Peacekeeping Joint Defense

"There's a Celestial Demon in the gang? Really?"

"No way, the Celestial Demon's features are too obvious. How could they hide for two days without being discovered?"

"I also think the old leader is lying. He was treated so badly by Feng Qi. If there was a Celestial Demon hiding, it would be great for him to cause trouble for Feng Qi later. He'd never reveal it even if he died! Revealing it means it's fake..."

"Careful, careful, don't let the new leader hear you."

"I wasn't badmouthing the leader, what am I afraid of? I think the old leader feels he's not up to it anymore and just made up a story to negotiate with the new leader, asking the new leader to save him, or, as the other announcement said, to see his children before he dies."

A group of Peacekeeping Gang members were pointing and discussing under the announcement.

In the crowd.

A young man in his twenties maintained a calm exterior, but his heart was a tempest. Really or not? I've been so low-key, how could I have been discovered?

Is he trying to trick me?

No, I have to leave!

No, I can't leave. Leaving would be a real exposure. If Feng Qi dared to do this, he must have planted spies in the gang. If there's any abnormality, I'll be dealt with...

Why is it so hard to just live a quiet life?

"Shao Zhou, what's wrong?" someone next to him nudged his shoulder and asked with a smile, "You've been quiet for a long time. Don't tell me you've been possessed by a Celestial Demon!"

"If I were possessed by a Celestial Demon, I would have joined the leader long ago and lived a life of luxury. Why would I be hanging out with you bunch of scumbags?" Shao Zhou replied. "I'm thinking about who around here is suspicious. Reporting them might earn me some merit with the leader."

"Holy crap, you're good! Come on, come on, Celestial Demons have attributes. Let's think carefully, who has been different these past two days? We can report them together to the leader. I heard that most Celestial Demons like to possess the weak and sickly. The leader is generous, and there will definitely be rewards..." The man's eyes lit up at the suggestion, and he said enthusiastically.

"I was just saying, you're actually going to report people? If the Celestial Demon finds out later, they'll stab you," Shao Zhou chuckled.

"I was just joking too. We're all brothers, how can we do something as dirty as backstabbing..." The man chuckled and brushed it off, clearly not taking Shao Zhou's words seriously.

Shao Zhou knew this and stopped trying to persuade him. With so many people reporting, he could slip away later and check on the old leader's condition. Whether it was a bluff or not would be clear then.

A table of food and wine was laid out. Du Ge and Feng Zhong ate and chatted, occasionally glancing at the room where Qiu Yuanlang and his son were recuperating, looking for any suspicious individuals.

"Seventh Brother, whose family are you from?" Feng Zhong asked.

"Whose family?" Du Ge countered.

"You're indifferent to food and skilled in keyword disguise. If you say you're not from the Elite Academy, even ghosts wouldn't believe it," Feng Zhong said. "There are three thousand people in this simulation. It brings together candidates from six Civilian Schools and two elite schools. Maybe we're even from the same school! Even if not, we can find out by asking around. We both made it into the top ten this time. Just give me your name, and I'll find you after we leave. We can enter the alien battlefield together then, a strong alliance..."

"I'm from a Civilian School. Don't look for me. Once we leave the exam, we won't know each other," Du Ge said.

"Seventh Brother, you're too wary," Feng Zhong smiled. "As long as you leave with the first place in the simulation, it'll be hard not to become famous. It's settled, I'll find you then."

"It's only temporary first place, I might not hold onto it until the end..." Du Ge said, then suddenly stopped.

"What's wrong?" Feng Zhong asked.

"This dish is bitter," Du Ge spat out the food in his mouth, stood up, and said, "Forget it, I'm not eating anymore. Let's go, let's go to the Hall of Redress."

"Aren't you staying to watch Qiu Yuanlang?" Feng Zhong asked.

"Two incense masters watching is enough. Your Tongue of Right and Wrong is too unpredictable. Who knows when that guy will show up?" Du Ge said. "We can't neglect our main business just because of a few potential Celestial Demons."

Just now, he felt his attributes had significantly declined, dropping by at least a fifth in a short instant. He immediately realized the danger of his keyword being exposed. He was being targeted. A backstab was unlikely to cause issues, so it must be Maintenance/Protect that was targeted. He had to figure out what happened. The limitations of Backstab were too high, and its growth was difficult. The foundation of Maintenance/Protect couldn't be lost. He had to find a way to conceal Maintenance/Protect, patch up the previous loopholes, and make everyone believe Maintenance/Protect was his disguise...

