Feng Qi, Who Went Too Far

With their father in Du Ge's hands, Qiu Feilong could only swallow his indignation and humiliate himself by agreeing to Du Ge's demands.

Two more hours passed.

Qiu Feipeng, Yan Wu, and Qiu Muqian returned one after another. When they saw that the Iron Palm Sect's sign had been replaced with one bearing the name Peacekeeping Gang, they were just as furious. But this time, Qiu Feilong stopped them and explained what had happened. They could only choke back their anger and change into the Peacekeeping Gang's uniforms, each of them seething with humiliation.

"Third Sister, what do we do? We have to find a way to rescue Father! If Feng Qi keeps tormenting him, the Iron Palm Sect will become a laughingstock." Qiu Feilong had already learned the whole story. "I think that guy is serious..."

"Is he really the Heavenly Demon?" Qiu Muqian was around twenty-seven or twenty-eight. Her hair was pinned up, and she was dressed like a married woman. She stared from a distance at her father's door and asked with a frown.

"I questioned all the gang members who witnessed what happened yesterday. Feng Qi's behavior really is out of the ordinary. Just now, I sent Feipeng and Yan Wu to investigate the Feng Family," Qiu Feilong said. "But they'll need at least three hours to get back."

"Can we kill him?" Qiu Muqian asked.

"I've considered it," Han Zuo said. "But Feng Qi is very clever. Last night, he hinted that if we didn't kill him with a single strike, he'd kill the gang leader first. We can't risk it."

"Does he ever let his guard down?" Qiu Muqian asked.

"He's been alert and energetic the whole time. He doesn't look tired at all." Han Zuo's eyes were bloodshot as he shook his head. "He hasn't even switched the hand holding his sword..."

His voice cut off abruptly. He turned to look at Qiu Yuanlang's door.

Qiu Yuanlang, pale and trembling, came out through the doorway. Bandages covered his body, and he wore a Peacekeeping Gang uniform. Du Ge stood behind him, his long sword still pressed against Qiu Yuanlang's neck.

Liu Cheng carried a chair over with a blank expression and stood to one side. Beside him, Wang San still held his severed hand, muttering to himself.

"Gang Leader!"

"Father!"

"Father!"

The three of them were shocked and hurried over.

"Feng Qi, don't push things too far! My father's injured like that. How could you make him come out?" Qiu Muqian demanded, her face deathly pale.

Behind her, Qiu Feilong tugged at her clothes repeatedly, warning her not to act rashly.

Du Ge glanced at Qiu Muqian and ignored her. He turned and called to Liu Cheng, "Hall Master Liu, the chair."

Liu Cheng hurriedly set the chair beside Qiu Yuanlang.

"Gang Leader Qiu, please sit. The physician said you're still weak and shouldn't overexert yourself." Du Ge supported Qiu Yuanlang with concern and helped him sit down.

The Iron Palm Sect's banner had been replaced by one bearing the character "Peace." The gang members moving around the courtyard all wore Peacekeeping Gang uniforms. Even the hall masters had changed their clothes...

Looking at the Iron Palm Sect, transformed beyond recognition overnight, Qiu Yuanlang's eyelid twitched involuntarily. He sighed. "Seventh Master, you've got quite a way with things."

"I'm nothing special. It's all thanks to your skill at leading your subordinates." Du Ge smiled. "Your people are all loyal. I've benefited from your good fortune. If even one or two of them had disregarded your safety and tried to stage a coup, I couldn't have gotten this far. All they'd have needed was a few dozen strong bows, surrounding the room and firing wildly. I'd have been full of arrows by now."

"..." Qiu Yuanlang fell silent. For a moment, he didn't know whether to feel relieved or miserable.

"Father, don't worry. I'll find a way to rescue you," Qiu Muqian said.

"Miss Qiu, I'll say this just once: I haven't done anything to your father. We're partners. If you keep treating me as an enemy, you'll bring consequences upon yourself that you won't be able to bear." Du Ge frowned at her. "The Peacekeeping Gang is going to do great things. We're no longer the undisciplined Iron Palm Sect we used to be. As a hall master, you need to set an example and uphold discipline within the gang. Don't say things that undermine unity again."

"You..." Qiu Muqian looked at the sword Du Ge had moved to her father's finger, her eyes brimming with tears. "Yes."

"Seventh Master, whether it's justice or peace, threats aren't a sustainable solution," Qiu Yuanlang said weakly with a sigh. "Why don't we sit down and talk this over, and work out an arrangement we can all accept?"

"We do need to talk, but first we have to get moving. We don't have much time." Du Ge smiled and shook his head. "Old Qiu, I didn't establish the Peacekeeping Gang as a joke. I genuinely intend to get things done. Hall Master Han, gather the gang members. I have a few things to announce."

