Protecting Justice by Holding the Gang Leader Hostage

No one paid attention to the escaping Feng Shiyi. The sect leader had been attacked, and the Iron Palm Sect members were already in chaos, swarming around.

"Stop!"

"Stop!"

"Save the sect leader!"

In a short while, Du Ge was surrounded by the Iron Palm Sect. He stopped stabbing Qiu Yuanlang's lower back and held the small throwing knife at his neck, pressing the tip slightly, breaking the skin. "Sect Leader Qiu, make them stop."

"Everyone, freeze," Qiu Yuanlang gasped and shouted.

Except for the first two stabs, the subsequent ones hadn't been deep, but Du Ge had done them so many times!

No matter how strong his Internal Energy was, being stabbed still hurt, and excessive bleeding could lead to dizziness. He felt like his lower back was being turned into a sieve. Moreover, Du Ge's initial two stabs had injured his internal organs, and he was starting to falter.

He could also feel the arm Du Ge had around his neck tightening, and if this continued, he would suffocate even if he wasn't killed by the knife.

Qiu Yuanlang hadn't really believed that Feng Qi was possessed by a Celestial Demon before, but now he did.

He knew how powerful his palm strikes were and how many times he had broken Feng Qi's arm. A serious bone injury would take a hundred days to heal, yet in an instant, Feng Qi's arm had recovered completely and was even stronger than before. Humans simply didn't have such regenerative abilities; he truly was a Celestial Demon.

If they continued to struggle, he would be the one to die first.

"Release the sect leader, or you'll die a terrible death," one hall master said, holding a long saber and staring intently at Du Ge.

Another hall master had captured Wang San, holding a sword to his neck. "Release the sect leader, or I'll kill your companion first."

Wang San still held the severed hand he had picked up earlier, caressing it obsessively, seemingly oblivious to his current predicament. He would occasionally look up at Feng Qi with a mournful gaze but remained silent.

With a sword at his throat, he dared not speak. What if the other party panicked and slit his throat? Who would he complain to?

"Threatening me with him is useless. For the sake of martial ethics, anyone can be sacrificed. Feng Qi can be, and Wang San certainly can be," Du Ge's eyes flashed with madness. "If I, Feng Qi, die, countless more Feng Qis will rise to continue fighting you."

"Do you think saying that will make me hesitate to kill him? Release the sect leader." The hall master pressed his sword down, and a bloodstain appeared on Wang San's neck. However, as Wang San continued to caress the severed hand, the wound slowly healed.

Even so, Wang San flinched instinctively.

"You release the sect leader, and I'll release him," the hall master said urgently.

Classic villain in movies takes hostages to threaten the hero? I'm not falling for that trick!

"Kill him!" Du Ge chuckled. "If you had accurate intel, you'd know I didn't even know him a day ago. Furthermore, Celestial Demons are in constant competition and are inherently enemies. Killing him would mean no loss for me."

"..." The hall master.

"Did you hear that? I told you, capturing me wouldn't work," Wang San said faintly.

"Han Zuo, release him," Qiu Yuanlang said loudly after glancing at him.

"Sect Leader," the hall master named Han Zuo hesitated, not moving.

"Release him. I'm not dead yet, do my words no longer count?" Qiu Yuanlang said sternly.

"Yes, Sect Leader." Han Zuo's expression darkened, and he reluctantly released Wang San.

Wang San gave him a disdainful look, hugged his collected severed hand, and calmly walked to Du Ge's side.

"Seventh Master's methods are indeed extraordinary," Qiu Yuanlang said, steadying his emotions. "You didn't kill me immediately, likely to secure your own escape route! How about this: you let me go, and I'll guarantee your safe departure. Tonight's events will be forgotten. If we delay further, and I die, you probably won't be able to leave the Iron Palm Sect."

"Sect Leader Qiu, Feng Qi is killing you to uphold martial justice..." Du Ge insisted.

"The martial world is full of corruption. Which of the Five Sects and Three Schools can claim their own affairs are clean? Without unscrupulous means, how would they have achieved their current status?" Qiu Yuanlang sneered. "Will killing me truly cleanse the martial world?"

