General Shao once won the nation's heart not just with his accomplishments but also his looks. From the moment he appeared at a national conference, many admired him simply for his face.

Lately, online comments about him have been a mix of praise and criticism, a departure from the previously unanimous acclaim.

If he comes back with a changed face, those naysayers will certainly have more to chatter about.

"Big brother and Zhou are back," Shao Zhen ran to open the door. The moment she did, she stood still, dumbfounded.

"You..."

A hand reached out to pat her head, "What's the matter? Don't recognize me?" The voice was unmistakably Shao Qi's, but that face...

Everyone else gathered around, equally taken aback by Shao Qi's appearance.

How to describe it? The contours were familiar; those close to him could instantly recognize him, but there was a distinct difference.

"Bro, did you offend the surgeon? Why did they give you such pale skin?" Shao Zhen looked somewhat dismayed. Her brother was always this rugged, masculine figure; now he looked like a soft-faced young man.

Standing next to Zhou You, Shao Qi looked even paler. Were it not for his tall stature, he'd resemble a fresh-faced college student.

Too young.

Zhou You had already grown used to the sight after their journey together. Seeing the Zhou family, he stepped forward to greet them.

"That was quick, wasn't it?" Zhou Hua Jin inquired.

"Yes, a minor procedure. I need to apply ointment to the edges for another three days before it fully merges with my face."

Shao Qi greeted them and sat beside Zhou You. His face remained neutral, but his tone revealed his elation.

"Once it heals, I'll sunbathe a bit, and I'll look like my old self."

"It's good this way too," Zhou Hua Jin remarked, not entirely sincere.

That night, Shao Qi ventured out alone. Relishing in the fact that no one could recognize him, he wandered the streets freely before entering a martial arts dojo.

"Is everyone here?"

Inside the training ground of the dojo, over a dozen people were engaged in sparring.

"Marshal!" Recognizing Shao Qi's voice, they hurriedly put away their weapons. They were on the verge of drawing their blades moments earlier.

The group stared at Shao Qi's new face for a long while. If the man leading them into battles looked like this, would they have been questioned by others?

"Boss, is this how your face will be from now on?" Zhuo Hao, with his bare, tanned arms, inquired.

"Does it look bad?" Shao Qi took out his phone to look at his reflection. After getting used to his scarred face, he was rather pleased with this new one.

"No, no. It's just...unexpected."

The others quickly chimed in with praise, "You look really handsome, even more so than current celebrities."

Settling into a chair and crossing his arms, Shao Qi remarked, "Maybe I can consider a career in entertainment then, seeing as I can't be a martial artist anymore."

These words left everyone present in silence.

"Marshal, our support for you isn't just because of your combat skills. The very reason we're here is to stabilize the situation, right? Rest assured, we won't let anyone lay a finger on your throne."

A towering figure stood in front of Shao Qi, making him seem incredibly frail by comparison.

Shao Qi looked up, "Xiong Mi Le, you must be breaking some records with that height. Still growing even at this age?"

"Not vertically! I've just widened. The food down south is too good."

Xiong Mi Le is a corps leader from a southern base, also among those who sent teams for the competition. Of course, his primary reason for coming was the email he received from Shao Qi.

This group, originally led by Shao Qi, dispersed over time, but they've never lost sight of their ambition.

They aspire to pave a way in this post-apocalyptic world—a path where everyone can live in peace and happiness.

"Actually, just before my departure, the military’s transfer orders were about to arrive. I had someone intercept them, pretending it never happened. They're moving fast, and they're well aware of who could be their obstacles."

Ever since the news of Shao Qi's death emerged, undercurrents of unrest have been constant within the military. Not only was his Fire Flame unit being monitored, but soldiers he had previously led were either being transferred or dismissed.

But of course, leaders like Xiong Mi Le, who already had control over a base's military power, weren't so easily replaced.

"Damn them. They were never this eager when there was work to be done, but now they're suddenly so bold."

Shao Qi examined each of them closely. Some he hadn't seen for years, and he couldn't be sure of their absolute loyalty.

Meeting Shao Qi's gaze, they all stood tall, reporting in turn.

"From Yuhua Base, Colonel Li Rongjie reporting!"

"From Weishui Base, Air Force Squadron Leader Yuan Hong reporting!"

"From Yang City Base, Artillery Third Division Xu Yuan Yao reporting!"

...

"From the Southern Base, Corps Leader Xiong Mi Le reporting!"

"From Central Corps, Fire Flame Unit Zhuo Hao reporting!" ...

Shao Qi walked past each of them, touching the medals pinned to their chests. Medals that he had personally bestowed upon them after they had secured bases across the country years ago.

"You've all worked hard. Come, let me show you something." Leading them out, an unmarked vehicle waited outside the martial arts hall. The driver was a robot.

The vehicle accommodated everyone. It passed through city streets before finally entering the military zone.

Passing a security checkpoint, the vehicle entered a warehouse. With a beep, the floor parted, revealing a ramp downwards, leading to an underground facility.

Once everyone disembarked, they saw the sign "Factory 6" hanging above a steel door. It was the Central Corps' weapon development center.