After the harrowing battle, Leitao and the remnants of the Guo'an Army decided to find a relatively safe place to rest and regroup. After searching the area, they eventually discovered a manor that the Japanese Army had just finished ransacking.
The group carefully entered the grounds. The manor looked dilapidated, ravaged by the flames of war. Ancient stone walls were covered in mottled moss, and the wooden gate stood half-open, creaking slightly. In the courtyard, once-blooming flowers had long since withered, leaving only broken branches and fallen leaves scattered across the ground. A few tall trees stretched out their bare limbs as if recounting the cruelty of the war.
Once the group confirmed there was no immediate danger, they began to organize their gear and prepare for a short rest. Leitao sat on a stone and looked at the exhausted soldiers; a complex mixture of emotions welled up in him. He cleared his throat and asked, "Everyone, what are your plans for the future?"
The soldiers looked at one another, their faces marked by confusion and fatigue. A soldier with a deep scar on his face sighed and said, "We don't know. We'll have to take it one step at a time. This war has been too brutal; so many of our brothers have fallen, and we have no idea where to go from here." His eyes were filled with helplessness and grief, his hands gripping his rifle tightly as if it were his only support.
Another soldier, shorter but with a determined gaze, looked up, a glimmer of hope in his eyes. "We cannot give up like this! We must continue to fight—for our country and for our families." He brandished a fist, his tone impassioned, his face set in a firm expression.
At this, the oldest soldier spoke slowly: "Our strength is too diminished right now. We need to find more comrades and resist the Japanese Army together." His face was etched with wrinkles, his eyes revealing the weariness and wisdom of age. He furrowed his brows slightly, as if pondering how to navigate the road ahead.
Leitao listened intently, considering his own future as well. Looking at the group, he said, "I think we should rest here for a while to recover our strength. Then, we can seek out other anti-Japanese forces and unite to fight the Japanese Army together." His gaze was resolute and confident, his face etched with determination.
A female medic sat to one side, listening quietly to their exchange. Her face showed signs of weariness, but her eyes were full of gentleness and kindness. "We must also be mindful of our own safety," she said softly. "We cannot keep fighting blindly as we did before." Though her voice was gentle, it was filled with strength.
Leitao’s eyes landed on the female medic, and the corners of his mouth turned up into a mischievous smirk. He cleared his throat intentionally and raised his voice. "Hey, tell me, pretty doctor, why did you decide to become a soldier? War is a man's business. A delicate woman like you should have found a good man to marry, lived a stable life, and raised children. Tsk, tsk, that’s the life a woman is supposed to have in times of peace. With things as chaotic as they are now, you should be way behind the front lines, living a comfortable, steady life." Finished, Leitao shook his head theatrically, as if completely baffled by her choice.
Hearing this, the female medic’s eyebrows arched in anger, and her eyes widened. She sprang to her feet, hands on her hips, and snapped indignantly, "Hmph! Don't you look down on women. At a time like this, everyone has a duty to defend the country. I may not be able to charge into battle like you, but I can save the wounded and do my part for the resistance!" Her cheeks flushed slightly, her eyes flashing with stubbornness.
Leitao found her display of temper quite amusing. He raised an eyebrow and teased, "Oh? Quite the temper you have. But you're just a fragile girl; it's so dangerous on the battlefield. What would you do if you ran into trouble?"
The medic glared at him. "I'm not afraid. I'll take care of myself and the wounded, too. Don't underestimate me."
Leitao laughed. "Haha, alright, gutsy. Just be careful not to get hurt. If you do, I’ll be the one feeling sorry for you."
The medic's face turned even redder. She turned her head away, refusing to look at him. "Who needs your pity? You’re nothing but a rogue. No wonder my mother always said when I was little that men are no good—just a bunch of big, selfish oafs..." she muttered under her breath.
Leitao was not offended; instead, he burst into laughter. "Hey, you little spitfire, you really do have a temper. But I'm no rogue; I'm just looking out for you. As for what your mother said about men being no good, well, you can't paint everyone with the same brush." A glint of playfulness flashed in his eyes.
The medic gave a soft huff and ignored him, though her heart had begun to beat faster, an inexplicable emotion spreading within her.
Afterward, the group began to take stock of their weapons and supplies. Leitao appeared to reach into his ordinary backpack, but in reality, he was retrieving over fifty Japanese-style grenades from the mysterious space inside his Bagua spinning top. He handed them out one by one, saying, "These grenades will come in handy at a critical moment. Keep them safe." The soldiers accepted the grenades with gratitude. They were puzzled, however, by how Leitao’s backpack could hold so many grenades while looking exactly the same; theoretically, it should have been heavy, yet Leitao lifted it with ease. A young soldier couldn't help but ask, "Brother, you’re an overseas Chinese... how is your backpack so magical? It’s stuffed with all these grenades, yet it’s as if it’s empty." Leitao gave a mysterious smile and said, "That’s my secret weapon. Heh, you’ll find out eventually." Though curious, the men knew this was not the time to pry, so they let the question go for now.
They began to discuss a concrete plan of action, their expressions gradually turning serious. They knew the road ahead was long and filled with obstacles, but they also firmly believed that as long as they stood united, they would surely defeat the Japanese Army and defend their country.
In the quiet manor, Leitao and the soldiers plotted their future. Their hearts were filled with hope and courage as they prepared to meet the challenges ahead.