He coughed a few times. "Seventh Master, you have divine abilities, and I have martial power. If you and I cooperate and jointly lead the Iron Palm Sect, enjoying wealth and status, wouldn't that be wonderful? Seventh Master is an intelligent person. If you truly cared about martial ethics, you would have killed me already, not put on a show and taken me hostage..."

"Sect Leader Qiu, it's naturally impossible to reverse the corrupt trends in the martial world single-handedly, which is why I didn't kill you!" Du Ge suddenly smiled. He looked at the two hall masters and the menacing sect members opposite him and said, "There are hundreds, even thousands, of Celestial Demons mixed among the populace. For their own benefit, Celestial Demons can wreak havoc on the martial world at any time. The thought of this happening pains me deeply.

Therefore, I not only want to uphold martial ethics but also to quell the impending chaos and protect the peace of the martial world. Sect Leader Qiu, my original intention was for you to assist me, using the power of the Iron Palm Sect to jointly uphold martial justice, expel the Celestial Demons, and restore clarity to the martial world..."

"..." Wang San's breathing hitched. He suddenly understood Feng Qi's intention. This guy was really flipping the table again! He was determined to charge headlong down the path of self-destruction!

He's insane!

Qiu Yuanlang spat out a mouthful of blood. If you want to deal with others, fine, but why use such a high-sounding excuse?

If you want to win me over, you should have severely injured me first and then discussed it properly!

Is this how you do things?

Uphold martial ethics?

Bah!

"Alright, I agree," Qiu Yuanlang said urgently.

"Sect Leader Qiu agreed so readily, is there a trick?" Du Ge was taken aback and asked.

"What trick? You stabbed me how many times? If we talked any longer, I'd be dead! If I die, who here can make the decisions?" Qiu Yuanlang said exasperatedly.

"..." Du Ge was stunned for a moment, then chuckled dryly. "Sect Leader Qiu speaks wisely."

"If you want to cooperate, hurry up and find someone to treat my wounds..." Qiu Yuanlang, who had been holding on with all his might, understood Du Ge's true intentions. The willpower supporting him instantly collapsed. He quickly said one sentence, his body went limp, and he fainted rapidly.

Du Ge's arm around Qiu Yuanlang's neck suddenly went limp. He quickly tightened his grip, holding Qiu Yuanlang up. He felt for a breath and urgently shouted, "Han Zuo, what are you standing around for? Go find someone to treat the Sect Leader! If the Sect Leader dies, you'll be the sinner of the Iron Palm Sect."

"..." Han Zuo choked on his words. Damn it, the Sect Leader was clearly heavily injured by you, so why is it my fault if he dies?

Despite his grumbling, he didn't dare to delay. He shot Du Ge a fierce glare and leaped back into the sect twice to find a doctor.

The remaining sect members still glared menacingly at Du Ge, afraid he would escape.

Du Ge smiled faintly, his arm still holding Qiu Yuanlang by the neck. With his other hand, he held a flying dagger to Qiu Yuanlang's throat and looked at the remaining hall master. "Esteemed Hall Master, please restrain your disciples. The Sect Leader and I have just reached an agreement. I wouldn't want his death to disrupt the great peace that is about to descend upon the martial arts world. Otherwise, Feng Qi would become a sinner to the entire Jianghu."

Wang San glanced at Du Ge, his heart trembling. Holy crap, he actually pulled it off!

It's only been two days!

Feng Qi actually took a quasi-first-rate expert hostage and turned a respectable second-tier major sect into his pawn. Is there no justice?

He calmly opened his personal profile and checked his rank, which had risen to 33. He couldn't help but swallow. Even he, who had just been drumming up support, had advanced over two hundred places. The ranking of Feng Qi, who was the mastermind, must have already reached first place in the simulation!

Among the disciples of the Iron Palm Sect, a low-level grunt who had witnessed the entire event widened his eyes, looking at Du Ge and Wang San in disbelief. He was about to lose his mind.

Who are these two guys?

They're too fierce!

I finally managed to establish myself in the Iron Palm Sect and was preparing to find an opportunity to climb up. You guys just took over the Iron Palm Sect, making me look like a complete failure!