Yawning, he mumbled, "The folks at Jiangnan base are amusing. Chasing celebrities in this day and age?"

After the apocalypse, with many struggling for survival, fewer people pursued celebrities, preferring to idolize the mighty and strong.

Take Marshal Shao, for instance. He's undoubtedly a national icon. His appearance at the assembly was evidence enough. If he had a social media account, he'd have the most followers.

Xuan Wei opened the door only to find the hallway packed with people. Strangely silent, he feared some cult gathering.

"What's going on?" Startled, Xuan Wei slammed the door shut, took a deep breath, and reopened it. He then heard whispers from outside, "Not this room."

"I remember him. He came with Mr. Zhou."

"Really?" Xuan Wei was suddenly surrounded, panicking, "Who are you? What do you want? Hey, stay back!"

The adjacent door opened, and Zhou You emerged to restore order. His appearance ignited screams from the crowd, but unlike before, they lined up orderly against the walls.

"Greetings, Mr. Zhou."

“Mr. Zhou, you're back.”

“Master Zhou, I've been diligently practicing. Last month, I advanced to the rank of junior warrior. I've come specifically to thank you.”

“Mr. Zhou, have you had a meal? My family runs a restaurant. May I treat you?”

“Mr. Zhou, this fruit is from our own orchard. It's very sweet, please try some.”

“Mr. Zhou...” Numerous greetings filled the air. Zhou You waved with a smile, addressing the crowd, “Did you all come for me?”

“Yes, Mr. Zhou. We heard of your return and wanted to see you.”

Zhou You looked at the enthusiastic townspeople, somewhat taken aback by his unexpected popularity. He never anticipated such gratitude for his past actions at the Jiangnan base, feeling as if he was being rewarded without merit.

“Everyone, please return to your homes. My visit here is for official matters, and with many guests in the hotel, I wouldn't want to disturb them.” He made a grand entry into the city intending to lure out certain individuals, but didn't expect to attract such a large crowd first.

Touched by their warmth, Zhou You noticed that many among them were warriors—a proportion that was unusual to see half a year ago, and this made him feel reassured.

The attendees hadn't anticipated such a turnout. The hotel entrance and even its main door were blocked, potentially inconveniencing other guests and possibly hindering Mr. Zhou's affairs.

Therefore, after a collective bow, the crowd dispersed. However, the gifts they left filled the entire hallway, ranging from food to daily necessities, showcasing their genuine gratitude.

Surveying the gifts, Zhou You, now a public official, knew he couldn’t accept valuable presents. He instructed that everything be collected, and any valuable items be returned to their rightful owners using hotel surveillance.

Soon, the city's defense team arrived to maintain order. However, with the gathered crowd dispersing so quickly, their services were rendered unnecessary. The team leader, Lin Zihua, knowing that Zhou You was staying at the hotel, couldn't resist checking in.

Not long after, several military vehicles approached. While the defense team and the military operated independently, the military held greater authority regardless of the era.

Emerging from a vehicle was Commander Cheng Ziang, the newly appointed military leader who had swiftly restructured the military, transforming the Jiangnan military district into a force quite different from its former self.

“Ah, the city defense team is here too,” Commander Cheng said, entering the hotel with his entourage, startling guests and prompting the hotel owner to personally greet them.

“No need for formalities. I'll wait in the main hall on the first floor,” said Cheng Ziang, choosing not to go upstairs without prior notice.

“Commander Cheng,” Lin Zihua greeted, a hint of awkwardness on his face.

“Captain Lin.”

With their seats apart and no particular topic in mind, a brief silence ensued. The atmosphere only became lively when the newly appointed mayor, a heavy-set man named Lan Tu, arrived hurriedly.

Lan Tu, having risen to power after Chen Jingzhou's departure, was known for his shrewdness and had the backing of several influential families.

“Commander Cheng, you arrived so quickly, making me seem tardy. Ah, Captain Lin, you're here too.”

“Mayor Lan.”

Among the puzzled guests, one asked a server, “What's happening today? So many people earlier and now these officials. Has something major occurred at the hotel?”

The server replied with pride, “Aren't you a local? The entire city knows—Mr. Zhou has returned.”

"Mr. Zhou? Which Mr. Zhou?"

"Which other Mr. Zhou could it be? Of course, I mean the one who saved countless lives, dismantled the underground laboratory, and taught everyone martial arts - Mr. Zhou You!"

"He's that influential? I always assumed he was a subordinate to Mr. Shao."

A man in a suit nearby scoffed, "You're behind on the times. Mr. Shao? That's Marshal Shao. And Mr. Zhou isn't some subordinate; he's the Marshal's wife. Why do you think people rush over the moment they hear Mr. Zhou is coming?"

"The Jiangnan base is a bit out of the loop. Its news always lags behind Yang City. Although Marshal Shao has been public, not everyone can associate him with the Shao Qi from before, and those in the know haven't spread it widely."