Chapter 163 Safe Return (1/2)

Under Yan Yu's command, the group descended the mountain as quickly as possible.

When they appeared at the village entrance carrying a nine-headed wolf and three wild boars, the entire Jixiang Brigade was in an uproar.

The villagers poured out of their homes, and upon seeing the bloodied prey, they were first shocked, then erupted in deafening cheers.

"My God! So much meat!"

"Look! There are wild boars! Three of them!!"

But soon, sharp-eyed people noticed something was wrong.

"Look! Wei Dong's arms are covered in blood!"

"Why are Li Jianshe and the others so pale? They look like they're made of paper!"

The noisy crowd fell silent instantly, their joy overshadowed by tension and worry.

Ignoring the surrounding chatter, Yan Yu helped carry the last wild boar to the center of the threshing ground before letting go of it.

"Uncle Jianshe, you handle the rest."

After saying that, he turned and left, his steps quick and steady.

"Brother! Wait for me!"

Without a second thought, Yu Hao immediately followed.

He has now become Yan Yu's shadow, not wanting to leave his side for even a moment.

Zhao Weiguo hesitated for a moment, then quickly followed. He had a bellyful of questions stuck in his chest, and he couldn't sleep until he got them out.

Li Jianshe watched the three figures disappear into the distance, opened his mouth as if to speak, but ultimately just nodded heavily.

He knew that if it weren't for Yan Yu, none of them, more than a dozen people, would have made it back today.

This kindness is too heavy.

Brigade leader Chen Fengshan and the old Party Secretary also rushed over upon hearing the news. Seeing the scene, they were both shocked and frightened, and quickly arranged for people to take the injured commune members to the clinic.

Yan Yu, already with two "little tails" following him, was on his way home.

The three of them trudged through the snow, which was a mixture of blood and mud, making their way towards the village.

The smell of blood and gunpowder is like a ingrained part of you; you can't shake it off no matter what you do.

At the fork in the road, Zhao Weiguo suddenly stopped.

His usually composed, square face was frighteningly pale, and his lips were trembling slightly.

He first glanced at Yan Yu, who had no expression, then suddenly turned his head and stared intently at Yu Hao, who was standing dejectedly beside him.

His Adam's apple bobbed up and down for a long time before he finally managed to squeeze out a few words from his dry throat.

"I...I'll head back now."

Zhao Weiguo paused, then looked at Yan Yu and said, word by word, "Thank you for today."

Those two words felt like a heavy blow to one's shoulders.

Without Yan Yu, he would have lost his life in the mountains today.

Yan Yu gave a very soft "hmm" sound through his nose, without even lifting his eyelids.

Zhao Weiguo's gaze then turned to Yu Hao, his eyes a jumbled mess of emotions—fear, gratitude, and a hint of admiration he himself hadn't even realized.

He raised his hand and, with all his might, punched Yu Hao hard on the shoulder.

A muffled "bang" was heard.

Without saying a word, Zhao Weiguo turned around and, with his still somewhat weak legs, walked towards the educated youth settlement.

That figure, no longer as upright as before, seemed to have had its soul stolen by something.

Only Yan Yu and Yu Hao remained at the intersection.

The way Yu Hao looks at Yan Yu now is completely different.

That was the look in the younger brother's eyes when he looked at his older brother, a mixture of admiration, dependence, and lingering fear after surviving a disaster.

Seeing Zhao Weiguo leave, he didn't even think twice before following Yan Yu, like a big wolfhound looking for its master, not daring to fall behind.

"You go back first."

Yan Yu suddenly spoke and stopped in his tracks.

Yu Hao was taken aback, and the grievances he had brought down from the mountain resurfaced, and he stared at him expectantly.

"Brother, I want to go home with you."

He doesn't want to leave Yan Yu for even a second right now.

Only when he was by his brother's side could his heart, which was still pounding wildly in his throat, find some peace.