Courtyard House: Home Alone

He saluted Li Yunlong, then looked at Lin Yifan with a hint of respect in his eyes. Lin Yifan nodded back, "Brother Wei, thank you for your hard work."

Li Yunlong waved his hand impatiently: "What are you all standing there for? Go get the horse!"

"Hey!" Wei Dayong responded, then turned and ran out like a gust of wind.

Li Yunlong then turned to Lin Yifan with a sly smile: "Brother Yifan, this monk may look rough, but he's skilled in martial arts. I'm at ease having him escort you!"

When you get to headquarters and meet the leaders, say what needs to be said, but don't blurt out anything you shouldn't, understand? Especially those "tricks" of yours, you have to choose the right moment to reveal them, lest people think you're here to cause trouble.

He kept giving instructions, just like a parent sending their child on a long trip. His previous generosity was now tinged with a subtle concern.

Lin Yifan felt a warmth in his heart, but joked, "I know, Commander Li, don't worry, I'm not a three-year-old. But you, you'd better take good care of the Independent Regiment, lest I come back next time and still see it 'starving'."

Li Yunlong chuckled and patted his chest, assuring everyone, "Don't worry! In less than three months, you'll be amazed! By then, our Independent Regiment will be strong and well-equipped. We'll be able to take down not only the Japanese strongholds, but even a few county towns!"

Just then, Wei Dayong returned leading two tall horses, their saddles and bridles neatly arranged.

Li Yunlong personally stepped forward to help Lin Yifan onto the saddle, carefully checked the stirrups, then stepped back and said loudly, "Brother Yifan, take care on your journey!"

Lin Yifan clasped his hands in a fist salute from his horse: "Commander Li, Political Commissar Zhao, until we meet again!"

Zhao Gang stepped forward and said gently, "Brother Lin, please be careful on the road. We're waiting for your good news."

Lin Yifan nodded, gently squeezed the horse's flanks with his legs, and said to Wei Dayong, "Brother Wei, let's go."

"Alright!" Wei Dayong replied, then leaped onto another horse and rode alongside Lin Yifan, heading out of the village.

Li Yunlong and Zhao Gang stood at the village entrance, watching their figures disappear into the distant mountain path before slowly turning around.

Li Yunlong took a deep breath, his smile gradually fading, replaced by an unprecedented determination. He said to Zhao Gang, "Old Zhao, let's go to the meeting! Our Independent Regiment's good days begin today!"

Lin Yifan and Wei Dayong galloped towards the Eighth Route Army headquarters.

A thin mist hung in the mountain forest in the early morning, carrying a hint of coolness. The horses' hooves clattered crisply on the pebbly mountain path.

Wei Dayong was a skilled horseman and stayed close to Lin Yifan. His bright eyes scanned the surroundings warily, as if he were ready to deal with any possible danger at any time.

"Brother Wei, you must have honed your riding skills since you were a child, right?" Lin Yifan pulled on the reins, slowed down, and asked with a smile. After galloping all the way, he also wanted to take this opportunity to relax.

Wei Dayong grinned, revealing two rows of white teeth: "Hehe, Brother Lin, to be honest, I've never dealt with horses before. My family was poor, so I went to Shaolin Temple when I was young. Later, when the Japanese came, I went down the mountain to join the army."

I learned horsemanship after joining the army. Commander Li said that my horsemanship is among the best in the regiment! He spoke of his horsemanship with a hint of pride.

"That's really impressive," Lin Yifan exclaimed sincerely. "With Brother Wei here, I felt much more at ease on this journey."

"Brother Lin, what are you saying!" Wei Dayong glared at him. "The regimental commander said your safety is more important than my life! I, Wei Dayong, may not have any other skills, but I'm a tough fighter. If anyone dares to lay a finger on you, I'll let them taste the power of my iron fist!"

As he spoke, he proudly raised his fist, which was as big as a clay pot and covered with calluses, clearly indicating that he was a martial arts practitioner.

Lin Yifan was amused by his straightforward nature: "Brother Wei, I believe you. But we still need to be careful. The journey is not peaceful. We might encounter Japanese patrols or traitors."

"Yes! Don't worry, Brother Lin, I have sharp eyes!"

Wei Dayong's smile faded, and his expression turned serious. "Within these few miles, no sound or movement can escape my ears and eyes. The route we're taking was specially chosen by the regimental commander; it's relatively safer."

The two chatted as they traveled. The sun gradually rose higher, the thin mist dissipated, and the scenery of the mountains and forests became clearer.

Wildflowers bloom in profusion along the roadside, red, yellow, and purple, dotting the green grass and creating a beautiful scene. Occasionally, the clear chirping of birds can be heard, adding a touch of life to the quiet mountain forest.

"Brother Wei, how long have you been with Commander Li?" Lin Yifan asked curiously. He was also becoming more interested in this straightforward and highly skilled monk bodyguard.

"I was knocked unconscious by a Japanese artillery shell during a battle, and then I was imprisoned in a prisoner-of-war camp by the Japanese. I managed to escape once, and it was our political commissar who saved me. Later, our regimental commander saw that I was good at fighting, so he kept me by his side. It's been about half a year now."

Wei Dayong recalled, "From then on, I followed the regimental commander. Whatever the regimental commander told me to do, I did!" Speaking of Li Yunlong, Wei Dayong's tone was full of respect and gratitude.

"Although Commander Li has a fiery temper and sometimes likes to curse, he is really good to his brothers. He is brave and resourceful in battle. Following him, you feel at ease!" Wei Dayong added.

Lin Yifan nodded with deep feeling: "Commander Li is indeed a rare military talent. He is brave, resourceful, and considerate of his subordinates. With him in the Independent Regiment, we will definitely win more battles."

The two chatted all the way, and it didn't feel boring at all. Wei Dayong told Lin Yifan many stories of the Independent Regiment's past battles, which made Lin Yifan feel tense at times and excited at others.

Lin Yifan also told Wei Dayong about his experiences in Beiping and some new ideas for resisting Japan. Although Wei Dayong only vaguely understood what he was saying, he felt that Lin Yifan was very knowledgeable despite his young age, and he respected him even more.

Before they knew it, the sun had risen high overhead. The two found a shady hillside, dismounted, and planned to rest and eat some dry rations.

Wei Dayong took out two cornbread buns and a small bag of pickled vegetables from the cloth bag next to the saddle, and handed one to Lin Yifan: "Brother Lin, make do with this. There will be good food when we get to headquarters."

Lin Yifan took the cornbread, took a bite, and although it was a bit dry and hard, it was already considered good food in these harsh conditions. "Brother Wei, you should eat too."

The two sat on the grass, munching on cornbread and drinking cold water from their kettles. A breeze blew by, bringing with it the fresh air from the distant mountains and forests.