Feng Shiyi's Worries

Wang San was taken by Feng Zhong to change clothes, with Zhang Han accompanying and keeping watch.

Du Ge and the Feng uncle and nephew went to a private room for their meal.

During the meal.

Feng Yunjie, whose worldview had taken a massive hit, hesitated and then finally couldn't hold back: "Seventh Master, are you really keeping Wang San?"

"What's wrong?" Du Ge was still savoring Wang San's yandere performance. Though his words and actions were a bit cringey when delivered through the persona of a shop assistant, he had to admit the guy slipped into being a freak remarkably fast.

If all the contestants in the Simulation Field were like this, for the first time he doubted whether he could even assemble a Peacekeeping Vanguard.

But then, on second thought.

People were complex beings. If a person's personality was defined by just one Keyword, and that Keyword was tied to growth, it was hard for that person not to end up twisted.

Even someone as upright as him, equipped with a positive Keyword like Maintenance, was already thinking about going all out and gradually warping his ideas. So what about others who'd all had professional training?

So, he still had to accept them. The more people he interacted with, the more real-world data he could collect.

After all, he still had the real world to deal with. Failing the Simulation Field at worst meant elimination, but if someone found out about his Soul Possession in reality, who knew what might happen?

If he ever felt he couldn't keep control, he'd just off them early. As the Simulation Field's number one, he should have that kind of confidence...

"I... I just feel like his Keyword is a bit sinister." Feng Yunjie stammered for a while before finally saying, "When he talked to me, I couldn't help but feel a chill in my heart, like I wanted to run away..."

Run away?

He must have awakened an Advanced Skill!

He'd have to ask what that Advanced Skill was later.

Du Ge smiled: "Third Young Master, that's where you're wrong. We're going to run into all kinds of Heavenly Demons in the future, each with a different breed. If you're this picky, how is the Feng Family supposed to rise? It's like a family—you need to take in all kinds of talents: disciples like Zhang Han, Training Partners like me, servants and laborers, and people like Feng Zhong who know how to run a business. Only then can a family truly function..."

"That's true, but I feel like letting him join with that way of talking is bound to cause trouble. Aren't we supposed to maintain peace in the martial world? His Keyword doesn't look like a gentleman's at all—it'll affect how people see us..." Maybe Feng Yunjie was really affected by the skill, because he quickly found another excuse to try and push Wang San out.

"Third Young Master, you just don't understand yanderes." Du Ge said. "Most of the time, a yandere looks normal. It's only when they snap that they act like that. Normally, a yandere's traits develop gradually. The way he acted just now was to show me his value and fight for a chance to live..."

"But..." Feng Yunjie wanted to say more, but Du Ge cut him off before he could start.

"Third Young Master, yanderes aren't as scary as you think. Wang San's behavior when he snaps is a bit off, but he also has a protective side. Once he sets his sights on you, he'll do everything to protect you." Du Ge said. "Third Young Master, you need to learn to adapt and be strong. Besides, I'm here too. My Keyword is Maintenance—do you think I'd just watch you walk into danger?"

"Protect?" Feng Yunjie was stunned.

"But a yandere's protection is different from mine. They only protect the person they've set their sights on." Du Ge said.

"Alright!" Feng Yunjie picked up his wine glass and took a sip to steady his nerves. He'd already tasted the benefits of Maintenance. Since yanderes also had a protective trait, he temporarily gave up on the idea of kicking Wang San out.

One Du Ge, one Wang San. If Wang San tried to harm him, Du Ge would protect him. If Du Ge tried to harm him, Wang San would protect him. Double protection—safer, right? Feng Yunjie tried to convince himself.

He'd introduced a yandere to Feng Yunjie.

Maintained Wang San, and Backstabbed Feng Yunjie. Du Ge happily enjoyed the joy of double attribute boosts. In that moment, he felt confident again. The yandere trait was hard to play—too exposed, too obvious. His Maintenance plus Backstab was unbeatable—subtle, and no matter what he did, he couldn't go wrong.

"Seventh Master, with so many Heavenly Demons in the team, can you really keep them in check on your own?" Wang San was targeting Feng Yunjie. Aside from the cringe factor, Feng Shiyi didn't have any special feelings about it—he had other concerns.

