A Surprise for the Gang Leader

The physician hurried over and applied wound medicine to Qiu Yuanlang, stopping the bleeding before ordering him to be carried back to his residence for further treatment.

From beginning to end, Du Ge stayed by Qiu Yuanlang's side, sword in hand, attending to him with utmost care and frequently inquiring about the patient's condition. If he hadn't held a sword to the sect leader's throat, he would have been the sect leader's closest confidant.

Seeing Feng Qi venturing into danger, Wang San opened his mouth to speak but hesitated for a moment before swallowing his words and silently following Du Ge.

With Qiu Yuanlang heavily injured, leaving with him would mean the Iron Palm Sect members would continue to pursue them. If Qiu Yuanlang died during the journey, they would have no retreat. It was safer to bring him into the Iron Palm Sect's territory for a stable recovery.

Feng Qi could always make the most correct decision in a short amount of time. Compared to him, Wang San realized his own thinking was still lacking.

The Iron Palm Sect was a martial arts sect, and injured disciples were common. The physician handled the wound with practiced ease, but this was the first time he had treated a patient with a sword pointed at him. Usually, he was the one forcing physicians to treat the injured.

If you're worried he'll die, why stab him so many times?

The physician grumbled internally but dared not act out of line. Du Ge was accompanied by someone who kept chuckling foolishly at a severed hand, a clear case of a hand fetish. Two individuals with such eccentric behavior carrying out an assassination must not be normal people.

The physician trembled as he treated the wound, fearing that a single mistake would not only incur the wrath of his hall master but also earn him a sword thrust from the two madmen holding their sect leader hostage.

"Physician, steady your hands. This is your sect leader. You must save him, or the Iron Palm Sect will be finished," Du Ge admonished the physician. He then looked at Han Zuo and the others nearby and snapped, "You two, move aside. You're blocking the physician's light."

"Feng Qi, do you have any conscience? The sect leader has already agreed to your terms. Can't you release him first and let the physician treat him properly?" Han Zuo glared at Du Ge, his anger reaching its peak.

"Hall Master Han, our alliance is still fragile. I fear that ill-intentioned individuals may harm me or the sect leader, disrupting the excellent situation we've painstakingly established," Du Ge said with a straight face after a moment of silence. "Righteousness must be protected by the sword. This is a last resort; please forgive me."

Wang San glanced at Du Ge, silently learning his rhetoric and simultaneously reflecting on himself. Compared to Du Ge, his understanding of the yandere persona was too rigid. Du Ge integrated it so naturally, speaking and acting as if Feng Qi had always been that way. Wang San had to admit his inferiority.

"Damn you...!" Han Zuo was so enraged that his "three souls were leaping" and "seven orifices were spewing smoke." He clenched his sword-holding hand, loosening it again. He desperately wanted to charge forward and hack Feng Qi into eight pieces but dared not act. He couldn't bear the responsibility of causing the sect leader's death; if the sect leader died, the Iron Palm Sect would truly be finished.

"Senior Brother Han, please remain calm. Let's save the sect leader first," the less talkative hall master said, glancing at Du Ge. "When the sect leader awakens, he will handle all sect matters."

"May I know this hall master's surname?" Du Ge asked, looking at him.

"Liu Cheng," the man replied.

"So, it's Hall Master Liu," Du Ge smiled. "I observe Hall Master Liu to be calm and steady, a man capable of great deeds. Have you notified the other hall masters and Sect Leader Qiu's family of tonight's events?"

Liu Cheng was taken aback. "I have."

"When will they arrive?" Du Ge inquired.

"Those nearby will arrive tomorrow, and those farther away within three to five days," Liu Cheng answered cooperatively, responding to every question Du Ge asked.

"Hall Master Liu's plan is likely to appease me for now, and then discuss how to deal with me once others arrive, isn't it?" Du Ge smiled and asked.

"I wouldn't dare," Liu Cheng said, pointing at the unconscious Qiu Yuanlang. "The sect leader is in your hands."

"A person cannot go without eating or drinking. As long as there's consumption, there's an opportunity for poisoning. However, few poisons can kill instantly upon contact with blood and incapacitate someone immediately. Therefore, you most likely won't do that."

Du Ge looked at him with a smile. "So, the only remaining path is to assassinate me when I'm off guard and seize the opportunity to rescue the sect leader. After all, a person's energy is limited; one can't even sleep. Perhaps you've already arranged archers outside, waiting for me to doze off and strike me down with an arrow."

