Apocalypse: I Have One More Keyword Than Others

Chapter 35: 035 One of a kind

Chapter 35: 035 One of a kind

“Have you heard? The Iron Palm Gang was somehow taken over by someone, and they were forced to change into the Peacekeeping Gang. They’re making the former gang members reform and apologize all over the city, right? Even their clothes have changed.”

“I saw it too, they’re plastering notices everywhere in the city, talking about maintaining peace and rooting out the scum of Martial Worlds, saying that if we have any grievances, we can go to them. They talk a good game, but I don’t believe a word of it.”

“Neither do I. Didn’t Zhang Laoer’s eldest daughter get snatched away by the Iron Palm Gang a few days ago? She was just returned, with a large sum of money in tow. They knelt at the doorway begging for Zhang Laoer’s forgiveness, swelling their own faces with slaps. It scared Zhang Laoer so much that he kowtowed back, not daring to take his daughter back home… ”

“I wouldn’t dare either. Who knows when the Peacekeeping Gang will turn back into the Iron Palm Gang, and then we’ll be the ones to suffer.”

“Sigh, all these jianghu clans are the same, bullying whomever they want with their superior martial prowess. When have they ever cared about us common folk? This damned world…”

“This time, it might really be different. I’m telling you a secret, but don’t spread it around, alright? My third brother works as a menial in the Iron Palm Gang, and he says that it wasn’t humans who took over the gang this time.”

“Not humans? Then what, ghosts?”

“Worse than ghosts, the Heavenly Demon.”

“The Heavenly Demon?”

“Yes. I heard that last night, the Gang Leader of the Iron Palm Gang was stabbed by the Heavenly Demon over a dozen times around the neck but emerged without a scratch. The Peacekeeping Gang was created by the Heavenly Demon in one night of havoc…”

“If people are that scary, wouldn’t we be even more doomed with the Heavenly Demon?”

“You’re mistaken again. Heavenly Demons are different from us humans. My brother said they seem to have a restraint; they must grow according to their nature, or they’ll become weak. The Heavenly Demon that took over the Iron Palm Gang has the nature of a protector, and he declared in front of everyone that he intends to uphold justice, fairness, and morality…”

“Isn’t that what’s written on the posters of the Peacekeeping Gang?”

“Does that mean the Heavenly Demon is even better than humans?”

“Not exactly. It seems there are many kinds of Heavenly Demons, good and bad. The exact details, my brother couldn’t clarify. However, I think the one who took over the Iron Palm Gang is a good one.”

“Brothers, we’re still chatting away here, but hurry to the Iron Palm Gang. The Heavenly Demon is forcing the Gang Leader to judge cases in public with a sword at his throat; it’s quite a scene…”

…

There are no impenetrable walls under heaven.

Besides, Duge had been flaunting so high-profile that he might as well announce his whereabouts to the whole world. That day, he and the newly converted Peacekeeping Gang became the hottest topic in Luyang City.

All kinds of news flew everywhere, and within two hours, what he did at the Iron Palm Gang had become common knowledge.

The timid people were still hesitating, but those who had been oppressed by the Iron Palm Gang to the point of desperation saw the notice and decided to take a chance, running to the Iron Palm Gang to cry for justice.

Duge had not expected that his initiative to protect the interests of the people would take effect so quickly. By posting notices and forcing the Iron Palm Gang members to apologize throughout Luyang City, he had merely meant to establish trust bit by bit and gradually erode the foundation of the Iron Palm Gang, ultimately establishing the authority of the Peacekeeping Gang.

But who would have thought that the Iron Palm Gang had committed so many evils over the years that people, disregarding life and death, not even willing to verify the truth, would come to cry out for justice on the same day…

Thinking about it, it made sense. Even a minor clan like the Feng Family treated their sparring partners as subhumans, casually deciding their life or death, let alone these commoners who were even lower than the sparring partners.

What a damn world!

However, this was just fine. If the government wouldn’t care, he would. If people cried out for justice, he was more than happy to play the role of the Great Green Sky God and stretch out a hand to redress their grievances.

There was no better way to boost one’s reputation than to hold a public trial.

…

And so.

A spectacle emerged outside Luyang City.

The former Gang Leader Qiu Yuan Lang, swathed in bandages, sat under the blazing sun with no expression, while a young man held a longsword to his throat, sitting behind a table, smiling as he received every person who came to seek justice.

At the sides, the Incense Masters and Hall Masters of the Iron Palm Gang, now dressed in Peacekeeping Gang attire, grim-faced and holding short sticks level with their eyebrows, stood as if they were government officials enforcing the law.

If it were just that, it would still be within the public’s acceptance.

After all, since Duge had recently taken over the Iron Palm Gang, how could he keep them in line without a hostage? How else could the oppressed dare come forward to seek justice without the sword at the Gang Leader’s throat?

