"I don't have many years left in me. My earlier wish was just to see him safe and sound, and hopefully, bring me a granddaughter-in-law. Then you came into our lives, and I felt content knowing someone would be there for him in his later years. But now..."

"Zhou You, he failed to keep his promise to be with you for life. It's always hardest on the living, especially for you and me. But you're young. You need to learn to let go. Once this period of sorrow passes, embark on a new life."

"Grandpa..."

"Hear me out. When I asked you earlier about joining the military, it's because I believe your talents and martial arts skills are best suited to lead our forces at this juncture. I'm selfish too; I don't want to see Shao Qi's hard work go to waste. His Fire Flame unit is a formidable force, the envy of many. If it disperses, it might not last even a few years."

"Or it could be used by someone with ulterior motives. If you decide to join, I can rally some of the old-timers to support you. With your capabilities, no one would question your sudden promotion."

Zhou You didn't respond immediately. He understood the old man's concerns. He had the opportunity to take over Shao Qi's legacy seamlessly. But did he want that?

"Don't feel pressured. Go with what your heart desires. From your words, it seems you'd prefer to elevate Zhuo Hao. I can assist in getting him promoted a couple of ranks, but he's not ready to be the top dog yet."

Zhuo Hao would indeed be a formidable ally, but he's currently not near the topmost position.

"To be honest, I don't particularly care who holds the military power. I just want our nation to thrive. With foreign threats looming, internal conflicts can give our enemies an edge, nullifying our years of progress."

The old man chuckled, "You're upright. And you're right; that position might not suit you. Perhaps you should speak with He Yuan and Master Qingfeng. As long as their will remains intact, it's unlikely the military will descend into chaos."

"The various factions have a strong presence in the army, holding significant middle-rank positions. If the Martial Arts Association remains united, the outcome could be a joint nomination for the Marshal."

"Would the three previously highly favored candidates be among the choices?"

"I can't say. But if you wish to influence the decision, you can try. They'll certainly value your opinion."

Lately, Zhou You had been in a daze, avoiding hearing Shao Qi's name, refusing to accept his departure, and hence avoiding familiar faces.

Seeing his hesitance and worries, the old man clasped his hand, "Don't let grief consume you. A change of focus might be beneficial. Don't worry about me. I've endured the loss of my wife and child. I've prepared for this day."

Holding back tears, Zhou You insisted, "But I always felt he wouldn't die so easily. Grandpa, I believe in him!"

Chapter 228: A Silver Lining

Zhou You, donning a hat and mask, reached the People's Square. The area was packed, the mournful music deafening. The city's defense team surrounded the vicinity, restricting vehicular movement.

Zhou You watched from the sidelines as the funeral procession moved, citizens voluntarily joining in. Many wept uncontrollably while others captured this grand event on their phones.

Zhou You felt torn. He should have been at the forefront, holding Shao Qi's portrait, accompanying him on his final journey as the grieving partner.

But he declined every request to be there, for a seemingly ridiculous reason: "I feel he's not dead."

Once the procession left, only a sea of flowers remained. Zhou You moved on, eventually spotting posters of a martial arts competition, with several warriors registering.

On a whim, he approached the registration, filled out a form using a pseudonym, and handed it in.

They asked for verification. Zhou You requested them to wait, logged into an official website, and created a new identity for himself. This new identity would soon be in the official system - a perk of his department's privileges.

"Alright, here's your competition badge. The preliminaries start tomorrow at the city sports arena. Be there by 7:30, no tardiness allowed. You're lucky; you're the very last registrant. Another minute, and the registration would've closed."

Zhou You gave a slight tug at the corner of his mouth, tucked the badge into his pocket, and walked home.

This house once belonged to Shao Qi. Upon his demise, all his possessions transferred to Zhou You. Not a penny was taken by the old man.

Given the house's proximity to the military district, Zhou You had visited before, noticing remnants of Shao Qi's life. He frequented the place ever since.

Objects stirred memories, but Zhou You preferred to immerse himself in this familiar ambiance.

Yet, upon returning home today, he intuitively felt someone had been here. Though items remained in place, he trusted his instincts more.

He roamed the house, scanning it with his psychic energy, and found a bug concealed in a hidden ceiling tile.

Probably, whoever placed it knew of his strong psychic abilities. Cameras would be too conspicuous; such a subtle bug was safer.

Zhou You glanced at it, deciding not to touch it. He doubted there was much to overhear in this vast, empty house.

Perhaps they wanted to catch his sleep talk? Or his mutterings to himself?

After taking a shower and lying in bed, Zhou You pulled out his phone, downloading several commonly used apps. No sooner had he installed his email app than a notification chimed.

That wasn't unusual. Who didn't get a few spam emails now and then?

Still, he clicked on it, seeing a few messages from an unfamiliar domain.

The first email read: "I miss you."

He scoffed, "Nonsense!" About to delete it, he opened the next: "Heavenly king covers the white tiger; pagoda suppresses the river demon."