434: Chapter 434 The Defector

"We have only just rested for a short while. If the cult discovers we have fled, they might send people to pursue us."

"Should we speed up the crowd?"

At this moment, somewhere one hundred li away from Feifeng City, a massive crowd of people was slowly moving into the distance. At the very front, Vice City Lord An Tiancheng stopped and turned to look back in the direction of Feifeng City. A flash of doubt crossed his eyes.

He seemed to sense the fluctuations of battle coming from Feifeng City, though they were very subtle. If he hadn't been constantly monitoring the situation behind them, fearing pursuit by the cult, he would not have noticed them at all.

An adjutant beside him spoke up, looking uneasy. He was still reeling from the fear of the cult's recent siege.

"No need. Most of these people are ordinary; moving at this speed is already their limit."

"We cannot go any faster."

Vice City Lord An Tiancheng replied. In truth, after leaving Feifeng City, he had only brought a small group of high-ranking officials and elites—barely a few hundred people in total. Most of the people currently with them had been encountered along the way during their escape. In total, they now numbered fifty thousand.

And this was just one direction; there was no telling how many other Feifeng City citizens were fleeing in other directions.

When the cult attacked the city, the City Lord had arranged for the citizens of Feifeng City to flee. One had to admit that the City Lord's choice had been correct; the cult's strength was far too terrifying. Even though the City Lord had recently achieved a Breakthrough to Town General, he was simply no match for them.

By now, it was likely that the City Lord and the others had all died within Feifeng City. He couldn't help but feel that the decision he had made was the right one. Otherwise, his fate would have been the same: dead with no place to be buried.

Although he had felt a twinge of shame and guilt when making that decision at the time—after all, he was a Deputy City Lord of Feifeng City, and thinking of fleeing when Feifeng City faced a crisis was shameful—he couldn't hold his head up if word got out.

"Deputy City Lord, do not overthink this. The situation was too critical; this was the only viable option."

"As the saying goes, 'Where there is life, there is hope.'"

"Although we have left, we have preserved our vital strength for our future revenge."

"Furthermore, we encountered these tens of thousands of citizens. If not for us, they might not have survived long before being killed by surrounding Evolved Beasts or starving or collapsing from exhaustion in this wilderness."

"If the City Lord knew, he would understand your actions."

"Staying in Feifeng City was a dead end; only by surviving is everything possible."

The adjutant beside him seemed to perceive what the Deputy City Lord was thinking and spoke slowly. At the time, he had been the one to insist that the Deputy City Lord make this decision.

Now, those stubborn fools from before were either dead or had fallen into the hands of the cult, which was a far worse fate than his own.

Moreover, the small group of high-ranking officials who had secretly left with the Deputy City Lord all thought the same way. Otherwise, they would not have followed his Command and departed with him. To knowingly attempt the impossible was simply foolish.

Wasting their lives there would have been utterly worthless. Only by surviving was everything possible; they were the only hope and the last spark left for Feifeng City.

"Indeed. Since I have done this, I will not regret it."

"However, that is not what I was thinking about just now."

Vice City Lord An Tiancheng replied. Just as his adjutant had said, remaining there would have been a futile sacrifice; his departure was the most correct choice. With that, he continued to gaze toward Feifeng City. At the same time, he stretched out his hands and began to calculate.

This was his ability—an Awakening ability that allowed him to predict good or bad fortune. Relying on this, he had stepped by step become the Deputy City Lord of Feifeng City.

When the cult attacked the city, he had calculated that the battle would be extremely ominous. If he stayed, he would certainly die, so he had left without hesitation. However, he had not told the City Lord about this, because someone had to remain to delay the cult. Otherwise, they would not have had the opportunity to escape at all. Thus, he had chosen to leave behind the City Lord's back.

Now, Vice City Lord An Tiancheng began to calculate the situation of Feifeng City once again. However, as he continued his calculations, his expression grew solemn and showed a hint of disbelief. His eyes widened. Deep within them, a flicker of joy emerged.

"How is this possible!"

"What on earth is going on?"

Vice City Lord An Tiancheng exclaimed in disbelief.

"Deputy City Lord, what is the matter?" the adjutant beside him asked curiously.

"I just calculated that a glimmer of vitality has appeared in Feifeng City, and it is extremely strong. The thick Death Qi has completely vanished."

"What could have happened during the time we were away? Why has such a drastic change occurred, turning Feifeng City from a place of death back to life?"

For a moment, Vice City Lord An Tiancheng felt a surge of excitement. This meant that Feifeng City was no longer in danger, or at least, the crisis of its destruction had passed. He could only calculate this much; he could determine nothing more.

Looking at the massive crowd and considering the current situation, Vice City Lord An Tiancheng suddenly had an idea.

"Everyone, return to Feifeng City!"

"I have just received news that the crisis in Feifeng City has been resolved. We can return now."

Instantly, Vice City Lord An Tiancheng's voice spread throughout the entire crowd, and the people became extremely excited.

"We can go home!"

"We don't have to flee anymore; we can go back!"

Countless people wept with joy and embraced one another. They finally no longer needed to live in fear.

Meanwhile, Vice City Lord An Tiancheng was secretly rejoicing. Although he did not know what had happened, he guessed that reinforcements must have arrived. However, he was not worried at all, because the traces of battle in Feifeng City had ceased long ago, which meant that the City Lord and the others must have already died at the hands of the cult. Therefore, no one would know that he had fled.

As for his own situation, he had already prepared a response in case anyone asked. He would claim that he had left Feifeng City on the orders of the City Lord to protect the fleeing citizens and to preserve the last spark of Feifeng City. This reason would be sufficient.

Immediately, the group of fifty thousand people changed direction and began to head back toward Feifeng City.

"Feifeng City, wait for me!"

Vice City Lord An Tiancheng murmured to himself. This time, upon returning, he would shed the title of Deputy City Lord and become the new City Lord of Feifeng City.

Meanwhile, inside Feifeng City, Lu Zheng had finished listening and understood what had transpired.