Through a mix of force and persuasion, kindness and severity, Du Ge quickly stabilized the Iron Palm Sect. He had a merciful heart but wielded the thunderbolt when needed.
The physician from the night before was summoned again to treat the old sect master and his son. As he examined them, he muttered, "Keep this up and they'll be crippled. What's the point? Why not take care of your bodies?"
Du Ge came over to the physician and asked, "Doctor, can Sect Master Qiu still be saved?"
"His body is strong. I can save him, but he'll need at least two years of rest to recover." The physician glanced at Du Ge, a trace of fear flashing in his eyes, but answered honestly, "Even if he recovers, the old sect master's martial arts will never return to what they were."
"Save them. Do everything you can. They must both live. Without the old sect master, there would be no Peacekeeping Gang today. Feng Qi isn't an evil man. He stands for justice and would never commit such a vile act as killing people for their wealth. The old sect master misunderstood me." Du Ge looked regretfully at Qiu Yuanlang, then clasped his hands toward the physician. "Doctor, you must save the old sect master. I want him to see that the Iron Palm Sect he worked so hard to build hasn't fallen apart. It's only changed its name, and under my protection, it will grow ever stronger."
How could he say something so shameless with a straight face and not even blush?
He wanted to save them so he could use Qiu Yuanlang's children to keep him in check!
The physician's eyelids twitched involuntarily. He sighed helplessly. He saw through it all, but if a physician wanted to live a long life, the most important thing was to stay out of matters that didn't concern him. So he lowered his head and tended to Qiu Yuanlang and his son. "I will."
Elsewhere, Liu Cheng had men bring in box after box of gold and silver. He lifted the lids, displaying the glittering treasure for all to see. The Iron Palm Sect controlled the canal transport, so money was the one thing they never lacked.
Money could make ghosts turn a millstone, and it could make people cry out that they'd been wronged.
That had been true since time immemorial.
People who suffered injustice and harm had always ended up ruined, while no one had ever made a fortune from it.
But the people of this world had suffered oppression for so long that, apart from those with a deep grudge like the lame old man from before, silver was the best thing in the world to them. It could soothe any wound.
Besides, Du Ge had openly declared himself the Peacekeeping Gang's leader and had acted with decisive ruthlessness. He clearly wasn't going to grab some fame and then leave, which gave the people a much-needed sense of security.
The people who had fled in fear earlier came swarming back, in even greater numbers than before.
With a cheerful grin, Du Ge resumed playing the benevolent magistrate, doling out generous portions of gold and silver to the victims and enjoying the benefits of keeping the peace.
"Old Yuan, did you see clearly?" the Beggar's Sect's seventh-rank elder asked the middle-aged beggar beside him. "What kind of movement technique did Feng Qi use to kick Qiu Feilong flying?"
The beggar called Old Yuan had kept his eyes on Du Ge the whole time. He shook his head. "Elder Ding, if even you couldn't see it clearly, how could I? I blinked, and he was already there. Maybe he really is a demon. Thank goodness it was the Iron Palm Sect that provoked him. If he'd come after us, with skills like his, no one in our Luyang City branch could have escaped his clutches—not even you, Elder."
"You think too highly of me. Even Qiu Yuanlang fell to him. How could I possibly beat him?" Elder Ding's expression was grave, though he was also deeply relieved. "Besides, someone of his ability probably wouldn't bother with a little branch like ours."
"Even if he did, he wouldn't dare provoke us, would he? We're the greatest gang under heaven. We could bury him under sheer numbers." Old Yuan said.
"The Iron Palm Sect had plenty of people. Did they bury him?" Elder Ding snorted. "Qiu Yuanlang's fate is unknown, and the sect has no leader. Yet with just a few words, Du Ge has changed its name and reshaped it. Once your martial arts reach his level, you can't be killed just by piling people on top of him. I used to have my doubts about whether they were really Heavenly Demons. Now I'm seventy or eighty percent sure."
