As the merchant caravan made its way towards the city of Barga, Brian couldn't shake the feeling of nervousness that had settled in the pit of his stomach. He had no idea what he would find when he arrived in his old home, and the thought of possibly coming face to face with someone who recognized him filled him with dread.
Determined to keep a low profile, Brian kept to himself during the journey, huddled in a corner of the caravan and trying to stay out of sight as much as possible. He spent most of the trip studying his cultivation manual, an ordinary rank manual that he had managed to make good progress with thanks to his talent.
The journey took a grueling 12 hours, but eventually the caravan reached Barga. There were no checks of the passengers as they entered the city, and Brian had changed his appearance so much that even if someone had looked at him, they probably wouldn't have recognized him as the old Brian.
As soon as the caravan came to a stop, Brian snuck away and hid in the shadows, making sure to stay out of the moonlight. He found a hidden corner in an alleyway and quickly changed into some torn clothes that he had packed in his backpack. Smearing mud on his face and hair, he made himself into an unassuming beggar as much as possible before venturing out into the night, heading towards his old burned-down home.
Brian arrived at his old home, now a charred and dilapidated ruin, and stood staring at it for a long time. He had no idea what he was looking for, but he couldn't shake the feeling that there was something he needed to find here.
As he made his way through the rubble, he couldn't help but feel overwhelmed by a sense of sadness and loss. He had spent so much of his life in this place, and now it was nothing more than a shadow of its former self.
Despite the darkness of the night, Brian could see well enough to make his way around the property. He searched through the ashes and debris, looking for anything that might give him a clue about what had happened to his family.
But as the hours ticked by, he found nothing.
No sign of his mother, father, or brother. No trace of the lives they had once lived here.
Exhausted and defeated, Brian collapsed to the ground, tears streaming down his face. He had no idea what to do next. How was he supposed to find his family when there was no trail to follow?
Just as he was about to give up, he heard a faint sound coming from a corner . It was faint, but it was definitely there. Brian's heart raced as he tried to make out what it was.
Gathering all his strength, he stood up and began to search for the sound, his heart pounding in his chest. He didn't know what he would find at the end of this journey, but he was determined to see it through to the end.