As the night wore on, Brian decided to stop stressing as he couldn't change the situation in that moment. He eventually fell asleep and in the coming days and weeks they settled into a routine. Devin spent most of his time resting and trying to heal his injury, while Brian did his best to keep the cabin clean and tidy. It wasn't an easy life, but they were used to making do with what they had.
One day, while Brian was out collecting firewood, he met some of their neighbors from a nearby town called Panam, an old lady and a young girl. The old lady introduced herself as Mrs. Kim, and the girl as her granddaughter, Minji. They were kind and welcoming.
Despite the strain on Devin's body, they kept living their simple lives. They went fishing in the nearby stream, cooked meals with the food they caught, and spent time with their new friends who would occasionally pass by. It wasn't the life he had planned for but Brian knew that was the path they had to take so Devin could recover.
One day Brian sat on the riverbank, his fishing rod in hand, staring at the water as it flowed past. The damp, muddy ground beneath him and the chill in the air did little to lift his spirits as he struggled with feelings of helplessness.
Now, as he watched the water flow past, he knew he couldn't sit idly by any longer. He had to find a way to save his family.
Devin approached from behind, a friendly smile on his face. "Hey, Brian, what's going on?" he asked.
Brian turned to Devin and sighed. "I can't just sit here and do nothing," he said. "I need to find a way to save my brothers."
Devin's smile faded, and he sat down next to Brian. "I know how you feel," he said. "But we can't just charge in blindly. We need to be smart about this."
Brian nodded. "I know, but I can't just sit here and wait. I need to do something, even if it's just training and getting stronger."
Devin thought for a moment, then stood up and offered his hand to Brian. "In that case, let's train together," he said. "I could use the extra practice, and it'll be more fun with both of us."
Brian accepted the offered hand and stood up, a renewed sense of purpose filling him. They spent the day training, pushing each other to their limits and beyond. As the sun began to set, they took a break and walked to Panam, they visited Mrs Kim and Minji to check in on them.
As the night drew to a close, Brian couldn't help but feel a sense of accomplishment. He had made progress today, and he couldn't wait to see what the next day would bring
Brian knew he couldn't sit idle any longer, he threw himself into his training with Devin, the wise and resilient man who had become a mentor and friend to him. As the months passed, Brian's hard work and dedication paid off, and he made significant progress in his cultivation.
As the days turned into weeks and then months, Brian and Devin started cultivating in the mornings and evenings, with Brian working as a carpenter in the village during the day. They made connections with even more people from Panam, and Brian even struck up a friendly relationship with a slightly older girl named Joo-hee who treated him like a little brother.
One day, as Brian was returning home from his job, he ran into Joo-hee and they chatted about the delicious meal she had served at her house the previous night. Brian told Joo-hee that he had thoroughly enjoyed the food, and the two joked about a future dinner party. As they parted ways, Joo-hee playfully called out to Brian, reminding him to save her a seat at the dinner table.
When he arrived at the home he shared with Devin, Brian found the older man sitting in the living room, sipping on a cup of tea.
Despite the injury that had once plagued him, Devin seemed comfortable and at ease, and Brian couldn't help but feel grateful to have such a supportive and caring person in his life.
As they sat down to dinner, Brian and Devin discussed their plans for the evening's cultivation session. To Brian's surprise, he had made significant progress in his cultivation journey and had reached the first level of qi condensation.
Impressed by Brian's talent and dedication, Devin offered to help him investigate the circumstances surrounding his family's disappearance. Though hesitant at first, Brian ultimately decided to set out on his own, knowing that going alone would be less suspicious than traveling as a duo.
After all, Brian and Devin had already run away once before, and there was a greater chance they would be discovered if they returned together. So, early the next morning, Brian joined a passing merchant caravan on their journey back to his hometown of Barga.