"Exactly. No normal person could do something like that. The man beside Feng Qi, the one who toys with people's hearts, is practically a lunatic," Old Yuan said. "And Feng Qi, too—he may be winning people over, but what he's doing makes no sense. When the Martial Saint Qiao He rose to prominence, he befriended the sects of the martial world. But Feng Qi took action on behalf of the common people. What could he possibly gain from that? Would these ordinary folk be any help to him in a crisis? The only explanation is that he really means what he says about keeping the peace. Even if he wants to be emperor, he'd need the support of the Three Sects and Five Schools first!"
"Feng Qi's attribute is keeping the peace. What's the attribute of that madman who manipulates people?" Elder Ding asked. "And who was the person he was willing to let Qiu Yuanlang go in order to capture? Probably another Heavenly Demon, right? Old Yuan, we know too little about the Heavenly Demons. Find someone to investigate the Feng Family and find out what these Heavenly Demons are all about..."
"Understood." Old Yuan nodded, took up his Dog-Beating Staff, and turned to leave.
After a moment's thought, Elder Ding walked over to the representative from the Taishan Sect. Whatever the truth about Feng Qi and the Heavenly Demons, the upheaval in the Iron Palm Sect would eventually reach him. He needed to discuss it with the sect representatives stationed in Luyang City and prepare in advance.
Luyang City.
Qiu Muqian and Han Zuo soon learned what had happened at the Iron Palm Sect.
When she heard Qiu Yuanlang had been gravely injured again, Qiu Muqian went pale and swayed. Gritting her teeth, she said, "He can't do anything right, but he can ruin everything."
Han Zuo remained silent.
"Hall Master Han, can I trust you?" Qiu Muqian steadied herself and looked at him.
"Third Miss, the old sect master saved my life. Feng Qi can't drive a wedge between us with a few words," Han Zuo said. "Just tell me what you need. I'll risk my life to save the old sect master."
"Father and my eldest brother are in Feng Qi's hands. If we go back now, we'll be walking right into a trap." Qiu Muqian collected herself and continued, "Feipeng and Hall Master Yan were sent by my eldest brother to the Feng Family to investigate. They should be on their way back by now. Intercept them and don't let them return to the Iron Palm Sect. Once you meet up, find a way to intercept Hall Master Lou and Hall Master Li too, especially Feibao. He's impulsive, and I'm afraid he'll rush to save Father and fall into Feng Qi's hands as well. There aren't many people at the main sect. If we can control the forces outside, Feng Qi won't be able to keep eating away at the Iron Palm Sect. Then we'll still have a chance to fight back."
"I understand." Han Zuo nodded, then asked, "What about you, Third Miss?"
"I'm going to the Divine Fist School to seek out Master Tong. He and Father are old friends. With his help, we'll have a better chance of rescuing Father," Qiu Muqian said. "Until I return, no matter what Feng Qi does, don't interfere. Let him do as he pleases. Remember, you must wait for me to come back."
Han Zuo hesitated. "But the old sect master..."
Qiu Muqian bit her lip and glanced toward the Iron Palm Sect. "Feng Qi won't let my father die before he has control of the entire Iron Palm Sect. Just do as I say."
After discussing a few more details, they left their followers in the city and set off in separate directions.
Leaving aside Qiu Muqian, who went to seek reinforcements, Han Zuo had only one road to take from the Feng Family to Luyang City. He had barely gone five miles out of the city when he intercepted Qiu Feipeng and the others returning from the Feng Family.
They had not only returned themselves, but had also captured Feng Shiren and several other key members of the Feng Family. The captives had been sealed at their pressure points and stuffed into a carriage. They sat with their heads bowed, looking utterly dejected.
Feng Jiu, meanwhile, sat in the carriage, eating and drinking like there was no tomorrow. He looked ready to burst and had no time to speak.
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