Eleven o'clock at night.
The headlights of the jeep cut through the darkness of the compound.
Two beams of light swept across the gate of the Gu Family Courtyard.
The engine died.
The car door opened, and a foot clad in combat boots stepped onto the ground.
Gu Yanshen was back.
He had just finished a two-week closed training, still carrying with him the chill and the smell of gunpowder from the field.
He opened the door, and inside an amber lamp was left on.
Gu Lan was already asleep in the next room.
Lin Wan Yi was sitting by the bed, holding a cotton swab dipped in spiritual spring water, gently wiping Gu Ning's wrist in the cradle.
Hearing the sound, she turned her head.
"You're back?"
Her voice was light, worried about waking the child.
Gu Yanshen threw his backpack on the ground and walked over in big strides.
He wanted to hug his wife but looked at himself covered in dirt and held back.
He bent down, leaning over the cradle to look at the children.
