Apocalypse: I Have One More Keyword Than Others

"Mr. Seven, you seem to be in a good mood!" Feng Yunjie, riding horseback alongside Duge, glanced at him and laughed.

"I thought our previous plan was a bit rough, and just now, a new idea came to mind. I got a bit carried away with joy; I didn't expect the Third Young Master to notice. Indeed, I am still not mature enough to keep my emotions from showing on my face," Duge turned to look at Feng Yunjie and chuckled.

"What's the new idea?" Feng Yunjie asked with a smile.

"It was inspired by the Qiao Family," Duge pulled on the reins to slow down his horse and said, "Initially, Qiao He performed acts of chivalry and righteousness, helped many sects perfect their martial arts manuals. In the end, he made a name for his family as the foremost martial family, enduring for over a century. Why shouldn't we learn from him?

"The current size of the Feng Family is too small; even if I protect it with all my might, it won't grow very fast. But, if the Feng Family grows into a behemoth, with its power to protect the moral code of the martial worlds and maintain peace, my strength will rise to untold heights. With my protection, it won't just be a century-old family; it could even become a thousand-year-old family..."

"How do we learn?" Feng Yunjie, captivated by Duge's grand vision, quickly felt dejected when facing reality, "Qiao He was unrivaled when he emerged; we don't have his strength."

"Third Young Master, you are mistaken. There has only been one Martial Saint in a hundred years; he is irreplaceable, but a single person's power is ultimately limited. We must learn to leverage the strength of a team. We can take a different path," Duge said.

"The strength of a team?" Feng Yunjie was stunned.

"Right," Duge said, "I plan to establish an organization to eliminate harm for the people, to punish the wicked and uphold the good, dedicated to combating the dark forces in the martial worlds and maintaining justice. Our organization will attract more chivalrous swordsmen who hold justice dear to join us, and eventually, grow stronger. The entire martial community will recognize us, and when people recognize us, that's when we'll have established our influence. I've even come up with a name for this organization—it will be called the Peacekeeping Vanguard Group..."

"Peacekeeping Vanguard Group?" Feng Yunjie was taken aback.

"Correct," Duge said, "To maintain the peace of the martial worlds, advocate justice among the rivers and lakes, in short, the Peacekeeping Vanguard Group."

"But where will we attract chivalrous swordsmen with a sense of justice?" asked Feng Yunjie.

"Mr. Seven, this so-called Peacekeeping Vanguard Group has already severed ties with the Feng Family, hasn't it?" Feng Shiyi said.

The voices of the two men arose nearly at the same time.

One confused, the other cold.

Feng Yunjie came to an enlightenment and frowned at Duge.

Zhang Han glanced at Duge and quietly steered his horse to block behind Duge.

The three members of the Feng Family formed a triangle around Duge, subtly blocking all his escape routes.

Feng Shiyi looked at Duge and continued, "Mr. Seven, you wouldn't be planning to use the influence of the Feng Family for your own personal gain, would you?"

"Second Householder, you underestimate me," Duge, seemingly oblivious to his predicament, smiled and said, "What does a martial family or sect rely on to survive in this world or to make a name for itself? Is it martial arts?"

"Isn't it?" Feng Yunjie asked.

"Certainly, martial arts are the foundation upon which one stands, and this can't be denied," Duge said smilingly, "But in addition to martial arts, one must have something unique. Let me ask you, why is the Beggar's Gang considered the number one gang?"

"Because there are so many beggars in the world?" Feng Yunjie said, puzzled.

"Right, that's one aspect of it," Duge looked at them approvingly and said, "The low entry threshold, any beggar can join the Beggar's Gang; this is unity in profession. From no bag to nine bags, clear promotional ladders; having basic living and safety guarantees after joining—even vagabonds, this is adequate logistic support..."

He paused, "This is the unique feature of the Beggar's Gang. Anyone who thinks of moving against the Beggar's Gang has to weigh whether they can provoke such a giant. Other sects are the same. For instance, the members of the Mount Tai Sect are Taoists, holding a religious title; the Cao Gang controls water transport... What does the Feng Family have?"

