Du Ge's New World

Du Ge's expression was complex, a mix of disappointment and relief. He let out a self-deprecating laugh, lowered the sword from his neck, gripped the hilt, and bowed to Qiu Yuanlang. "Thank you, Guild Leader."

"Good, good. Come inside with me and tell me more about the Celestial Demon," Qiu Yuanlang said.

"As the Guild Leader commands," Du Ge replied. He sighed, then turned back to Feng Shiyi, playing out the final scene. "Second Master, from this day forward, Feng Qi and the Feng Family are quits. Second Master, please return."

"I..." Feng Shiyi looked at Feng Qi, then stood up in a daze. He bowed to Du Ge. "Seventh Master, your righteousness is profound. The Feng Family has wronged you."

In that moment, his heart felt hollow, as if he had lost the most important thing.

Why?

Why did things turn out this way?

Was he wrong?

No, he wasn't. He had always wholeheartedly considered the future of the Feng Family.

Was Feng Qi wrong?

No, he wasn't either. Everything he did was to protect the Feng Family's interests, even risking his life to preserve it. He had fulfilled his promise to protect them...

But how did it end up like this?

Feng Zhong!

It was Feng Zhong!

It was all his fault. If he hadn't interfered, Du Ge would still be part of the Feng Family, and their future would still be bright...

Having found the cause, Feng Shiyi's eyes instantly turned red. Unforgivable. When he returned, he would mobilize the entire might of the Feng Family to tear Feng Zhong to pieces. Not killing him would be insufficient to quell his hatred.

Qiu Yuanlang quietly watched Du Ge and Feng Shiyi bid farewell. After Du Ge turned his back, a hint of coldness flickered in Qiu Yuanlang's eyes.

The eyes on the back of Du Ge's head accurately caught that glance. He sighed inwardly. Someone who could lead a guild and send people to kill at Xingyu Tower based on a single piece of information was certainly not easy to deal with. He suspected he would face a thorough interrogation upon joining the Iron Palm Sect.

This annoying, endless questioning...

The growth method for keywords was too passive. He needed to find a way to break through this.

When Du Ge turned back, his face was relaxed. He sheathed his sword. "Guild Leader Qiu, I have no further ties to the Feng Family. From now on, I will dedicate all my efforts to protecting you and the Iron Palm Sect."

"Excellent," Qiu Yuanlang nodded, stepping aside and gesturing. "Seventh Master, please."

"Guild Leader, you first," Du Ge said, slightly turning his body. "My attribute is protection. I should naturally protect your dignity, Guild Leader, and dare not overstep."

Qiu Yuanlang paused, then let out a hearty laugh and turned first. "Alright, follow me."

The moment Qiu Yuanlang turned, Du Ge unhesitatingly launched a backstab, appearing like a phantom behind him.

Puff puff puff puff!

The throwing knives, which he had kept concealed in his palm, struck Qiu Yuanlang's lower back several times.

"Ah!"

A scream.

Qiu Yuanlang practiced Iron Palm, not Iron Shirt.

He had absolutely not expected Du Ge to attack at this moment, nor had he expected the attack to be so swift. By the time he reacted, he had already been stabbed several times in the back. His eyes widened in fury as he lunged forward, trying to shake off Du Ge, who was clinging to him.

But Du Ge gave him no chance. As Qiu Yuanlang lunged forward, Du Ge's arm shot out from behind, wrapping around Qiu Yuanlang's neck. He hung onto him like a koala.

The throwing knives were not as lethal as a long sword. Aside from the first two stabs, which had gone quite deep, Qiu Yuanlang had already tensed his muscles with his internal energy for the subsequent ones. Though they pierced his body, they didn't go deep.

However, the previous two stabs had already inflicted a severe wound. When he couldn't shake Du Ge off with his clever maneuvering, he roared and grabbed Du Ge's arm around his neck. With a crisp crack, Du Ge's forearm bone was snapped by Qiu Yuanlang's grip, his arm a bloody mess.

Du Ge endured the pain, still holding Qiu Yuanlang's neck. The throwing knife in his left hand danced in a blur on Qiu Yuanlang's left lower back, creating a row of holes in a blink of an eye, blood gushing out.

