By the next day, after finishing his final lesson, his live stream was bustling with viewers. Knowing it was his last session, many pleaded for his return for further guidance. After all, mastering inner power wasn’t an overnight endeavor.

As soon as he ended the stream, his private messages exploded. Scanning through, many were personal requests, some offering tens of thousands of points for exclusive guidance, and one even offering a hundred thousand.

Zhou You declined these propositions, but he did answer genuine questions without charging any points.

Eventually, viewers recognized his sincerity; they realized that with genuine practice and relevant questions, they'd be more likely to receive his responses.

"I... I think I've sensed the presence of inner power," exclaimed Miao Miao in delight. Had it not been for Zhou You's prior guidance, she might have missed this sensation, mistaking it for a mere bodily reaction.

Success bred success. Zhou You was living proof, and with his detailed instruction and the dedication of those present, progress was swift.

As dusk approached, everyone was engrossed in meditation, their confidence in cultivating inner power growing. Zhou You, not wishing to disturb, stepped out.

He tried calling Shao Qi. The man had only sent a brief message the previous day without specifics, and Zhou You was now concerned.

Chapter 090: Search for a Friend

Multiple calls went unanswered, leaving Zhou You puzzled. Could Shao Qi have left the base? With Little White missing too, the wilderness seemed the only logical guess.

Preparing a simple meal, everyone ate hastily. Miao Miao and two others noticed their marshal's absence but were accustomed to his sporadic disappearances.

"Still can't reach him? Maybe he left the base?" Qin Li Feng pondered after finishing his rib. Standing up, he said to Zhou You, "Mr. Zhou, I'll check at the city gate. If he's left, he's unlikely to return soon."

Zhou You nodded, then realized it wasn't really his decision to make. Why was Qin consulting him?

However, before he could ponder further, Qin was already out. Zhou You then turned to the group, "Share your experiences with the inner power practice. It's mysterious, but the methods are alike. Everyone can benefit from a shared understanding."

By the time they wrapped up their discussions, Qin Li Feng returned, a hint of urgency on his face, "The marshal didn't leave the city. No one has left in the past two days."

Miao Miao and Zhuo Hao exchanged glances. The latter stood up to check the surveillance footage of the villa's main gate. It revealed that after their arrival the day before, Shao Qi had driven out on his own, with no one else visiting the villa.

Miao Miao also reached out to the Martial Arts Association, confirming that Chairman Shao had not attended any sub-committee meetings in the past two days. It's impossible to hide such things, and they have their own contacts within the association.

After hearing the reports, Zhou You fell into deep thought. Shao Qi had not mentioned his destination when he left yesterday, suggesting it was a spontaneous decision. He wouldn’t have gone too far, especially since he had sent a reassuring message. It was unusual for him not to send a message or answer calls today.

"Maybe it's a signal issue. The reception within the base isn't great during extreme weather," Long Gan said, not too concerned. The inner city of the base is very safe, especially for someone of Shao Qi's stature. Despite never witnessing his combat skills, having Miao Miao and two other experts as guards speaks volumes about his abilities. The average person wouldn't be a threat to him.

Zhou You stood at the entrance, observing the accumulated snow in the yard. Everyone had been busy with training and no one had cleared the snow. The depth reached almost up to one's thighs, and outside was a vast expanse of white.

"Do you think he might have gone to the orphanage?" Zhou You pondered. Both he and Shao Qi had taken note of a remark Cheng Suyan made the previous day. Could Shao Qi have gone there to investigate on his own?

Cheng Suyan asked, looking puzzled, "What does that even mean? How is the orphanage related to Mr. Shao?"

Long Gan found it odd as well. "I've been to the orphanage. It's remote with few residents nearby, mainly factories which should currently be inactive. Beyond that is a wall, and past that, a waste treatment facility. However, there's no direct road connecting them. What could be there?"

"We’ll know once we go and check," Zhou You replied sternly. The message relayed by Cheng Zi'ang seemed inexplicable. Important information wouldn't have been relayed so casually, yet if it wasn't vital, it made the message even more peculiar.

Zhou You turned to Long Gan and Cheng Suyan. "You both can head back. If you have any questions about training, you can always ask me. Call or email me, whichever works."

After some thought, Long Gan responded, "Let me accompany you. You might not be familiar with the base's routes, and if we run into anyone, I can mediate."

"I'm coming too," said Cheng Suyan out of sheer curiosity, as if chasing a tantalizing clue. "If we encounter any opposition, I'll mention my affiliation with the Jiangnan Military Region. That should grant us some leeway."

It went without saying for Miao Miao and her two companions; their vehicles and weapons were already prepped. Zhou You glanced at the snowmobile parked in the courtyard and murmured, "Are we going to search for someone or start a fight?"

In total, six of them set out. Li Yunxi stayed behind in case Shao Qi returned, allowing her to inform the others. Zhou You and Zhuo Hao shared a vehicle.

"Where did you get this vehicle?" Zhou You was intrigued. He had seen smaller snowmobiles before but never something this robust and sleek, resembling a scaled-down armored vehicle.