Birds of a Feather

"Did you hear? The Iron Palm Gang was taken over by someone, forced to change their name to the Peacekeeping Gang, and made to reform themselves. They're running around the city apologizing to people, even changed their clothes."

"I saw them. They're putting up notices all over the city, saying they want to maintain peace and eliminate the scum of the martial arts world, and that we can come to them with any grievances. They sound better than singing, but I don't believe it."

"I don't believe it either. Didn't Old Zhang's eldest daughter get snatched by the Iron Palm Gang a few days ago? She was just sent back, with a huge sum of money, kneeling at Old Zhang's door begging for forgiveness, even slapping her own face until it swelled up. It scared Old Zhang so much he kowtowed back to him, absolutely terrified to let his daughter back into the house…"

"I wouldn't dare either. Who knows when the Peacekeeping Gang will turn back into the Iron Palm Gang? We'll be the ones suffering then."

"Sigh, all these martial arts sects are cut from the same cloth. They rely on their power to bully whoever they want. When have they ever cared about us common folk? What a dog-eat-dog world…"

"This time, it might actually be different. I'll tell you a secret, don't spread it around, okay? My third brother works odd jobs for the Iron Palm Gang, and he said the one who took over the Iron Palm Gang wasn't human."

"Not human? So, a ghost?"

"More terrifying than a ghost, it's a Heavenly Demon."

"A Heavenly Demon?"

"Yes, I heard that last night, the Iron Palm Gang leader was stabbed more than ten times in the neck by the Heavenly Demon, yet he was completely unharmed. The Peacekeeping Gang was created by the Heavenly Demon's efforts overnight…"

"If humans are so terrifying, wouldn't we be even more unlucky with a Heavenly Demon?"

"You're wrong again. Heavenly Demons aren't like us. My third brother said that Heavenly Demons seem to have a restriction; they must grow according to their attributes, otherwise, they'll become weak. The Heavenly Demon who took over the Iron Palm Gang has the attribute of 'maintenance.' That Heavenly Demon announced to everyone that it would uphold justice, fairness, and morality…"

"Isn't that what's written on the Peacekeeping Gang's notices?"

"So, you're saying a Heavenly Demon is better than a human?"

"Not exactly. It seems there are many types of Heavenly Demons, some good, some bad. My third brother couldn't quite explain the specifics, but I think the Heavenly Demon who took over the Iron Palm Gang is a good one."

"Hey, old guys, still chatting here? Hurry to the Iron Palm Gang! The Heavenly Demon is forcing the Iron Palm Gang leader with a sword to preside over a public trial. It's quite a spectacle…"

There are no airtight walls in the world.

Moreover, Dug was so high-profile, practically wanting to announce his whereabouts to the entire world. That day, he and the Iron Palm Gang, which had transformed into the Peacekeeping Gang, became the biggest hot topic in Luyang City.

All sorts of news flew around. In less than an hour, what he had done at the Iron Palm Gang was known to everyone.

The timid citizens were still hesitant, but those who had been oppressed by the Iron Palm Gang and were truly desperate, seeing the notices, threw caution to the wind and ran directly to the Iron Palm Gang to air their grievances.

Dug hadn't originally expected that protecting the interests of the common people would be so effective. Putting up notices and forcing the Iron Palm Gang members to apologize in Luyang City, he had only considered it a way to establish credibility, to gradually dismantle the Iron Palm Gang's foundation, and ultimately build the Peacekeeping Gang's authority.

But he hadn't expected that the Iron Palm Gang had committed so many evils over the years. Some people genuinely disregarded their own lives, not even bothering to verify the truth, and came to complain that very day…

Thinking about it, it made sense. Even a small family like the Feng Family treated their sparring partners as less than human, casually deciding their life and death, not to mention these common people who were even lower than sparring partners.

What a cursed world!

However, this was perfect. If the government wouldn't handle it, he would. If someone had a grievance, he was naturally happy to play the role of an upright official and redress the wrongs of the common people.

There was no better way to boost one's reputation than a public trial.

And so.

A curious sight appeared outside Luyang City.

The former gang leader, Qiu Yuanlang, sat expressionlessly under the scorching sun, his body wrapped in bandages. Next to him, a young man held a long sword to his neck, sitting behind a table, greeting every person who came to complain with a smiling face.

Beside them, the Iron Palm Gang's incense masters and hall masters, dressed in the Peacekeeping Gang's uniforms, held short staffs at eyebrow height, standing grim-faced on either side, acting as bailiffs.

If it were just this, it would still be within public acceptance.

After all, Dug had just taken over the Iron Palm Gang. Without a hostage, how could he make the Iron Palm Gang obedient? And without a sword at the leader's neck, how would the oppressed common people dare to come forward and complain?

