could change their name to the Iron Neck Gang.

After considering for a moment, Dug looked at Qiu Feilong and instructed, "Young Master, you are the eldest of the Qiu family. If any hall masters come later to visit your father, you will receive them. Whoever comes changes clothes. If they refuse, I'll chop off one of your father's fingers. There are still six hall masters left. Ten fingers should be enough no matter what."

Qiu Feilong flew into a rage. "Feng Qi, don't go too far! My father is already in that state. Can he even put on clothes?"

Dug said, "Draping them over him will do. Old Qiu is the symbol of the Peacekeeping Gang. No matter what, he must set an example..."