"Fine, he came running over, but why did you follow him?" Dug looked at Feng Zhong and asked. "I set such a big trap. Weren't you worried they'd all get away and ruin my grand plan?"
"Seventh Brother killed Taotie alone. His reputation is mighty. They wouldn't dare run," Feng Zhong said with a flattering smile.
"Is that really what you think?" Dug asked with a smile.
"Fine, I'm timid. I was afraid they'd hack me to death in the chaos." Feng Zhong scratched his head, looking somewhat embarrassed.
"Useless." Wang San rolled his eyes at him.
"What the hell do you know? If those people ran, I could just write a few letters and trick them back again. If I died, that'd be the greatest loss to our team, wouldn't it?" Feng Zhong glared back at him. "Once, twice, three times—if Seventh Brother scares them a few more times, they'll be loyal to him for life."
Dug glanced at him and said nothing more.
Feng Zhong was telling the truth.
The three of them were cooperating fairly well for now. This time, Feng Jiu had turned into Taotie. There were still several hundred contestants in the Simulation Arena. Who knew what other twisted advanced skills they possessed?
Moreover, the further things went, the harder it became to find companions they could trust. If any one of their three-person team died, it would be detrimental to their future development...
Before everyone's eyes, Taotie turned into a person. The street quickly erupted into chaos. People pointed at Feng Jiu's body from afar, talking among themselves, every word steeped in worry for the future.
A living monster had emerged from Luyang City. This had never happened before. Thinking of the Heavenly Demons Feng Qi had mentioned earlier, how could they not be afraid?
Taotie's appearance even wiped away the lingering goodwill they had felt toward Feng Qi.
After all, Feng Qi was also a Heavenly Demon.
Those not of our kind must have different hearts.
Listening to the crowd's discussions and looking at Feng Jiu, whose eyes had remained open in death, Dug sighed inwardly. He had been an old friend, after all. He could not let him die without meaning.
So.
Dug leaped up onto a nearby raised platform, cleared his throat, and said, "Fellow townspeople, many of you met me yesterday, but many more still don't know who I am. Today, I will formally introduce myself once again. My name is Feng Qi, leader of the Peacekeeping Gang. My lifelong belief is to uphold justice and peace under heaven."
He paused, looked over the still-chaotic street, and continued, "I know that some heartbreaking things happened last night, causing everyone's faith in the Peacekeeping Gang to waver. I do not blame you. I simply failed to do my job well enough, and for that, I offer you my apologies.
I came to Luyang City today to deal with yesterday's events and give everyone an explanation. The person who just transformed into Taotie was named Feng Jiu. He was a Heavenly Demon. The Divine Fist Gate had been incited by him to harass you last night, intending to frame the Peacekeeping Gang."
Buzz! Discussion erupted again.
Dug pressed his hand down and sighed. "I know this sudden news is bound to shock everyone. After all, the Divine Fist Gate is one of the leaders of the martial world. But when the forest grows large, all kinds of birds appear. He Yuan'an, the Divine Fist Gate's overseer in Luyang City, had secretly committed many evil deeds.
When one rabbit dies, the fox mourns.
The Iron Palm Gang's fate had left him unable to eat or sleep, terrified that one day the Peacekeeping Gang would come to settle accounts with him. So, once he was tempted by a Heavenly Demon, he sent people to impersonate the Peacekeeping Gang and raid civilians at night, intending to destroy everyone's trust in the Peacekeeping Gang at its root.
Once the Peacekeeping Gang vanished, he could continue oppressing the innocent without a care in the world.
Taotie was indeed terrifying, but monsters could be killed. They had weaknesses. Find those weaknesses, and you could easily put them to death.
But what about evil people? They looked exactly like you. They lived among you. They would do everything possible to oppress you, eat your flesh, drink your blood, sleep with your wives. One day, two days, one year, two years—your children, your grandchildren, generation after generation, would all suffer beneath their oppression..."
Dug's words were deeply compelling. The people's attention gradually shifted away from Taotie, and they fell into thought.
Without realizing it, everyone's gaze focused on Feng Qi, and they forgot his origins as a Heavenly Demon.
"Evil men are fiercer than beasts. And when facing them, you have no way to fight back." Dug wore a look of grief and indignation, his voice steadily rising. He clenched his fist and swung it hard. "Compared to those evil men, you have no martial strength. You are weak and easily bullied. But things are different now. The Peacekeeping Gang is here. I can stand up for you!
I am different from them. I am a Heavenly Demon, and I can only grow by protecting you. The more stable your lives become, the stronger I become. From the very foundation of it, I cannot possibly harm you. We benefit each other. You will never have to fear that I will abandon you.
Indeed, compared to the Divine Fist Gate, the Peacekeeping Gang is equally weak right now. But a single spark can start a prairie fire. I will not abandon my faith and ideals merely because my enemies are powerful.
Since ancient times, evil has never triumphed over righteousness. I have always believed that as long as one possesses a heart devoted to justice, more upright people will be moved.
