Courtyard House: Starting in 1938, kill enemies and loot equipment.

The autumn morning light filtered through the leaves, casting dappled shadows on the ground in the dense forest on the outskirts of the city. A cool breeze, carrying the fragrance of grass and trees, brushed against the hem of Zhou Ye and Zhou Xiaocao's clothes. This was the third day since Xiaocao had left the farm with her brother and stepped into the outside world. The little girl, who was used to seeing crops and livestock on the farm, was filled with curiosity about the mountains and forests. However, she also remembered her brother's instructions and held his hand tightly, not daring to run around.

The dense forest Zhou Ye chose was not far from the base area and avoided the Japanese patrol routes. It was secluded and had a wide view, making it an ideal place to practice martial arts. He had Xiaocao stand on the open ground, while he stepped back onto a nearby bluestone and solemnly instructed, "Come on, practice the basic techniques I've taught you these past few days. Go slowly, remember the rhythm of your breathing, don't rush."

Xiao Cao nodded vigorously, her small hand clutching the jade pendant hidden close to her body beneath her clothes. The touch of her fingertips on the warm, smooth jade brought her a sense of peace. She slowly raised her hand, her knees slightly bent, and followed the movements from her memory, stretching her body step by step. She inhaled, gently lifting her chin, and exhaled, slowly bending over. Although she occasionally made a mistake, she would immediately stop, look up at Zhou Ye, and ask with a hint of embarrassment in her eyes.

"Sink your wrist a little deeper, don't wobble." Zhou Ye got up and walked over, gently pressing her wrist to adjust her posture. "The key to this martial art is stability and evenness, not speed. Make sure every movement is solid, and your breathing will be smooth, then your body will become more agile." He patiently corrected her small mistakes again and again, from her posture to the angle of her raised hand, even the speed of her breathing, all of which showed the coldness he had on the battlefield, leaving only the tenderness he showed to his sister.

After practicing for half an hour, fine beads of sweat appeared on Xiaocao's forehead, and her face was flushed, but she still gritted her teeth and persevered until Zhou Ye called for a stop. Only then did she wipe her sweat, run to his side, tug at his clothes, and ask, "Brother, did I practice well? Am I better than yesterday?"

"Hmm, you're improving very quickly." Zhou Ye took out a water pouch from his backpack, unscrewed it, and held it to her lips. He watched her sip the water and then reached out to straighten her braids that had been messed up by the wind. "From now on, practice on the farm every morning and evening. Every few days, your brother will take you to the mountains to practice. It's more open here than on the farm, so you can relax and get used to the wild environment."

The little grass drank water and curiously looked around at the surrounding woods. Pointing to a bird on a branch not far away, it asked, "Brother, what kind of bird is that? Its feathers are yellow, so pretty." As it spoke, it tried to walk forward, but Zhou Ye gently pulled it back.

"Don't wander off. The mountains and forests are not like a farm. Who knows what might be hiding there? There might even be Japanese sentries. You can't leave your brother's sight." Zhou Ye's voice was soft but solemn. He took her hand and led her to a bush nearby, pointing to the veins of the leaves. "Look, this kind of bush with thorny edges can be used to cover your body. If you encounter danger and don't have time to use your jade token, hide in this dense place, hold your breath, and don't make a sound, understand?"

He then pointed to the fallen leaves and footprints on the ground, teaching her to distinguish them little by little: "Look, these are rabbit footprints, and these are human footprints. If you see unfamiliar large footprints with shoe prints, they are most likely Japanese soldiers or puppet troops. If you see them, hide quickly. If you really can't hide, hold the jade pendant tightly and silently say 'go home' without hesitation."

Little Grass opened her bright eyes and remembered every word her brother said. She nodded from time to time, her little hand tightly gripping Zhou Ye's hand, and said as if she understood but not quite, "I remember, if you see unfamiliar footprints, hide. If you can't hide, use the jade token to go home."

"Good girl." Zhou Ye patted her head, knowing that these words were a bit heavy for a seven-year-old, but he had to teach her. He couldn't stay by her side all the time. Although the farm was a safe haven, he couldn't let her live in that small world forever. Teaching her to recognize her environment and identify dangers was more important than simply practicing martial arts.

