Li Qiang's words stopped abruptly, and the excitement on his face faded. He frowned at Gu Liyan and said, "Why should I tell you this? You're not one of us!"

"Has your Chuhefang already cooperated with the Allied Forces?" Gu Liyan asked with a smile.

"How did you know?! Only insiders know about this..." Li Qiang looked at Gu Liyan with curiosity. "You heard it from the captain, right?"

Gu Liyan smiled and said, "One person's strength is ultimately limited. Although everyone's goal is to resist the snake people, we will eventually have to unite for the sake of unity."

“You talk like our commander!” Li Qiang looked Gu Liyan up and down and said, “Judging from your refined appearance, you must be a scholar, right?”

Gu Liyan smiled and nodded.

Li Qiang examined Gu Liyan's injuries and said with admiration, "Brother, I heard from the army doctor that your injuries were all from snake bites. You fought with snake people, right? What grudge could have caused you to be like this?"

Gu Liyan said awkwardly, "Maybe... it's because I'm too good-looking!"

Li Qiang sighed, "Forget it, you're just a pretty boy at best. You're nowhere near as good-looking as our commander! You'd feel inferior if you met him!"

Gu Liyan smiled and said, "Then I really want to see this so-called commander."

Li Qiang waved his hand, "It won't be like that starting tomorrow!"

Gu Liyan asked in confusion, "Oh? What do you mean?"

Li Qiang whispered, "Let me tell you, the Commander-in-Chief died in the last operation, and the Commander is getting promoted. Next time we meet, we'll have to call him Commander! Tomorrow, the Commander will be electing a new Commander from among us!"

Gu Liyan nodded. "I see."

Li Qiang sighed, "It's fine for a commander to become a general, but there's really no one who can stand shoulder to shoulder with a commander in this position!"

"What are the criteria for selecting a commander?" Gu Liyan asked.

"Of course, he's both wise and brave! Do you even need to ask why?" Li Qiang said matter-of-factly.

Gu Liyan's lips curled up. "Do you think I'm up to the task?"

"You?" Li Qiang rolled his eyes. "Brother, stop bragging. With your physique, you wouldn't even pass the martial arts test!"

"A commander, as the name suggests, is someone who commands people and relies on intelligence. Why does it have to be a contest?" Gu Liyan said with a smile. "According to your logic, if I beat the current commander, would I become the commander-in-chief?"

"You, how can you talk like that, like that..." Li Qiang was speechless.

"Reckless and lawless?" Gu Liyan reminded him with a smile.

"Ah, right! You're incredibly audacious! How could you say something like that!" Li Qiang exclaimed.

Gu Liyan smiled. "Rather than entrusting it to someone who is not trustworthy, it is better to entrust it to a wise person... If the commander is smart enough, he will definitely be able to see who the real wise person is!"

Li Qiang glared at Gu Liyan. "Why do I feel like you're brainwashing me? I almost thought you were going to be our next commander! Alright, I'm not talking to you anymore. I'm going to change shifts. You get some rest!"

After Li Qiang left, Gu Liyan lay on the bed, somewhat curious about the commander. "This world is full of talented people. I wonder if this person is a true sage... I must go and meet this commander tomorrow!"

The next morning, Gu Liyan was awakened by the sound of bugle calls for assembly outside before he had even woken up.

Then they heard a guard outside shouting, "Assemble! The commander has arrived! Assemble immediately!"

Upon hearing this, Gu Liyan sat up, put on her coat, and went outside. The autumn wind was biting, and Gu Liyan shivered as she followed the soldiers in the distance toward the square to assemble.

The group stood neatly in the square, their faces serious, looking at the stands with anticipation.

On the stage, the man in purple clothes stood with his back to the crowd, looking up at the sky as if lost in thought.

Below the stage, everyone was also looking up at the stage, at the same angle as the man in purple.

After arriving at the square, Gu Liyan leaned against the wall, panting heavily. Looking at the sea of ​​people, she couldn't see the commander on the platform at all.

Seeing everyone looking up at the stage, Gu Liyan knew that this commander had the support of the people.

"Such a person should be trustworthy..." Gu Liyan felt relieved, and sighed while clutching his aching chest. "If I were healthy, I would dare to compete for the commander's position, but now it seems... I should just give up!"

Gu Liyan turned to leave.

Just then, the man in purple on the stage spoke, "All beings are equal. While you look up to me, I too will look up to a heaven higher than myself..."

Upon hearing that familiar voice, Gu Liyan trembled and turned to look at the stage. "He, he is..."

The man in purple turned around, looked at the crowd below the stage, and continued, "So, are you all willing to stand shoulder to shoulder with me and create a new world?"

"I'm willing!" Li Qiang was the first to shout from the audience.

"We are willing to stand shoulder to shoulder with the commander and create a new world!" A well-educated young man spoke up, and this sentence became a slogan, which everyone followed suit.

"We are willing to stand shoulder to shoulder with the commander and create a new world!"

The sound was like a thunderclap, echoing throughout the entire square.

As Gu Changyuan looked at the passionate crowd below the stage, a smile appeared on his lips. Suddenly, his smile froze, and he stood there motionless.

Everyone looked at him strangely, following his gaze with suspicion. Their eyes then fell on a corner of the square where a man in white stood. His clothes were thin, making him look incredibly frail. His appearance was unbelievably beautiful, like a celestial being from a painting. However, his face was deathly pale, and his coat was covered in bloodstains. Combined with his demeanor, he evoked pity at first glance.

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