"General Qin, long time no see."

Indeed, it had been quite a while, especially considering the numerous twists of fate recently, making days feel like years.

"I would have never imagined, Marshal, that you'd still be alive. Have you been living here all this time?" Behind the two, a cave entrance hinted at habitation.

"More or less. After escaping with severe injuries, I was disoriented. When I regained consciousness, I found myself near this cave. Given the extent of my injuries, I had to hide and recover here."

"Is it like those tales of time standing still in the mountains, making years feel like mere moments? Had I not run into Zhou You, I might still be trapped here."

Tears welled up in Zhou You's eyes. "I've said it time and again, you wouldn't die so easily. Everyone thought I was mad... But this time, I had an intuition to come here, and I'm so glad I did."

"Perhaps those with heightened psychic abilities do have sharper intuitions."

Jokingly, Shao Qi said, “Or maybe our hearts are interconnected... cough, cough…”

A severe cough overtook Shao Qi. Qin Xun quickly retrieved a first aid kit from his backpack, handing over some universal healing medications.

"Marshal, your injuries..."

"They're manageable. Just a depletion of my vital energy, combined with some external and internal injuries. But I'm on the mend."

Looking at the scars on his face, Qin Xun sighed inwardly, recalling how handsome he once was.

Chapter 233: The Return of the Marshal

Come dawn, a piece of news startled many.

Many were roused from sleep by friends or family, urged to check the latest headlines online. What a sensational piece of news!

Bold and red, the headline graced every major website: Marshal Shao Returns!

Those groggily clicking on the news initially thought it a cruel joke. The seventh-day mourning period should have passed.

But the most widely circulated proof was a news video from the Central Television morning bulletin—a government-endorsed broadcast, known for its credibility.

In the video, a transport plane lands at Dawn City Airport. As the aircraft's doors open, two lines of armed soldiers briskly disembark, forming a guard of honor.

Following them, two individuals step down. One, dressed in a military uniform, and the other in sportswear. The two walk hand in hand out of the airport.

Cameras on both sides captured clear footage. The one in sportswear was Zhou You, the legal spouse of Shao Qi.

And the man in the uniform is…

"Does he resemble him? I think not. Clearly, Marshal Shao was more robust and imposing. This man seems too thin and lacks that dominant aura."

"It can't be him, right? If it were, why would he wear a mask? Is it because he's an imposter and fears being seen?"

"What's this all about so early in the morning? Is Mr. Zhou, driven mad by longing for his husband, trying to find a substitute?"

"This is outrageous! Who would dare impersonate Marshal Shao? Where does such audacity come from?"

As the video continues, soldiers escort the duo out of the airport. The camera pans, revealing a fleet of official vehicles parked outside, with many familiar figures from central news awaiting their arrival.

First, Director He rushes forward, embracing him tightly and patting his back while choking back tears, "It's good you're back. Good that you're alive."

Then the president of the Martial Arts Association, leading several faction heads, greets him with a bow. Their smiles are particularly radiant, especially that of Qin Yuantian, the leader of the Dao Alliance; his laughter could pierce the skies.

Not only those close to Shao Qi came to welcome him, but Yang Yanlei also personally arrived. With mixed emotions, he greeted the man before him, forcing a smile, "Welcome back!"

"Thank you."

Their meeting was a bit awkward. Both knew that the grand funeral ceremony back then was orchestrated by Yang Yanlei, his very idea.

Or perhaps, Yang Yanlei used Shao Qi's "death" to gain public favor. And now, to everyone's astonishment, Shao Qi had returned, very much alive.

He initially disbelieved. But he had a video call with Shao Qi. Despite the scars on his face, he was unmistakably the same person.

One could find someone of similar stature, imitate a voice, or even alter appearance through plastic surgery, and demeanor could be trained to resemble another. However, the way a person speaks, their tone, and the look in their eyes are nearly impossible to mimic.

Such a significant revelation wouldn't be announced without verification. Before Shao Qi's return, video conferences were held with various high-ranking officials. All necessary proofs were provided, leading to this news broadcast.

"Although it seems unbelievable, I can't imagine all these national leaders colluding with Zhou You to fabricate this. It's true! Marshal Shao is alive!"

"My God, how is that possible? When they reported that the entire region was bombed into wasteland, my teachers all said no one could survive such devastation. How did he manage?"

"The marshal has lost so much weight. My heart aches for him!"

"I want to see his face. Why can't we?"

"Yes, why the mask? Do we not deserve to see the marshal's face?"

"He returns from the dead, so what about his previous funeral?"

"Such a monumental oversight! Is the central military just idly collecting their salaries? They first claimed he was dead, and now he's back. Which is the truth?"

Gu Zhou was also among the welcoming party. He gave a nod to someone, who stepped forward from the crowd.

The man saluted Shao Qi and loudly asked, "May I ask Marshal Shao, what exactly transpired? We seek the truth."

"Lieutenant Lin, long time no see," Shao Qi replied calmly, "I'll provide a detailed report soon. Stay updated with official announcements."

"Why don't you show your true face? Is there something behind this?"

"Lin Rongxi, given your rank, it's understandable you're not privy to certain information. But why choose to interrogate in such a tone at this occasion?" Zhuo Hao stepped forward, anger evident in his stance, shielding Shao Qi.