"Mm." Dug glanced at him and nodded indifferently.
Wang San stepped out from the crowd, willow-leaf saber in hand, and walked toward the trembling Liu Heigou. As he walked, he said, "My little black dog, I like you so much. How could you be so bad? Look, you've stirred up everyone's anger. Let me send you off myself. If you die in my arms, you'll surely be happy..."
Fear spread through Liu Heigou's heart. He sprang to his feet and tried to run, but Liu Cheng's throw earlier had already left him with internal injuries.
The moment he stood up, he fell back to the ground.
Watching Wang San draw ever closer, the terror on his face grew heavier and heavier. He struggled, rolling and crawling as he tried to flee.
But Wang San gave him no chance. He charged forward several steps, reached Liu Heigou from behind, and stomped down on him. "Why are you running? Why are you so desperate to leave me? In that case, you don't need your legs anymore. Without legs, you'll never be able to leave me again..."
Wang San brought his blade down hard on his calf.
Pfft! Blood splattered everywhere.
Amid Liu Heigou's screams, Wang San wore an intoxicated expression. "Darling, your screams sound so lovely. What a pity you can only make that sound once. Scream a little longer. Let it out, and you won't be afraid anymore. Bear with it. I'll be very gentle next."
As he spoke, he slashed down again. The leg that had only been cut open moments ago snapped cleanly off.
Liu Heigou let out a hysterical scream as he struggled and rolled around. "No! Spare me! Hall Master Liu, Incense Master, kill me! Don't let this madman torture me anymore!"
No one moved.
Dug watched everyone from above like a tiger eyeing its prey. Who would be willing to offend the man above for the sake of a scoundrel? What if he really did slash the gang leader? Wouldn't the Qiu family skin them alive?...
His attributes were rising pretty quickly!
The moment Dug saw Wang San cleanly chop off Liu Heigou's leg, he knew Wang San's strength had improved.
But he did not pay much attention to it.
Ever since he began reorganizing the Iron Palm Gang, his attributes had been climbing nonstop.
Especially after he declared Liu Heigou guilty and upheld justice for the old man who had lost his daughter, his attributes had shot up by a huge amount.
Moreover, by exposing the matter of the Heavenly Demon, he had effectively Backstabbed every player present. The wider the news of the Heavenly Demon spread, and the more victims there were, the faster his strength would grow.
With both effects stacked together, he feared no one.
At this moment.
He felt that even if he released Qiu Yuanlang now, if anyone tried to save him, he could still rush back immediately and chop off his fingers.
"...Help you? Hahahaha, you adorable little thing. Other than me, who would help you? Don't move. Let me look at your heart. Let me see whether there's really a place for me inside it."
Wang San's voice echoed between heaven and earth.
The surrounding whispers fell silent.
Many of the onlooking citizens were frightened by Wang San's madness.
Some of the more timid ones simply shut their eyes. Others could not bear the sight and ran aside to vomit violently...
"Seventh Master, this is too much. Just kill him. Why torture him in public?" Qiu Yuanlang could not help frowning.
"You feel sorry for him now? He tortured that man's sixteen-year-old daughter for three days, forced her to jump into a well, and broke her father's leg. Why didn't you feel sorry for them then?" Dug pointed at the lame old man below and said, "Severe illness requires strong medicine. I want everyone to see the consequences of evil. I'm not the authorities. I'm a Heavenly Demon. I uphold justice with my own methods..."
The lame old man had been frightened stiff by Wang San and could not say a word. But when he heard Dug's words, he could not help remembering his tragically slain daughter. The pity in his eyes instantly vanished.
With tears in his eyes, he glared at the screaming, struggling Liu Heigou and said viciously, "Lord Heavenly Demon is right. Dealing with evildoers like this means giving them the cruelest punishment, so they'll never dare harm anyone again."
After speaking.
He no longer looked at Liu Heigou. Instead, he straightened his ragged clothes, looked at Dug, and respectfully kowtowed to him. His face was full of relief and release. "Thank you, Lord Heavenly Demon, for seeking justice for this lowly one. My wish has been fulfilled. I have no regrets left in this life. I can face my poor daughter when I go down to see her."
"Old sir, the dead are gone, but the living must go on. Otherwise, I uphold justice for you, yet you go and kill yourself. What meaning would there be in the justice I upheld?" Dug saw through his thoughts and smiled gently. "Live on. Live for your daughter. Watch as I punish the bad people in this world one by one. Watch how the world becomes better. Wouldn't that be good? Besides, Liu Heigou belongs to the Iron Palm Gang. The Iron Palm Gang failed to keep him in check, so they cannot withhold the compensation you deserve. If you die, who am I supposed to give this compensation to? Liu Cheng, send someone to fetch one hundred taels of silver for this old sir..."