Wang San looked up at Liu Cheng, contemplating whether it was time for him to make his move.

But Du Ge hadn't given the signal, so he couldn't act rashly.

Since Du Ge's sudden attack, they had been under constant surveillance, and the two hadn't even had a chance to confer.

The current situation was not part of the plan, and Wang San didn't know where to start to cooperate.

The side effects of Fear of the Delicate were too great. Using it would ruin Feng Qi's plans, which would be counterproductive. Therefore, he could only wait patiently, maintaining his persona with a severed hand while quietly increasing his stats.

Liu Cheng's expression remained unchanged. "I will not gamble with the sect leader's life. I cannot bear the consequences of the archers failing."

"While he is unconscious, you naturally wouldn't risk him. That's why you said that when the sect leader awakens, he will handle sect affairs," Du Ge said, as if he were a detective who had seen through everything. "With Qiu Yuanlang unconscious, he is at my mercy. But once he wakes up, with his cultivation, it shouldn't be difficult for him to temporarily break free from my control. Perhaps you've not only summoned hall masters from various regions but also invited experts to ensure success. After all, after so many years in the martial arts world, who doesn't have three to five close friends of similar skill?"

"Seventh Master does have a sharp mind," Liu Cheng sneered, interrupting Du Ge. "I don't have as many convoluted thoughts as you. Just rest assured, since the sect leader has agreed to cooperate with you, no one will touch you before he awakens."

"No one will touch me before Old Qiu wakes up?" Du Ge chuckled.

Old Qiu?

A vein throbbed on Liu Cheng's forehead. He suppressed his anger. "Naturally."

"What if he never wakes up?" Du Ge turned to look at the unconscious Qiu Yuanlang, his eyes gleaming with anticipation. "Like now, neither waking nor dying. Then I can be safe and sound forever."

The physician's hand trembled almost imperceptibly.

"Damn it!" Liu Cheng clenched his fist and was about to lunge at Du Ge. But at that very moment, Du Ge shifted his sword slightly, and Liu Cheng's movement froze. He took a deep breath, glared at Du Ge with a ashen face, and finally understood why Han Zuo would fly into a rage so easily. This guy was infuriating to talk to.

"That's more like it. Deep down, you care a lot about Old Qiu, so why act so calm?" Du Ge said, having easily broken through Liu Cheng's psychological defenses. He looked at Liu Cheng with encouraging eyes. "Hall Master Liu, one's mental health is very important and needs constant Maintenance/Protect. Learn from us Celestial Demon, express your true feelings directly, and life won't be so tiring."

"..." Liu Cheng took a deep breath, not wanting to say another word to Du Ge.

Wang San silently curled his lips. If I could beat you, I'd slap you twice. Maintenance/Protect is an auxiliary keyword, how did you use it so annoyingly?

"Rest assured, Old Qiu is now my partner. I intend to work with him to achieve great things. Even if you wish him dead, I will protect him," Du Ge said, shaking his head and sighing softly.

"No one wants the sect leader dead," Liu Cheng said through gritted teeth.

"Mm," Du Ge nodded, then changed the subject. "Two hall masters, why don't we give Old Qiu a surprise!"

Liu Cheng and Han Zuo exchanged glances, a bad premonition flashing through their minds simultaneously. Liu Cheng asked with a trembling voice, "What surprise?"

"One must be strong to forge iron. The Iron Palm Sect, from top to bottom, is rotten to the core," Du Ge stated. "We must Maintenance/Protect the righteousness of the martial arts world, peace, integrity, and stability. With the Iron Palm Sect's current reputation, it's clearly insufficient. Therefore, we must start by reforming ourselves and transform the Iron Palm Sect into a positive and praiseworthy sect. I believe we should re-establish sect rules.

Thoroughly investigate all members. Any disciple who oppresses the common people will be publicly executed. All usury, unpaid labor, and the like will be abolished. Forced abductions of women must not happen; those already abducted will be returned, along with compensation...

Even our core canal transport business, I think the prices can be lowered to be more accessible to the common people..."

"..." Liu Cheng.

"..." Han Zuo.

"The name Iron Palm Sect is also not ideal; it carries too much killing intent and doesn't fit our new image of Maintenance/Protecting martial arts justice," Du Ge said after some thought. "Why not change the name as well? Let's rename it Peacekeeping Gang, simple and direct..."