Chapter 45: One Good News, One Bad News

"Hmm."

Ye Yuan's reaction was remarkably calm.

Cong Gui cast a suspicious glance at Ye Yuan. "Old Hero, you must have known Honjo Shigeru's true identity back then, didn't you?"

"I didn't."

Ye Yuan shook his head. "Back then, he was surrounded by crowds of followers. Anyone with half a brain could tell he was a high-ranking official, but I never expected him to be the commander-in-chief. Had I known his identity, even if it cost me my life, I would have killed him right then and there."

Cong Gui frowned, then chuckled softly. "It's fine. Even if you didn't kill him then, after the Japanese surrendered, as the first commander of the Kwantung Army, he was designated as a Class-A war criminal suspect. But that scoundrel committed suicide and escaped judgment."

"Still, given that he was such a high-ranking official, why did he specifically target you back then? He even went so far as to personally coerce a confession. Logically speaking, he had no reason to do that."

"Perhaps it was because I was a member of one of the most radical anti-Japanese guerrilla units at the time," Ye Yuan said, his gaze flickering with obvious concealment. "They were eager to make an example of someone to terrify others and desperately wanted to wipe out our forces, which is why he came personally."

Ye Yuan's answer did not arouse Cong Gui's suspicion.

"Regardless of the reason, you escaped with your life and even severely injured Honjo Shigeru. That feat alone deserves to be written into the history books!"

Cong Gui said excitedly, pulling a medal from his pocket. "This medal has been cleaned. I'm returning it to you."

"I don't want it."

Ye Yuan shook his head. "Things belonging to the Japanese remain dirty, no matter how much you wash them."

Cong Gui thought for a moment, then tentatively asked, "Then... shall I help you donate this to the Exhibition Hall of Evidence?"

"Hmm, you decide." Ye Yuan nodded.

"Alright."

Cong Gui tucked the medal back into his pocket and asked softly, "Old Hero, where is Yan'an? Is she at home?"

Before his voice faded, Ye Yuan Yan'an happened to walk out of the house, planning to go for a stroll with Sun Ting.

Hearing Cong Gui's words, she immediately smiled sweetly. "Good morning, Uncle Cong. Are you looking for me?"

"Good morning, Yan'an." Cong Gui looked at Ye Yuan Yan'an with a beaming smile. "I'm not looking for you specifically. I just figured you'll be heading off to school soon, so I wanted to let you know not to worry about your grandfather's safety. I've already reported to the military region to have security cameras installed around the Old Hero's residence, and we'll have dedicated personnel protecting him as well."

"Thank you, Uncle Cong," Ye Yuan Yan'an expressed her gratitude with utmost sincerity.

Cong Gui waved his hand. "Don't thank me, please don't. I couldn't possibly take the credit."

"Hurry along now, don't keep Sister Tingting waiting too long," Ye Yuan gently urged.

"Got it," Ye Yuan Yan'an acknowledged and stepped away.

Seeing Ye Yuan Yan'an leave, Cong Gui lowered his voice and said to Ye Yuan, "Old Hero, my coming here today isn't just about the medal; it's also about Yan'an's parents."

At these words, Ye Yuan's brow instantly furrowed as he stared at Cong Gui.

"Old Master Wu previously heard that you had a son named Ye Xia, so he specifically had Chief Xiao and the others investigate matters concerning Ye Xia," Cong Gui explained. "Chief Xiao investigated for a long time and finally found Ye Xia."

Ye Yuan's body trembled slightly, but he remained silent.

"He... has passed away." Cong Gui lowered his head and said softly, "He and his wife had prolonged exposure to radioactive materials, which led to cellular degeneration. In the end, the two of them could not be saved. However, due to the confidential nature of their work, their bodies could not be sent back, nor could the news be transmitted out."

"Chief Xiao had to put in a tremendous amount of effort and sign numerous non-disclosure agreements before finally discovering all of this."

"Hmm." Ye Yuan nodded slightly, appearing as unruffled as still water.

Yet Cong Gui clearly saw that Ye Yuan's once-straight posture had become much more stooped.

"Old Hero, please... accept my condolences." Cong Gui didn't know how else to comfort Ye Yuan.

Ye Yuan had six children in total, yet all of them passed away in the prime of their lives, forcing Ye Yuan to endure the grief of a parent burying their child six separate times.

Almost no one could withstand a blow of that magnitude.

"I knew from the very beginning," Ye Yuan said softly. "When he and Xiaoxia found me, knelt before me, and entrusted Yan'an to my care, I knew that once they left on that mission, they had no intention of returning."

Cong Gui opened his mouth, but the words died on his lips, and he simply listened in silence.

"Needing to sign confidentiality agreements means that this matter was of paramount importance to our entire country."

There was no expression to be seen on Ye Yuan's face as he spoke on his own accord. "That's why I didn't try to stop them. I supported what the two of them wanted to do. Without a country, how can there be a home? Chief Cong, wouldn't you agree?"

Cong Gui felt a stinging sensation in his nasal cavity and nodded, fighting back tears.

"Fortunately, compared to his brothers and sister, he can still be considered fortunate," Ye Yuan continued. "At least he left behind Yan'an. They left behind a descendant. Yan'an is exceptional and clever; she inherited all the best traits of both her parents."

"Old Hero, please don't say anymore..."

Cong Gui's body trembled, and tears swirled in his eyes.

He had no idea how much pain Ye Yuan was holding inside at that moment.

Yet Ye Yuan maintained his light, casual demeanor throughout.

"Thank you for your hard work." Ye Yuan raised a hand and gently patted Cong Gui's shoulder. "Go tend to your duties."

Cong Gui nodded, standing at attention, and saluted Ye Yuan with a military salute.

The moment he turned to leave, his tears finally broke free and streamed down his cheeks.

In the Dragon Country, how could there be only one person like Ye Yuan? Countless people carried their grief while living resiliently.

They never displayed their scars to others, choosing instead to lick their wounds in solitude and silently bear the agony of losing their loved ones.

...

Watching Cong Gui depart, Ye Yuan turned around and walked unsteadily toward the door.

He sat down in the reclining chair specially bought for him by Wu Shanhe, rocking gently back and forth, the chair emitting a faint creaking sound.

He reached into his pocket, took out a notebook, and withdrew two photographs.

In the first photograph sat a dashing, spirited version of himself alongside a gentle, kind-eyed woman, both of them holding an infant still wrapped in swaddling clothes.

The second photograph featured a young couple, likewise holding a baby girl sleeping soundly in a cradle, smiling brightly toward the camera.

Ye Yuan's fingers unconsciously stroked the photographs, his eyes closed slightly as his body rocked gently with the chair.

Before his eyes, it was as if he could see Ye Xia sleeping in the wooden cradle as an infant, while his old companion sat beside it, gently rocking the cradle and humming a lullaby that had put so many children in the Northeast to sleep:

"The moon is bright, the wind is still,"
"The tree leaves cover the window lattice,"
"The crickets chirp away,"
"Much like the sound of lute strings..."