"Lord Heavenly Demon, you have already sought justice for this lowly one. I am endlessly grateful. How could I dare accept your silver?" The old man repeatedly waved his hands.
"You're worried someone will covet your silver and rob you of it?" Dug asked.
"That is not what this lowly one means," the old man said. "This lowly one merely feels that I have already received your kindness..."
"Old sir, no amount of money can bring your daughter back!" Dug sighed. "Take this money and find an honest person to care for you in your old age and bury you when you die. The Peacekeeping Gang will remain here. No one will dare set their sights on your money..."
Liu Cheng sent someone to fetch the silver.
Dug said, "Bring more. The Iron Palm Gang has committed many sins over the years. Today, I fear they will have to pay out quite a lot of silver."
The moment he said this.
The surrounding citizens erupted in an uproar.
Since ancient times, wealth had moved people's hearts.
Originally, they feared Dug could not stand alone and that the Iron Palm Gang would return in force afterward, leaving them to suffer again. But now, with both revenge and money to be had, things were different.
With money in hand, even leaving Luyang City to live elsewhere would be fine!
One hundred taels! They could not earn that much in an entire lifetime...
The old man looked at Dug, kowtowed several more times, and broke down in tears. "Lord Heavenly Demon, you are a good man. This lowly one will set up a longevity tablet for you at home and pray for you every day, wishing you a long life..."
"Lord Heavenly Demon, this lowly one has grievances too! Niu Chaojie of the Iron Palm Gang forced my father to death in order to seize my family's ancestral jade..."
Among the constables, an incense master's legs went weak, and he collapsed to the ground...
"Lord Heavenly Demon, Yan Shou of the Iron Palm Gang seized the eight mu of fertile land my family owned..."
"Lord Heavenly Demon..."
Whoosh!
More than a dozen people suddenly rushed out of the crowd and ran toward Dug, each trying to get there first. Wang San, who had just stolen Dug's spotlight, was once again ignored by everyone.
Dug's attributes surged rapidly.
At the same time.
The Iron Palm Gang members descended into chaos, and many of them turned and ran.
Who would not be afraid?
Wang San was too vicious. Running might still give them a chance. Staying and being tortured by him was more terrifying than death!
Watching more and more people flee, Dug frowned slightly. "Qiu Feilong, catch them. If even one escapes, I'll chop off one of your father's fingers..."
"..." Qiu Feilong glared furiously at Dug and shouted in exasperation, "Feilong Guard, what are you standing around for? Catch them! If one gets away, I'll chop off your fingers one by one."
Looking at the already unhinged Qiu Feilong, Qiu Yuanlang sighed, then turned to look at Dug. "Feng Qi, doing this will cause enormous trouble."
"I know. When I chose to uphold justice, I already knew this was the hardest road to walk. But someone has to do it, doesn't they?" Dug looked at the chaotic crowd and smiled faintly. "I don't believe there are truly no good people left in this world."
Qiu Yuanlang gave Dug a meaningful look, sighed softly, and said no more.
Within the crowd.
People from the major sects watched the crazed Dug and Wang San, each one frowning deeply.
A seven-bag elder of the Beggar Gang turned and instructed a beggar beside him, "Tiger, send people to investigate whether anyone in our gang has been possessed by a Heavenly Demon. This fellow is too sinister. Once you find them, control them first."
"Yes, Elder." The beggar accepted the order and left.
"Old Tang, return to the main headquarters immediately and tell the gang leader what happened here." Then he turned to another, somewhat older beggar and said with a frown, "I have a feeling the heavens are about to change."
The same scene played out among the people sent by the Three Gates and Five Sects to investigate the situation.
Dug kept claiming that he wanted to uphold justice, but all they saw in him was madness and the uncontrollable nature of the Heavenly Demon...
That same day.
Many people mounted swift horses and rode out of Luyang City in every direction, spreading the news.
Feng Zhong, his face hidden beneath a conical hat, was squeezed into the crowd. Watching Dug and Wang San steal the limelight ahead of him, he wore a mocking smile. "Two idiots. Death is right before them, and they still don't realize it. Do they really think they can eliminate everyone else by relying on a few natives? Still, this is good. With you two lamps drawing all the attention, this young master won't have to run around everywhere. I'll stay in Luyang City and reap the fisherman's profit. I can even add more fuel to your fire, hehe! The one who laughs last is the true winner!"
Before you continue