You may not know this, but last night, I already visited the Beggar Gang, Taishan Sect, Huashan Sect, Emei Sect, and Tianshan Gate in Luyang City, sincerely inviting them to uphold justice alongside the Peacekeeping Gang.
Fortunately, the leaders of these sects understood the greater good. They agreed on the spot to join our Peacekeeping Joint Defense and protect Luyang City together with us.
After the Divine Fist Gate committed its evil deeds, the Peacekeeping Alliance was the first to identify the culprit.
Just now, He Yuan'an, the Divine Fist Gate's overseer, was executed, and Taotie, the Heavenly Demon who had incited him, was slain by me right before your eyes.
When I learned that you had suffered hardship and misfortune, I resolved your problems as quickly as possible. With such painstaking effort on my part, am I still unworthy of your trust?"
As he spoke, Dug raised the sword in his hand high. After thinking about it, he lifted it to the side, farther from the top of his head, and declared, "Today, before all the people of Luyang City, Feng hereby swears upon this sword that slew a vicious beast that I will devote my life to upholding peace and justice. Today, this sword can slay Taotie. Tomorrow, it can kill every evil person under heaven, kill every Heavenly Demon that brings chaos to these troubled times, and carve out a bright and righteous world."
He paused, looked at the crowd whose emotions had been stirred, and smiled gently. "Of course, actions speak louder than words. No matter how beautifully I speak, it is useless. Just watch what I do. Later, please spread the word. Inform those harmed last night, as well as those injured when Taotie crashed through the streets. Once I have cleared out the Divine Fist Gate's remaining scum, I will give everyone fair compensation."
Having said that.
Without waiting for anyone to respond, Dug jumped down from the platform, called for his two great protectors, and made his way through the crowd back to the Divine Fist Gate's base.
Just as Feng Zhong had guessed, neither the Divine Fist Gate nor the Iron Palm Gang members had left.
Feng Jiu's sudden transformation into Taotie had changed their understanding of the world. Everyone was lost in confusion about the future, unsure where to go from here. Taotie was a monster, but was Feng Qi, who could slay Taotie, not a monster as well?
Feng Qi was also a Heavenly Demon. Could a mortal body truly defeat a Heavenly Demon?
What meaning was there in dying at a Heavenly Demon's hands? If Feng Qi killed them, would the Divine Fist Gate really avenge them?
In the end, they were merely lowly people struggling to earn a living...
When Dug returned, everyone in the courtyard instinctively stepped back, afraid that he might suddenly attack.
The sight of Feng Qi pursuing Taotie still seemed to linger before their eyes. With that terrifying speed, coupled with Wang San holding them back, none of them could withstand even a single exchange with him.
"Do not be afraid." Dug swept his gaze across the people in the courtyard and smiled. "Feng has principles. I punish only the chief culprits. He Yuan'an is dead now, and Taotie is dead too. Killing you would serve no purpose, only create needless slaughter. I will ask you one thing: are you willing to join the Peacekeeping Gang and strive for peace and justice from this day onward, making your lives more meaningful?"
"Gang Leader Feng, can we?" someone from the Divine Fist Gate asked.
"Of course. The Peacekeeping Gang welcomes everyone who abandons evil and turns to good." Dug smiled and looked toward Han Zuo and the others. "The same goes for you. I know you were behind yesterday's incident, but Feng Jiu had deceived you. Your actions were understandable.
Besides, the Divine Fist Gate's He Yuan'an had already taken the blame, and your old gang leader was still waiting in the Peacekeeping Gang to reunite with you. Since everyone could live in peace and work toward a shared goal, why insist on opposing me? Must we fight to the death until I nail you to the pillar of shame before you can rest easy?"
You seized our businesses, beat our fathers, and now, just by moving your lips, you expected us to live peacefully with you? Han Zuo and the others remained silent. Whenever they glanced at Wang San, they trembled. Yandere's Fear would continue affecting those Wang San had marked.
Everyone present knew that Feng Qi's lofty words were all false. Framing others, intimidation, threats, and skillful use of every despicable method—those were his true colors.
But at this moment, Feng Qi had already given them a way out. He had already given them enough face. They should take it.
Better to live badly than die well!
"We are willing to join the Peacekeeping Gang and serve at the gang leader's command," the Divine Fist Gate members said one after another.
"Not for me. For justice," Dug corrected as he looked at them. Then he turned back to Han Zuo and the others. "What about you? Are you still waiting for Qiu Muqian's reinforcements?"
"Feng Qi, how is my father?" Qiu Feipeng asked in a trembling voice.
"He suffered severe injuries. The doctor said he might need two years to recover." Dug glanced at him. "But if you keep making trouble, that may no longer be certain. Fourth Young Master, the doctor said patients cannot withstand too much disturbance."
Qiu Feipeng's eyes suddenly widened. He said urgently, "Do not touch my father. We'll join the Peacekeeping Gang."
Before you continue