438: Chapter 438 Disposal (Part Two)

"How should those who desert before the battle be dealt with?"

General Lu Zheng said slowly, and Vice City Lord An Tiancheng, who understood this better than anyone, took a deep breath and said,

"Those who desert before the battle, death penalty!"

After saying this, An Tiancheng's body seemed to deflate.

"This matter was my doing alone. I ask that the Town General spare the lives of those people outside the city."

"Feifeng City is currently in ruins and needs rebuilding, and they still have some use."

He then slowly closed his eyes, waiting for the punishment from General Lu Zheng. However, a moment later, what An Tiancheng had imagined did not happen.

He couldn't help but open his eyes.

He saw that the two people from before were now kneeling in front of General Lu Zheng.

"General Lu Zheng, it is a fact that Vice City Lord An Tiancheng deserted before the battle, but please, General Lu Zheng, consider that the Vice City Lord did not commit any heinous acts. Especially now, in these extraordinary times, please spare the Vice City Lord's life."

"He is more useful alive than dead."

The two were pleading for mercy for An Tiancheng. For a moment, An Tiancheng was stunned and couldn't react, because he hadn't expected that the two people who had just been condemning him for deserting would start pleading for him.

General Lu Zheng also seemed not to have expected this, watching the scene with interest.

"You don't need me to uphold justice anymore?"

"We do, but we still hope that General Lu Zheng can spare his life. Feifeng City is currently in ruins and needs rebuilding; even if he is alive, he can at least help move a few more bricks."

General Lu Zheng then looked at An Tiancheng.

"Since the two of them are pleading for you, and considering that after you left Feifeng City, you didn't just escape for yourself but kept gathering and protecting the fleeing civilians, and since what you did is not unforgivable, I will temporarily spare your life."

"As for why it is only temporary, you will know once someone returns."

"At that time, whether you live or die will be decided."

General Lu Zheng said slowly. An Tiancheng was stunned for a moment, looking somewhat confused. Temporarily sparing his life, waiting for someone to return... waiting for whom?

Just at this moment, a figure appeared before General Lu Zheng. Seeing this person, General Lu Zheng said,

"You're here. How is the situation?"

Acting City Lord Li Tianyi looked at the three people on the side, then looked at General Lu Zheng, and said slowly,

"I have investigated what you mentioned earlier."

"In the area a hundred miles outside the city, there are indeed over fifty thousand people heading towards Feifeng City."

"And I have verified that these fifty thousand people are indeed those who fled from Feifeng City."

"As for what you said, I have also clarified it. Although many were unwilling to speak at first, after I used some methods, they all confessed honestly."

"They were all led out of Feifeng City by a Vice City Lord named An Tiancheng. Originally, there were only a few dozen people, but when they realized they could not resist, they abandoned the city and fled."

"Later, as they encountered more and more fleeing civilians, An Tiancheng gathered them together, and the group grew larger and larger, resulting in the scale of fifty thousand people today."

"However, according to the civilians, An Tiancheng didn't mistreat them; instead, he protected them as they left. The feedback regarding An Tiancheng is actually quite good."

"It is a pity, however, that I did not find An Tiancheng among them. I heard them say he should have come towards Feifeng City."

Acting City Lord Li Tianyi said. He had left to investigate outside the city after listening to General Lu Zheng's words earlier.

"No need to look for him, he is right here."

"It is him."

General Lu Zheng said, pointing at An Tiancheng. Acting City Lord Li Tianyi immediately looked at An Tiancheng, a strange look flashing in his eyes. After all, he had investigated clearly that this person's desertion was indeed detestable, but what he did afterward left nothing to be said.

Moreover, when he saw An Tiancheng's strength, he had originally thought he was a Town General, but he didn't expect him to be just a Third-Order Evolver.

At this moment, An Tiancheng finally understood who General Lu Zheng was waiting for.

So he had sent someone to investigate the situation.

He couldn't help but let out a sigh of relief. It seemed that the decision he had made earlier was a good one; otherwise, if he had kept being stubborn, he probably wouldn't have survived by the time this person arrived.

"It seems what you said is true. Since that is the case, the death penalty can be waived, but you cannot escape punishment."

"Today, in the name of a Town General, I strip you of your position as Vice City Lord. You will remain in a state of awaiting punishment, just like an ordinary soldier. Depending on your performance from here on, I will decide whether you have truly admitted your fault."

General Lu Zheng said, and An Tiancheng hurriedly nodded in response.

"Thank you, Town General!"

"I, An Tiancheng, admit my fault and will serve Feifeng City while awaiting punishment."

In fact, General Lu Zheng never intended to execute An Tiancheng. Even if the two hadn't spoken, he had intended to spare his life. Although the desertion was a fact, his subsequent actions were genuine.

If it weren't for An Tiancheng, perhaps among those fifty thousand people outside the city, hundreds or even thousands would have died outside the city.

Because the cruelty outside the city was a completely different world from inside the city.

After finishing these things, General Lu Zheng took An Tiancheng and Acting City Lord Li Tianyi and left. Because it wasn't just the hundreds of thousands of people in Feifeng City, but people were also returning in a continuous stream, which was a problem.

"My original intention was to take these hundreds of thousands of people from Feifeng City back to Baiyun City, but now it seems that this idea is not feasible."

"Even if we were to migrate to Baiyun City, we would need to wait until those fleeing Feifeng City citizens return."

"So for this period, I intend to let you serve as the acting City Lord of Feifeng City."

"With a Town General like you here, I can be more at ease."

"Even if a Beast King attacks the city, you will be able to resist it to some extent."

General Lu Zheng expressed his thoughts to Acting City Lord Li Tianyi.

A moment later, Acting City Lord Li Tianyi agreed to General Lu Zheng's request. After all, as a member of the Human Race, he could not remain indifferent to this. Moreover, the most crucial point was that after becoming the City Lord of Feifeng City, he could utilize the power of Feifeng City to help him find people.

"Town General, we have found a survivor from the evil cult."

"He said he has important matters to report to you."

"He said it is related to this space portal."

A soldier came before General Lu Zheng and reported.

"Let him come over."

General Lu Zheng said, while feeling somewhat curious about what the evil cult member could possibly have to tell him. However, a moment later, General Lu Zheng knew the answer.

"Speak, what do you have to say?"

General Lu Zheng said.

"My lord, after I speak, can you spare my life?"

"I want to live."

General Lu Zheng and Acting City Lord Li Tianyi looked at each other.

"Depending on what you have to say, if it is important, I will spare your life."

General Lu Zheng said, and the evil cult member also slowly began to speak.

"My lord, this time the space portal is not just this one; there is a second one!"