Han Zuo looked at Qiu Yuanlang.

Qiu Yuanlang nodded to him. "Go ahead. From this moment on, Seventh Master's orders are my orders. Since I've agreed to cooperate, we need to show our sincerity."

Han Zuo turned and left.

Qiu Yuanlang said no more. He silently circulated his energy to heal his wounds. After all, he was under someone else's control and couldn't do anything.

He wanted to see what Feng Qi, who had been holding him hostage all this time, could accomplish.

Feng Qi wanted to use him to threaten the gang members. As long as he didn't drive Feng Qi to desperation, his life wouldn't be in danger. Everyone let their guard down eventually. Once Feng Qi relaxed, Qiu Yuanlang would escape his grasp, and the Iron Palm Sect would still be his.

Decades of work couldn't be undone by some young upstart changing his clothes and the name of the gang.

A short while later.

The Iron Palm Sect's members gathered in the courtyard. Dressed in matching uniforms, they looked quite spirited, but their eyes were full of anger whenever they looked at Du Ge.

After all, the man had tormented them for an entire night.

"Everyone." Du Ge surveyed the crowd. "As of last night, the Iron Palm Sect is a thing of the past. We have a new name: the Peacekeeping Gang. Today, in front of our former gang leader, I'll restate the Peacekeeping Gang's rules: uphold peace, justice, stability, order, morality, fairness—even protect the environment...

"In short, we'll uphold whatever can be upheld, and find a way to uphold whatever can't."

"..." Wang San swallowed. Good grief. So that was how you could use a keyword?

"Han Zuo, find a few literate members and have them write down our principles. Post them on every street in Luyang City. We must make sure every citizen knows we've changed." Du Ge looked at Han Zuo again and instructed him. "We want everyone to know that when they're bullied by tyrants, they can come to us; when they're treated unfairly, they can come to us. They can bring their problems to us, and we'll solve them. First, we'll create a peaceful and stable environment in Luyang City, then gradually expand outward, influencing the entire martial world, the whole country..."

Han Zuo looked at Qiu Yuanlang again. This was a big deal, and he wasn't sure he could make the decision himself.

"Why do you keep looking at me? Didn't I just say that Seventh Master's orders are my orders?" Qiu Yuanlang said.

Han Zuo sighed silently. He picked out the literate members of the gang and sent someone to fetch brushes, ink, and paper.

His expression was gloomy. He felt that if this kept up, even if the gang leader reclaimed the Iron Palm Sect, there'd be no place for him in it anymore.

Why had Feng Qi singled him out to pick on?

It only took a little while to set up more than ten tables. The literate members gathered together and discussed how to write the notices.

Du Ge glanced at them, then turned to Han Zuo and asked, "Hall Master Han, when you had the uniforms made and the sign changed last night, you didn't pay the artisans triple wages like I told you to, did you?"

"..." Han Zuo froze. "It was all so rushed last night that I didn't get around to it."

"I see you're used to throwing your weight around!" Du Ge scoffed. "If we want to uphold justice, we have to stand on solid ground ourselves. If we can't even be fair and just, how could the people believe in us? In a little while, personally take some people to pay the artisans we disturbed last night the wages they're owed. Then apologize to them, earn their forgiveness, and explain our new principles to them."

Han Zuo paused, then cupped his fist toward Du Ge. "Yes."

"Don't just go through the motions," Du Ge said. "Whether you're sincere in everything you do will be reflected in my growth. If my strength doesn't increase, that means you haven't done your job properly. I'll cut off one of Gang Leader Qiu's fingers. If you fail once, I'll cut off one; if you fail twice, I'll cut off two..."

"You..." Qiu Muqian flew into a rage.

"Hmm?" Du Ge turned to her. "Hall Master Qiu, is there a problem?"

Looking at the long sword against her father's finger, Qiu Muqian took a deep breath. "I'm fine."

"If you're fine, go supervise Hall Master Han, so he doesn't leave in a fit of wounded pride," Du Ge said with a nod. "After all, Old Qiu is your father, and you care about him more than Han Zuo does. If Han Zuo really runs off, I'll cut off your father's fingers..."

"..." Han Zuo.

"..." Qiu Muqian.

Qiu Yuanlang sighed silently. He suddenly understood why Du Ge hadn't wanted to negotiate with him. Using him to pressure his subordinates into carrying out orders was clearly more effective than any negotiation.

Du Ge looked around at the crowd and continued, "Also, Hall Master Han, take care of all the dirty business within the gang I told you about yesterday. Make amends where needed, apologize where needed, and get the victims to forgive us. We have to show the people of Luyang City the utmost sincerity and prove that we've changed..."