Internal and External Troubles

The people of Luyang City were skeptical of Dug's idea for the Peacekeeping Joint Defense, but when He Yuan'an's body from the Divine Fist Gate was hung up, and Gao Yong and others stood smiling next to Feng Qi, promising everyone that they would collectively maintain order in Luyang City, everyone believed.

After all, these were already the biggest powers in Luyang City.

And Feng Qi, in just one night, convinced them to join the Peacekeeping Alliance, proving to everyone through his actions that he not only had the heart to protect Luyang City but also the strength.

Just as Dug had thought, for some matters, people don't need proof; all they want is a satisfactory outcome.

Especially when Dug brought out basket after basket of gold and silver, compensating all victims twofold and promising that any similar incidents in the future would also be compensated at double the amount, everyone's apprehension towards him suddenly vanished.

What Heavenly Demon? The Heavenly Demon refers to others. Feng Qi is their Heavenly Demon, their righteous lord…

There's nothing money can't buy.

That same day, the Peacekeeping Alliance's signed charter was posted on Luyang City's bulletin boards, publicly outlining the responsibilities and duties of the Peacekeeping Joint Defense.

The five major sects formed patrol teams that patrolled the city day and night, responsible for resolving all sudden incidents they encountered.

If someone encountered injustice or unfairness, they could request help from any organization within the Peacekeeping Alliance. If it wasn't handled promptly, they could directly appeal to the Peacekeeping Gang, which would send people to resolve the issue and deal with any dereliction of duty by Joint Defense members.

In the process of upholding justice, all confiscated money, in addition to compensating victims, would have a portion taken by the Peacekeeping Gang for its operational expenses, but all expenditures would be regularly disclosed to the public.

The Peacekeeping Gang would regularly recruit aspiring young people from the public to join the Peacekeeping Gang, work together to uphold justice, and provide food, lodging, and basic martial arts training.

Item by item, the Peacekeeping Gang quickly replaced the Luyang City government in the hearts of the people.

Moreover, with the Peacekeeping Joint Defense, there were no more night attacks on the populace.

Every citizen in Luyang City beamed with smiles, speaking of the Peacekeeping Gang and Feng Qi, a scene of thriving prosperity.

Feng Qi became a living Buddha to thousands of families, and his attributes skyrocketed.

After Qiu Feipeng and others were reorganized, no one intercepted Qiu Feibao, Li Chao, Lou Yuexiang, and other hall masters who were outside the city. These individuals were captured the day they returned and were personally persuaded by Qiu Yuanlang to logically join the Peacekeeping Gang. They immediately began the process of transferring the former Iron Palm Gang's various assets to the Peacekeeping Gang.

After the Feng Family members were rescued, Feng Shiren tried to leverage past connections to gain power within the Peacekeeping Gang, but Feng Qi rebuked him, citing the need for fairness, and made them start from the bottom, crushing the Feng Family's desire to take shortcuts.

Watching Feng Qi, who now held absolute sway in Luyang City, Feng Shiyi finally understood that the master-servant roles had reversed. The Feng Family could no longer claim kinship with Feng Qi. Moreover, everything Feng Qi said was true; relying on a Heavenly Demon could indeed strengthen a family. It was just a pity that the Feng Family didn't have that destiny...

Luyang City was vibrant and revitalized, but within the Peacekeeping Gang, a pall of gloom hung heavy.

Liu Cheng, Gao Yong, and other mid-level cadres rarely cracked a smile.

"Gang Leader, if Qiu Muqian managed to convince Gate Master Tong, they should be back in a day or two. Shouldn't we prepare early? Gate Master Tong is one of the seven greatest masters of this era..." Liu Cheng paused. "Of course, with the Gang Leader's martial arts, you naturally wouldn't fear Tong Shihong. But the Divine Fist Gate has countless masters. If they are determined to target the Peacekeeping Gang, our skills might not be enough. We have too few masters in the Peacekeeping Gang, and Qiu Feipeng and the others might not be truly loyal..."

He glanced at Wang San, who was beside Dug, and said, "Even if they are truly loyal, as long as Mr. Wang is present, they won't be able to exert their full combat power."

