Once everyone had calmed down, Shao Qi asked, "Does anyone disagree? If any faction, like the Emei School, chooses not to participate, I won't force them."

Vice President Shi, now glaring at him, challenged, "Why don't you tell everyone why the Emei School can abstain? Do you think our Jiangnan base factions are easy to bully?"

Shao Qi circled his chair and clapped in amusement, saying, "Vice President Shi sees right through it. Isn't that the case? Some people just have stronger foundations."

Everyone detected his sarcasm. The martial tradition of the Jiangnan base was the weakest nationwide with the lowest ratio of martial artists. It couldn't compare to the Southwest base, let alone the talent-rich Emei School.

Heads hung low. With the massive blow to the Jiangnan base factions, they now lacked competitiveness. The reform proposed seemed like a fairy tale and made everyone uncomfortable. But realistically, maybe they still stood to gain. However, would their schools even exist in the future?

"May I ask which realm you belong to, President Shao?"

Shao Qi flaunted a certificate issued by the Martial Arts Association. It read "Name: Shao Lin, Mid-level Martial General, Age..."

Many gasped in awe upon seeing it. A 32-year-old mid-level martial general was indeed an outstanding achievement. In the entire Jiangnan base, martial generals were rare.

Zhou You received the certificate, gave it a glance, smirked, and passed it back, thinking that Shao Qi was quite the trickster.

"I'll draw up a detailed plan and inform everyone later. For now, the snow disaster remains our primary concern. I hope our association can contribute, both financially and physically, to help the government and citizens overcome this catastrophe."

The ceaseless snowfall outside had everyone worried. Even their basic necessities were in jeopardy. Martial artists struggled to buy the mutated beast meat they consumed daily. If this continued, chaos was inevitable.

"Also, I assume you're all familiar with Mr. Zhou. He's my secretary and bodyguard. From now on, his words carry the same weight as mine. Understood?"

Silence. Everyone wondered why a mid-level martial general would need a bodyguard. Who was protecting whom? Or was this young man even more powerful than a mid-level martial general?

They're overthinking things.

Many looked at Zhou You with intrigued expressions, speculating about his relationship with Shao Qi. But clarifying didn't seem necessary.

After the meeting, Shao Qi approached Zhou You, lamenting, "I didn't expect to be set up like this. Being the acting president isn't as easy as I thought."

"Everyone seems pretty tamed by you, President Shao. If I call you 'Shao Qi,' would you respond? Or should I address you as 'Shao Lin'?"

Shao Qi laughed, hugged him playfully and teased, "Actually, Shao Lin is also me. Have you heard of split personalities?"

Zhou You, playing along, grabbed his collar and said, "Whether you're Shao Qi or Shao Lin, as the president's secretary, I definitely deserve a raise. How about we discuss my salary?"

Chapter 075: Devastating News

"If the Jiangnan Base is seeing such heavy snowfall, what about the regions further north? I fear we must prepare for the worst." Zhou You had just exited the AR Experience Hall, his nerves still on edge. The database had been updated with several newly discovered mutated beasts, all of which had one thing in common: especially thick fur and a substantial layer of subcutaneous fat. Clearly, they evolved to withstand the cold.

"Beginning three years ago, the Meteorological Bureau noticed the prolonged cold spells during winters, particularly north of the Yellow River. It's almost uninhabitable during deep winter, with electricity often failing. Coal is our only heating source, and even the heating pipes frequently freeze and crack. If this continues, our northern bases might have to relocate entirely."

"The geographical location of the Jiangnan Base is actually quite good. Other than the threat of the Yunlan Mountain Range, there are escape routes in every direction, and expansion would be relatively straightforward."

Shao Qi looked at him deeply. His trip south also had this reason in mind. The Jiangnan Base had favorable conditions, and it'd be a shame if it was easily overrun by mutated beasts. Therefore, he urgently needed to empower the people here, at least to handle daily crises.

"How do we get back now?" The bulldozer that Shao Qi drove previously had been taken by the city's sanitation workers. Other members from the association had left early, probably now in discussions about what steps to take next.

Due to the inclement weather, many outdoor activities couldn't proceed. This morning, Miao Miao and the others returned from teaching and told him that half of the students couldn't make it to the gym, not because they didn't want to, but various obstacles prevented them.

"Let's walk. It'll be a good exercise in agility. How about a race?" Zhou You was eager to compete. He had always wanted to challenge Shao Qi. Although he hadn't fully recovered his abilities, a simple agility competition wouldn't be unfair.

"How should we race?" Shao Qi asked with interest.

"The one who leaves fewer, shallower footprints in the snow wins."

Indeed, this was a good test of agility. Ordinary people would naturally sink in the snow, but they could move as if they were treading on solid ground.

"What's the prize?" Shao Qi checked his boots. Both were wearing waterproof boots of the same model but in different colors, ensuring fairness.

To his surprise, they even wore jackets from the same brand with very similar designs, no wonder people often mistook them for a pair.

All of Zhou You's clothes were arranged by Shao Qi. Probably out of convenience, he bought the same brand for both of them, only differing in sizes.

Neither of them was particularly concerned about their attire. They both wore armor underneath, which was far more valuable than any coat. Who would fuss over such expendable items?