"Commander Cheng, there's no need for formalities with me. I'm younger than you, just call me by my first name."

"Alright, then don’t call me Commander either. Let's address each other by our first names."

Upon arriving at the military district, Cheng Zi'ang gave him a tour. Many changes had occurred over the past six months. It had transformed from Zhou You's memories with numerous new training fields and several sealed martial arts halls.

"Not just in the military district, there are many martial arts halls set up in the city. Anyone can enter as long as they pay the rent. Inside, not only can they practice martial arts but also spar with others. It has become a favorite spot for many."

"For ordinary people, practicing martial arts is a pastime. Turning it into a hobby is indeed a good idea."

Cheng Zi'ang nodded, "Currently, there are 77,000 soldiers in the Jiangnan military district. I plan to enlist more after spring, reaching a total of 100,000. The nature of jobs in the base city has also shifted, providing civilians with more leisure time."

Zhou You didn’t comment on their policies. The fact that Cheng Zi'ang shared this information probably meant he considered Zhou You one of his own. On this visit to the Jiangnan base, Zhou You could feel significant changes. Everything was progressing for the better. If this continued, humanity's exit from the base would be imminent.

The car returned to Cheng Zi'ang's office building, which served both as his workspace and residence. Being single without any family, he treated his office as his home.

Cheng Zi'ang occupied the top floor of the building. The entire floor was his domain, with security meticulously managed. Once Zhou You entered, he noticed surveillance everywhere, intricate traps, and constant patrols below.

"Have a seat. Would you like some tea?" Cheng Zi'ang asked as he shooed away his guards and prepared the tea himself.

Zhou You looked around his office and noticed many books related to cultivation on the shelves. He casually asked, "What rank have you reached now, Brother Zi'ang?"

"I’m still at the Advanced Martial Artist realm. Many outsiders question whether I'm fit for this Commander position, so I can't slack off in my training."

Being a Commander of a district and just an Advanced Martial Artist did seem a bit underqualified, but Zhou You remained silent. Cheng Zi'ang was young and came from a good background, so Zhou You believed it was just a matter of time before he progressed.

"In terms of martial strength, Jiangnan base is indeed lacking. We only have two officers at the Martial General rank here, and both were injured and in seclusion. If a real crisis emerges, our soldiers' current skills may not be sufficient."

"Mastering martial arts isn’t an overnight endeavor. Take your time. As long as you're on the right path, results will follow," Zhou You replied, taking a sip of the tea Cheng Zi'ang made. The tea from Jiangnan base was delightful, and he planned to bring some back to Shuguang City.

"I came to the Jiangnan base because I encountered two foreign teams in Jiucheng. We suspect someone domestically has been in touch with foreign bases. One lead points to Ren Zhiyuan, who once sent teams to the northwest border, so I came to investigate."

"Contacting foreigners? How did they manage that?" Cheng Zi'ang, being well-informed, was aware of the incidents in Jiucheng, including the capture of foreign invaders.

"When Ren Zhiyuan was alive, he dispatched numerous teams to escort merchant caravans transporting goods. They did head northwest since that area lacked food supplies, which is abundant here in Jiangnan base. But whether they crossed national borders is uncertain."

"Are any of Ren Zhiyuan's close aides still around?"

"After Ren Zhiyuan's death, his deputies and guards were immediately detained. Those involved in the secret laboratory's construction were imprisoned. Those unaware of the situation were left untouched, and his family members weren't harmed either. What should we do next?"

"His family? I remember his father-in-law was Hu Shi'en."

"Yes, and his wife passed away, leaving behind a son and a daughter. Neither showed potential in martial arts. One works in the finance department and the other in business, seemingly unrelated to this matter."

"Let's keep an eye on his close relatives for now. Tomorrow, I want to meet those imprisoned aides."

"Understood. I'll make the arrangements immediately," Cheng Zi'ang responded, quickly making a couple of phone calls to set everything in motion.

After finishing his call, Cheng Zi'ang opened a safe, taking out a folder. "These are vital documents I gathered from Ren Zhiyuan. I've skimmed through them, and on the surface, they appear innocuous. But now that we have doubts, it's worth a more detailed examination."

"Alright. If he truly dispatched someone, there would surely be records. Let's identify the teams that traveled to the northwest over these years and compare the dates. Going abroad isn't that simple, and returning alive is even more challenging."

The two spent the entire night in the office, going through every document. Numerous teams had traveled out in recent years, but the ones they needed to investigate — those with prolonged missions and significant casualties — weren't few. However, there's still much verification to be done.

Chapter 198: The Ren Siblings.

At dawn, three individuals were secretly brought in. Zhou You recognized them, having seen them with Ren Zhiyuan before. Yet they were greatly changed, showing none of their former vigor and spirit.

"Lai Zigui, Ding Weizhou, He Ming Shan — they're the ones most familiar with what Ren Zhiyuan did. Here are their testimonies. Check if there's anything useful," Cheng Zi'ang handed a thick file to Zhou You. These three had been tortured after their arrest, revealing many secrets, but there might be details yet unspoken.

Pointing at Lai Zigui, Zhou You said, "I need a separate room. I wish to speak with him alone."

Cheng Zi'ang arranged a small conference room next door for him. Watching the door close, he wondered, "Does Zhou You possess a unique method of interrogation?"

Indeed, Zhou You had interrogated many spies in the past and was well-versed in the art of torture. But he didn't inflict any pain on Lai Zigui, merely placing his hand on his head.