Preventing Trouble Before It Starts

Du Ge had shown the Feng Family what efficient growth and loyalty looked like, so the matter could no longer be delayed.

Speed was paramount in war.

Shortly after breakfast, the Feng Family had prepared travel packs for Du Ge and the others.

Du Ge, Feng Yunjie, Feng Shiyi, and a direct disciple named Zhang Han—four of them in fine clothes and on spirited horses—stepped into the martial world. Under the guise of travel, they planned to visit the major sects, seek out other hidden Heavenly Demons, and either subdue or kill them to prevent them from falling into others' hands.

Feng Shiren watched them leave.

Standing among the farewell party, Feng Jiu watched Du Ge depart, the stone in his heart finally hitting the ground, an inexplicable lightness washing over him.

Gnawing on a strip of dried meat, a trace of mockery flickered unconsciously in Feng Jiu's eyes. There was no denying that Feng Qi was skilled at wielding Keywords, but he was far too arrogant—truly believing he could control everything in the Simulation Field. He didn't know which family had raised such a fool, childish to the point of absurdity!

Farewell, my dear Seventh Brother!

Soon, I'll send you a gift.

This gift is called a lesson. It will make you see the cruelty of the Simulation Field, a repayment for not eliminating me. Just like your Theory of Extremes, it will serve you for life. Remember, setbacks are the most precious treasure in a person's life...

Only when Du Ge vanished from sight did Feng Jiu turn back to look at Feng Shiren, smiling. "Patriarch, let's head back. Seventh Brother is gone. From now on, I'll guard the Feng Family..."

Slap!

Slap!

Before Feng Jiu could react, Feng Shiren's hands moved like lightning, striking several points on his chest and sealing his acupoints.

Feng Jiu's voice cut off abruptly, panic in his tone. "Patriarch, what are you doing?"

"Ninth Master, my apologies. Seventh Master said you have a rebellious streak. Once he leaves, you're bound to cause chaos. He told us to restrain you early to avoid irreparable losses," Feng Shiren said.

"..." Feng Jiu froze, then his face turned ashen. Sweat beaded on his forehead as he forced a smile. "Patriarch, isn't there some misunderstanding? True, I wanted to escape the Feng Family before, but after receiving your kindness, I swore to protect it. You can't just believe Feng Qi's slander..."

"Seventh Master said you're too extreme in your actions. For the sake of growth, you'd eat until your stomach bursts, you'd keep eating even while shitting on the toilet—enduring what others can't. A man so cruel to himself—once he grows strong, will he be good for the Feng Family? Right now, you're just gluttonous. When your greed swells to the point of swallowing the Feng Family, it'll be too late to act..." Feng Shiren shook his head, a hint of pity in his eyes. "Ninth Master, blame it on your attribute being Taotie."

"..." Feng Jiu's pupils contracted sharply, his whole body trembling uncontrollably.

He knew.

He knew everything.

He knew about his own disguise, knew the true meaning of Taotie!

What naivety?

What kindness?

All fake. Turns out he was the naive one...

Still unwilling to give up, he said, "Patriarch, Feng Qi is crazier than me, and his actions are just as extreme. He came up with the Theory of Extremes. Aren't you afraid he'll turn on the Feng Family?"

Feng Shiren replied, "His extreme is protection. Who wouldn't want a guardian in their family?"

Feng Jiu was about to explode. He steadied himself. "Patriarch, have you considered that he might be lying to you? We were never reincarnated Heavenly Demons. There never was a Demon Realm. This world of yours is nothing but an illusion. And his Keyword might not be protection—it could be deception. Tricking you all into a spin would let him grow just as well..."

"Just as Seventh Master predicted. To drag him down, you'd deny everything about him at the root." Feng Shiren chuckled softly, his pity turning to contempt. "Deception or protection, as long as it benefits the Feng Family, I don't care. I don't even care if the Demon Realm exists. Seeing you lot, I know this martial world is about to fall into chaos. Not the kind where a new manual appears or a treasure vault opens—chaos at the root. This turmoil will sweep up everyone in the martial world. When chaos rises, self-preservation is the worst strategy. I'm not senile yet. Ninth Master, you're still too young..."

"Fuck!" Feng Jiu cursed, his face turning livid. He swallowed hard. "Patriarch, can you give me a chance? Let me prove Feng Qi is screwing you over, prove I'm more useful than him. They haven't gone far. It's not too late to turn back."

"No need," Feng Shiren said. "Seventh Master said Taotie is a good Keyword. We can keep you penned up, control your diet, experiment with your growth rate, and find a way to counter the Heavenly Demons through you. That way, when we face others, we won't be caught off guard. Ninth Master, I have to say, your vision is far beneath Seventh Master's."

Despair flooded Feng Jiu's heart. He erupted in fury. "Seventh Master says, Seventh Master says—Feng Shiren, whatever he says, you just believe it, don't you? I think you're a fool. One day, you'll regret this..."

Feng Shiren smiled, watching Feng Jiu, blinded by rage, and said softly, "Ninth Master, don't panic. Actually, we can cooperate. I'm very interested in that other version of the world you mentioned. And since Feng Qi has wronged you like this, we can discuss how to counter him. How do we identify other Heavenly Demons' Keywords? I don't like putting all my eggs in one basket..."

Feng Jiu's hair stood on end.

In that moment, he suddenly understood why his teacher had said, "Hide yourself as much as possible. Don't try to change the world. The more you expose yourself, the faster you die."

The natives in the Simulation Field were too shrewd—every last one of them an actor.

All because of that fool Feng Qi, who had ruined everyone!

The stagnant attributes began to rise again, and by a fair amount.

Sure enough.

Keywords had a more pronounced effect when applied to contestants.

Du Ge drew a new conclusion: this Simulation Field's design was meant to make contestants tear each other apart.

A brutal battle royale.

Maybe Feng Jiu wasn't as bad as he'd imagined, but leaving without Backstabbing him felt unsatisfying. Du Ge decided to trust his instincts.

As the saying goes, once suspicion arises, guilt is established.

The Simulation Field was a trap. Suspicion was enough; no proof needed.

Who could blame him? Backstab was his persona. The role he played was a villain to the core. Sticking to his persona wasn't wrong. Who would test human nature in a Simulation Field that decided their fate?

In a battle royale, mercy to an enemy is cruelty to yourself.

Blame Feng Jiu for being too naive. Consider it a lesson, hoping he'd walk a smoother path in life ahead.

Du Ge glanced at the gleaming first place on the personal rankings, a smirk curling at the corner of his mouth. This was perfect—Backstabbing Feng Jiu, protecting the Feng Family, and boosting his own attributes.

One arrow, three hawks—only losing Feng Jiu's freedom in the bargain. Almost too good a deal to pass up.

As for Feng Jiu's eventual fate?

Whether he might ruin his own plans was not within Du Ge's considerations.

Once he walked out of the Feng Family, he had no intention of going back.

The sky is vast for birds to soar, the sea wide for fish to leap—just like Guo Jing leaving the desert, or Yang Guo leaving the Ancient Tomb. Even if he did return someday, his Martial Arts would already be so unfathomably high that no mere Feng Family could ever suppress him.