Feng Yunjie fell into deep thought.

"Third Young Master, you don't even have a nickname that anyone in the martial worlds would recognize, do you?" Duge asked with a smile.

Feng Yunjie shook his head awkwardly.

"Have you found a common trait among these famous sects?" Duge asked again.

Feng Yunjie shook his head once more.

"Characteristics, philosophy, beliefs," Duge began, "the Beggar's Gang has maintained occupational integrity, Mount Tai ensures the integrity of faith, the Emei Sect is all-female, maintaining gender integrity; the Blood Sabre Sect has assassins, catering to the needs of those with unique psychological tendencies; these characteristics naturally attract similar crowds to join.

Therefore, the Feng Family must establish its own characteristics. Only by doing so can it take the first step as a family with a hundred or even a thousand years of history. Otherwise, even if I secure secret manuals for the Feng Family and recruit many Heavenly Demons, it would still be nothing but a nouveau-riche family in a county town. A storm could sweep through and leave nothing behind."

"But what does this have to do with the Peacekeeping Vanguard Group? We could start with the Feng Family!" Feng Shiyi said.

"Second Householder, a small family like ours cannot rally people with such a call to action. But a newly emerging organization is different," Duge said, his spirits high, "This is called backdoor listing, splitting and developing. We start small, unaffiliated with any power in the martial worlds. Once we build up our reputation and the Peacekeeping Vanguard Group is recognized by the martial worlds, and when the Feng Family merges with it, isn't it still the Feng Family? Sometimes major powers do not necessarily have to be visible."

"What is the philosophy of the Peacekeeping Vanguard Group?" Feng Yunjie asked.

"Didn't I just say it?" Duge replied, "Righteousness. The martial worlds are never short of hot-blooded young heroes."

"That seems to make some sense," Feng Shiyi mused.

"Second Householder, I wouldn't harm the Feng Family," Duge said, looking at Feng Shiyi and shaking his head with a smile.

Having seen Feng Jiu narrow Gluttony's path in the morning, Duge began to reflect on whether he had also limited his own path. But then,

He thought of maintaining peace and justice—broad concepts that evidently offered greater rewards than protecting the interests of a small family.

He even considered maintaining national sovereignty. However, in this simulation world where the martial worlds are paramount, the concept of the state is infinitely diluted.

Unlike in "The Legend of the Condor Heroes" or "Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils," where there are great causes related to family and country, and without foreign invasions, he could only regretfully abandon the grand ambition of maintaining national stability.

Otherwise, he would do anything to be a great hero like Guo Jing!

Still, Duge felt confident that maintaining peace and justice throughout the entire martial worlds would secure his position as the top achievement in the simulation.

The reason he did not reveal this plan in the Feng Family is because Duge preferred Feng Shiyi's speculative thinking. After all, it was he who proposed the concept of destiny and patched up the holes in his story—Feng Shiren was too conservative and shrewd, making communication with him too strenuous.

"Mr. Seven, where do we find people to join this so-called Peacekeeping Vanguard Group?" Feng Yunjie asked the same question again.

"Aren't we looking now? If we can find other Heavenly Demons to join, that would be best. If not, we start by doing deeds. Once we get things moving and our reputation spreads, naturally, swordsmen will join our ranks," Duge explained, "Were we not just discussing the Beggar's Gang? Their disciples are all over the world, holding the power of public opinion. We can use the Beggar's Gang to promote our fame. Third Young Master, don't worry about this. I will arrange the specifics when the time comes…"

"But who do we fight?" Feng Yunjie asked awkwardly, "There's not a single force in the martial worlds that the Feng Family can afford to provoke."

"Do not commit evils just because they are small, and do not abandon good deeds just because they are minor," Duge said with a smile. "Third Young Master, small streams form rivers, particles of dust accumulate to mountains. Are not the bullies who tyrannize the market and the bandits who rob on the roads also forces of evil? Starting with small acts is just as valid, and we can begin with them."