Before reaching the Hall of Redress, Du Ge saw Liu Cheng riding back on horseback. The two stopped.

Liu Cheng leaped off his horse and flew to Du Ge, saying hurriedly, "Leader, something's happened!"

"What is it?" Du Ge asked.

"The silver we gave to the victims yesterday was robbed," Liu Cheng said. "The robbers were wearing Peacekeeping Gang uniforms. They not only stole the silver but also beat people up and threatened them not to speak of it. Now, it's all over Luyang City privately, saying our Maintenance/Protect is a sham, and... that the leader wants to set up a monument while being a prostitute..."

Recalling Du Ge's inexplicable behavior just now, Feng Zhong glanced at him thoughtfully. Good heavens. Could his keyword really be Maintenance/Protect?

Seeing that Du Ge's attention was on Liu Cheng, he quietly opened his status panel and checked his ranking. He was still ninth, with no progress forward. He sighed inwardly. It really isn't Maintenance/Protect. Fortunately, I was smart enough to check my ranking first. If it were truly Maintenance/Protect, with such a damaged reputation, his attributes would have plummeted long ago. He wouldn't be able to hold onto the first place position.

However, even if it wasn't Maintenance/Protect, it should be related to it. His attributes must have been affected. I have to admit, Feng Qi disguised the real keyword too well.

Du Ge saw Feng Zhong's subtle movements from the back of his head, but he didn't pay them any mind.

After all.

Everyone has a voyeuristic desire. Prying into others' secrets is human nature.

By using this incident to cover up the peacekeeping efforts, Feng Zhong would never suspect anything this way again.

"Gang Leader, it must have been Han Zuo and his men," Liu Cheng continued. "We need to find a way to eliminate them. We can't let them continue to tarnish the Peacekeeping Gang's reputation. I have an idea. Let's tie up the old gang leader and take him outside Luyang City to force them out!"

"What kind of nonsense is that? We are the Peacekeeping Gang, not a mob. Our principles are maintaining righteousness, fairness, and justice. You were even brought up by the old gang leader. Threatening someone with a dying old man, even if it succeeds, how will the world see us? Will they still believe in our Peacekeeping Gang?" Du Ge glared at Liu Cheng and reprimanded him, "We must solve this problem honorably. Finding the culprit and rebuilding public confidence is the right path."

Right, right, everything you say is right!

The old gang leader wasn't beaten into critical condition by you, and it wasn't you who threatened others with his finger back then...

You're so noble, you're amazing!

I'm the villain, okay!

If I dare to give you any more suggestions, I'll be your son...

Liu Cheng's eye twitched as he grumbled inwardly, "Gang Leader, what should we do?"

"The enemy is hidden, and we are exposed. Our manpower is limited. Investigating the culprit with our current strength is clearly unrealistic. We need to find some helpers." Du Ge turned to look at Feng Zhong. "Feng Zhong, go write some invitation letters and invite the representatives of the three sects and five factions stationed in Luyang City to come discuss matters. Say that we want to establish a Peacekeeping Joint Defense Alliance, inviting them to join us in maintaining martial ethics and peace in the martial world."

Liu Cheng froze, looking at Du Ge with a strange expression. This had nothing to do with finding the culprit.

Peacekeeping Joint Defense?

You can barely protect yourself, and you want others to join you in maintaining justice?

Besides, those are people from the three sects and five factions. Even the old gang leader wouldn't dare to do this. A small Peacekeeping Gang with less than five hundred members, why would they listen to you?

How thick-skinned are you?

At this moment, Liu Cheng suddenly regretted joining this darn Peacekeeping Gang. If he had known Du Ge was such an unreliable guy, he shouldn't have come back to report. He should have turned around and left, wandering the world...

Feng Qi's actions were always surprising. Feng Zhong didn't know what he was planning and was stunned for a moment before asking, "Seventh Brother, isn't it too early to provoke the three sects and five factions at this time?"

"It's not too early," Du Ge said with a smile. "Maintaining martial ethics is the responsibility and obligation of every person in the martial world. By jointly maintaining a good living environment, everyone can live a better life!"