That question stumped Xiao Yu. How was he supposed to answer?
These guards clearly did not recognize him. Was he supposed to say he had just come home for a look? They would have to be out of their minds to believe that.
Just then, a guard hurried over and whispered a few words into the middle-aged man's ear.
The middle-aged man looked shocked at first. After confirming it with the guard, he respectfully dropped to one knee before Xiao Yu and saluted, his eyes burning with fervor.
"Yan Yue, deputy commander of the Seventh Army of the Alliance Guard, pays his respects to the exalted Alliance Leader!"
His voice rang out strong and clear, and the guards behind him followed suit.
For a moment, their respectful greetings carried far into the distance.
Xiao Yu smiled and nodded. "Rise."
He was not surprised that they had recognized him. After all, he had heard every word of the middle-aged man's whispered exchange with the guard.
"Yes, sir!"
As soon as Xiao Yu finished speaking, all the kneeling guards rose in unison, their backs straighter and their expressions solemn.
They were a well-trained army.
"Open the gates! Welcome the exalted Alliance Leader home!"
The next moment, the middle-aged man shouted to the guards at the gates.
Without hesitation, the guards pushed the gates open and respectfully bowed their heads, waiting for Xiao Yu to pass. Yet the fervor in their eyes never faded.
Xiao Yu smiled and shook his head. He offered no polite protests; these guards were simply fulfilling their duties.
Rules were necessary. Xiao Yu was no rigid idealist. Though he had the mindset of a modern man, this was not Earth, and he had no lofty ambitions of making everyone equal.
And so, beneath the guards' respectful, fervent gazes,