But if you add a deranged young man who holds a severed hand with a foolish smile, well, that’s a different story.

However.

For those commoners who had been so oppressed by the Iron Palm Gang that they had no way out, they couldn’t care less. If they didn’t take the opportunity to seek revenge or settle old scores while the gang was under control, then when?

At this moment, Duge was their life-saving straw.

Even if the Heavenly Demon was suppressed afterward, and the Iron Palm Gang made a comeback, they would feel that they had vented their spleen.

…

“Lord Heavenly Demon, I accuse Liu Heigou of the Iron Palm Gang. A year ago, he took a liking to my daughter Xiulian and, bringing along men from the Iron Palm Gang, tried to force her into marriage for a measly three coins. When I refused, Liu Heigou broke one of my legs and forcibly took Xiulian away. I went to the authorities to report it, but instead of justice, they beat me as well. Poor Xiulian, tormented by that beast for three days until she could bear no more and threw herself into a well. Poor girl, she was only sixteen years old… I beg you, Lord Heavenly Demon, to uphold justice for me…”

An old man with a face marked by time knelt on the ground, tremblingly reciting his grievances to Duge.

All along, whether it was supporting the Feng Family or backstabbing them, or upholding justice, Duge had been going about it with the mindset of playing a game…

After all, he needed to use this support to enhance his own strength.

But when the old man kneeling before him, dragging a broken leg and skin and bones from malnutrition, cried to him with a resolve prepared to meet death, something in Duge’s heart stirred.

Even though he knew the simulation environment was fake, the anger in his heart couldn’t be suppressed.

This was too much!

What Feng Family?

What Iron Palm Gang?

Not a single good one among them, this damn world— it’s the likes of these righteous people that should uphold it…

In that instant, Duge suddenly felt a sense of purpose in his actions, no longer solely about vying for first place in the simulation environment.

Duge glanced at Qiu Yuanlang with a mocking tone, “Gang Master Qiu, what a fine Iron Palm Gang indeed!”

Qiu Yuanlang, forced to execute a public punishment, originally felt aggrieved, but now his expression was somewhat sheepish, “Mr. Seven, these matters were done by subordinates without my knowledge. Had I known, I certainly wouldn’t have tolerated him tarnishing the reputation of the Iron Palm Gang…”

“Reputation?” Duge snorted, “Liu Cheng, bring me Liu Heigou.”

Liu Cheng, left with no choice, stepped forward and asked, “Whose subordinate is Liu Heigou?”

One of the Incense Masters, acting as a government official, stepped out awkwardly, “He’s under me.”

Liu Cheng asked, “Did you know about his deeds?”

The Incense Master awkwardly shook his head, about to speak.

Suddenly, there was a commotion among the Peacekeeping Gang members behind, and someone burst through the crowd and sprinted towards the outskirts.

Liu Cheng glanced in that direction and with a few movements, he was behind the man, grabbed him by the neck, and dragged him back, throwing him heavily to the ground.

Liu Heigou, pale-faced, kowtowed frantically to Duge, “Spare my life, Lord Heavenly Demon, spare my life. I won’t dare do it again. Please grant me another chance, Lord Heavenly Demon. I’m willing to join the Peacekeeping Gang wholeheartedly and serve…”

“If the Peacekeeping Gang were to accept someone like you, where would justice be?” Duge scoffed, “Hall Master Liu, kill him. Keep filth like this from polluting the air, and don’t let him die too easily…”

Liu Heigou’s actions were evidence enough, and with Duge’s acute hearing and keen eyesight, the whispers in the crowd revealed the truth clear as day in his mind.

“Brother Qi, let me handle him!” Wang San, who hadn’t spoken much until now, suddenly stepped forward, “I could use more collectibles…”

Ever since the battle ended the previous night, until now, his attribute increase had been minimal.

After all, most of the time it was Feng Qi who was showing off, and he hardly found a chance to shine.

But when he stood before Duge with a broken hand in the midst of a public crowd, surrounded by pointing fingers and a buzz of conversation, his attributes surged upward, and within moments, he rose another five ranks.

Why would Wang San pass up such a great opportunity to enhance his attributes? Why wait when he could take advantage of the ruckus caused by Feng Qi to gain fame?

And he had come to a realization; Feng Qi’s keyword was ‘upholding,’ making a big scene was like walking on a tightrope— a collapse would be disastrous. But he was different; Sickly Cute was Sickly Cute. Even if the Peacekeeping Gang collapsed in the future, it would not alter the world’s perception of him. His power would only increase, never crash.

How impressive is Feng Qi now?

It could be him staging an epic comeback in the future.

After all.

‘Fear of the Delicate’ could still be used against Feng Qi…