林枫 drifting back to the residence, found the courtyard filled with curling smoke. Two men in rough-spun clothes were squatting at the gate, gnawing on baked cakes, immediately dropping them and rising to bow upon seeing him: "Commander, you're back!" "Ah, coming already?" Lin Feng grinned, patted their shoulders. "Alright, have your fill first. I'll tell you the details tonight."

The two men, Li Ming and Wang Da, were among the earliest members of Lin Feng's army. They had followed him from the most difficult days, through battles and hardships, and now they were respectable men in their thirties. They greeted Lin Feng with a mixture of awe and familiarity, a testament to the bond they shared.

By nightfall, the courtyard was alive with activity. The two men had set up a small fire, and around it sat a group of Lin Feng's closest followers. Each had their own story, their own reason for being with the commander, but all shared a common goal: to make their mark in this world through strength and unity.