Cheng Yang swaggered through the city while being escorted by Yuan Jianzhe.
This was a situation that none of the safe zone residents had seen before.
Along the way, the army commander amicably chatted with Cheng Yang, trying to probe him for information.
When Cheng Yang finally passed through the barrier without revealing anything, Yuan Jianzhe was gloomy.
These last few days he had believed himself to be the most powerful person in the city. Even though the shop managers were clearly far more powerful than he was, since they couldnt leave the shops, Yuan Jianzhe was able to ignore their existence.
Todays events had shattered that illusion. That NPC, that man? Where did he come from? This world or the one the NPCs came from?
These problems plagued Yuan Jianzhes heart and he was eager to find answers.
Commander, are we just going to let them go? Sita Fu asked.
Yuan Jianzhe motioned to a man behind him, Old Ho, send some members from your Citizens Defense Militia to intercept them. Fu, follow behind them secretly to observe their reaction.
Lao Ho, the former deputy mayor used to be on the same level as Yuan Jianzhe but now he could only obey him like a lackey. After the apocalypse, Yuan Jianzhes authority experience massive growth.
Neither person dared to disobey his commands and promptly acted to follow them.
As Cheng Yang and the others walked back to Phoenix Village, Ma Tao was listening to his loved ones experiences during the apocalypse. Just like with any family, the end of the world drastically changed their lives.
The other three people just followed them nervously. Up until now they hadnt been able to determine why Cheng Yang had brought them. Although Ma Tao had been talking with his family, they werent able to join the conversation.
They knew their fate was being controlled by the man leading their group if only because he was able to pressure Yuan Jianzhe into handing them over. Unless he was strong enough to do so, there was no way he would have been able to bargain with the military commander.
Um, excuse me sir Zhou Jie couldnt stand the depressing atmosphere and took the initiative to greet Cheng Yang.
You dont need to call me sir, Im younger than you. Just Cheng Yang or my Lord is fine.
Ma Tao stopped the six refugees when he heard Zhou Jie start talking, This is the Lord of Phoenix Village and if you want to live there I suggest you address him as My Lord and not by his name.
Phoenix Village? Zhou Jie asked in confusion, Ive never heard of a city with that name near here.
After the apocalypse we built a village where Phoenix Slope used to be so naturally we called it Phoenix Village. Cheng Yang explained. If you want to become a citizen of mine I will grant you the right to become a Professional but in exchange you must promise to become a government official and obey my commands.
Zhou Jie was overjoyed by those terms. He would be able to gain both literal and political power at the same time? Phoenix Village couldnt be in a worse state than Cloud City so what did he have to lose?
Cheng Yang grinned but didnt elaborate.
My Lord, can you tell us why you came to find us? Liu Wei asked at that time.
When Cheng Yang stopped and looked back at her she tensed up. Hopefully she hadnt escaped a pack of wolves to enter a tigers den.
Right before Yuan Jianzhes subordinates found her, she had been apprehended by the captain of the Red Cloud Militia. He wanted her to prostitute herself to him in exchange for a position in his militia. Although these were rather generous conditions, she had refused to sacrifice her dignity. If Cheng Yang hadnt taken her away from the safe zone, the Red Cloud Militia captain would have made living there difficult for her.
Someone asked me to save you. Cheng Yang replied bluntly, You should know her, Pang Sun.
Pang Sun? How was she Liu Wei exclaimed.
Shes dating one of my good friends. Cheng Yang explained.
Liu Wei relaxed after hearing that. If Pang Sun trusted this man to find her, he was probably safe to be with.
Suddenly, a pair of militia members approached the group.
One of them walked over to Cheng Yang and said: Whew, isnt she hot? How are you? Why dont you let us take that pretty lady somewhere nice?
Shut your damn mouth. Liu Wei snapped at him.
Whew this one is feisty! I like that in a woman. The man laughed lewdly.
Cheng Yang tilted his head and sneered. It seemed like Yuan Jianzhe didnt respect him in the slightest, theyd only traveled half a kilometer from the barrier but someone had already jumped out to cause trouble for him. If claimed he wasnt behind this not even a child would believe him.
What a shame these people were too quick to try and test him. If they just waited a while longer and watched him slaughter a monster horde neither of these messengers would have to die.
If you want to leave theres still a little time. Cheng Yang said coldly, Otherwise, I dont mind killing you both.
Cheng Yangs vicious words shut up the man in front of him but he quickly recovered. He was acting under the orders of the military commander Yuan Jianzhe and this was his domain. Why would he be afraid of a single man even if he was a Professional?
You want to kill us huh? The lewd man asked, If youre not careful Im going to-
Cheng Yang didnt even have the patience to let him finish. As soon as his Icicle Blasts cast time was over, he sent it flying into the mans chest. His voice went quiet and his life ebbed, but the look of arrogance in his eyes didnt even have time to get replaced with shock.
Cheng Yang didnt regret his actions in the slightest. He knew many of the original militia members and this one would have just harmed people if left alive.
How dare you kill him? The other militia member was panicking, he couldnt understand how his partner died. He didnt even recognize the skill Cheng Yang had used.
Stop talking or Ill kill you too. Now scurry back to your master and let him know that Im not someone he can afford to offend.
Cheng Yang cold attitude scared the militia member, the six refugees and even Ma Tao. Not one of the could help but let fear creep into their hearts when they looked at him.
The militia member swallowed his words and ran.
Well, lets go. Cheng Yang turned around with a laugh. The look of his face was one of someone telling off a child, not someone who killed a man.
The six refugees had a complex expression on their faces but still obediently followed after him.
A couple hundred meters later, Cheng Yang slaughtered a monster horde.
The scene of him insta-killing monster after monster was almost more frightening for Zhou Jie and the others than when he committed murder. None of them could forget the insurmountable power of a monster horde and yet, Cheng Yang was tearing through them as if they were made of paper.
After exterminating the forty plus monsters in the horde, Cheng Yang turned around to stare at pile of rubble. Shortly after, his group left the area.
A few minutes later, two soldiers crawled out from under the rubble. Their hands were shaking and their eyes were filled with fear. Their imaginations couldnt help but think of a scenario where Cheng Yang wasnt killing monsters but their allies instead.
Quickly, we need to report this to the commander! This man this monster definitely isnt from Earth. One of them said in horror.
The duo was only able to calm down once they had safely reached the safe zone barrier.
Yuan Jianzhe had been waiting right inside the barrier for the last half hour and when he saw his subordinates faces, he knew he was about to receive bad news. He had already heard the story of the militia members Cheng Yang had threatened and was in a fowl mood.
Commander, that monster he he wiped out a horde of more than forty monsters all on his own. The soldier quickly reported.
The commander frowned, Why did you ignore my orders? You should have kept following him.
Im sorry commander but we were discovered. The soldier admitted with a bitter expression, If we had kept following him Im afraid he would have killed us. Since this news was important on its own we retreated. We will accept out punishment commander.
As Yuan Jianzhe thought about what punishment to administer, a loud voice boomed down from the heavens.
Pitiful ants, congratulations! Today marks the tenth day of your pathetic struggles. Your hard work has pleased the gods and as such they have decided to bestow upon you a reward! They do very much hope you will enjoy it.
It was that voice again!
It was a voice that every human on Earth remembered since it had announced the end of their peaceful lives.
What horrors had that voice announced this time?
It claimed to be rewarding them but who would believe that? Last time it had promised them the next stage in human evolution but instead nearly half of the population died!