"...He was malicious and sneaky, and he has done countless atrocious deeds in our base—"
Before He Tiantian could finish pronouncing Zhang Cheeng’s list of charges, the young man who had been the first to jump out and support He Tiantian earlier cleverly rushed to the front of the crowd.
His expression was filled with grief, and he spoke with a heavy heart, "Heavenly King, I want to accuse Zhang Cheeng. He harmed my cousin, and he also beat our neighbor to death!"
"He has a beastly heart, he is inhumane... Heavenly King Emperor, you are known for being just and strict. I beg of you, please seek justice for us innocent victims!"
He Tiantian: ...Indeed, there is no shortage of clever opportunists in this world.
And as a Superior, I really do appreciate people young man before me.
Perhaps a bit slippery, but certainly useful.
"What’s your name?" He Tiantian asked the young man, nudging her chin toward him in a rather casual manner.
But the young man was excited. The Heavenly King is asking my name, does this mean he intends to favor me?
With great effort, the young man controlled his excitement, but his voice still trembled slightly, "I, I am Liang Yong, twenty-three years old, a graduate of S University, my home is in XX village of North City."
He held nothing back; were it not for fear of irritating He Tiantian, he would’ve probably even reported his height and weight.
"Good, Liang Yong. Is everything you just said true?"
He Tiantian did not doubt Liang Yong but wanted to use him to encourage more people to "accuse" Zhang Cheeng.
"It’s true! Heavenly King, I dare swear to the heavens!"
Liang Yong eagerly thumped his chest, then suddenly pointed to an old man in the crowd, "Uncle Fang, you must speak up. Isn’t it true that Zhang Cheeng harmed your entire family?"
Uncle Fang, who was singled out, burst into tears upon hearing this.
He disregarded his usual hatred and fear of "He Xiaothian" and cried out hysterically, "My son, my daughter, you died so tragically!"
There was no need for Uncle Fang to list Zhang Cheeng’s crimes one by one—just looking at his overwhelming sorrow and cries was enough to know that his family had suffered terribly at the hands of Zhang Cheeng.
Once one person started shouting, several more voices rose in the crowd—
"Zhang Cheeng you bastard, you caused my son to become crippled!"
"And my little grandson, who merely bumped into him unintentionally, yet he kicked and broke his leg!"
"Zhang Cheeng, return my sister to me!"
The crowd was inflamed. Watching those survivors, either weeping or filled with sorrow, He Tiantian felt very upset.
The apocalypse was already difficult enough, yet some humans, instead of banding together for warmth and resistance, turned their weapons against their own kind.
They were nowhere worthy of humanity.
They were worse than beasts.
He Tiantian bit her teeth secretly. There was no need for acting this time. Her face was filled with rage, "Well then, what a Zhang Cheeng!"
"He actually did so much foul business behind my back!"
He Tiantian also didn’t forget to keep up her role, equally outraged.
But He Tiantian herself and her character "He Xiaothian" were angry for different reasons.
The former’s anger came from the natural reaction of a person with normal values and moral standards, while the latter’s was to maintain the authority and dignity of a "Superior."
He Tiantian had deeply adapted the original character of He Xiaothian. Under her crafting, He Xiaothian was no longer a perverted scumbag or a top-grade beast but a domineering, tyrannical Demon Lord of Mayhem.
Such a person would not tolerate any challenge to his authority or others encroaching on his interests.
For example, there were some foul deeds that "He Xiaothian" would do, but others could not.
He was undoubtedly lenient in governing himself but strict with others!
Now, He Tiantian was portraying exactly this state: Zhang Cheeng, merely a henchman under my command, dared to commit acts like mine!
This was nothing less than insubordination, an unforgivable crime.
Zhang Cheeng’s "crime" wasn’t that he bullied innocent survivors but that he offended the great Heavenly King He!
Student Xiao D: ...Certainly a true bigshot, even a scumbag like He Xiaothian finds a way to punish other scumbags without breaking character.
And this pretext itself can also strengthen He Xiaotian’s character!
Tsk tsk, one has to acknowledge the skill!
He Tiantian was unaware that Student Xiao D was secretly admiring her; she was still performing—
"Where is Zhang Cheeng! Where is that wretched scoundrel?"
"I have said before, my base has rules, and yet he dared to transgress. I shall not forgive him!"
Just at that moment, a series of cries for help suddenly erupted from outside the base, "Brother Tian, it’s terrible, something’s happened!"
"Brother Tian, help! Brother Cheeng is hurt!"