As he stabbed, he declared, "The Iron Palm Sect controls the grain transport, engages in banditry, murder, and extortion, and demands passage fees. They have harmed countless lives. I, Feng Qi, a fine man, how could I protect such a vile sect? Today, I am willing to sacrifice my life to eliminate this scourge for the people, to uphold martial ethics and protect the common folk..."

In the Feng Family's simulation, he had indeed achieved pleasing growth by concocting the Celestial Demon theory. But, at the same time, his attributes were also constrained by the Feng Family. Even Feng Shiyi, after publicly announcing his separation from him, saw his attributes weaken. This was likely related to Feng Shiyi's status and the Feng Family's current predicament...

Du Ge didn't know the judgment mechanism of the simulation arena, but if his fate could be arbitrarily influenced by others' decisions, then the path he was taking was wrong.

The Feng Family was like that, and so was the Iron Palm Sect.

Even if he could truly bind himself to Qiu Yuanlang through eloquence and mutual benefit, what then?

In the future, if something unexpected like what happened with Feng Zhong occurred, Du Ge believed Qiu Yuanlang would abandon him without hesitation, just like Feng Shiyi...

Du Ge was not going to make the same mistake twice.

Since protecting a group could lead to uncontrollable fate, he would take his destiny into his own hands. He would no longer protect a single family or sect, but a broader ideal or belief.

This path might be more difficult, but if successful, no one would be able to control his destiny anymore.

After Du Ge righteously declared this, the arm broken by Qiu Yuanlang's iron palm rapidly healed, and his personal attributes leaped forward. After all, he had used practical actions to protect martial ethics and had successfully backstabbed Qiu Yuanlang, who had just taken him in.

Double growth, double happiness.

Holy crap!

What's going on?

Wang San was stunned again. Didn't they agree to join the Iron Palm Sect at this opportunity?

What is this stunt now?

You won't be happy unless you push yourself to the brink, will you!

Feng Shiyi had already left, but upon seeing this scene, he froze on the spot. He watched the blood-soaked Qiu Yuanlang and Feng Qi, who was clinging to his back and being hammered incessantly, and trembled uncontrollably.

He was serious.

Feng Qi was serious.

His plan wasn't a joke; he could actually assassinate Qiu Yuanlang...

Even though he had already joined the more powerful Iron Palm Sect, he still chose to assassinate Qiu Yuanlang when Qiu Yuanlang was off guard. It was clear that he knew that even if he joined the Iron Palm Sect, Qiu Yuanlang would definitely retaliate against the Feng Family afterward. Only by killing him could the Feng Family be truly safe.

Feng Qi did not betray the Feng Family. Even before assassinating Qiu Yuanlang, he had tried his best to distance himself from the Feng Family, defining the assassination of Qiu Yuanlang as upholding chivalrous righteousness.

He took all the blame upon himself!

Heavens!

But look at what I've done?

When Du Ge decided to sacrifice himself to assassinate Qiu Yuanlang, I sold him out first. At that time, Feng Qi's heart must have been broken!

After becoming an adult, Feng Shiyi had not shed tears, but at this moment, tears flowed uncontrollably. He wished he could slap himself twice to atone for his sins...

He was too stupid; he was a sinner of the family!

Once a member of the Maintenance/Protect, always a member of the Maintenance/Protect!

After Feng Qi was betrayed by him, the words Sacrifice oneself for righteousness spoken by Du Ge flashed into Feng Shiyi's mind again. He clenched his fists and instinctively stepped forward, about to assist Du Ge, but stopped the moment he took a step.

Before assassinating Qiu Yuanlang, he had said that his grievances with the Feng Family were settled and told me to return to the Feng Family!

Return?

This was a hint for me!

This was him, knowing he was going to die, telling me not to make a futile sacrifice and to do my best to preserve the Feng Family's strength!

So benevolent!

Having pieced together all the causes and effects, Feng Shiyi couldn't be bothered with the two scummy direct disciples in the woods anymore. He resolutely rushed into the night, weeping as he ran, " Feng Qi, wait for me. If you survive today, the Feng Family will repay you with utmost respect."