After resting for a while, Zhou Ye taught Xiao Cao a few simple dodging moves—to immediately duck when hearing a strange noise, and to quickly sidestep when someone approaches from behind. The moves were simple and easy to learn, designed for a child's physique. They weren't meant to retaliate, but rather to protect oneself in unexpected situations and buy time to use the jade pendant. Xiao Cao learned very diligently, her little body following her brother's movements as she dodged back and forth. Occasionally, she would fall onto the soft fallen leaves, but she would immediately get up, dust herself off, and continue practicing, showing no signs of being spoiled.

As the sun rose higher, the mist in the forest dissipated. Zhou Ye glanced at the sky and knew it was time to go back, lest he be late for his afternoon business and also fear that staying outside too long might lead to unforeseen circumstances. He packed his water bag and backpack, took Xiao Cao's hand, and walked out of the forest: "That's enough practice for today. Let's go back to the farm first. This afternoon, your brother is going to meet with Uncle Zhao. I'll feed you the piglets later."

The little grass nodded, but still looked longingly at the woods behind it, and whispered, "Brother, this place is so much fun! It's more lively than the farm. There are birds and squirrels. Let's come again next time, okay?"

"Okay, as long as things are stable, I'll bring you here often." Zhou Ye looked down at the joy in his sister's eyes, his heart softening. He also felt a pang of guilt, remembering how she was usually alone on the farm. He stopped, squatted down, and looked Xiaocao in the eye, saying softly, "Xiaocao, I'm sorry you have to suffer. With your brother, you can't play around like other children. You have to keep secrets and guard the farm."

Little Grass shook her head, reached out and hugged Zhou Ye's neck, resting her little head on his shoulder, her voice soft: "I'm not wronged. I'm not wronged when I'm with my brother. There are chickens and pigs on the farm, and my brother taught me martial arts. Now I can also play in the mountains and forests. I'm very happy."

Zhou Ye's heart was instantly filled with warmth. He raised his hand and hugged his sister tightly, his nose tingling slightly. He had transmigrated here, all alone, and this sister was the most precious thing he cared about in his life. For her, even if the road ahead was filled with war, he would have no fear.

Emerging from the dense forest, Zhou Ye cautiously scanned his surroundings to ensure there was nothing amiss before leading Xiao Cao to a secluded corner. With a thought, the two entered the system's farm.

As soon as they entered the farm, Xiaocao broke free from Zhou Ye's hand and skipped over to the chicken coop. She watched the newly hatched chicks chirping and circling around their mother hen. Then she ran to the pigpen and watched the piglets grunting and rooting in the dirt, her little face full of smiles. Zhou Ye followed behind her, watching her joyful appearance, and breathed a sigh of relief.

He knew that letting his younger sister go out occasionally would not only allow her to practice her martial arts and learn self-defense, but also relieve the boredom of being on the farm. Children should have their own joys, and the war should not be allowed to erode her innocence.

In the afternoon, Zhou Ye settled Xiao Cao down, repeatedly telling her to practice her martial arts at home and not to run around. He also checked the jade pendant under her clothes to make sure it was hidden close to her body before turning around and leaving the farm to head to the meeting place with Zhao Hu.

On the farm, Xiaocao sat on the edge of the field, watching the golden waves of wheat. She first practiced her kung fu diligently, her movements becoming more skillful than in the mountains and forests. After finishing, she ran to the wooden house, took out the grasshoppers her brother had taught her to weave, sat on a rock, and fiddled with them while watching the chicks and piglets not far away, softly humming the nursery rhymes her brother had taught her.

Her small hand would occasionally touch the jade pendant beneath her clothes, the warm, smooth touch giving her a sense of security. She knew this jade pendant was a life-saving charm given to her by her brother; the farm was her home, and her brother was her greatest support. She would practice her martial arts diligently, guard the farm carefully, and wait for her brother to return, wait for him to drive away the Japanese invaders. Then, she could go back to the courtyard house with her brother, back to the place with Aunt Lü, the old lady, and the old locust tree, and never have to hide in secret again, never have to fear danger again.

Meanwhile, Zhou Ye had reunited with Zhao Hu. The two stood before the battle map, quietly discussing their next plan to cut off the Japanese army's supply lines. Outside the window, the autumn wind carried the smell of gunpowder, but in Zhou Ye's heart, there remained a warm haven because of that small figure on the farm. It was the source of all his courage and strength, and the beautiful thing he was determined to protect at all costs.