In less than two days, the Feng Family had run into three Heavenly Demons. The rate seemed too fast, and the Heavenly Demons were way too eccentric.

He couldn't imagine what the Feng Family would become after recruiting a bunch of Heavenly Demons like this. Would they be ganged up on?

"Second Patriarch, you saw it too. It's hard for other Heavenly Demons to match their attributes. I'm growing the fastest—I'll have no problem keeping them in line." Du Ge said.

"The Peacekeeping Vanguard won't be made up entirely of Heavenly Demons, will it?" Feng Shiyi asked again.

"How could that be? There are only so many Heavenly Demons. We'll also need to recruit normal martial artists from the jianghu to balance them out." Du Ge saw through Feng Shiyi's thoughts and smiled. "Second Patriarch is worried that the Feng Family won't be able to control us in the future and will lose the initiative, right?"

"Exactly, that's what I'm thinking." Since he'd been seen through, Feng Shiyi didn't beat around the bush. "Seventh Master, I'm not just worried about the Heavenly Demons—I'm also worried about the other martial artists you recruit. Your martial arts aren't even as good as mine. If a real expert joins the Peacekeeping Vanguard, can you really hold onto the leadership?"

Because of the Wang San incident, Feng Yunjie had been distracted, eating his food in a daze. When he heard Feng Shiyi's words, he looked up at Du Ge.

"Second Patriarch, you're overthinking it. The things our team can handle are all small-time stuff. Big heroes won't bother with them—just like you wouldn't go down to the street to join a bunch of thugs collecting protection money. Experts won't lower themselves." Du Ge shook his head with a smile. "Once we make a big splash, that's when the experts will come. By then, my strength will naturally rise, and I won't be afraid of them."

"Seventh Master naturally doesn't need to be afraid, but what about the Feng Family? The Feng Family has no experts..." Feng Shiyi said.

Du Ge was momentarily stunned, then laughed: "So Second Patriarch never really saw me as one of your own from the start!"

Feng Shiyi said: "Seventh Master, that's not what I meant."

"Second Patriarch, no need to explain. I haven't made any real contributions yet, so it's normal not to trust me. But time will tell. I'll prove myself with actions and earn the Feng Family's true recognition." Du Ge said seriously. "As for the problem you're worried about, I've actually already mentioned a solution. Maybe you forgot."

"Did you?" Feng Shiyi asked.

"Steal secret manuals, steal miraculous pills." Du Ge smiled. "Second Patriarch, you're not going to tell me there aren't any miraculous pills in the jianghu that can boost one's power, are you? Like I said before—once Maintenance, always Maintenance. The Feng Family's strength is my strength. I won't give up on the Feng Family's interests."

He still hadn't given up on the idea of stealing other people's secret manuals?

Feng Yunjie couldn't help but say: "Seventh Master, stealing secret manuals conflicts with maintaining peace and justice, doesn't it? If people find out the Peacekeeping Vanguard is doing things like this behind the scenes..."

"Third Young Master, maintaining peace in the martial world and maintaining the Feng Family's interests don't conflict." Du Ge glanced at him and smiled. "Who says evil forces don't have heavenly treasures? Don't rush. You can't get fat with one bite. We'll take it step by step, and in the end, we'll have everything."

"Are we still going to the Iron Palm Sect?" Feng Shiyi asked.

"Of course, but let's wait a bit. Let's see if there's anything else to gain in Luyang City." Du Ge said. "We also need some time to get used to Wang San."

At the mention of Wang San, Feng Yunjie reflexively shuddered. His wine glass wobbled, and wine spilled all over the table.

Feng Shiyi looked at his young tiger of a nephew, frowned, and said with displeasure: "Yunjie, it's just Wang San saying some weird things. He can't even beat Feng Zhong. What are you afraid of? With an attitude like this, how are you going to lead the Peacekeeping Vanguard in the future?"

Feng Yunjie knew something was wrong with himself too. He looked at Feng Shiyi, wanting to explain but not knowing where to start. Finally, he forced himself to be strong: "Uncle, I won't let it happen again."