"It's not just the Divine Fist Gate we need to worry about, but also the sects behind us," Ding Wanjie said with a wry smile. "After the news of Luyang City spreads, us few will likely be treated as traitors to our sects. No sect would allow such a thing to happen; it's digging at their roots!"

"Exactly! We can't suppress the news about Luyang City at all," Nie Nong said. "The day before yesterday, several of my subordinates escaped Luyang City. They must have gone to report to our sects. Maybe in a few days, the main sect will send people to purge us."

"It's the same on my end," Gao Yong frowned. "Gang Leader, the Three Gates and Five Sects, Two Gangs, and One Family – a total of eleven top sects. The Peacekeeping Gang has provoked six of them, offending half the martial arts world. Even Martial Saint Qiao He wouldn't have been so reckless back then..."

Gao Yong and the others had been tied to the Peacekeeping Gang's warship by Dug's series of actions. They couldn't get off, and they didn't dare to run. Just thinking about the enemies they would face next, they were all worried to death, unable to even cry.

"So, you regret joining the Peacekeeping Joint Defense?" Dug asked with a smile, looking around at them.

What do you mean, regret? Did you give us a choice? You're the villain who forced us to join the Peacekeeping Gang, making it sound like we joined willingly? If time could restart, the moment I saw that invitation, I would have run back to my sect immediately, without even meeting you...

Everyone looked at Dug, wanting to retort but not daring to. They lowered their heads, expressing their defiance through silence.

Dug shook his head and asked, "How do you think my skills compare to those top masters?"

Still no one spoke.

"Daoist Gao, you tell me," Dug said, calling on him directly.

"They are surpassed, not equaled," Gao Yong looked at Dug. In just two or three days, Dug's speed had gotten faster and faster. When he practiced martial arts, Gao Yong's eyes could barely keep up with his moves.

"And with Wang San suppressing them?" Dug asked again.

"You'd win easily," Gao Yong replied.

"Then that settles it, what are you still afraid of?" Dug said.

"But two or three masters can't support an entire sect!" Nie Nong couldn't help but say, "Hall Master Wang's powers are indeed strange, but the situation in Luyang City has already spread. If they make a move again, they will definitely target Wang San first."

"I'm not afraid of them."

Wang San had adopted a new cultivation method. He always carried a box with him, filled with ice, which chilled several hands or hearts—he didn't know whose—and he would occasionally wander into crowded places, take them out, and display them, spreading his Yandere reputation.

If he were alone, he would have been beaten to death doing this long ago.

But in the Peacekeeping Gang's territory, under the title of Peacekeeping Gang Protector, he acted without restraint, fearing no harm. Even now, he maintained his second-place ranking in the Simulation Arena.

This was something he couldn't have even imagined when he first got the Keyword, but now, he was fully committed to following Feng Qi.

"You guys are just too timid. Those who win the people's hearts win the world. What we're doing is righteous, so what are you afraid of?" Dug shook his head. "Everything you've thought of, I've thought of too. In fact, before you all arrived, I already sent investigative assistance invitations to the major sects, explaining the dangers of the Heavenly Demon and inviting them to help investigate Heavenly Demons in various places, to nip the unrest in the bud. With Taotie as proof, as long as they understand the greater good, they won't make things difficult for us."

Looking at the others who seemed to want to speak but hesitated, Dug smiled and continued, "I know what you're worried about. I've also helped explain your situation. You've merely joined the Peacekeeping Joint Defense; you haven't joined the Peacekeeping Gang. Essentially, you're still members of your original gangs, so any talk of betrayal is nonsense..."

Are you serious?

Are you trying to trick the sect leaders like children?

Gao Yong and the others stared wide-eyed in disbelief. This is pure provocation; you're practically daring us to die! "I know the Peacekeeping Gang's status isn't high enough, so my words might not get their attention," Dug said, looking at Liu Cheng with a serious expression. "Didn't Qiu Muqian invite Gate Master Tong Shihong? I'll find a way to persuade him to join the Peacekeeping Gang. We can't let upholding justice be so difficult; the Peacekeeping Gang truly needs some experienced old masters to hold down the fort."

Phew! Hearing Feng Qi's words, everyone present collectively breathed a sigh of relief, temporarily putting their minds at ease.

After all, everyone there had personally experienced Dug's persuasive methods, so Tong Shihong joining the Peacekeeping Gang seemed like a sure thing.