But if you added a mentally deranged young man giggling foolishly while holding a severed hand, the scene became a bit off.

However.

For the common people, who had been so oppressed by the Iron Palm Gang they had no way out, they couldn't worry about such things anymore. If they didn't take advantage of the Iron Palm Gang being controlled to exact revenge and settle grudges, when else would they?

At this moment, Dug was their last straw.

Even if the Heavenly Demon was suppressed afterward and the Iron Palm Gang made a comeback, they would at least have vented their anger.

"Lord Heavenly Demon, this humble one accuses Liu Heigou of the Iron Palm Gang. A year ago, he took a liking to my daughter, Xiulian, and brought Iron Palm Gang members to forcibly marry my Xiulian for three coppers. When I refused, Liu Heigou broke one of my legs and forcibly abducted Xiulian. I went to the government office to report it, but they beat me again instead. My poor Xiulian was tormented by that beast for three days straight, and finally, she couldn't bear it anymore and threw herself into a well. My poor daughter, she was only sixteen! I beg Lord Heavenly Demon to do me justice…"

An old man, his face etched with the ravages of time, knelt on the ground, trembling as he recounted his grievances to Dug.

All this time, whether it was defending the Feng Family, backstabbing the Feng Family, or upholding justice, Dug had approached it with the mindset of playing a game…

After all, he needed to use "maintenance" to improve his strength.

But when that emaciated old man, dragging a broken leg, knelt before him, weeping and wailing as he recounted his grievances, clearly with a mindset of facing death without fear, Dug's heart was suddenly touched.

Even though he knew the Simulation Arena was fake, the anger in his heart was uncontrollable.

This was too much!

What Feng Family? What Iron Palm Gang?

Not a single good one among them. This dog-eat-dog world needed someone like him, a good person, to maintain order…

At this moment, he suddenly felt that what he was doing had meaning; it was no longer purely about striving for the number one spot in the Simulation Arena.

Dug glanced at Qiu Yuanlang and sneered, "Hall Master Qiu, what a 'Iron Palm Gang' you have!"

Qiu Yuanlang, forced into a public execution, was seething with resentment, but his expression was now somewhat awkward. "Seventh Master, these things were all done by my subordinates. I didn't know about them. If I had, I wouldn't have kept him around to tarnish the Iron Palm Gang's reputation..."

"Reputation?" Dug scoffed. "Liu Cheng, bring Liu Heigou here."

Liu Cheng, looking helpless, stepped forward and asked, "Whose subordinate is Liu Heigou?"

One of the hall masters, acting as an official, stepped out and said awkwardly, "He's my subordinate."

Liu Cheng asked, "Did you know about what he did?"

That hall master awkwardly shook his head, just about to speak.

Suddenly, the Peacekeeping Gang members behind them stirred, and one person pushed past others, sprinting frantically towards the edge of the crowd.

Liu Cheng cast a glance in that direction, and in a few leaps, he was behind the man, gripping his neck and lifting him back before throwing him heavily to the ground.

Liu Heigou's face was ashen. He kowtowed to Dug, his head hitting the ground like a pestle. "Heavenly Demon, spare my life! Heavenly Demon, spare my life! I'll never dare again! Please, Heavenly Demon, give me another chance! I'm willing to sincerely join the Peacekeeping Gang and serve you with my life..."

"If the Peacekeeping Gang accepts people like you, how can it talk about upholding justice?" Dug snorted. "Hall Master Liu, kill him. Leaving such scum in the world pollutes the air. Don't let him die too quickly..."

Liu Heigou's behavior already made evidence unnecessary. Besides, Dug was sharp-eared and sharp-eyed; the whispers of the onlookers had already made the truth crystal clear to him.

"Seventh Brother, hand him over to me!" Wang San, who had been mostly silent, suddenly stepped forward. "I should add more to my collection..."

After the battle last night, his attributes had barely increased until now.

After all, Feng Qi had been hogging the spotlight most of the time, and he couldn't find an opportunity to perform.

But when he stood with a severed hand beside Dug in plain sight, and the surrounding people pointed and discussed him, his attributes soared. In just a moment, his personal ranking had risen by five positions.

How could Wang San let slip such a good opportunity to boost his attributes? If he didn't seize the moment while Feng Qi was making a name for himself, when else would he? Moreover, he had figured it out: Feng Qi's Keyword was 'maintenance.' Making such a big splash was like walking a tightrope; if it collapsed, he'd be doomed forever. But he was different. A Yandere was a Yandere. Even if the Peacekeeping Gang collapsed in the future, it wouldn't change people's impression of him. His strength would only grow, not crumble.

What if Feng Qi was mighty now?

Perhaps he would be the one to turn the tide in the future.

After all.

Yandere's Fear wasn't something he couldn't use against Feng Qi